SGU Episode 979

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SGU Episode 979
April 13th 2024
"Diamond ring" as seen in the 2024 total solar eclipse
SGU 978                      SGU 980
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
G: George Hrab
Guest
DB: Dustin Bates, American rockstar
Quote of the Week
As the sun eclipses the stars by his brilliancy, so the man of knowledge will eclipse the fame of others in assemblies of the people if he proposes algebraic problems, and still more if he solves them.
Brahmagupta, Indian mathematician and astronomer
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, live from Dallas, guest Rogue Dustin Bates

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

Special Segment: Eclipse Science (3:43)

• NASA Eclipse Science

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News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

AI-Designed Drugs (10:03)

• AI Designed Drugs

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G: Ian could do it

Ian Callanan, SGU tech-guru

in a weekend.

S: Yeah, Ian could do it. Yeah.

AI Music (20:47)

• New Study of AI Music Production Pits Human Against Machine

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Music Getting Simpler (32:50)

• Song Lyrics Really Are Getting Simpler and More Repetitive, Study Finds

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Attentions spans are shorter (51:44)

G: ...two kids watching "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins--

C: --[inaudible]

G: --so they've never heard this thing, and if you know the song "In the Air Tonight", the drums don't come in until, like, the three-and-a-half-minute mark--

S: --That famous drum...

G: One of the most famous drum falls.

S & C: You're waiting for it.

G: [imitates drum fall]...

...And then Phil comes, and they're like, "Whoa! Whoo! Wow! They're dropping the beat three minutes in! They're dropping the beat three minutes--" [Rogues & audience laugh]

TwinsthenewTrend YouTubers' reaction to drum fall in Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight"

It's so exciting! It got, like, 5 million views. ...

Aphantasia Spectrum (1:02:35)

• Exploring Aphantasia: The Mind Without a Mental Picture

Nova and Comet Compete with Eclipse (1:18:33)

• Move over, solar eclipse: Scientists predict a once-in-a-lifetime nova explosion in the coming months

• The solar eclipse and the horned devil comet: Two good reasons to look up on April 8

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Science or Fiction (1:29:01)

Theme: Texas Item #1: Texas has the road with the highest speed limit in the US, at 85 mph. Item #2: The largest single employer in Texas is Amazon. Item #3: Six Flags amusement park gets its name from the fact that Texas has been part of six nations throughout its history.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Largest single employer
Science	Highest US speed limit
Science	Flags of six nations

Host	Result
Steve	clever

Rogue	Guess
Dustin	Flags of six nations
Evan	Flags of six nations
Jay	Flags of six nations
Cara	Largest single employer
Bob	Largest single employer
George	Highest US speed limit
Audience	Largest single employer

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

Dustin's Response

Evan's Response

Jay's Response

Cara's Response

Bob's Response

George's Response

Audience's Response

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:43:05)

As the sun eclipses the stars by his brilliancy, so the man of knowledge will eclipse the fame of others in assemblies of the people if he proposes algebraic problems, and still more if he solves them.  – Brahmagupta (c. 598 – c. 668), Indian mathematician and astronomer

Signoff

S: —and until next week, this is your Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. (applause)

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