SGU Episode 389

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SGU Episode 389
29th December 2012
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 388                      SGU 390
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
It has become my conviction that things mean pretty much what we want them to mean. We’ll pluck significance from the least consequential happenstance if it suits us and happily ignore the most flagrantly obvious symmetry between separate aspects of our lives if it threatens some cherished prejudice or cosily comforting belief; we are blindest to precisely whatever might be most illuminating.
Iain Banks
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Introduction

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

This Day in Skepticism (1:46)

• December 29, 1790: Thomas Fuller dies.

Best and Worst of 2012 (6:04)

• The Rogues review the last year of the SGU, science, and skepticism

In Memoriam (55:26)

• The Rogues remember those we lost over the last year

Who's That Noisy? (57:53)

• Answer to last week: Tetris theme

Science or Fiction (1:00:03)

Item #1. Biologists have discovered a species of small jellyfish that can float briefly above the surface of the water to evade predators. Item #2. Scientists have discovered a cyanobacterium that creates calcified structures inside its cell. Item #3. An entomologist discovered a new species of lacewing fly from a picture posted on Flickr. And item #4. A new species of primate was discovered - cute and cuddly looking, but with two tongues and highly venomous.

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:16:48)

It has become my conviction that things mean pretty much what we want them to mean. We’ll pluck significance from the least consequential happenstance if it suits us and happily ignore the most flagrantly obvious symmetry between separate aspects of our lives if it threatens some cherished prejudice or cosily comforting belief; we are blindest to precisely whatever might be most illuminating.

Iain Banks.

References