SGU Episode 166

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

LHC Problems

 * http://www.universetoday.com/2008/09/18/transformer-glitch-haults-lhc-operations/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10049188-76.html

Worthless Acupuncture Study

 * http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=216

Japan’s Space Elevator

 * http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4799369.ece

What Americans Believe

 * http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html?mod=googlenews_wsj http://www.baylor.edu/pr/news.php?action=story&story=52815

Question #1 -Science of the real
"In a recent discussion with my girlfriend about prayer I asked her to 'give me one single instance where she could demonstrate that a prayer was actually answered'. She, of course, had no real answer but responded that 'not everything real is scientific'. How can I respond to that? Can something be 'real' and not 'scientific'. Jim McDowell USA"

Interview with Sharon Begley

 * Sharon Begley is the science news editor for Newsweek Magazine.

Science or Fiction
Item #1: A recent survey shows that online gamers are more physically fit than the general population Item #2: Astronomers have discovered a new class of neutron star, called a gravitar, which is more massive than the previously calculated upper limit for neutron stars. Item #3: A recent nutritional survey shows that most children are getting more than enough vitamins and minerals in their diet.

Quote of the Week
"'...I think the popular view of Science is a solid body of truth, shared by a whole lot of learned men in a room, all agreeing on the answers to the questions of how the Universe works. Whereas nothing could be further from the truth !!! The one truth that I see emerging from the History of Science is that experiment has always surprised theorists. Einstein included!' - Dr. Brian May"

== References ==