SGU Episode 964

This is a transcript of a recent episode and it is not finished. Please help us finish it! Add a Transcribing template to the top of this transcript before you start so that we don't duplicate your efforts.

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

How to Contribute

You can use this outline to help structure the transcription. Click "Edit" above to begin.

SGU Episode 964
December 30th 2023
2023 Year-in-review episode
SGU 963                      SGU 965
SGU 912 ← YIR episodes→ SGU 1016
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Guest
IC: Ian Callanan, SGU tech-guru
Quote of the Week
For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.
T. S. Eliot, British poet & essayist
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, growing old, family changes

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

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

In Memoriam (1:21:12)

[top]                        

Science or Fiction (1:31:11)

Theme: News items from past episodes Item #1: In 2008 we reported on a new theory that disease spread by insects might have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. Since then a 2016 study found that malaria dates back to the time of the dinosaurs and infected reptiles. Item #2: In 2009 we reported that Honda had developed a brain-machine interface that allows a driver to steer a car with mind control alone. They are still developing the technology, without any commercial applications so far. Item #3: In 2008 we reported on new bionic eyes, involving artificial retinas that allow previously blind patients to see shapes and lights. The company, Second Sight, has since gone bankrupt, abandoning patients with the implants.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Brain-machine interface
Science	Disease killed dinosaurs
Science	Bionic eyes, artificial retinae

Host	Result
Steve	win

Rogue	Guess
Cara	Brain-machine interface
Evan	Brain-machine interface
Jay	Disease killed dinosaurs
Bob	Brain-machine interface
Ian	Brain-machine interface

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

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:51:43)

For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.  – T. S. Eliot (1888-1965), British poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, literary critic and editor

Signoff (1:55:12)

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.

[top]                        

Today I Learned

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

References