SGU Episode 444

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 444
January 18th 2014
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 443                      SGU 445
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
The line between what is known scientifically and what has to be assumed in order to support knowledge is impossible to draw. Memory itself is an internal rumour.
George Santayana
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 ()

• January 18, 1908: Happy birthday to Jacob Bronowski, mathematician, humanist, polymath

News Items

Self-Cleaning Clothes ()

• http://phys.org/news/2014-01-stain-free-self-cleaning-horizon.html

Fukushima Fallout ()

• http://fox5sandiego.com/2014/01/13/west-coast-radiation-from-fukushima-disaster-poses-no-risk-experts-say/#axzz2qUE5gGsf

Tiktaalik Update ()

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25713538

Universal Flu Vaccine ()

• http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-flu-vaccine-thats-always-in-season&WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20140114

Snowden Alien Conspiracy ()

• http://www.nationaljournal.com/defense/no-edward-snowden-did-not-blow-the-lid-off-the-alien-conspiracy-20140113

Blood-Type Diet ()

• http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0084749

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answer to last week:

Questions and Emails

Question #1: Destroying Currency ()

You said that $1 bills were handled the most, and therefore lasted the least time. But, according to the federal reserve $5, $10 and $50 bills all have a shorter life expectancy than $1 bills. Though, if I had to guess I'd say $1 bills are the most destroyed because there are more of them. But they definitely don't wear out the fastest.Also, I'm pretty sure they don't burn them. They sell the shredded money (as souvenirs and for novelties like money died shirts), and landfill the rest.Life expectancy of US bills: http://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/how-long-is-the-life-span-of-us-paper-money.htmMoney died shirts: http://www.crazyshirts.com/category/men/money-dyed-t-shirt.doLandfill currency: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/22/us/in-recycling-of-greenbacks-new-meaning-for-old-money.htmlhttp://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/04/the-destruction-of-money-who-does-it-why-when-and-how/236990/ Peter MuziSeattle

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: A new study reexamines classic moral dilemma psychology scenarios using virtual reality, finding that subjects are more utilitarian (basing decisions on outcomes rather than moral reasoning) when facing the scenarios in virtual reality than when simply asked what they would do. Item #2: A recently published study finds a so-called “obesity paradox” – overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes survive longer than their normal weight counterparts. Item #3: New research finds that even the oldest trees grow faster and store more carbon as they age.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

The line between what is known scientifically and what has to be assumed in order to support knowledge is impossible to draw. Memory itself is an internal rumour.' - George Santayana

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