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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 179 - 12/23/2008
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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
179
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December 23, 2008
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News Items: Jeremy Pivens Mercury Toxicity, Death by CAM, da Vinci Sketches Discovered, Medium Experiments Follow up
Your Questions and E-mail: ET Life, Winter Myths
Science or Fiction
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Segment: News Items
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Segment: Questions and E-mails
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Question #1 ET Life
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We frequently hear from scientists that life on other planets would require the presence of water or carbon or a particular range in temperature. This may be true if they are looking for life as we find it on Earth. But is this a parochial bias? Are there reasons why life, which would require molecules with the ability to replicate themselves, cannot be fundamentally differently organized from what we find locally, and exist in radically different conditions?
Daniel Robbins
New York City
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Question #2 Winter Myths
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7789302.stm
Hi,
This news article talks about commonly held beliefs which the study says are wrong. I wondered if you had seen it and what your thoughts on it were.
Regards
Sion Hughes
UK
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Segment: Science or Fiction [ Click Here to Show the Answers ]
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Item #1  Fiction
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In a recent study researchers find that the children of first cousins have an overall lower risk of genetic disease than the general population.
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Item #2  Science
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Researchers have developed a new kind of laser from a device one-tenth the thickness of a human hair.
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Item #3 Science
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Scientists have documented a case of a blind man who can flawlessly navigate an obstacle course without relying upon any other senses.
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Segment: Skeptical Quote of the Week
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Skeptical Quote
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“The truth of things is the chief nutriment of superior intellects.”- Leonardo da Vinci
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