SGU Episode 786

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SGU Episode 786
August 1st 2020
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 785                      SGU 787
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
Conspiracy theorists make sense of the past by creating a plausible pattern that connects events that we know of, or suppose, in a meaningful way. Conspiracy theories are a way to create meaning out of the chaos of our lives and of the past.
Lynette Nusbacher, PhD, Military Historian
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Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

5G and COVID-19 ()

• Retraction Watch: Paper blaming COVID-19 on 5G technology withdrawn

The Technology of Getting to Mars ()

• Technology.org: 6 Technologies NASA is Advancing to Send Humans to Mars

Prayer is not Medicine ()

• Neurologica: Prayer is Not Medicine

Fake Mediums ()

• Deccan Chronicle: Sushant's spirit talking to an American? Not possible, say Indian paranormal experts

Who's That Noisy? ()

• Answer to last week’s Noisy: Imploding glass sphere

New Noisy ()

[brief, vague description of Noisy]

Questions/Emails/Corrections/Follow-ups ()

Question #1: Predicting the Pandemic ()

Since I am still a relatively new listener, I have been working my way through older podcasts. I just listened to podcast #117 (from 2007/10/17). That interview with Dr. Mark Crislip was downright scary. I had to consciously remind myself that it was over 10 years old, which actually made it worse. If I had that kind of presentiment, it would depress the hell out of me. - Jack, Chicago Area

"5 to 10 Years" ()

• Silicon anode for Li-Ion batteries: Follow Up

Science or Fiction ()

Answer	Item
Fiction	Antarctica
Science	Breathing holes
Science	Triangle eyes

Host	Result
Steve	swept

Rogue	Guess

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

Theme: Insects
Item #1: Insects do not breath through their mouths, but rather through holes in the sides of their exoskeleton.
Item #2: The Antarctic continent is the only continent on Earth that does not have any native insects.
Item #3: Many insects, in addition to their two compound eyes, have a triangle of three simple eyes in the middle of their forehead.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

Conspiracy theorists make sense of the past by creating a plausible pattern that connects events that we know of, or suppose, in a meaningful way. Conspiracy theories are a way to create meaning out of the chaos of our lives and of the past.
– Lynette Nusbacher, PhD, Military Historian

Signoff/Announcements ()

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

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.

Today I Learned

• Fact/Description, possibly with an article reference
• Fact/Description
• Fact/Description

References

Vocabulary