SGU Episode 94

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

The Encyclopedia of Life

 * www.eol.org/

Nanotech Spidy Suit

 * www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=1836.php

Bigfoot Endangered

 * news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070502/wl_canada_afp/canadauspoliticsanimaloffbeat_070502173737

Vegan Parents Convicted

 * www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8P102RO0&show_article=1 www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2007/05/03/metvegan0503a.html

Dr. Novella appears on Beyond Reality radio

 * Dr. Novella appeared on the Beyond Reality radio show with Jason and Grant to discuss skepticism and demonic possession. http://www.planetparanormal.com/podcast/index.php?id=315

Corrections and Clarifications
"1) Re: Georgetown Guyana is in South America, no Africa 2) Deaths due to the European Witch Hunts www.gendercide.org/case_witchhunts.html 3) Still more on the Reichstag Fire http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/05/skepticism_undermined_by_insufficient_kn_1.php#more  4) Electromagnetic Sensitivity"

Evolution Challenge
"Hello All, just as Randi has his million dollar challenge, it appears that the Creationist now have theres; Robert Comfort, the minister in the video with Kirk Cameron who use a banana to disprove atheism, have offered $10,000 to anyone that can prove a transition from one species to another. Any takers? Greg Lloyd West Chester, OH US  www.intelligentdesignversusevolution.com/"

Interview with Barry Beyerstein

 * www.sfu.ca/psyc/faculty/beyerstein/ Barry Beyerstein is Professor of Psychology and a member of the Brain Behaviour Laboratory at Simon Fraser University. A native of Edmonton, Alberta, he received his bachelor's degree from Simon Fraser University and a Ph.D. in Experimental and Biological Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Beyerstein's research has involved many areas related to his primary scholarly interests: brain mechanisms of perception and consciousness and the effects of drugs on the brain and mind. He also has interests in the sense of smell and its lesser-known contributions to human cognition and emotion. His work in these areas and his interest in the philosophy and history of science have also led him to be skeptical of many occult and New Age claims. This has prompted him to investigate the scientific status of many questionable products in the areas of medical and psychological treatment, as well as a number of dubious self-improvement techniques. In these pursuits, Dr. Beyerstein serves as chair of the Society of B. C. Skeptics and he is a Fellow and a member of the Executive Council of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) (Formally the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal - CSICOP). Headquartered in New York, CSI promotes scientific critiques of occult and pseudoscientific claims in the media, in academe, and in the marketplace. Dr. Beyerstein is on the editorial board of CSI's journal, The Skeptical Inquirer. He was also an elected to the Council for Scientific Medicine, a US organization that provides critiques of unscientific and fraudulent health products. He is a founding member of Canadians for Rational Health policy and a Contributing Editor of the journal, The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine. He has published in these areas himself and is a frequent commentator on such topics on TV and Radio and in the print media.

Science or Fiction
Question #1: The Rover Spirit has discovered evidence of recent (meaning less than a few million years) volcanic activity on Mars. Question #2: Meteorologists have published a paper showing how global warming will shorten the length of the day. Question #3: Astronomers have discovered an extrasolar planet with a surface temperature of 3700 degrees F (for comparison Mercury gets up to 800 degrees, and Venus gets to 900 degrees)

Skeptical Puzzle
"This Week's Puzzle In a skeptical context, if I've been cut up and cured, what has happened to me?  Last Week's Puzzle  This is a guest puzzle this week from Chris Lamb of the UK:  Centuries ago, A labored magician's trick, I'm king I had to know, And sent my wise men quick, Her hair was not concealed, They believed but never thought, And later was revealed, This fraud was at my fort.  Answer: Mary Tofts Winner: Adam Price, Seattle"

Quote of the Week
"'The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious...the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science.'- Albert Einstein"