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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 239 - 2/10/2010
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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, LLC - dedicated to promoting critical thinking, reason, and the public understanding of science through online and other media. The first episode of the SGU podcast went online on May 4th, 2005. It soon became a popular science/skeptical podcast, and remains one of the most popular science podcasts on iTunes.

SGU Podcasting Awards: SGU on XM: You can listen to the SGU on America's Talk XM 166 every Saturday night from 8-9pm Eastern.

Podcast 239 - February 10, 2010

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Special Guest: Brian Dunning
News Items: Enceladus Update, Synthetic Organisms, Spray On Glass, Gasoline from Carbon, Oral Conception
Who's That Noisy
Name That Logical Fallacy: False Analogy
Science or Fiction



Segment:   News Items     
Enceladus Update     http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8495663.stm
Synthetic Organisms     http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/02/pentagon-looks-to-breed-immortal-synthetic-organisms-molecular-kill-switch-included/
Spray On Glass     http://www.theness.com/roguesgallery/?p=1319
Gasoline from Carbon     http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/commentary/profit-motive-is-the-solution-to-co2-emissions/article1457149/
Oral Conception     http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2010/02/01/ncbi-rofl-thats-one-miraculous-conception/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

Segment:   Who's That Noisy     
Who's That Noisy     Answer to last week - cracking ice from the surface of a frozen lake

Segment:   Name That Logical Fallacy     
Name That Logical Fallacy     False Analogy I love the podcast- and look forward to it each week. However, I do listen to other skeptical podcasts. One day, the hosts were picking apart an argument and making reference to all of the false analogies therein. Several of them proffered their own analogies. Now I agreed with the skeptics, but several days later it dawned on me that someone with a different perspective could potentially accuse the skeptics of creating false analogies. This got me to thinking. Much of everyday language is analogy. Some would say all language is just a series of analogies. So how can we create analogies that can be demonstrably false from multiple perspectives. Under what conditions can we "extend an argument to its logical conclusion." Analogies are a wonderful tool for explaining complex issues in a way familiar to the listener, but I want to be able to do this right. Do you rogues have any thoughts on this? Should we try to avoid making analogies at all? I think this would make a good topic for discussion. Thanks for your consideration. --Dave Hampson Pullman

Segment:   Science or Fiction     [ Click Here to Show the Answers ]
Item #1     A new study links drinking two or more cans of soda per week to an increased risk of brain tumors. http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/news/20100208/pancreatic-cancer-linked-sodas
Item #2     New research finds that underdogs do not work harder - in fact people try harder when competing against a lower-ranked, rather than higher-ranked, opponent. http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/groupstatus.htm
Item #3     Scientists recently described a sea slug that makes its own chlorophyll, and has chloroplasts that it uses to make energy from sunlight like a plant - the only multicellular animal known to do so. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34824610/ns/technology_and_science-science/?GT1=43001

Segment:   Quote of the Week     
Quote of the Week     "It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry." - Thomas Paine
 
 
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