SGU Episode 129

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SGU Episode 129
January 9th 2008
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 128                      SGU 130
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
'If you would be a real seeker after truth it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things'
Rene Descartes
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

News Items ()

SGU 5x5 ()

• www.theskepticsguide.org/5X5/index.asp
  
  
  

Dr. Novella on The Reason Driven Podcast ()

• reasondriven.blogspot.com/
  with Danny & Mikyle
  
  
  

Insects Killed the Dinosaurs ()

• www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/osu-iam010208.php
  
  
  

Big Scale Biofuels ()

• www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=/news/news_single.html?id%3D7765
  www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=grass-makes-better-ethanol-than-corn
  

Questions and E-mails ()

Neti Pots ()

Neti pots are all the rage since Oprah and Dr. Oz gave them an on-air endorsement several months ago. These little gravy boat shaped pots are used to swoosh warm saltwater through the sinus cavities to keep colds and sinus infections at bay. Is this effective? Do neti pots also help shorten recovery time when a person does have a cold or sinus infection? Is it a good thing to pour warm salty water into your sinus cavities? I haven't been able to find any information stating that it's a bad idea to do so, but I haven't found much real scientific data that says it really works.

Up your nose with a rubber hose,

Amy Hurley
USA

Healing Magnets ()

Hi guys. I ran across this article from a website I read daily. Thought you might be able to discuss the quality of this research and whether the findings are legitimate.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080103132307.htm

I listen to your podcast every week and really appreciate all your effort to produce such a fun and interesting show. Your 2008 predictions sound really plausible and I look forward to remembering each one that gets fulfilled, and forgetting the ones that don't

Rob McGehee
USA

Interview with John Rennie ()

• John Rennie is the editor and chief of Scientific American. He joins the SGU to discuss recent develops at SciAm
  
  www.sciam.com/
  

Randi Speaks ()

• The entire SGU crew interviews James Randi about an announced change in the million dollar psychic challenge.

Science or Fiction ()

Question #1: Astronomers have found a 10,000 light year diameter cloud of anti-matter around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, apparently produced by binary systems that include a black hole. Question #2: Recent measurements indicate that the Pacific plate may have temporarily stopped moving. Question #3: Researchers find that having a higher serum cholesterol actually has health benefits.

Quote of the Week ()

'If you would be a real seeker after truth it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things' - Rene Descartes

S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by the New England Skeptical Society in association with the James Randi Educational Foundation and skepchick.org. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at www.theskepticsguide.org. 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 voting for us on Digg, or leaving us a review on iTunes. You can find links to these sites and others through our homepage. 'Theorem' is produced by Kineto, and is used with permission.

References