SGU Episode 787

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SGU Episode 787
August 8th 2020
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 786                      SGU 788
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Guest
GH: George Hrab
Quote of the Week
Carl Sagan always used to say that when he was trying to explain something to someone, he would go back to that time when he didn't understand it, and then he would retrace his thought steps so that he could make it absolutely clear, and that's one of the infinite number of things I learned from him.
Ann Druyan, American science communicator
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

Special Segment ()

• Live from NECSS, with special guest George Hrab

(We chat about COVID and the conference.)

What’s the Word? ()

• Perseverance vs. Perseveration

considering using block quotes for emails and definitions read aloud in this segment

Your Number’s Up ()

• Absolute zero

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

(laughs) (laughter) (applause) [inaudible]

Climate Sensitivity ()

• Neurologica: Climate Sensitivity

Massive Research Fraud ()

• The Wire: Sleuths Uncover Web of Research Fraud in 400+ Papers From China

Sexual Parasitism and Immune Function ()

• SciTechDaily: Sexual Parasitism: Loss of Adaptive Immunity Helps Deep Sea Anglerfish Physically Fuse With Their Mates

Science or Fiction ()

Voiceover: It's time for Science or Fiction.

Theme: Masks
Item #1: The oldest masks discovered were found in modern day Israel, and they date back to pre-biblical times, they are roughly 9000 years old.
Item #2: In the 14th century, plague doctors wore a mask with a bird-like beak to protect them from The Black Plague, as they believed diseases of the time could be caught from breathing 'bad air'.
Item #3: In 2021, it is estimated that US manufacturers will collectively produce over one billion N95 masks.

Evan Explains Item #_n_

Answer	Item
Fiction	Bird beak
Science	{{{science1}}}

Host	Result
Evan	clever

Rogue	Guess

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

Carl Sagan always used to say that when he was trying to explain something to someone, he would go back to that time when he didn't understand it, and then he would retrace his thought steps so that he could make it absolutely clear, and that's one of the infinite number of things I learned from him.
– Ann Druyan, American science communicator

Signoff/Announcements ()

S: —and until next week, this is your Skeptics' Guide to the Universe.

S: Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information, visit us at theskepticsguide.org. Send your questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. And, if you would like to support the show and all the work that we do, go to patreon.com/SkepticsGuide and consider becoming a patron and becoming part of the SGU community. Our listeners and supporters are what make SGU possible.

Today I Learned

• Fact/Description, possibly with an article reference
• Fact/Description
• Fact/Description

References

Vocabulary