SGU Episode 528

This episode needs: transcription, time stamps, formatting, links, 'Today I Learned' list, categories, segment redirects. Please help out by contributing!

How to Contribute

SGU Episode 528
August 22nd 2015
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 527                      SGU 529
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
It speaks to some basic human needs, that there is a tomorrow - it's not all going to be over in a big flash and a bomb, that the human race is improving, that we have things to be proud of as humans. No, ancient astronauts did not build the pyramids - human beings built them because they're clever and they work hard. And Star Trek is about those things.
Gene Roddenberry
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 ()

• Frances Kelsey: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/08/430709628/frances-kelsey-fda-officer-who-blocked-thalidomide-dies-at-101?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

News Items

Year Long Mars Simulation ()

• http://www.blastr.com/2015-8-11/year-long-simulated-mars-mission-dig-social-psychological-issues-space-travel

Robot Evolution ()

• http://phys.org/news/2015-08-robot-species.html

Naming Exoplanets ()

• http://nameexoworlds.iau.org/

Fusion Reactors ()

• http://phys.org/news/2015-08-fusion-power-closer-reality.html

Building the Death Star ()

• http://www.blastr.com/2015-8-6/infographic-day-what-does-it-cost-build-death-star

Does Science Prove God? ()

• http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/does-science-prove-god/

Sunspots ()

• http://www.nature.com/news/spotty-sunspot-record-gets-a-makeover-1.18145

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: Exoplanet PSR B1620-26b is estimated to be 13 billion years old, and orbits a white dwarf and a pulsar. Item #2: FW Tauri b is the only circumtrinary exoplanet discovered. Item #3: GU Piscium b is 2,000 AU from its parent star and has an orbital period of 163,000 years.

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

'It speaks to some basic human needs, that there is a tomorrow - it's not all going to be over in a big flash and a bomb, that the human race is improving, that we have things to be proud of as humans. No, ancient astronauts did not build the pyramids - human beings built them because they're clever and they work hard. And Star Trek is about those things.' - Gene Roddenberry

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