SGU Episode 407

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SGU Episode 407
4th May 2013
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 406                      SGU 408
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
P: Perry DeAngelis
Guest
JR: James Randi
Quote of the Week
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
William Butler Yeats
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Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

This Day in Skepticism ()

• May 4th, 2005: SGU records its first episode

Happy Anniversary everybody a trade show goes out on May 4th which is exactly are you here in a few years every week we have some arbitrary anniversary milestones 200 West Arbor trace the freakin years to life yeah so how many episodes this is 407 uh send a lot of use items on the show more like and they said five years are going to get this weekend off actually followed up on some of those 5 years think that's right you guys remember this is right before recorded episode 1 it didn't make it onto the show but there was talk about the Alpha constant which might not be constant body reacts to 6921 Dr Michael Murphy if karen was speaking at the physics 2005 just said that the fine structure constant 26 might not be constant after all he was comparing gas cloud fingerprints with those teams on Earth and space in the day has changed by about 1 part 2013 the last 10 billion years show doesn't sound like a lot it's hard to put that in some sort of perspective saying is we may not it may not be constantly need more research to find out if in fact it is said its a tumor research there has been a research done and done more research other signs so done work 8 years later they're still in the same place where they started it is not widely accepted that there's any variation on in the in the constant news items as well does a few that I remember tonight. Time that I wanted to follow up on you guys remember the T Rex proteins oh yeah it was Haiti's scientist found some t-rex proteins and it was 68 million euro proteins me direction was cool and then they were burned protein so it to get dinosaurs related to personal sounded good well after that I started reading and Stephen Salter contact Mexican of the first person to say hey to rest of the community is not accepting this so there is a lot of push back a lot of push back against the original sin to see me just clean it with those said its a contaminant others who were saying it stay didn't do good statistical analysis is just a fluke and the data really didn't prove it real um send a clear Vista released original date of the years the resurgence reviews for a while then they related to now at eight years later where is oldest and it seems like actually did the original sin cos to do claim to find the protein of doing a lot of follow-up research have answered a lot of the critics and they are putting together a much more compelling story Really that they have actually 65 plus you equals year old dinosaur pregnancy did I had wrists or different special man show date the used stereo equipment in really try to control the contamination she stated to statistical analysis 200 saw the ghost criticisms but it seems like the rest of the community is still isn't accepting it they're saying essentially that and the state is coming out of 1 research team really needs to be independently replicated and they still haven't addressed the contamination issue maybe the contamination is coming very quickly 50's does laid on the ground for a long time and we can't be sure the proteins that there are you sleeping or actually soft tissue from the creatures that left those bones behind as opposed to to some other stores in nice story about Giants process assigned to one of those stories where they made a claim he got picked apart route to sleep by the rest of the scientific community in the Navy how to do more and more rigorous message to address all the criticism is it really is a nice story I just assumed they would just like crying wind by being oppressed and supposed to do those lighted sign to clean this conspiracy against and try to get it on schools anyway Tracy ca. to the concert dinosaur protein controversy other mothers news items from 2005 10 planets or eight in radio controversy over whether or not the new copper Belt objects should be named the 10th planet or should Pluto get demoted and not be considered a gun happy how about this one the first human to have to control a robotic arm with a computer chip when was that 2005 that is awesome article today Teresa some person today that um they were controlling it a robotic arm and it moves like a human arm and it had the same type of a text not your fingers but definitely the other joint add one more at the time the smallest rocky EXO planet was 7.5 times the size of my god can you remember that shoot the days back in the day where are we now with the closest to Earth side of multiple world that are the same size of the earth yeah we're stronger even a little smaller than a telescoping people waiting to us fish Alex I like this because this is where are they now at the said since 2021 Saved by the Bell alright TV show is the article from July 2005 single atom pick materials almost ready for primetime Find the talking about graphing a banana to Raffi's the researchers noted the sum of the application probably decades away but they expected to see ultra-fast transistors micromechanical devices innocence is based on one atom to crystals ready in a few years time fast forward a few years time and just a month ago here's the here's a headline for a month ago flash memory chip building built out of single atom pick components hang out app they put them together with traditional components and made a flash memory drive it still a few layers tickets not single layer but and Body Works absolutely works Dave put stuff on there a race did many times to see how it'll how it holds up everything and so there it is you know of Science in action and it's actually coming to fruition pretty much exactly they said it would be cool n***** happy Anniversary here's to another eight years very rare very scary at least 18 years I'm good good for a while and I got s*** to do yeah career does my cycle Oregon my hair did the Frank my hard drive on your Steve we're going to change a few things

