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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 244 - 3/18/2010
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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.
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Podcast
244
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March 18, 2010
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Interview with Greg Grunberg
News Items: When Homeopaths Attack, Texas Textbook Hubbub, Bacterial Fingerprint, Chief Exorcist, Biggest Quantum State
Who's That Noisy
Your Questions and E-mails: Power Balance
Science or Fiction
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Segment: News Items
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Segment: Who's That Noisy
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Who's That Noisy
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Answer to last week: Lawrence Krauss
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Segment: Questions and E-mails
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Question # 1 - Power Balance
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With Special Guest - Richard Saunders
Message: Hi guys!
Thanks for the great show. I started listening to your show in June 2009, and I'm currently at episode 211.
Some friends of mine, who plan on running the Oslo Marathon this summer, came across something called a Power Balance bracelet, which is supposed to increase strength and balance for the athlete wearing the bracelet. I don't know if you've discussed this on your show yet, but if not, you might find it interesting. As the product's website (http://www.powerbalance.net) states:
"What is Power Balance?
Power Balance is performance technology that uses holograms embedded with frequencies that react positively with your body’s natural energy field to improve balance, strength, and flexibility. "
This is just nonsense. Just silly new age terms, which sounds good to the uneducated, but makes no sense to a physicist.
The problem is that many professional athletes are using these Power Balance items, as the website shows on the Press page. In Norway the bracelets are sold for about 90$. I hate to see people wasting their money on this crap, and athletes fronting this pseudo-science can have a large impact on younger athletes looking up to them.
This youtube video shows a skeptic debunking the claimed effects: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd0Gb9EgkHA
If you havent discussed the Power Balance bracelet yet, then it might make a fun segment on your show.
Greetings from your fans in Norway,
Jonathan Andersen
Oslo, Norway
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Segment: Interview
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Segment: Science or Fiction [ Click Here to Show the Answers ]
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Segment: Quote of the Week
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Quote of the Week
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"To science, not even the bark of a tree or a drop of pond water is dull or a handful of dirt banal. They all arouse awe and wonder."
- Jane Jacobs
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