Episode #128

News Items

    SGU for Teachers

    • Hey guys. I guess that you probably get a lot of emails like this. But, as a professor, I can think of a half dozen or so times when a student has told me that I made a difference in their lives, and nothing in my career so far has given me more personal and professional fulfillment. So, I’m listening to your 2007 wrap up today, and I just wanted to take a moment to say, thanks. You have all made a difference in my life, in the way I look at the world, and in the way I teach my students. I recommend your podcast in every class, and I’ve even seen students cite it (meaning they actually were listening!). I look forward to seeing what you come up with in 2008, and I hope to meet some or all of you at some point, maybe at a TAM or something. Deepest respect and regards, SeanSean M. Rafferty, Ph.D.Department of AnthropologyUniversity at Albany
    • Dear Skeptical Rogues,I happen to see a commercial on a cable tv channel that appears to be a new twist to an old scam. The ad was for Kinoki Detox Foot Pads. These are special pads that stick to the bottom of your feet at night. The pads ‘absorb’ all types of toxins from your body . such as mercury, lead, pesticides . and likely also all types of bad ‘Juju’. The pad looks like a funny Kotex made to fit your foot! I am sure the makers of the ‘product’ are rolling in the aisle laughing at the gullibility of America and unfortunately also rolling in the money from sales this scam.The web site is: www.buykinoki.comOne reason ads such as this one are seen on tv is the simple fact most of America is scientifically illiterate and will believe the pseudoscience in ad. the second reason is non-prime time ads on cable channels are extremely cheap to place. Enjoy, MarkAkron, Ohio

    Science or Fiction

    • Item #1 Science

      Scientist have filled in a missing gap in the evolution of RNA-protein systems from RNA.

    • Item #2 Fiction

      The Journal for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology have just published a position paper in which they advocate the teaching of Intelligent Design along side Darwinian evolution in public school science classrooms.

    • Item #3 Science

      Sociobiologist E. O. Wilson has proposed a controversial mechanism for the evolution of social insects that involves colony-level selection rather than individual selection.

    Skeptical Quote of the Week.