News Items

Funding Science ()

• http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2013/04/us-lawmaker-proposes-new-criteri-1.html

Okay. Well let's go on to a few news items. Rebecca, you're going to tell us about politics and funding scientific research yes background church because now there's a stranger in the US who are in the US add a me not the stuff so NFS is the National Science Foundation and they are responsible for something along the lines of 20 percent of all federally funded science is is funded by then they have a budget of around seven and a half billion show how to decide which research gets funded the Trinity that's true AP review process and what does winter looking for is research that is in the public interest and also important to scientists hole so it could be very basic science could be applicable science and the thief and a broad range of things to do with the missus looking for is how this research contributes to the scientific understanding as a whole well there's the bill right now on the trash in trash sponsored by Lamar Smith to is out kind of well-known recently as the sponsor of the Stop Online Piracy Act super which was shut down last year um which wood is had some say catastrophic a fax on how easy Internet Lamar Smith is now the head of the house Science Committee and she's still would replace the pier in process that add to Germans when an assassin's Andrews place that process with a political Sheeran basically um to politicians with the people who would determine where all this money is going and in particular with they would be looking for I'll be to you from the actual del look for research proposal start in the interest of the United States to advance to national health prosperity or welfare and secure the National Defence to science the finest quality is groundbreaking and answers questions or solve problems after this Friday at large and not too productive other research project being funded by the foundation or other federal signs agencies show there a lot of problems that any difference question may seem like a lizard good positive things to work towards but a person for most probably say you have college tuitions who are determining what the most important scientific research is that needs to be funded add to that is of itself your mediately okay up the science spending two to politics so for instance if the Mar had a problem with shaved global warming research she could possibly turkey to the funding for it open the door for any politician to to destroy any research that the politically don't care don't pay per exactly lol free because of the CVS okasan things like national defense fake ad there's a ton of good science it's being done this at a very foundation a level it in other words it's not the result of the science are not sure the groundbreaking they're not going to create jobs immediately or create weapons as dirt but they're very important to understanding to the body of knowledge and distilled would automatically preclude research like that from being funded show you know it anything if this doesn't work for you then just picture Sarah Palin on the campaign trail complaining about wasted research money on fruit flies I need anything about science news health research fruit flies can beach um and how common it is send message in a politician likes your parents or like this guys like on the marsh miss you have no scientific background no signs of training send leaving the people who decide where this seven and a half billion dollars is going its frankly it's terrifying and irritated yesterday yeah it doesn't get it today created for the trip you any basic science research Plaza there that says that you're not going to do any research that duplicates of the research but that's replication baby what's wrong with the kids to know replication this is a maximally naive interference and 80 a process of deciding which valuable to research this happens actually quite frequently at lyrics funders say that will be one or money to go towards sushi what they say is translational research research that will have a specific usual outcome show in medicine for example you have grassroots organizations that raise money to cure disease a call we want the research to a go to do studies which can potentially cure this disease or improve the item for patience and they're putting a message from on the scale that has a very detrimental effect they mean well I understand weather hurt is but the problem is that you can't know how to balance basic science translational and clinical or Apple store application research unless you're in the field that balance is off is it takes a lot of judgement only the experts in the field to really know where we are and when you shift that balance because you want to research it going to have some specific application you can actually slow down the progress in the field at your funding by taking away funds and researches resources in universities space it cetera away from the more basic research. Really need to be focusing records so this to be a complete disaster is it really nice to be nice maybe has been I don't know a lack of communication or something into director or any pants have to do with them have not explained things clearly enough to a Smith and his colleagues can you can I have a shot in in fact addiszefen more communication is ever existed in the what 16 year history of the NSF because for the first time ever represented Smith station Dennis after the speech at the letter and demanded to see the anonymous what what what supposed to be in on this review of a number of studies funded by an assessed at perhaps she did not feel should have been funded this request at know if there's ever made 5410 see I started with a strongly worded letter does claritin you can't even read all of it on em over add to a science is website news.sciencemag.org Alright thanks, Rebecca.

