Episode #639
News Items
Pamela Gay
- www.cosmoquest.org
Science or Fiction
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Item #1
Science
New observations of the star KIC 8462852 show that in addition to dimming it also undergoes periods of brightening, a fact that disproves most current hypotheses about what is causing the changes to the star’s brightness. https://www.upi.com/Scientists-still-confounded-by-Milky-Ways-most-mysterious-star/5291507138135/
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Item #2
Fiction
Scientists have developed a new nanomaterial that can directly convert seawater into electricity, essentially using the ocean as a giant battery. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171004162013.htm
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Item #3
Science
Researchers find in an international study that people distrust those of different political ideology more than of different race or religion. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-10/uotb-dot100417.php
Skeptical Quote of the Week.
“Scientific literacy is an intellectual vaccine against the claims of charlatans who would exploit ignorance.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson