SGU Episode 284

This episode needs: transcription, time stamps, formatting, links, 'Today I Learned' list, categories, segment redirects. Please help out by contributing!

How to Contribute

SGU Episode 284
December 22nd 2010
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 283                      SGU 285
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
'I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.'
Stephen Jay Gould
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

News Items ()

Arsenic-Based Life ()

• http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/12/arsenic-researcher-asks-for-time.html

Buttology ()

• http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=8954

V-Steam ()

• http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-v-steam-20101220,0,3315605.story

Singing Mice ()

• http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-12-japan-bio-scientists-mouse.html

The Real daVinci Code ()

• http://www.aolnews.com/2010/12/13/do-hidden-letters-in-mona-lisas-eyes-reveal-a-real-da-vinci-cod/

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answer to last week: walnut sphinx caterpillar

Your Questions and E-mails ()

Question #1 - Corrections ()

Cichlid, Methane, and Chlorophyll

Special Report ()

• With James Randi and an interview with the SkepticBros, Tim and Nick http://skepticbros.com/placebo-bands/ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/power-wristbands-banned-and-refunds-ordered-by-accc/story-fn5izo02-1225975249012

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: The recent lunar eclipse on the Winter solstice was only the second such event in the last 2000 years, the other one occurring in 1638. Item #2: The earth rotates about it's axis approximately 366.25 times for each revolution about the sun. Item #3: For points on the arctic circle, this (the winter solstice) is the one day of the year with 24 hours of darkness.

Quote of the Week ()

'I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.' - Stephen Jay Gould

Announcements ()

• Announcements: SGU wins Podcast Award (thanks to our listeners): http://www.podcastawards.com/ Medical Myths by Steven Novella now available from the Teaching Company: http://www.teach12.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=1924 Evan appears on Parenting Within Reason: http://foundationbeyondbelief.org/fbbpodcast/ NECSS Looking for sign interpreters: http://www.necsscon.org/

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