SGU Episode 158

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

Edgar Mitchell on UFO's

 * www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=87905&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=TopNews&rpc=23&videoChannel=1&sp=true www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24070088-13762,00.html

UFO's and Terrorism

 * www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/opinion/29pope.html?_r=1&oref=login

Gas from Garbage

 * www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/business/24fuel.html?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin

Name That Logical Fallacy
"I am an avid follower of 'House' and have heard him say 'The treatment will confirm the diagnosis.' This is apparently known as a diagnosis ex juvantibus. Is this an example of 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' reasoning? If a treatment is reasonably specific, the reasoning seems sound, yet it seems suspicious. Where am I going wrong? Anders Starmark"
 * Logical Fallacies

Interview with Banachek

 * http://www.banachek.org/nonflash/index.htm Banachek is a premiere mentalist and scourge of those who would use mentalism to fake 'psychic' powers. He discusses his experiences as a mentalist, as a subject of the Alpha Project where he fooled scientists into thinking he had real powers, and his history with Uri Geller.

Science or Fiction
Question #1: A new report warns travelers to the Beijing Olympics that the most common illnesses contracted by visitors are malaria and dengue fever. Question #2: New research shows that free radicals are used to signal satiety in the brain, suggesting that anti-oxidants may increase appetite. Question #3: NASA's Cassini probe has confirmed for the first time surface liquid on a body other than earth - an ethane lake on the surface of Titan.

Skeptical Quote of the Week
"“To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection.” - Henri Poincaré"

== References ==