Skeptics Guide

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #964 December 20th 2023 SGU Year in Review 2023 Segment #1. Best Science News of 2023 Leqembi for Alzheimer’s disease Osiris Rex Sickle Cell treatment Weight loss drugs Artificial Intelligence India Moon Landing First successful transplant of cryopreserved rat kidney Global Warming - hottest year on record, Canada fires, Antarctic record low ice Segment #2. Favorite SGU Moments Segment #3. Favorite SGU Interviews Segment #4. Skeptical Hero of the Year Segment #5. Skeptical Jackass of the Year Segment #6. In Memorium Skeptics Bruce Press Harriet Hall Politicians Sandra Day O’Connor (93) Henry Kissinger Dianne Feinstein (90) Rosalynn Carter (96) Scientists Dr. Gao Yaojie (95) - Exposed an HIV epidemic in China Dr. William P. Murphy Jr. (100) - invented the vinyl blood bag Endel Tulving (96) - Influential memory researcher M.S. Swaminathan (98) - Indian crop scientist/geneticist Ian Wilmut (79) - Dolly the sheep Douglas Lenat (72) - AI researcher, Eurisko, AI with “common sense” Dr. Ferid Murad (86) - effects of nitric oxide on cardiovascular system John Warnock (82) - developed the PDF Sliman Bensmaia (49) - neuroscientists developing prosthetics with sensation W. Jason Morgan (87) - plate tectonics Virginia Norwood (96) - technology for mapping Earth from space William Wulf (83) - computer scientists, development of internet Paul Berg (96) - first recombinant DNA or rDNA John B. Goodenough (100) - Li Ion batteries Gordon E. Moore (94) - Moore’s Law David Etnier PHd (84) - discoverer of the Snail Darter Other Frank Borman (95) - Apollo 8 astronaut Walter Cunningham (90) - First crewed Apollo mission (7) Mark Goddard (87) - Lost in Space Michael Gambon (82) - Dumbledore Bob Barker (99) Paul Reubens (71) - Pee-wee Herman Tony Bennett (96) Raquel Welch (82) Al Jaffee (102) - Mad Magazine Segment #7. Science or Fiction 2023 stats: Cara - 30 wins / 13 losses - 69.7% Evan - 26 wins / 22 losses - 54.1% Bob - 20 wins / 29 losses - 40.8% Jay - 21 wins / 26 losses - 44.6% Every guest who played Science or Fiction lost - 10 total. Rogues swept Steve 6 times Steve swept Rogues 8 times 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: SGU Past #1) In 2008 we reported on a new theory that disease spread by insects might have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. Since then a 2016 study found that malaria dates back to the time of the dinosaurs and infected reptiles. #2) In 2009 we reported that Honda had developed a brain-machine interface that allows a driver to steer a car with mind control alone. They are still developing the technology, without any commercial applications so far. #3) In 2008 we reported on new bionic eyes, involving artificial retinas that allow previously blind patients to see shapes and lights. The company, Second Sight, has since gone bankrupt, abandoning patients with the implants. Segment #8. Skeptical Quote of the Week “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” ― T.S. Eliot

[@dctv9968]

Steve, amazing job coming up with the hundreds of “Science or Fiction” segments through the years.

[@slianyong7550]

I would love to add Professor Robert Sapolsky as a skeptical hero this year. He recently published a book on freewill called _Determined._

[@PhysicsPolice]

Happy new year rogues and everyone! 🎉

[@nicholaicheck]

[0:27] Special guest [1:31] Last 2023 show [1:53] Perception of time, aging, and parenting [8:47] Year-in-review [8:58] Best Science News of 2023 [28:15] Favorite SGU Moments [40:57] Favorite SGU Interviews [48:44] Skeptical Hero of the Year [1:02:49] Skeptical Jackass of the Year [1:21:11] In Memorium [1:31:02] Science or Fiction 2023 stats [1:51:42] Skeptical Quote of the Week [1:52:21] Pseudoscience of the year [1:53:38] 2024 teaser

[@markwolf9365]

Everything said about missing your kids younger selfs was true. I feel if you could go back you would hug them more and do things differently perhaps. Never too late I guess. Happy new year Rogues.

[@seanbradley2712]

Angela Saini has written some great books. I recommend all of them. I'm ordering Chris Fabricant's book. It reminds me of the book Tainted Truth. In their chapter on the legal system, it mentions that there is a firm that will connect lawyers with scientists as "expert witnesses." They guarantee that if that the scientist doesn't agree with their position, they'll find a different scientist that will. It makes you wonder why bother when "experts" are just echo chambers spouting a position regardless of the evidence. Brian Dunning and Knowledge Fight are both fantastic. It's great to hear the shout outs for them.

[@chaz161]

Woooo FIRST 🎉!

[@MichaelVernonDavis]

As much as I've always loved what she contributes to the panel, I'm not so certain about Cara's hypothesis. Correct me, please. I've no "bank account of memories." So, the mathematical model doesn't ring for me. If anything, I hold those memories that are pivotal. And, the memory itself may have helped shaped me, to assume when it occured in time is, at best, assigned to a region of time in my past. My hypothesis, for all of my uneducated-in-the-field-of-interest self, is that as we grow older, we dismiss more events that occur on a daily basis that we used to mark time with. Meaning, there are fewer markers of time for us as we grow older. Love you for everything you bring, Cara, and love the rogues as a whole for bringing the rest of us back down to our euphemistic Earths.

[@snowiisnowman8370]

One minute ago....niiice

[@snowiisnowman8370]

Brian Dunning? Didnt he say on the Rogan show back in the day that the only reason we pee or poop is because we ate or drank too much? I dont agree with Rogan on much but i remember he made Brian look a fool

[@Xsetsu]

Been a while but I believe he was telling Rogan that taking vitamins was pointless because you mostly just pee them out. Brain was bad under pressure in that discussion but still correct.