SGU Episode 77

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

Enviga

 * Coke claims new product has 'negative calories' www2.coca-cola.com/presscenter/nr_20061011_americas_enviga.html

FTC Fines Weight Loss Pill Firms

 * www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/04/ap/health/mainD8MEN78O0.shtml

Hawking in Space

 * www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/08/nhawking08.xml

Corrections and Clarifications
"900 Foot Jesus The 900 Foot Jesus was seen by the Reverend Oral Roberts in the 1980s. He believed that if he didn't raise enough money, that Jesus would take him away. Unfortunately, he raised the money he needed, and we'll never know if Jesus would have taken him away. William Brinkman United States   Capsaicin  Dr. Novella,  I have really enjoyed your show over the last year and a half. It just seems to be getting better every show. However, I believe that you may be misinformed (at least partially) on the action of capsaicin. There are receptors in primary sensory nerves that are sensitive to capsaicin called TRPV1. The sense of pain from hot peppers is not due to death of neurons.  Here is the wiki on capsaicin: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin  or  Nature 389, 816 - 824 (23 October 1997)  Thanks again for a great show!  Jason Rall   Article indicating that both the pain and subsequent relief are at least partially due to the death of neurons. Topical capsaicin in humans: parallel loss of epidermal nerve fibers and pain sensation. Pain. 1999 May;81(1-2):135-45."

Shoot the Moon
"Hi Guys, Only a 'baboon' could mistake the Moon for a UFO huh? Well I'm delighted to be able to supply solid video evidence against this outragous notion! Being able to back up Rebecca, too, just makes it all the sweeter! Rebecca: you are absolutely correct, and if I were you, I wouldn't be putting up with such close-minded thinking! You see, a number of years ago, 2002 I think, I was intending to film the Moon as it rose above the River Tay, in Scotland for a small movie project known as 'being bored in charge of a video camera.'  What I filmed was this: www.stevehammond.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Moon_UFO_DIVX.avi  I didn't think I was going to get anything at all because of the clouds, but a small break in the cloud did indeed appear at the right time. Now because the clouds were appearing in streaks, only the centre portion of the Moon was visible. Chopping the top and bottom of off the moon meant that only a rectangular portion in the middle was actually visible. And because there was evidently a large amount of dust in the atmosphere at the time, the result was bright red. The whole apparation lasted for a few minutes. Now I know full well that this was the Moon; I'd planned for it at that place and that time using some astronomy software. I defy anyone to have casually glanced at this apparently bright red rectangle hovering over the river for a minute and immediately thought of the Moon! Anyway, thanks for the podcasts which keep me entertained on my walks to work in the morning! Steve Hammond Scotland P.S. Always amusing when someone across the pond attempts a Scottish accent!"

True Believer Skeletons
"Heya guys (non-gender specific from where I'm from), let me begin by saying that not only is your podcast 'numero uno' in my opinion but that you are without a doubt the greatest collective of skeptic minds that I have been exposed to in my lifetime. My question for you however is about not so skeptical beliefs that you may have held previously in your lifetime. Are there any major psuedoscientific or 'true believer' style notions that you have given credence to or truly believed yourselves in the past? Come on guys be honest, and I'm not talking about Santa Claus-esque fantasies, were any of you believers in psychics, dowsing, extra-terrestrial visitations, ESP etc? Christian Polson-Brown Perth, Australia"

Interview with Spencer Weart

 * Dr. Weart is the author of the book The Discovery of Global Warming. He is also the Director of the Center for History of Physics of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) in College Park, Maryland, USA. Originally trained as a physicist, he is now a noted historian specializing in the history of modern physics and geophysics. His site, a complete history of the controversies: www.aip.org/history/climate/ with a links page: www.aip.org/history/climate/links.htm  NOAA says 2006 warmest on record for US, partly due to the 'long-term warming trend, which has been linked to increases in greenhouse gases': www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2007/jan07/noaa07-001.html  Professional climate scientists' blog on current news and controversies: www.realclimate.org/  Union of Concerned Scientists report on Exxonmobil's publicity campaign and lobbying: www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/ExxonMobil-GlobalWarming-tobacco.html   An institution leading denial since the 1980s, although even they now admit that 'the climate change risk is real': www.marshall.org/subcategory.php?id=9

Randi Speaks

 * The Uncompromising Observations of a Veteran Skeptic Each week James Randi gives a skeptical commentary in his own unique style.  This week's topic: Coincidence

Science or Fiction
Question #1: Men are struck by lightening four times as often as women. Question #2: Since people have been putting artificial satellites into orbit, over 40 satellites have been damaged or destroyed by meteors. Question #3: The crack of a whip is made by the tip exceeding the speed of sound, causing a small sonic boom Question #4: Russian scientists thawed out a salamander they believe to have been frozen for 90 years, and it was still alive.

Skeptical Puzzle
"This Week's Puzzle I have something that was said to have existed in the first century That was first written about in the eighth century That was actually produced in the 14th century That was almost destroyed in the 16th century And proven to be a hoax in the 20th century What do I have? Last Week's Puzzle I read red lines on a white background But occasionally, the background is not white I interpret stress patterns But by nature, I struggle to stay upright I analyze vessels and the directions they travel But their movements mean nothing And though its lone job is to protect you I have the power to see beyond this purpose What is my profession? Sclerologist  Mike from the SGU boards was the first to give the correct answer"

Quote of the Week
"'The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny.'- Isaac Asimov"