SGU Episode 71

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

Paranormal Computer Storage

 * www.techworld.com/storage/news/index.cfm?newsid=7432

Intelligent Design in the UK

 * news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6187534.stm

Corrections and Clarifications
"Nick Pope is not a former minister of defense, but was just the head of the Ministry of Defence UFO project. Passing reference was made to that notion that people use only 10% of our brains. This was tongue-in-cheek, but we should have specifically pointed out that this is a myth. www.theness.com/articles.asp?id=44"

Einstein
"Dr. Novella, I just got around to listening to the Nov 21 podcast. I must disagree with your reasons behind Einstein's Special Relativity theory being one of the great paradigm changing discoveries. I would agree that it was a monumental and paradigm shifting discovery, and that Einstein is arguably the greatest scientist of all time. But your reasoning that only Einstein and his great genius could have given us this theory is flawed. It sounded to me like you used an argument from incredulity instead of historical research. You also got some of your facts incorrect. Many scientists today believe it was only a matter of time before the Special Relativity theory was discovered. Einstein was in the right place at the right time, and without his paper it still would have been discovered within 5 or 10 years. He was not the first person to suggest space and time were variables. By 1905, the French physicist Henri Poincare already published many of the salient points of Special Relativity. Some argue the credit of the discovery should have gone to Poincare; Einstein himself was quoted as saying 'there is no doubt that the Special Theory of Relativity, if we regard its development in retrospect, was ripe for discovery in 1905'. You said Einstein's theory was 'thinking outside of anything that any human before him had ever conceived'. Please research this history, and if you agree, please say something on the podcast and give some credit where credit is due, most notably to Poincare Lorentz. Cheers, -Tom Evans"

The Top 10 Ghost Photos
"theknightshift.blogspot.com/2005/10/top-ten-best-ghost-photographs-ever.html The Skeptics' Guide reviews the best photo evidence of ghosts"

Neurolink
"Hey there, I found out about you guys via Rebecca Watsons blog that I found out via livescience.com both of which are glorious, (of course). Anyhow I will do the adoration thing when I have more time but I just wanted to quickly find out about this thing that my dad wants me to do called 'neurolink'. I am 18 as a side note, so my parents are still a bit bossy. Now I think it sounds a bit dud but what do you think? Here's the link www.neurolink.co.nz/ Thanks oh most inspiring ones!! Annie Tepstra Australia"

Interview with Mark Crislip

 * Host of Quackcast - a biweekly (roughly) podcast on quackery and alternative medicine. www.quackcast.com/QuackCast/Welcome.html

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: Mentalism

Science or Fiction
Question #1: Scientists have cracked the ancient code of a 2 thousand year old astronomical calculator, revealing technological sophistication previously unknown to the ancient world. Question #2: A biochemist claims to have finally solved the long mystery of the unique quality of the Strativarius violins. Question #3: Scientists have rediscovered a 500 year old alchemical formula for curing bacterial infections that actually works.

Skeptical Puzzle
"Last Week's puzzle Albert Einstein John Locke (philosopher) Herbert Hoover (31st US president) Robert Boyle (father of modern chemistry) Gen. George S. Patton Each of these famous people have had a hand in this pseudoscience.  Name the pseudoscience.  Answer: Dowsing Winner: Larry Keim   This Week's puzzle This person had good motives in mind when he proposed that mans activities occur in predictable waves. He took stock in this belief, and in his own bullish way, brought his philosophy to bear. Perhaps he should have invested more time in his research, for he could have used some corrections to realize his theory would crash.  Who is this person?"

Quote of the Week
"What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the wish to find out, which is the exact opposite.- Bertrand Russell"