Episode #497
News Items
Who's That Noisy
- Answer to Last Week: Sputnik
Science or Fiction
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Item #1
Science
A large prospective study finds that lack of exercise is responsible for twice as many premature deaths as obesity. http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/lack-of-exercise-responsible-for-twice-as-many-deaths-as-obesity
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Item #2
Science
For the first time scientists have been able to grow a human muscle in the lab that is capable of undergoing contraction like a normal muscle. http://www.pratt.duke.edu/news/first-contracting-human-muscle-grown-laboratory
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Item #3
Fiction
Immunologists have completed phase III clinical testing on a universal flu vaccine that shows as much antibody potency as existing strain-specific vaccines. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-01-flu-universal-vaccine.html
Skeptical Quote of the Week.
“Does a man of sense run after every silly tale of hobgoblins or fairies, and canvass particularly the evidence? I never knew anyone, that examined and deliberated about nonsense who did not believe it before the end of his enquiries.” ― David Hume