Episode #212
News Items
Who's That Noisy
- Answer to last week – Clint Eastwood from Gran Torino
Interview with Michael Goudeau
- Michael Goudeau is a writer for Penn & Teller’s Bullshit. He is also a professional juggler and comedian and the father of a child with autism.
Question # 1 – Birther Movement
- I know you guys don’t like getting into politics, but I think this ought to be discussed on the show. Ever since the U.S. presidential election last year, there has been a conspiracy theory circling around that President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. and, therefore, cannot legally be president. This movement is nicknamed the ‘birther’ movement. It has been compared to the 9/11 ‘truther’ movement. Like 9/11 conspiracy theories, which have been discussed on your show before, this topic has less to do with politics and more to do with evidence and malicious lies. Could you discuss the genesis and development of this movement? Thanks. Guy Sherman Oaks, CA
Science or Fiction
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Item #1
Fiction
A new simulation finds that type Ia supernova are much more variable than previously thought, casting serious doubt on prior calculations that lead to the inflationary universe theory. http://www.physorg.com/news169303137.html
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Item #2
Science
Scientists report that three adults treated for severe visual impairment with gene therapy have remarkably improved vision one year after treatment. http://www.sciencecodex.com/vision_improvement_after_gene_therapy_maintained_at_1_year_for_inherited_retinal_blindness
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Item #3
Science
A new study concludes that human ancestors likely developed bipedality as an arboreal rather than terrestrial adaptation – i.e. while still living in the trees. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327213.700-humans-may-have-learned-to-walk-in-the-trees.html