SGU Episode 940

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SGU Episode 940
July 15th 2023
"Betelgeuse may be larger and later in life than other scientists have calculated. It could go supernova very soon."
SGU 939                      SGU 941
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
G: George Hrab
Guest
AJR: Andrea Jones-Rooy, political, social, and data scientist
Quote of the Week
Every time you perform a magic trick, you’re engaging in experimental psychology. If the audience asks, "How the hell did he do that?" then the experiment was successful.
Teller, American magician
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, wildlife encounters, incl. Steve’s bear sighting(s)

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

Dumbest Thing of the Week (18:54)

• [url_from_show_notes _article_title_]

• Meteors and Alien Craft

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

Leqembi for Alzheimer's (35:07)

• FDA Approves Leqembi for Alzheimer's

Jeffrey Epstein Not Murdered (48:48)

• Investigation and Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Custody, Care, and Supervision of Jeffrey Epstein at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, New York

When Will Betelgeuse Supernova? (1:02:51)

• Astronomer predicts that a red supergiant star nearby could go supernova very soon 

Can AI Solve Math Problems? (1:16:00)

• A.I. Is Coming for Mathematics, Too

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Science or Fiction (1:36:49)

Item #1: A new paper estimating the number of planets in the Milky Way with liquid water increases the estimate by 100 fold from prior estimates, up to one planet per system on average. Item #2: A new bionic arm for an above-the-elbow amputation allows the user to control individually each finger of the hand using only connections with the remaining muscles. Item #3: In an example of convergent evolution, new DNA analysis finds that the pygmy right whale is actually a porpoise.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Pygmy right whale
Science	100x more planets w/ water
Science	New bionic arm

Host	Result
Steve	win

Rogue	Guess
Andrea	New bionic arm
George	New bionic arm
Bob	New bionic arm
Evan	Pygmy right whale

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

Steve Explains Item #1

G: ... H-2-whoa!

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:51:38)

Every time you perform a magic trick, you're engaging in experimental psychology. If the audience asks, "How the hell did he do that?" then the experiment was successful.  – Teller (1948-present), American musician

Signoff & Announcements (1:57:49)

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