SGU Episode 263

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

NHS to Keep Homeopathy

 * http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7910948/Homeopathy-will-not-be-banned-by-NHS-despite-critical-report.html

Cosmology with no Big Bang

 * http://www.physorg.com/news199591806.html for background: http://www.physorg.com/news89399974.html http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2010/02/22/energy-is-not-conserved/

Lost Ship Found

 * http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/28/hms-investigator-ship-los_n_662813.html

Meat and Weight Control

 * http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=6332

Who's That Noisy

 * Answer to last week: Bertrand Russel

Question #1 - Biodynamic Farming
"Maybe I've missed it but I have not heard you mention Biodynamic Agriculture. This seems like it should be prime fodder for the show and I would love to hear your opinion of this growing fad of hocus pocus. William Welch Birmingham"

Question #2 - Orgel's Laws
"I've recently encountered Orgel's Laws and found them to be very interesting. You've probably already discussed it but if not, I'd like to find out what, if any, difference there is between the Orgel's premises and Occam's Razor. Is Orgel, who/whatever that means, taking the razor a step further? They seem to have a similar flavor but may be more distinct then I perceive. Then again, for all I know Orgel was a traveling minstrel. LtS! Dallin Bastian Crestview, FL"

Interview with Jim Underdown

 * Jim Underdown is the director of the CFI West

Science or Fiction
Item #1: New research finds that consuming beverages with low-calorie sweeteners such as stevia or aspartame resulted in greater caloric intake overall due to increased hunger. Item #2: Researchers outline a method for growing mushrooms into packing material. Item #3: A new analysis shows that Michaelangelo hid the image of a brainstem and spinal cord in a depiction of god on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Quote of the Week
"'The really good idea is always traceable back quite a long way, often to a not very good idea which sparked off another idea that was only slightly better, which somebody else misunderstood in such a way that they then said something which was really rather interesting.' - John Cleese"