Episode #70

News Items

    Wonders of the World

    • First, I want to compliment the panel on the consistent high quality of your podcast. I’ve been listening to back episodes so quickly that I’ll soon run out, and short of re-listening to your show was wondering what podcast your panelists listen to regularly. Second, I would like your input on what I think in an interesting question. ABC News Good Morning America has been running a series called the ‘New Wonders of the World.’ Their list is interesting, but seems a bit tired (the internet and the great migration in Africa were bold choices, but Jerusalem?). Aside from giving Robin Roberts the opportunity to make really asinine statements such as ‘The Mayans invented the calendar we use today’ they didn’t really explore much that is really wondrous and mind-expanding. I’d like to put to your panel, what do you consider the greatest wonders of the world (and ‘world’ can be interpreted in its larger context, not just Earth)? As this is a skeptical show, the wonders should be limited to the physical universe, and those things that – if speculative – have at least a decent chance of being explained by science someday. To get the ball rolling, to me the greatest wonder of the world is the mystery of consciousness itself. How does the gravitationally-aggregated ash of star explosions organize itself to the point where it can understand what it is made of? It’s a controversial question, even among scientists, but one that I do think can be addressed. How about it, guys? What gives you goosebumps? Brad Reed Botkins, Ohio

    Science or Fiction

    • Item #1 Science

      Astrobiologist Paul Davies – We may find life on earth that is the product of a separate origin and evolution.

    • Item #2 Fiction

      Neurobiologist Steven Pinker – We will use a combination of genetic engineering and breeding to ‘evolve’ dolphins, chimps, and other intelligent animals to a human level of intelligence.

    • Item #3 Science

      Biologist Daniel Pauly – We will learn how to read animals minds, and then everyone will become a vegetarian.

    Skeptical Quote of the Week.