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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 295 - 3/9/2011

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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 295 - March 09, 2011

Interview with Ben Radford
This Day in Skepticism
News Items: Meteorite Bacteria, Biological Computers, Super Full Moon, Imam Retracts Support for Evolution
Who's That Noisy
Your Questions and E-mails: Definition of Skeptic
Science or Fiction



Segment:   This Day in Skepticism     
March 12, 1923     Phonofilm presented

Segment:   News Items     
Meteorite Fossil Bacteria     http://journalofcosmology.com/Life100.html
Biological Computers     http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-03-biological.html
Super Full Moon     http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/astronomy/story/46417/extreme-super-full-moon-to-cause-chaos.asp
Imam Retracts Support for Evolution     http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12661477

Segment:   Who's That Noisy     
Who's That Noisy     Answer to last week: Roger Penrose

Segment:   Questions and Emails     
Question #1 - What is a Skeptic?     I've recently started listening to your podcast including some of the back issues. I have found Steven Novella's stance on arguments to match my own eerily well and am wondering if I am indeed a skeptic. Perhaps a you may be a skeptic if list would be humourous, however I am specifically interested in where your panel of skeptics comes down on the definition of a skeptic. I believe I am safe in saying that skeptics believe in logical consistency, are empiricists, and accept ideas that are reached through inductive reasoning based on empirical evidence. Does skepticism -in your opinions- have a stance on realism vs instrumentalism in science and is being cohesive with evidence and generally accepted theory grounds for `proof` or merely a requirement to warrant further study. If this issue has already been discussed in an earlier episode I would appreciate episode number. Fraser Hogg

Segment:   Interview     
Interview with Ben Radford     http://www.radfordbooks.com/

Segment:   Science or Fiction     [ Click Here to Show the Answers ]
Item #1     A recent study shows that migrating song birds and moths travel at the same mean velocity. http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-03-migrating-moths-songbirds-similar.html
Item #2     New research shows that most people are willing to cause direct harm to others, as long as they believe no one is watching. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110307142242.htm
Item #3     A new review of research indicates that for most species natural selection favors greater size and speed, rather than average traits. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110307142240.htm

Segment:   Skeptical Quote of the Week     
Skeptical Quote of the Week     "The church says the earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen the shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in a shadow than in the church." - Ferdinand Magellan
 
 
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