SGU Episode 181

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

Psychic Predictions 2008

 * Predictions 2008: The Rogues review psychic predictions for 2008, plus make some of their own predictions for 2009.

True Love

 * http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/relationships/article5439805.ece

The Death of John Travolta’s Son

 * http://www.theskepticsguide.org/sgublog/?p=410

Christine Maggiorie Dies

 * http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=449

Pushback Against Detox

 * http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=452

Weblog Awards 2008

 * Weblog Science Awards http://2008.weblogawards.org/polls/best-science-blog/ Medical Blog Awards http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2009/01/the_2008_medical_weblog_awards_the_polls_are_open.html

Randi Speaks

 * Miscommunication Plus - check out the JREF's new Youtube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/user/JamesRandiFoundation

Science or Fiction
Item #1: Scientists discover the first vertebrate species whose eyes use a mirror to focus light on the retina. Item #2: Scientists discover that the male field cricket copulates using specialized components of its mouth parts. Item #3: A new analysis reveals that pterosaurs launched themselves into the air from four legs, not two, as was previously assumed.

Who's That Noisy

 * NEW SEGMENT for 2009 Each week Evan will play a science-related sound and the source of the sound will be revealed the following week.

Quote of the Week
"'You see, I can live with doubt, and uncertainty, and not knowing. I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing, than to have answers that might be wrong. I have approximate answers, and possible beliefs, and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure about anything, and many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask, 'why are we here?'... But I don't have to have an answer; I don't feel frightened by not knowing things.' - Richard Feynman"