SGU Episode 277

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SGU Episode 277
November 3rd 2010
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 276                      SGU 278
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
'The World is full of wonders, but they become more Wonderful, not less Wonderful when Science looks at them'
Sir David Frederick Attenborough
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

News Items ()

Psychic Cat ()

• http://skepchick.org/blog/2010/11/psychic-cat-is-psychic/

100 Year Starship Project ()

• http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/leadership/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=228000374&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All

Cure for the Common Cold ()

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11673034 http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/bacteria-found-in-yogurt-turned-into-silver-bullets-to-fight-flu_100445425.html

Life on the Moon ()

• http://paranormal.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=paranormal&cdn=newsissues&tm=3&gps=284_454_1277_555&f=11&su=p284.9.336.ip_p504.3.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/some-say-moon-photos-show-signs-of-alien-life/19683381

Alien Ballot Defeated ()

• http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101103/pl_yblog_upshot/voters-reject-pot-anti-alien-commission

Who's That Noisy ()

• Answer to last week: Pulsars from a globular cluster

Questions and E-mails ()

Question #1 - Banana Ripening ()

Here is weird one. A co-worker of mine has an odd habit of laying bananas out over her desk. she tells me that this is because a banana will ripen faster if it is touching another banana. now I’ve heard the old tale that you can ripen other fruit by putting a banana next to it, but i haven’t heard that you need to separate bananas from each other. is there any validity to her claim or is she simply bananas? Sean Dowling Brisbane PS. I won the additional tickets lottery and can go to TAMoz! prepare to be shaken by the hand, rouges.

Interview with Jamy Ian Swiss ()

• http://www.jamyianswiss.com/index.htm

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: Neanderthals Were More Promiscuous Than Modern Humans, Fossil Finger Bones Suggest. Item #2: Bad habits can cause your children and possibly grandchildren to end up with a psychiatric disorder. Item #3: Positive psychological changes from meditation training are linked to cellular health. Item #4: Astronomers have found evidence that volcanic activity may still be possible on the moon.

Quote of the Week ()

'The World is full of wonders, but they become more Wonderful, not less Wonderful when Science looks at them' -Sir David Frederick Attenborough Submitted by Tim from London

S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by the New England Skeptical Society in association with the James Randi Educational Foundation and skepchick.org. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at www.theskepticsguide.org. For questions, suggestions, and other feedback, please use the "Contact Us" form on the website, or send an email to info@theskepticsguide.org. If you enjoyed this episode, then please help us spread the word by voting for us on Digg, or leaving us a review on iTunes. You can find links to these sites and others through our homepage. 'Theorem' is produced by Kineto, and is used with permission.

References