SGU Episode 446

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

This Day in Skepticism

 * February 1, 1859: Happy birthday to Lydia DeWitt, who conducted important research on the pathology of tuberculosis.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Maria_Adams_DeWitt

Special Report

 * http://www.edge.org/responses/what-scientific-idea-is-ready-for-retirement

No Black Holes?

 * http://news.discovery.com/space/no-black-holes-more-like-grey-holes-says-hawking-140124.htm

Giant Stones in Egypt

 * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j9uHyDSH0s

Who's That Noisy

 * Answer to last week: first voice recording

Question #1: Mithras
"I was recently surprised to learn that my understanding of Mithras debunking the originality of Jesus was fundamentally incorrect. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras_in_comparison_with_other_belief_systems, at least, the New Atheist claim that Mithras predates Jesus is incorrect. I now see that this article is under review as being biased toward Christian apologists. Wherever the truth lies on this particular issue, the article got me thinking: are there any common atheist (or skeptic) talking points that are fundamentally incorrect, or perhaps presented more simplistically than an honest discussion of the truth aught to be? Thanks, big fan of the show,Ryan CiuffetelliGoshen, New York"

Science or Fiction
Item #1: A team of physicists report that they have, for the first time, created a magnetic monopole in a laboratory. Item #2: Researchers find that some children who were born blind can still have significant development of vision following corrective surgery even as old as 15 years. Item #3: A new study finds that antioxidants speed the progression of lung cancer in mice.

Skeptical Quote of the Week
"'Sometimes it happens that a man's intellectual horizon becomes smaller and smaller, and as the radius approaches zero it concentrates on one point. And then that becomes his point of view.' — David Hilbert"

Announcements

 * Rogues on Other Podcasts:
 * http://filipinofreethinkers.org/2014/01/28/rebecca-watson-skepchick-conversations-for-a-cause/
 * http://kravmagaraleigh.com/kravcast-34-january-26-2014/http://youarenotsosmart.com/