The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe
Skepticast #481 September 24th, 2014


Segment #1. This Day in Skepticism

September 27, 1950, the answering machine was invented.


Segment #2. News Items


News Item #1 – Nvidia Debunks Moon Hoax 
http://www.theskepticsguide.org/nvidia-debunks-moon-landing-conspiracy-theory


News Item #2 – GMO Feeding Trial 
http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/19-years-of-feeding-animals-gmo-shows-no-harm/


News Item #3 – Touch Pareidolia


News Item #4 – Betavoltaics 
http://www.science20.com/news_articles/betavoltaics_waterbased_nuclear_battery_developed-144993


Segment #3. Who's That Noisy

Answer to last week: Rock exfloliation



Segment #4. Interview with Daniel Dennett 
http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/dennett/


Segment #5. Science or Fiction
Each week our host will come up with three science news items or facts, two genuine, one fictitious. He will challenge our panel of skeptics to sniff out the fake – and you can play along.

Theme: Water in our Solar System

1. There is more water in the Earth’s atmosphere than in all the world’s fresh water lakes. 

2. All the water on Jupiter’s moon Europa is 2-3 times all the water on or near the surface of the Earth. 
 	
3. Scientists have discovered that water rain falls on large parts of Saturn’s upper atmosphere, originating from water in the rings. 

 

Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week

"If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?"

"Oh jeez. Probably."

"What!? Why!?"

"Because all my friends did. Think about it — which scenario is more likely: every single person I know, many of them levelheaded and afraid of heights, abruptly went crazy at exactly the same time… …or the bridge is on fire?"

- Randall Munroe (xkcd)