SGU Episode 291

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

This Day in Skepticism

 * February 12, 1809: Darwin Day - A celebration of Charles Darwin's birthday.

Processed Food and IQ

 * http://theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=2806

Bacterial Intelligence

 * http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/01/25/the-genius-of-bacteria?s_cid=rss:the-genius-of-bacteria

Skin Cell Spray Gun

 * http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-skin-cell-gun-drastically.html

Treating Trauma with Herbs

 * http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/02/07/1855888/judge-refuses-to-let-parents-of.html and http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/02/another_teen_endangered_by_alternative_m.php follow up http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/02/08/Judge-says-injured-wrestler-cannot-go-home/UPI-32121297195708/

Jerusalem UFO

 * http://theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=2787

Who's That Noisy

 * Answer to last week - Martin Sheen from The West Wing

Interview with Jeff Ainslee

 * Fat2Fit Radio http://www.fat2fitradio.com/

Science or Fiction
Item #1: X-ray studies of an ancient snake fossil reveal a hidden vestigial leg, and support the hypothesis that modern snakes evolved from lizard ancestors. Item #2: A newly discovered fossil reveals a 100 million year old carnivorous cricket that was as large as a domestic cat. Item #3: Scientists report that the animal with the most genes discovered so far is a tiny, almost microscopic, crustacean - the water flea, with 31,000 genes.

Quote of the Week
"'The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him.' -Leo Tolstoy from 'The Kingdom of God is Within You' (1894)"