SGU Episode 142

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

Report from The Skeptologists Shoot

 * http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Skeptologists/11386967292 Send supportive e-mail to: skeptologists@newrule.com

Psychic Crackdown in the EU

 * http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/06/eu

LHC and the God Particle

 * http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080407/sc_nm/science_particle_dc;_ylt=ApkehKM5X8pGTsYZLaMQqaYDW7oF

Monty Hall Revisited

 * http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/science/08tier.html?_r=3&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Sanskrit Incantations
"I think that the joking and laughing about what the Tantric was saying was a little misguided. To the western ear, it does indeed sound silly; however I believe that he was speaking Sanskrit, and his audience will have been very used to hearing the language spoken as it is widely used in Eastern religious (Hindu\Buddhist etc.) ceremonies*. So even if it was just mumbo jumbo, it plays psychologically on his target audience. It's actually a piece of clever manipulation; think what would happen to a devout catholic if his priest cursed him in Latin (IIRC catholic mass is still said in Latin) and made it known that he was cursing in Latin; you'd get a similar effect to what he was trying to do there. VJ From the SGU Boards"

Interview with Yau-Man Chan

 * Yau-Man was one of the fan's favorite contestants on Survivor - partly due to the fact that he how brains can win out over brawn. He is also a cast member on the pilot episode of The Skeptologists

Science or Fiction
Question #1: New research finds that naturally occurring trans-fats actually reduce risk factors for heart disease. Question #2: New DNA analysis shows that the first humans in North America, the Clovis, were not the ancestors of later American Indians and may have come from Northern Europe. Question #3: New NSF data shows that the supply of science, engineering, and health workers in the US is increasing, as are new graduates who also contain more than 50% women.

Quote of the Week
"'De omnibus dubitandum.'All is to be doubted.- Rene Descartes"

Announcements

 * Announcements: Meeting with Randi in the UK http://skeptic.org.uk/randi/ Boston Skeptics in the Pub http://www.theskepticsguide.org/sgublog/?p=184

== References ==