Episode #259
News Items
- Whooping Cough Epidemic
- Whaling Film Questioned
- Superconductor Roadblock
- Life in 2050
- Call to Ban Homeopathy
Who's That Noisy
- Answer to last week: Senator Tom Harkin
Question #1 – Orbital Periods
- Correction on orbital periods.
- Hey Rouges, I’ve recently had several friends send me articles about sunscreen ineffectiveness and potential harm. Here’s a sample article http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/9-surprising-facts-about-sunscreen/. Now that we’re starting the summer season, I thought it would be an interesting topic to discuss on the show. Also, it would be totally cool if you would mention our local skeptics group (http://skeptics.madisonwi.us/) on the podcast. We have an active science in the pub group as well (http://madsciencepub.org/). Finally, I was wondering if you had any favorite skeptically-themed songs. I know you’ve featured Tim Minchin, Greydon Square and Symphony of Science on the show, but what other songs or artists you would add to create the ultimate skeptical playlist? Some of my favorites are ‘Superstition’ by Stevie Wonder, ‘Cosmik Debris’ by Frank Zappa and ‘Pods and Gods’ by NOFX. Anyway, I love the show, and I’ve been a listener since 2005. (You’re partially to blame for inspiring my wife and I to name our son Darwin. He was born in Harrisburg, PA during the intelligent design debate.) Keep up the great work. You have many listeners here in Madison. Thanks, Andy Weidert
Science or Fiction
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Item #1
Science
A recent survey shows that only 8% of Americans correctly identified the Summer as the most dangerous driving season. http://www.physorg.com/news196948076.html
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Item #2
Fiction
The Saturn Cassini probe has recently confirmed the existence of small rings around the moon Rhea. http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/06/the-moon-rings-that-never-were.html
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Item #3
Science
A new study shows that learning from online lectures is inferior to learning from their live counterparts. http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2010/06/figlio.html