SGU Episode 879

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SGU Episode 879
May 14th 2022
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 878                      SGU 880
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
Quote of the Week
Scientific research involves going beyond the well-trodden and well-tested ideas and theories that form the core of scientific knowledge. During the time scientists are working things out, some results will be right, and others will be wrong. Over time, the right results will emerge.
Lisa Randall, American theoretical physicist
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, iPod Nostalgia,

Voice-over: You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

Dumbest Thing of the Week (13:35)

• Best UFO Picture

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

AI Artist (24:03)

• Dalle-2, the Artificial Intelligence that draws anything you ask of it

Molten Salt Battery (39:21)

• Rechargeable Molten Salt Battery Freezes Energy in Place for Long-Term Storage

Trolling Science Journalism (53:33)

• Trolling Is Taking a Toll on Science Journalism

Solar Thermochemical Hydrogen Production (1:14:49)

• System and technoeconomic analysis of solar thermochemical hydrogen production

Who's That Noisy? (1:23:48)

Answer to previous Noisy:

Cargo train passing directly in front of a car

New Noisy (1:27:16)

[chirping birds sound]

J: Hmm. What could that be?! If you guys think your know what this week's Noisy is, you can email me at WTN@theskepticsguide.org

Questions/Emails/Corrections/Follow-ups (1:29:57)

S: We have a deceptively interesting question. A few people wrote in to ask this.

Followup #1: Action Bias vs. Omission Bias

Hearmepurr: check out the cool "tooltip" link (hover mouse and pause when you see the ?) I made for the "science" answer in the SOFResults table for 878

S: Here's one: "Just a quick question. I have heard several times on this show ...

_consider_using_block_quotes_for_emails_read_aloud_in_this_segment_
with_reduced_spacing_for_long_chunks –

Science or Fiction (1:35:00)

Item #1: In a recent study subjects were 30% less likely to choose a chocolate chip cookie that was described as "scientifically developed." Item #2: An examination of eye control of fruit flies in flight follows a similar scheme as eye control in primates, suggesting convergent evolution across phyla. Item #3: Astronomers report that for the first time they have examined a star with spectroscopy and identified every known stable element within it.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Every stable element in a star
Science	Scientifically developed cookie
Science	Eye's convergent evolution

Host	Result
Steve	win

Rogue	Guess
Evan	Scientifically developed cookie
Cara	Every stable element in a star
Bob	Every stable element in a star
Jay	Every stable element in a star

Voice-over: It's time for Science or Fiction.

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:57:36)

Scientific research involves going beyond the well-trodden and well-tested ideas and theories that form the core of scientific knowledge. During the time scientists are working things out, some results will be right, and others will be wrong. Over time, the right results will emerge.
– Lisa Randall, American theoretical physicist

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