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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 129 - 1/9/2008
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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly Podcast talkshow discussing the latest news and topics from the world of the paranormal, fringe science, and controversial claims from a scientific point of view. -The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: Your escape to reality -Produced by the New England Skeptical Society in association with the James Randi Educational Foundation(JREF) : http://www.theness.com

Podcast 129 - January 09, 2008

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Interview with John Rennie; News Items: SGU 5x5, The Reason Driven Podcast, Insects may have Killed the Dinosaurs, Biofuels; Your Questions and E-mails: Neti Pots, Healing Magnets; Randi Speaks; Science or Fiction



Segment:   News Items     
SGU 5x5     http://www.theskepticsguide.org/5X5/index.asp
Dr. Novella on The Reason Driven Podcast     reasondriven.blogspot.com/
with Danny & Mikyle
Insects Killed the Dinosaurs     http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/osu-iam010208.php
Big Scale Biofuels     http://www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=/news/news_single.html?id%3D7765
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=grass-makes-better-ethanol-than-corn

Segment:   Questions and E-mails     
Neti Pots     Neti pots are all the rage since Oprah and Dr. Oz gave them an on-air endorsement several months ago. These little gravy boat shaped pots are used to swoosh warm saltwater through the sinus cavities to keep colds and sinus infections at bay. Is this effective? Do neti pots also help shorten recovery time when a person does have a cold or sinus infection? Is it a good thing to pour warm salty water into your sinus cavities? I haven't been able to find any information stating that it's a bad idea to do so, but I haven't found much real scientific data that says it really works.

Up your nose with a rubber hose,

Amy Hurley
USA
Healing Magnets     Hi guys. I ran across this article from a website I read daily. Thought you might be able to discuss the quality of this research and whether the findings are legitimate.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080103132307.htm

I listen to your podcast every week and really appreciate all your effort to produce such a fun and interesting show. Your 2008 predictions sound really plausible and I look forward to remembering each one that gets fulfilled, and forgetting the ones that don't

Rob McGehee
USA

Segment:   Interview     
Interview with John Rennie     John Rennie is the editor and chief of Scientific American. He joins the SGU to discuss recent develops at SciAm

http://www.sciam.com/

Segment:   Randi Speaks     
James Randi     The entire SGU crew interviews James Randi about an announced change in the million dollar psychic challenge.

Segment:   Science or Fiction     [ Click Here to Show the Answers ]
Question #1     Astronomers have found a 10,000 light year diameter cloud of anti-matter around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, apparently produced by binary systems that include a black hole.
Question #2     Recent measurements indicate that the Pacific plate may have temporarily stopped moving.
Question #3     Researchers find that having a higher serum cholesterol actually has health benefits.

Segment:   Quote of the Week     
Quote     "If you would be a real seeker after truth it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things" - Rene Descartes
 
 
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