Episode #703
News Items
Science or Fiction
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Item #1
Science
A newly published paper reveals pterosaur fossils covered with feather-like filaments, indicating that feathers may predate not only birds, but dinosaurs. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-018-0728-7
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Item #2
Science
A published analysis finds that ocean worlds like Europa probably do not contain enough life-essential elements to support significant life as we know it. https://phys.org/news/2018-06-chemicals-icy-worlds-life.html
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Item #3
Fiction
In a survey of ecologists and evolutionary biologists, 64% admit to committing scientific misconduct at least once in their own research. https://phys.org/news/2018-04-survey-ecologists-biologists.html
Skeptical Quote of the Week.
‘I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.’ Neil Gaiman (English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre, and films. His works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book.)