Episode #684

Episode #684

News Items

• Dunning Kruger Antivaccine Edition
• Alien Abduction Stories
• Smallpox Drug
• Roundup Verdict
• Quickie with Bob – Schwarzite

Who's That Noisy

• Answer to last week: Hermit Crab

Science or Fiction [ Show Answers ]

• Item #1 Science

  Archaeologists have identified the oldest sample of solid cheese, from an Egyptian tomb dating to the 13th century BCE. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180815105307.htm

• Item #2 Science

  A new psychological study finds that displaying status symbols actually deter friendship. https://phys.org/news/2018-08-bling-high-status-signaling-deters-friendships.html

• Item #3 Fiction

  In a new survey of exoplanet systems, astronomers find that Earth’s makeup of elements is atypical. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/gc-som081418.php

Skeptical Quote of the Week.

‘When the brain is released from the constraints of reality, it can generate any sound, image, or smell in its repertoire, sometimes in complex and ‘impossible’ combinations’. ― Oliver Sacks