SGU Episode 359

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Introduction

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

S: Hello and welcome to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe.

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This Day in Skepticism (1:22)

June 2, 1692 Bridget Bishop is the first person to go to trial in the Salem witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Found guilty, she is hanged on June 10.

News Items

Medical Zombies (4:52)

• http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/modern-medical-zombies/

Science of Reruns (18:01)

• http://www.newswise.com/articles/the-science-of-re-runs-why-we-watch-our-favorite-episode-of-a-tv-show-or-listen-to-a-favorite-song-over-and-over-again

Leakey on Evolution (27:35)

• http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_16053/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=wHXB1rot

Who's That Noisy? (34:35)

Answer to last week: L Ron Hubbard

Questions and Emails (35:52)

Local Darkmatter Followup ()

Dear Rouges, Thought you might find this paper http://arxiv.org/abs/1205.4033 interesting given your use of the Moni Bidin paper's claims of finding no evidence for nearby dark matter in science or fiction. Unsurprisingly perhaps, a more thorough analysis of the data actually shows evidence for dark matter in quantities consistent with current models. I enjoy the show very much. Cheers, Paul Hatchman

Interview with with Debbie Feldman (40:06)

• http://www.deborahfeldman.com/

Science or Fiction (62:27)

Item number one. A new study confirms the popular belief that old people can be identified by their smell. Item number two. A new analysis indicates that children are more imaginative in their play today than they were 20 years ago. And item number three. Updated data indicate that American brain size continues to slowly decrease over historical time.

Skeptical Quote of the Week (82:14)

The greatest obstacle to discovering the shape of the earth, the continents, and the oceans was not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge.

- Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, professor, attorney, and writer (1914-2004)