SGU Episode 514
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| SGU Episode 514 |
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| May 16th 2015 |
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| (brief caption for the episode icon) |
| Skeptical Rogues |
| S: Steven Novella |
B: Bob Novella |
J: Jay Novella |
E: Evan Bernstein |
| Quote of the Week |
Selling eternal life is an unbeatable business, with no customers ever asking for their money back after the goods are not delivered. |
| Links |
| Download Podcast |
| Show Notes |
| Forum Discussion |
Introduction
You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.
Forgotten Superheroes of Science ()
- Patrick Matthew: First person to offer the modern conception of natural selection as a mechanism for Macro-Evolution.
News Items
Orbo Free Energy Again ()
Solar Roadway Test ()
Glass Delusion ()
Illusion of Invisibility ()
Threat to Citizen Science ()
Who's That Noisy ()
- No item last week.
Questions and Emails
Question #1: Black Box Technology ()
Several questions regarding this topic from last week.
Question #2: Buying Local Produce ()
For many years, I've been hearing the refrain that buying local produce is both environmentally and morally better than buying non-local produce. The argument seems to be that shipping produce from far away (as far as the EU or South America, for example) is wasteful and not environmentally sound. Also, I sometimes sense a subtext to these arguments that support the narrative that buying locally also supports small farms, which I guess are somehow better than large farms, or ones that feel corporate. There are a lot of issues here to unpack. And any discussions involving something as basic as food while talking about business are sure to be complicated. But my question is, what does the science say about 'local' vs. 'non-local, or 'distributed' farming? I live three blocks from a popular farmer's market in Union Square, Manhattan. I see trucks and vans full of produce being driven into town from upstate NY or from out in NJ somewhere, and often wonder how much fuel was spent in transporting that produce. Is it really more energy efficient to ship small quantities of food (much of which is not sold by the end of the day and is then presumably driven back, after having spent a full day outside in the sun). As an environmentally conscious person myself, I am primed to want to believe that small farms, selling produce off the back of trucks and getting things “the day they were picked” is somehow better for us and the environment. But when I stop to think about it, I can’t come up with any solid reasons why this should be true. And, so far I haven’t found any studies that have looked at this in a meaningful way. Any thoughts/info would be appreciated. Thanks, Ben Allison Musician New York, NY
Science or Fiction ()
Item #1: After 30 years of dimming, the planet's surface is brightening. Item #2: As the world warms, vegetation could double the frequency of extremely hot days experienced. Item #3: Our most creative thoughts come when we're walking.
Skeptical Quote of the Week ()
'Selling eternal life is an unbeatable business, with no customers ever asking for their money back after the goods are not delivered.' - Victor J. Stenger
S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at theskepticsguide.org, where you will find the show notes as well as links to our blogs, videos, online forum, and other content. You can send us feedback or questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. Also, please consider supporting the SGU by visiting the store page on our website, where you will find merchandise, premium content, and subscription information. Our listeners are what make SGU possible.
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