Curse Scam ()

• http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/04/23/con-artists-tormenting-chinese-immigrants-in-brooklyn-with-cash-or-curse-scam/

Evan, You're going to tell us about the latest paranormal scam yeah this ones a hot is a celebrity sophisticated is other scams out there but it seems to be effective not coming to is courtesy of CBS New York I seem to con artist for targeting Chinese immigrants specifically in Brooklyn New York hey on your scam they will walk up to the target sometimes right now Street demand cash from now onwards jewels are something else of value and if they don't hand it over they will straighten them with an evil curse they will say things like oh you evil now before you or your family members will suffer and this is been dubbed the cash or curse scam so again you've got the Zelda Chinese people right there a very superstitious demographic and you know this it's basically a form of f****** that is being performed on and they have been known to give over their valuables their possessions the skin is not limited to Newark either days been reported across the country and in other countries around the world so this is taking route because of the fact is people are taking advantage of yeah it is easy to take advantage of the demographic and has a high rate of superstition does is this is a fuse con artists in general target the elderly because maybe they're not quite as savvy with the latest technology so you know computer scams against older people are very common or maybe they have a mild cognitive impairment to the accident taking advantage of a population has medical problems you know fieldstone are the population back potentially can have a lot of funny because they have to be completed over their license and it's not uncommon for for older addicting games 22 B swindled I did as you say another life savings is terrible yes and it seems to stem from something in the Paschal the Chinese blessings scam so I've read some articles about this from years past so it supposed to start carrying the street what the Connersville do with it will go into the shops in markets of these places on by bike Chinese people show the last for money shakedown if they refuse will say in okay well now your family is going to become ill what to do list is that in some cases the scammers will direct the victim to a relative or a doctor Cooper Fort Lee has the power to avert a certain desastre that's good because that's going to come to say something like alright if you want to get out of this bring a bag of valuables with you go see this person alright and I'll get it taken care of what to do the polls which route to take like jewels and stuff out of the bag and replace it with other things like that cause of rice water bottles in other things in the truck and don't open this until you get home wait for a week or two 7 to 10 days and then after that you'll find that no cursing before you and good spirits and Beyond will be with you by the time and I'll pay attention to the to these instructions to realize two weeks later been rocked the Chinese Blessing Scam is what that's called, so this is like a Very Asian of at two different than psychics who should I tell people that they are cursed they have some kind of evil threatening them and that they need to have the blessing done by the psychic who is president Falls thank you have some Christmas money bring me to stack of cash Laughlin to process ABC Street Dalton the money vanishing think about it obvious condo lease or where of it being poured all over the country hopefully awareness will bring about the best

ITER - Fusion Reactor ()

• http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/one-giant-leap-for-mankind-13bn-iter-project-makes-breakthrough-in-the-quest-for-nuclear-fusion-a-solution-to-climate-change-and-an-age-of-clean-cheap-energy-8590480.html

