SGU Episode 537

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SGU Episode 537
October 24th 2015
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 536                      SGU 538
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
No way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof.
Henry David Thoreau
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

Forgotten Superheroes of Science ()

• Maria Sibylla Merian: a naturalist and illustrator in the late 1600s who was among the most significant contributors to the study of entomology and insect metamorphosis

News Items

Are Placebo’s Getting Stronger? ()

• https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/are-placebos-getting-stronger/

Danish Zoo Hubbub ()

• http://news.discovery.com/animals/zoo-animals/outrage-as-danish-zoo-dissects-lion-in-front-of-children-151016.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Oswald Backyard Photo ()

• http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/another-nail-in-the-jfk-conspiracy/

Quickie with Bob - Mars via the Moon ()

• http://news.mit.edu/2015/mars-mission-save-weight-fuel-on-moon-1015

Special Report ()

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ULjJ3EqyY

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answer to last week: Fusion

Questions and Emails

Question #1: Consoling Atheists ()

Several e-mails responding to our discussion from the previous episode.

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: Physicists have conducted the first loophole-free experiment proving that Einstein’s local realism is not true and therefore either quantum non-locality or faster-than-light communication are real. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28112-quantum-weirdness-proved-real-in-first-loophole-free-experiment/ Item #2: A recent mouse study finds that the cerebellum plays a critical role in the ability to ignore distractions. Item #3: Scientists have demonstrated that the rivulus fish will leap out of the water and onto land for about a minute in order to cool down if the water temperature exceeds its acclimation.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

'No way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof.' - Henry David Thoreau

S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at theskepticsguide.org, where you will find the show notes as well as links to our blogs, videos, online forum, and other content. You can send us feedback or questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. Also, please consider supporting the SGU by visiting the store page on our website, where you will find merchandise, premium content, and subscription information. Our listeners are what make SGU possible.

References