The New England SKeptical Society Podcast

The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe

Skepticast #34: March 15th, 2006 (Download MP3)

Topics:

Issue #1. News Item: Buddha Boy and El Chupacabra

Issue #2. “What the Bleep: Down the Rabbit Hole”

Issue #1. News Items

News Item #1 – The Ides of March and Caesars Last Breath
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5280420

News Item #2 – Buddha Boy Missing
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/03/12/060312073150.7l3arbf5.html

News Item #3 – El Chupacabra is back in Texas
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1666701&page=1
Skeptic’s Dictionary entry: http://skepdic.com/chupa.html

News Item #4 – Isaac Hayes (Chef) Quits South Park over Scientology Episode
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,18557,00.html?rsstv

News Item #5 – Handwalkers Spark Controvery
http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/060315_wrist2frm.htm

Issue #2. “What the Bleep: Down the Rabbit Hole”

More quantum quackery from the folks who brought us “What the ^#@$ Do We Know?”

Issue #3. Your E-mails

E-mail #1 – Enceladus

I just wanted to say thanks for providing a unique and insightful show that strengthens my beliefs and disbeliefs about our universe. Not to mention my skeptical tool kit. Im 25 years old and work as an I.T. Admin for an engineering firm. On the side, I am an aggressive agnostic, (sometimes a weak atheist) and feel really lucky that I came across your discussions; I am truly grateful. I just started listening about two weeks ago and my mind is flooded with questions. I wouldnt even know where to start asking. Maybe when I have enough courage and the mental capacity to actually ask a good question I will shoot you another email. Anyways, Im really looking forward to your future pod casts. Keep up the brilliant work.

PS: What do you guys think about the latest discovery on the Saturnian moon, Enceladus? They now have significant evidence of towering geysers of water shooting out water vapor and ice 265 miles out into space? Thats pretty crazy. Could this be the door leading to the holy grail of science? Where there is water, shouldnt there be life that requires it? Your thoughts?

Thanks Again,
Julio J. Mendez
Miramar Fl

Issue #4. Science or Fiction

Each week our host will come up with three science news items or facts, two genuine, one fictitious. He will challenge our panel of skeptics to sniff out the fake – and you can play along.

Theme this week: Astronomy
Item#1: Astronomers have discovered a nebula near the Milky Way’s center in the shape of an elongated double helix.

Item #2: Study of distant galaxies has revealed that young galaxies have far less dark matter - a smaller ratio of dark matter to stars, suggesting that dark matter is increasing and may eventually take over the universe.

Item #3: Astronomers have developed a technique allowing them to view the far side of the sun.

Answer Below:

Item#1: Science – Published in the March 16th issue of Nature
Item#2: Fiction – in fact, recent investigations have shown that the ratio of dark matter to stars has not changed in the past 6 billion years
Item#3: Science – Stanford University Astronomers have developed the technique, applying an earlier technique called acoustic helioseismology – using the sound produced by bubbles of solar gas like a Doppler scan.