in India but they won't find out about the International clear experimental reactor really caught me by surprise I had never heard of this project for school TCH her project ITER I'm pretty sure to turn on Cedar and it's the international thermonuclear experimental reactor and or dinner in Latin mean the way and this Is a fusion research in ensuring project goes to demonstrate that it is possible to produce more energy from the fusion process that is used to initiate it courses I finish eating fruit in previous attempts if the project works what will end up with his and model of what the next generation would look like so this is actually going to be a reactor that supposed to be used to power homes Morgan just an experiment to proof of concept the project funded run by the European Union India Japan China Russia South Korea and United States with the European Union investing about 45 percent the money to do it under the current design with fully functional is supposed to produce 500 megabytes per 50 mega watch spent in order of magnitude of energy creation example 500 megabytes keep our about 300,000 average home David Guetta construction in 2007 and main question is why is this a big deal so I thought for such quickly define fusion fusion is when two hydrogen atoms are forming helium in neutron particles loss of Anarchy with the Adams armor Jincy in the form of heat fusion takes place in a measly high temperatures need to overcome the repulsive forces they keep Adams apart from each other neutron shoot off during diffusion process in their energies where he comes from sons core is about 15 million degrees Celsius in Ashford fusion is taking place fusion of course it's been a dream of Science in the beginning of the atomic age which is in 1945 and some people say the beginning of the atomic gauges set of the first bomb on Bruce sooner after the public became or more where it over the next two years about a million individual components of this highly complex usually actor will start to arrive in France in the south of France were three actors housed on these are being built around the world and this project in my opinion is epic for a lot of different reasons I'm first it's proving a huge triumph in countries working together in diplomacy and Science in Engineering it really is heading out a lot of friends here and I think it's awesome Carlson a hydrate who is the project deputy director responsible for safety said it is the largest scientific collaboration the world in fact a project so complex we even had to invent your own currency known as the inter unit of account to decide how much each country pays for Jerry got another one of those big clean off the right on I thought that the International Space Station was the biggest um global project but it did this in that I guess the two top when does the bigger I return yeah okay the great thing is diffusion reactors don't produce any co2 there is any please come out like burning fossil fuels really that would be fantastic to get away from my way to the way to have a meltdown the concern at all yeah you're right by Dr Ellis Hyundai said a female like accident is impossible at either because the fusion reaction is fundamentally safe any disturbance my deal conditions in the reaction will stop a runaway nuclear reaction in a quart meltdown are simply not possible I love reading that I'm thrilled that we are working on this project in that actually sounds phenomenal ISE for the opportunity street thanks for trying to find out where we are right now its not like we know it's going to work this is still experimental technology in there a problems that need to be some absolutely CVS like I said this is a proof-of-concept are going to be building this usually expensive to siilitie testing out the latest and greatest series that they have a meeting have a design building to expect they know what they're trying to achieve in the know exactly what the building or not anything at this point but we won't actually know until about the year 21 or 22 it in that's when the first upside my is scheduled on that's when the ice gases will be injected into into the mechanism and by 28 year 2728 it's going to go nuclear with injections of 50 to Trillium Trillium Grand and then bud 2030 the first demonstration of the fusion reactor to produce electricity and had that electricity be inserted into the grid will happen now keep this in mind they don't really think that's a first commercial nuclear fusion power plant in using new killer II don't know it does matter nuclear nuclear nuclear new year new clear clear clear new clear liquid in 2050 about their saying that if everything goes well that's when we would be able to start the first commercial nuclear fusion power but this has the potential of creating as you have energy without creating greenhouse gases Send to your meeting or chrome we need to release a part of it if it all works out right man 20470 Chinese yeah that would be nice to finish this may not be the technology I get to see if you should ever other designs out there people taking the one I am supposed to have a Mr fusion in two years has happened you like a fat

Einstein Still Correct ()

• http://m.cbsnews.com/fullstory.rbml?catid=57581682&feed_id=null&videofeed=null

Bob, quickly tell us how Einstein is right yet again.

Special Report ()

• Oblivion Review: The Rogues take a skeptical look at Oblivion the movie.

Questions and Emails ()

Question 1: Is SETI Science?()

Hi, guys! Got a question for you: do you consider the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence to be science or pseudoscience? I recently got into an online debate and found myself in the minority because I maintained that the central thesis -- that if intelligent life exists somewhere out there in the greater universe, we would be able to recognize it based upon patterns in radio waves -- is not falsifiable. It seems to me that there could be three reasons why, if we turn our telescopes in any specific direction, we would not find patterns in the radio waves: 1 -- there's nothing there, 2 -- there's something there but they haven't yet developed the technology to create those patterns, or 3 -- we're looking for the wrong things. It would seem to me that the only way to truly falsify SETI, we'd need to map quite literally every body in the universe and rule them out one by one and say that they don't have anything there in terms of extraterrestrial intelligence. Unlike other complex hypotheses that are limited by available technologies, I'm not convinced that the task of mapping the universe is even possible, even with a sufficiently advanced technology. What do you think? Am I missing something? I'm not trying to argue that the endeavor of SETI is a waste of time or energy, but I'm just not sold on it qualifying as genuine science. Thanks! Jim Phynn Horsham, PA

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: Although not the longest river in the world, the Amazon is the biggest, containing more water than the next 10 largest rivers combined. Item #2: Although not the threat often portrayed in film, schools of red-bellied piranha will occasionally feed on large animals and are responsible for about 20 human deaths per year. Item #3: The Amazon contains more fish species than the Atlantic Ocean.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

J: William Butler Yeats!

Announcements ()

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