SGU Episode 228

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

Age of Autism Scandal

 * http://skepchick.org/blog/2009/11/the-misogyny-of-the-anti-vaccination-cult/

Porkenstein

 * http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article6936352.ece

Fat Murder Hoaxes

 * http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8389901.stm

Question # 1 - ClimateGate
"ClimateGate Feedback"

Interview with Steven Thoms

 * Steven is the editor of SkepticNorth - a new panCanadian group blog www.skepticnorth.com

Science or Fiction
Item # 1: Astronomers have discovered vast clouds of metallic atoms, specifically chromium (30 million solar masses) and manganese (8 million solar masses), in intergalactic space. Item #2: New observations suggest that the globular clusters that swarm around the Milky Way’s galactic bulge each harbor a supermassive black hole at their center. Item # 3: Astronomers have described a new type of supernova – resulting from a 200 solar mass star, that took 70 days to reach peak brightness and exploded so powerfully that it did not leave behind a remnant to form a black hole.

Who's That Noisy

 * Answer to last week: Kakapo

Quote of the Week
"“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” - Marie Curie"