SGU Episode 877

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SGU Episode 877
April 30th 2022
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 876                      SGU 878
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
There is an urgent need today for the citizens of a democracy to think well. It is not enough to have freedom of the Press and parliamentary institutions. Our difficulties are due partly to our own stupidity, partly to the exploitation of that stupidity, and partly to our own prejudices and personal desires.
Lizzie Susan Stebbing, British philosopher
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, Surgery Recovery

Voice-over: You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

Redefining the Second (10:27)

• Get Ready For the New, Improved Second

NFT Medicine (24:24)

• Go read this report about the virtual doctors at an NFT clinic who can’t legally give medical advice

LHC Restart (42:29)

• Large Hadron Collider restarts to push physics to the edge

Energy Psychology (52:16)

• Emotional Freedom Technique – Acupuncture for the Mind

Researching the Paranormal (1:03:41)

• Anthropologist describes supernatural adventures

Who's That Noisy? (1:14:30)

Answer to previous Noisy:

old-fashioned jaguar call, made with large plastic tub and leather lace

New Noisy (1:20:39)

[bird-like siren sounds and whoops]

J: ... If you think you know what you heard this week or you heard something cool because you're a cool person and you're in cool places and you do cool things, send me a cool Noisy at wtn@theskepticsguide.org.

Questions/Emails/Corrections/Follow-ups (1:21:18)

_consider_using_block_quotes_for_emails_read_aloud_in_this_segment_
with_reduced_spacing_for_long_chunks –

Science or Fiction (1:28:43)

Theme: Future Technology Item #1: Using a quantum 2D material, scientists have produced the highest temperature ambient pressure superconductor, at 250 K (-23° C). Item #2: NASA Scientists have developed a metal alloy that has twice the tensile strength, three times the ductility, and at least 1000 times the durability at high temperature and stress as existing superalloys. Item #3: Using machine learning and genetic modification, scientists have created a bacteria-produced enzyme that can rapidly break down PET plastic (which makes up 12% of global solid waste) so that it can be reused, and is practical for industrial scale use.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Ambient pressure superconductor
Science	Scalable plastic-eating enzyme
Science	Nasa metal alloy

Host	Result
Steve	sweep

Rogue	Guess
Cara	Nasa metal alloy
Evan	Nasa metal alloy
Jay	Nasa metal alloy
Bob	Nasa metal alloy

Voice-over: It's time for Science or Fiction.

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:55:15)

There is an urgent need today for the citizens of a democracy to think well. It is not enough to have freedom of the Press and parliamentary institutions. Our difficulties are due partly to our own stupidity, partly to the exploitation of that stupidity, and partly to our own prejudices and personal desires.
– Lizzie Susan Stebbing (1885-1943), British philosopher, from her 1939 book, Thinking to Some Purpose

Signoff/Announcements (1:58:53)

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.

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Today I Learned

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

References

Vocabulary