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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 134 - 2/13/2008
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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.
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Podcast
134
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February 13, 2008
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Interview with PZ Myers; News Items: Bat Evolution, UK Officials Evict Ghost, Acupuncture and IVF, Alien Mind Control, Darwin Day; Your Questions and E-mails: Fasting; Science or Fiction
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Segment: News Items
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UK Official Pays Psychic to Evict Ghost
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news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080212/od_nm/ghost_dc_1
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7240405.stm
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Acupuncture and IVF
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http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=43
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UFO Mind Control
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axcessnews.com/index.php/articles/show/id/13896
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Darwin Day
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Darwin's 199th Birthday was on Tuesday February 12th.
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Segment: Questions and E-mails
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Fasting
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I am a grad student in mechanical engineering at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. One of the people I share an office with is a PHD student from Germany. We often have discussions on a variety of issues you guys cover from week to week, and one day this led to the topic of fasting. My officemate claims that fasting is a worth while endeavour and he himself does it for health purposes. I went on webmd for some quick info on the practice and found the following claims/ controversies about fasting. 1) That it can help with weight loss 2) that it can cleanse the body of "toxins" 3) it can cure certain diseases 4) you fast every night and are told to before surgery therefore) the ol' people have been doing
it for thousands of years so it must be good 6) it can help you live longer.
from my readings it seemed that weight loss with fasting is short term only. I was hoping you guys could discuss some of the other claims. I have been listening for about 8 months now and really enjoy the show.
Thanks
Michael Carl
Victoria, BC, Canada
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Segment: Interview
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Segment: Science or Fiction [ Click Here to Show the Answers ]
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Question #1  Fiction
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Researchers report that fatal shark attacks increased by 350% in 2007, but cannot explain the increase.
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Question #2  Science
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Scientists have discovered a technique for boosting the mouse immune system, creating virtual immunity to viral infections.
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Question #3 Science
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Physicists have successfully simulated the event horizon of a black hole in the laboratory.
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Segment: Quote of the Week
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Quote
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"For it is the natural tendency of the ignorant to believe what is not true. In order to overcome that tendency it is not sufficient to exhibit the true; it is also necessary to expose and denounce the false."
- HL Menken.
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