Episode #799

Episode #799

News Items

• Holiday Gatherings
• Water on the Moon
• Murder Hornets Murdered
• High Value Plastic
• Exoplanet View of Earth

Who's That Noisy

• Answer to last week: Premie

Interview with James Randi

• Never before published excerpt from a 2013 interview with James Randi.

Science or Fiction [ Show Answers ]

• Item #1 Science

  Scientists have defied a 178 year old theory by developing a technology for remotely canceling magnetic fields. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/uos-pcc102820.php

• Item #2 Fiction

  Astronomers observing distant galaxies have found evidence that the source of mysterious large-scale magnetic fields is likely dark matter.

• Item #3 Science

  Researchers have demonstrated a magnetic switch that uses 6 picosecond electric pulses, about 100 times faster than current devices. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-020-00488-3

Skeptical Quote of the Week.

“Science is not perfect. It can be misused. It is only a tool. But it is by far the best tool we have, self-correcting, ongoing, applicable to everything. It has two rules. First: there are no sacred truths; all assumptions must be critically examined; arguments from authority are worthless. Second: whatever is inconsistent with the facts must be discarded or revised. … The obvious is sometimes false; the unexpected is sometimes true.” — Carl Sagan