SGU Episode 269

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

Stephen Hawking on God

 * http://www.physorg.com/news202663530.html

Magnetic Mom

 * http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/human-magnet-brenda-allison-attracts-metal-and-plenty-of-attention/19612594?icid=main|main|dl10|sec4_lnk1|168276

Organic Strawberries

 * http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=2285 http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201009035

Burning the Quran

 * http://articles.cnn.com/2010-09-07/us/florida.quran.burning_1_petraeus-islamic-qurans?_s=PM:US

Psychic Incites Mob

 * http://sanpedrosun.blogspot.com/2010/09/crocodile-sanctuary-in-belize-destroyed.html

Who's That Noisy

 * Answer to Last Week - Science Court

Interview with Carol Tavris

 * Author of: Mistakes Were Made, But Not by Me

Science or Fiction
Item #1: Material scientists have used a nano-structuring process to make an aluminum alloy as strong as steel. Item #2: Researchers have developed a technique of determining the colors of pigments by listening to the sound they make. Item #3: New research suggests that fear of death increases superstitious thinking.

Quote of the Week
"'It is an unfortunate fact that every man who seeks to disseminate knowledge must contend not only against ignorance itself, but against false instruction as well. No sooner do we deem ourselves free from a particularly gross superstition, than we are confronted by some enemy to learning who would set aside all the intellectual progress of years, and plunge us back into the darkness of mediaeval disbelief.' - H.P. Lovecraft"