SGU Episode 325

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SGU Episode 325
October 8th 2011
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SGU 324                      SGU 326
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”
Galileo Galilei
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

This Day in Skepticism ()

• October 8th, 1604,: The supernova now called 'Kepler's nova' was first sighted in the constellation Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer. Johannes Kepler observed it from the time of its appearance as an apparently new star. It encouraged him to write The New Star in 1606.

News Items ()

Steve Jobs Dies ()

• http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304447804576410753210811910.html

Nobel Physics: Accelerating Universe ()

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15165371

Nobel Medicine: Immune System ()

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15149257 Related story about Nobel winner who died: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15155642

Nobel Chemistry: Quasicrystals ()

• http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2011/press.html

IgNobels 2011 ()

• http://improbable.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html#ig2011

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answer to last week:

Questions and Emails ()

Best Foreign Podcast Sweden ()

Congratulations you have been named Best Foreign podcast in Sweden Best Foreign podcast 1. The Skeptics Guide – 470 votes 2. This Week in Tech – 97 votes 3. Tiesto Club Life – 79 votes 4. NY Times Music Popcast – 58 votes 5. RebelFM – 41 votestes 6. The B&B Podcast – 18 votes 7. Starbase 66 – 1“ 17 votes 8. TuxRadar – 11 votes http://www.daytona.se/podradioopriset/2011?utm_campaign=podradiopriset&utm_medium=email&utm_source=daytona.se&utm_content=voters Congratulations and thank you for letting us listen to your pod cast. Henric Ã¥kesson Sweden

Name That Logical Fallacy ()

• Ad Hominems from Dana Ullman

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/disinformation-homeopathy_b_969627.html

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: A study of basketball free throws, using the largest data set to date, supports the 'hot hands' phenomenon as real rather than illusory. Item #2: A review of research indicates that physically washing one's hands can reduce guilt and doubt through the power of metaphor. Item #3: Researchers demonstrate that alleged triple rainbows are optically impossible, and unsubstantiated reports are likely misperceptions.http://tinyurl.com/5sa9hf3

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” - Galileo Galilei

Voice-over: 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 www.theskepticsguide.org. You can also check out our other podcast, The SGU 5x5, as well as find links to our blogs and the SGU forums. For questions, suggestions, and other feedback, please use the "Contact Us" form on the website or send an email to info@theskepticsguide.org. If you enjoyed this episode, then please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on iTunes, Zune, or your portal of choice.

References