SGU Episode 412

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SGU Episode 412
8th June 2013
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 411                      SGU 413
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
P: Perry DeAngelis
Guest
JB: Joshie Berger
Quote of the Week
It takes a fearless, unflinching love and deep humility to accept the universe as it is. The most effective way he knew to accomplish that, the most powerful tool at his disposal, was the scientific method, which over time winnows out deception. It can't give you absolute truth because science is a permanent revolution, always subject to revision, but it can give you successive approximations of reality.
Ann Druyan
Links
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SGU Podcast archive
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

This Day in Skepticism ()

• June 8 1959: The USPS tries "missile mail" for the first and last time using a Regulus Cruise Missile from a submarine outside Newport, Virgina to a Naval Station in Mayport, Florida.

News Items

Star Trek Review ()

• http://www.startrekmovie.com/

Who's That Noisy? ()

• Answer to last week: J.Z. Knight

Questions and Emails ()

Question #1: Small Hadron Collider ()

This one is for Bob.... Was there ever a Small Hadron Collider? Alan Mills Bowen Island, BC Canada

Corrections ()

Chondrocladia lyra ()

• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ivb.12001/abstract
• http://www.nature.com/news/new-carnivorous-harp-sponge-discovered-in-deep-sea-1.11789

Local pollen ()

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen

Interview with Joshie Berger ()

• http://forward.com/articles/174081/are-new-york-hospitals-hiding-herpes-from-metzitza/

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: To not allow people to get caught up in modernity and shallowness and to always remind Jews that we are still in mourning, religious Jews, when building a new house, leave a portion of one of the walls unfinished, generally opposite the entrance, exposing the exterior rustic brick wall to remind us every time we walk in the door of the temple that was destroyed and how we are in constant mourning over it. Item #2: Even during the most happy of occasions, like weddings, religious Jews feel the need to temper the mood and, once again, remind us that things aren’t all that good and we should take it down a notch. This is accomplished by the groom, after exchanging vows, smashing a glass under his feet to halt the jubilation and to symbolize loss and misery. Item #3: Every year religious Jews set aside 3 days known as the 3 days of repentance. These days are to be carried out in misery and do not allow for any joy whatsoever. The list of requirements for these days include (but are not limited to): not eating meats, not drinking alcohol, not listening to any music, not wearing freshly laundered clothes, not showering or bathing and not engaging in any other activities which provide joy or comfort.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

It takes a fearless, unflinching love and deep humility to accept the universe as it is. The most effective way he knew to accomplish that, the most powerful tool at his disposal, was the scientific method, which over time winnows out deception. It can't give you absolute truth because science is a permanent revolution, always subject to revision, but it can give you successive approximations of reality.

J: Ann Druyan!

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