SGU Episode 418

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SGU Episode 418
20th July 2013
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 417                      SGU 419
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Guests
JR: James Randi
JS: Jamy Ian Swiss
Quote of the Week
If you strip the horrors of history from history, the flip side of that is you strip the nobility of rising above such horrors.
Perry DeAngelis
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

This Day in Skepticism (1:56)

• July 20th, 1976: Viking 1 lands on Mars

Special Report (3:50)

• Evan and Steve share their recent visit to the Grand Canyon and some recent science.

News Items

End of Life on Earth (12:27)

• http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2013/07/02/New-date-set-for-end-of-life-on-Earth-in-2-billion-years/UPI-79451372808237/

Sailing Stones of Death Valley (18:12)

• http://www.livescience.com/37492-sailing-stones-death-valley-moving-rocks.html

Scrotal Evolution (24:04)

• http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/07/are_testicles_external_for_cooling_galloping_display_or_something_else.html

Naming Pluto's Moons (33:00)

• http://www.space.com/21814-pluto-moons-named-kerberos-styx.html

Interview with James Randi and Jamy Ian Swiss (35:46)

• http://www.randi.org
• http://honestliar.com/

Science or Fiction (55:48)

Item #1: Scientists have successfully transplanted insulin-producing islet cells from one species to another which survived without the use of immunosuppressive drugs. Item #2: For the first time astronomers have identified the color of an exoplanet - a blue world that may get its color from raining glass. Item #3: Researchers report they have successfully treated a genetic disorder in two patients by deliberately infecting them with HIV.

Questions (1:10:08)

Question #1: Cynicism (1:10:38)

• What is it that stops you from slipping into cynicism? How come you don't wake up every day and say, "Ah, screw it - let the gullible people fend for themselves and I'll be OK."

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:15:21)

If you strip the horrors of history from history, the flip side of that is you strip the nobility of rising above such horrors.

J: Perry DeAngelis!

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.

References