Skeptics Guide #874

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #874 April 5th 2022 Segment #1. News Items News Item #1 – Life On Europa https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/europa-clipper-mission-and-life-on-europa/ News Item #2 – Ancient Skull Surgery https://www.sciencenews.org/article/skull-surgery-oldest-north-america-forehead-brain News Item #3 – Artemis Stuck https://www.space.com/nasa-artemis-1-moon-rocket-test-stuck-valve News Item #4 – Most Distant Star https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomers-spot-the-most-distant-individual-star-ever-detected-in-outer-space-180979847/ News Item #5 – Fake News https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-tell-if-news-is-fake-snopes-fact-checker-2022-3 Segment #2. Who’s That Noisy Segment #3. Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Evolution and Racism Hi! I saw this article and thought it was interesting. https://www.umass.edu/news/article/disbelief-human-evolution-linked-greater-prejudice-and-racism Normally you hear from religious fundamentalists that accepting evolution leads to genocide and all of that nonsense, but it's nice to have confirmation that that is not the case, and in fact accepting evolution is related to less bigotry. Makes me wonder then, how much less bigotry there could be if everyone accepted evolution? Here is the related abstract https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35175082/ Thanks for everything you do! Jacob Tracy, California Segment #4. Interview with Dr. John Z. Kiss Professor of Biology Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at UNC-Greensboro 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: IPCC 2022 #1) Carbon intensity (CO2 from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes per unit primary energy) decreased by 3% per year since 2010, mostly due to rapid increases in wind and solar energy. #2) In 2019 22% of worldwide GHG emissions came from agriculture and forestry, greater than the transportation sector at 15%. #3) 83% of cumulative CO2 emissions since 1850 were produced prior to 1990. Segment #6. Skeptical Quote of the Week "I simply wish that, in a matter which so closely concerns the wellbeing of the human race, no decision shall be made without all the knowledge which a little analysis and calculation can provide." Daniel Bernoulli


View on YouTube.