SGU Episode 444

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

This Day in Skepticism

 * January 18, 1908: Happy birthday to Jacob Bronowski, mathematician, humanist, polymath

Self-Cleaning Clothes

 * http://phys.org/news/2014-01-stain-free-self-cleaning-horizon.html

Fukushima Fallout

 * http://fox5sandiego.com/2014/01/13/west-coast-radiation-from-fukushima-disaster-poses-no-risk-experts-say/#axzz2qUE5gGsf

Tiktaalik Update

 * http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25713538

Universal Flu Vaccine

 * http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-flu-vaccine-thats-always-in-season&WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20140114

Snowden Alien Conspiracy

 * http://www.nationaljournal.com/defense/no-edward-snowden-did-not-blow-the-lid-off-the-alien-conspiracy-20140113

Blood-Type Diet

 * http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0084749

Who's That Noisy

 * Answer to last week:

Question #1: Destroying Currency
"You said that $1 bills were handled the most, and therefore lasted the least time. But, according to the federal reserve $5, $10 and $50 bills all have a shorter life expectancy than $1 bills. Though, if I had to guess I'd say $1 bills are the most destroyed because there are more of them. But they definitely don't wear out the fastest.Also, I'm pretty sure they don't burn them. They sell the shredded money (as souvenirs and for novelties like money died shirts), and landfill the rest.Life expectancy of US bills: http://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/how-long-is-the-life-span-of-us-paper-money.htmMoney died shirts: http://www.crazyshirts.com/category/men/money-dyed-t-shirt.doLandfill currency: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/22/us/in-recycling-of-greenbacks-new-meaning-for-old-money.htmlhttp://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/04/the-destruction-of-money-who-does-it-why-when-and-how/236990/ Peter MuziSeattle"

Science or Fiction
Item #1: A new study reexamines classic moral dilemma psychology scenarios using virtual reality, finding that subjects are more utilitarian (basing decisions on outcomes rather than moral reasoning) when facing the scenarios in virtual reality than when simply asked what they would do. Item #2: A recently published study finds a so-called “obesity paradox” – overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes survive longer than their normal weight counterparts. Item #3: New research finds that even the oldest trees grow faster and store more carbon as they age.

Skeptical Quote of the Week
"The line between what is known scientifically and what has to be assumed in order to support knowledge is impossible to draw. Memory itself is an internal rumour.' - George Santayana"