SGU Episode 747

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SGU Episode 747
November 2nd 2019
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 746                      SGU 748
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
Quote of the Week
Time and again, science has shown that methodological naturalism can push back ignorance, finding increasingly detailed and informative answers to mysteries that once seemed impenetrable: the nature of light, the causes of disease, how the brain works. Evolution is doing the same with the riddle of how the living world took shape. Creationism, by any name, adds nothing of intellectual value to the effort.
John Rennie, American science writer
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

(laughs) (laughter) (applause) [inaudible]

Starship ()

• Neurologica: Musk Wants the Moon by 2022

New Class of Black Holes ()

• Phys.org: Scientists may have discovered whole new class of black holes

Organic Farming ()

• Neurologica: Another Damning Organic Study

Golden Rice ()

• Neurologica: The Golden Rice Saga

Craniometry ()

• NewStatesman: The disturbing junk science of craniometry is enjoying a resurgence

Who's That Noisy? ()

• Answer to last week’s Noisy: _brief_description_perhaps_with_link_

New Noisy ()

[_short_vague_description_of_Noisy]

Questions/Emails/Corrections/Follow-ups ()

Question #1: Hydrogen Scam ()

Love your show. Member for several years. Not sure if you have followed Joi Scientific and their claim for a unique hydrogen from seawater technology. Just wanted to let you know that I was approached indirectly to help them with business matters several years ago and on looking into it I discovered every single red flag I had learned from the SGU. Seriously: all the red flags, even including investment by famous rich people. With the voice of SGU whispering in my ear, I called BS and said there was zero chance of Joi Scientific somehow reinventing physics and delivering the hydrogen economy perfectly formed. Two years and many millions of dollars later they have admitted that their claim of 200% efficiency was based on faulty measurement, so they are now seeking additional funding for research centered around "their improved understanding of the technology." So the scam goes on. I would love to hear your take on Joi Scientific if you're ever looking for a textbook case of pseudoscience in the critical field of energy and resources. Thanks and regards,
– Dan, Japan

Question #2: Solar Minimum ()

Hi, I've seen a lot of online chat about an imminent solar minimum, possibly even a grand solar minimum, tied to this lots of wild predictions of famine, etc. I've found it surprisingly hard to find a decent source on this topic. NASA seem quite calm about it though. It seems to have all the hallmarks of ill-informed fearmongering but I wondered if it's something you guys might cover at some point.
– Trevor

Science or Fiction ()

Voiceover: It's time for Science or Fiction.

Theme: Daylight Savings Time
Item #1: The first use of Daylight Savings time was in Ontario, Canada, in 1908.
Item #2: Researchers estimate that an extra 600 people die each year in the US due to car crashes because of the switch to DST.
Item #3: Studies looking at energy cost of DST show it is basically a wash, with slight advantages or disadvantages depending on region.

Results

Answer	Item
Fiction	DST car crashes
Science	{{{science1}}}

Host	Result
Steve	win

Rogue	Guess
Bob	Energy cost a wash
Jay	DST car crashes
Evan	DST car crashes

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

Time and again, science has shown that methodological naturalism can push back ignorance, finding increasingly detailed and informative answers to mysteries that once seemed impenetrable: the nature of light, the causes of disease, how the brain works. Evolution is doing the same with the riddle of how the living world took shape. Creationism, by any name, adds nothing of intellectual value to the effort.
– John Rennie, American science writer

Signoff/Announcements ()

S: —and until next week, this is your Skeptics' Guide to the Universe.

S: Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information, visit us at theskepticsguide.org. Send your questions to info@theskepticsguide.org. And, if you would like to support the show and all the work that we do, go to patreon.com/SkepticsGuide and consider becoming a patron and becoming part of the SGU community. Our listeners and supporters are what make SGU possible.

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Today I Learned

• Fact/Description, possibly with an article reference
• Fact/Description
• Fact/Description

References

Vocabulary