SGU Episode 976

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SGU Episode 976
March 23rd 2024
SpaceX's Starship launches on its third test flight, March 14, 2024. (IC: SpaceX)
SGU 975                      SGU 977
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
C: Cara Santa Maria
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Guest
DL: Dante Lauretta, principal investigator for NASA's OSIRIS-REx
Quote of the Week
One takes comfort from the fact there is no Gresham's law in science. In the long run, good science drives out bad.
American Gardner, American writer
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction, equinoxes, climate change

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

Quickie with Steve: Treating HIV with CRISPR (5:42)

• [url_from_show_notes _article_title_]

(click to create redirect page)

News Items

S:

B:

C:

J:

E:

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

Starship's Third Launch (9:27)

• FAA to oversee investigation of SpaceX Starship's 3rd test flight

Extinct Flu Virus (17:45)

• A branch of the flu family tree has died and won't be included in future US vaccines

(click to create redirect page)

Keeping Voyager 1 Going (26:09)

• Finally, engineers have a clue that could help them save Voyager 1

Death by Exorcism (33:33)

• Hearing begins in alleged California exorcism death

Energy Demand Increasing (42:00)

• Energy Demand Increasing

Who's That Noisy? (54:24)

Answer to previous Noisy:

Very low musical note A₋₁ on Subcontrabassoon (13.75Hz)

Vice article: The Mythical 32-Pound "Subcontrabassoon" Is Now a Real Musical Instrument

New Noisy (58:04)

[zippy whooshings]

J:... what this is

Questions/Emails/Corrections/Follow-ups (1:01:56)

Follow up #1: Fighting lions

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Interview with Dante Lauretta (1:04:47)

• Dante Lauretta, The Asteroid Hunter, and principal investigator on NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission.

_DL_mentions_osiris_animations_

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Science or Fiction (1:27:03)

Item #1: Researchers have developed a universal exoskeleton control system that can work for any user without the need for extensive calibration or training. Item #2: Scientists created a new method for using classic computers to error-correct quantum computers, resulting in a 60 qubit quantum computer with an accuracy rate of 91%. Item #3: New material design allows for structural wood to create buildings as high as 18 stories.

Answer	Item
Fiction	Quantum computer accuracy
Science	Universal exoskeleton system
Science	New structural wood design

Host	Result
Steve	win

Rogue	Guess
Jay	Quantum computer accuracy
Evan	Quantum computer accuracy
Bob	Quantum computer accuracy
Cara	New structural wood design

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

Jay's Response

Evan's Response

Bob's Response

Cara's Response

Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:41:16)

One takes comfort from the fact there is no Gresham's law in science. In the long run, good science drives out bad.  – American Gardner (1914-2010), American popular mathematics and popular science writer

Signoff

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