Episode #985

Episode #985

News Items

• Blue Origin Update
• Human Predator
• Escaped GMOs
• Solar Storm
• Crypto Astrology

Who's That Noisy

• Answer to last week: Roundup

Science or Fiction [ Show Answers ]

• Item #1 Science

  The oldest example of plate armor dates back to Europe 3,500 years ago, and has been demonstrated with modern testing to have been fully functional. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0301494

• Item #2 Fiction

  Although surprisingly maneuverable, at their peak a European full suit of armor weighed about 200 pounds, so that knights would require a hoist to assist them onto horseback. https://www.military.com/history/6-things-you-should-know-about-medieval-armor.html

• Item #3 Science

  Graphene-based body armor has been shown to have twice the stopping power as Kevlar, and 10 times that of steel. https://www.extremetech.com/defense/195089-graphene-body-armor-twice-the-stopping-power-of-kevlar-at-a-fraction-of-the-weight

Skeptical Quote of the Week.

It’s Tough to Make Predictions, Especially About the Future Yogi Berra