SGU Episode 325

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

This Day in Skepticism

 * October 8th, 1604,: The supernova now called 'Kepler's nova' was first sighted in the constellation Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer. Johannes Kepler observed it from the time of its appearance as an apparently new star. It encouraged him to write The New Star in 1606.

Steve Jobs Dies

 * http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304447804576410753210811910.html

Nobel Physics: Accelerating Universe

 * http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15165371

Nobel Medicine: Immune System

 * http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15149257 Related story about Nobel winner who died: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15155642

Nobel Chemistry: Quasicrystals

 * http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2011/press.html

IgNobels 2011

 * http://improbable.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html#ig2011

Who's That Noisy

 * Answer to last week:

Best Foreign Podcast Sweden
"Congratulations you have been named Best Foreign podcast in Sweden Best Foreign podcast 1. The Skeptics Guide – 470 votes 2. This Week in Tech – 97 votes 3. Tiesto Club Life – 79 votes 4. NY Times Music Popcast – 58 votes 5. RebelFM – 41 votestes 6. The B&B Podcast – 18 votes 7. Starbase 66 – 1“ 17 votes 8. TuxRadar – 11 votes http://www.daytona.se/podradioopriset/2011?utm_campaign=podradiopriset&utm_medium=email&utm_source=daytona.se&utm_content=voters Congratulations and thank you for letting us listen to your pod cast. Henric Ã¥kesson Sweden"

Name That Logical Fallacy
"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/disinformation-homeopathy_b_969627.html"
 * Ad Hominems from Dana Ullman

Science or Fiction
Item #1: A study of basketball free throws, using the largest data set to date, supports the 'hot hands' phenomenon as real rather than illusory. Item #2: A review of research indicates that physically washing one's hands can reduce guilt and doubt through the power of metaphor. Item #3: Researchers demonstrate that alleged triple rainbows are optically impossible, and unsubstantiated reports are likely misperceptions.http://tinyurl.com/5sa9hf3

Skeptical Quote of the Week
"“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” - Galileo Galilei"