SGU Episode 889

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SGU Episode 889
July 23rd 2022
Solar Tower Fuel Plant
SGU 888                      SGU 890
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Guest
BD: Brian Dunning, American writer and producer
Quote of the Week
Scientific principles and laws do not lie on the surface of nature. They are hidden, and must be wrested from nature by an active and elaborate technique of inquiry.
John Dewey, American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, Cara's Return, Post-Op reflections

Voice-over: 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]

Global Warming Technologies (27:50)

• Global Warming – We Have the Technology

SLS Launch (46:33)

• The SLS rocket finally has a believable launch date, and it's soon

Periodic FRBs (51:18)

• Astronomers detect a radio “heartbeat” billions of light-years from Earth

Habitable Super Earths (56:40)

• Alien super-Earths may get a habitability boost from hydrogen-rich atmospheres

S: All right, Bob, finish up by telling us about haaaabitable super-Earths. "Habitable."

B: Habitable!

Who's That Noisy? (1:04:55)

Answer to previous Noisy:

Two gangs of river otters fighting

New Noisy (1:07:24)

[old/amateur recording of discordant piano notes]

J: There it is.

E: Gee!

Science or Fiction ()

Item #1: Scientists have been able to create a DNA based nanomotor that can convert electricity into kinetic motion, and in which they can control the direction and speed of the rotation. Item #2: A decade-long investigation finds that about 20% of moth species, representing thousands of species, produce ultrasound to deter bats by either jamming or confusing their echolocation or serving as warnings of toxicity. Item #3: A new simulation of Jovian planet ring formation indicates that Jupiter likely had a massive ring system throughout most of its existence.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Jupiter's massive ring system
Science	DNA-based nanomotor
Science	Moths produce ultrasound

Host	Result
Steve

Rogue	Guess

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

Skeptical Quote of the Week ()

Scientific principles and laws do not lie on the surface of nature. They are hidden, and must be wrested from nature by an active and elaborate technique of inquiry.
– John Dewey (1859-1952), American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer, from Reconstruction in philosophy, 1920

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