SGU Episode 607

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SGU Episode 607
February 25th 2017
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 606                      SGU 608
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
Science makes people reach selflessly for truth and objectivity. It teaches people to accept reality with wonder and admiration, not to mention the deep awe and joy that the natural order of things brings to the true scientist.
Lise Meitner
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

Forgotten Superheroes of Science ()

• Wang Zhenyi: Wang Zhenyi 1768-97, was a pioneer women astronomer during the Qing dynasty

News Items

Restoring Hearing ()

• http://news.mit.edu/2017/drug-treatment-combat-hearing-loss-0221

Smartphone Tricorder ()

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/18/smartphones-become-pocket-doctors-scientists-discover-camera/

Science of Smoking Bans ()

• http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/the-science-of-smoking-bans/

Seven Earth-like Exoplanets ()

• https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/feb/22/thrilling-discovery-of-seven-earth-sized-planets-discovered-orbiting-trappist-1-star?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Gmail

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answer to last week: The Big Bang

What's The Word ()

• pathology

Interview with Greg Dash ()

• Political advisor for the Labor Party, currently opposition party in the UK

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: Researchers demonstrate how they can steal data from a computer, even one that is currently air-gapped, by simply imaging the blinking light on the hard drive. Item #2: Physicists at the LHC have found for the first time an asymmetry between normal baryonic matter and its anti-matter counterpart. Item #3: A new study finds that cat ownership as a child increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by age 20 by up to 30%.http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/21/health/cat-ownership-mental-health-study/

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

'Science makes people reach selflessly for truth and objectivity. It teaches people to accept reality with wonder and admiration, not to mention the deep awe and joy that the natural order of things brings to the true scientist.' - Lise Meitner

S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at theskepticsguide.org, where you will find the show notes as well as links to our blogs, videos, online forum, and other content. You can send us feedback or questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. Also, please consider supporting the SGU by visiting the store page on our website, where you will find merchandise, premium content, and subscription information. Our listeners are what make SGU possible.

References