Skeptics Guide #895

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #895 August 31st 2022 Segment #1. News Items News Item #1 – Hot Summer https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-hot-summer-is-one-of-the-coolest-of-the-rest-of-our-lives/ News Item #2 – Tear Down This Paywall https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/26/23322194/white-house-ostp-open-access-federal-research-policy-update News Item #3 – Volcano Catastrophe https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220818164041.htm News Item #4 – Solar Energy Update https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/organic-solar-cells-and-other-solar-advances/ Segment #2. Who’s That Noisy Segment #3. Interview with Dr. Seema Yasmin https://seemayasmin.com/speaking/ Segment #4. 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: Common Myths #1) The notion that humans have as many hair follicles as chimpanzees, on average, is false, with our closest cousins having 2-3 times as many as humans. #2) Bagpipes do not have their origin in Scotland, but are rather an ancient instrument. In fact, Nero was more likely to play the bagpipes than the fiddle while Rome burned (although that is also a myth). #3) Contrary to common lore, the QWERTY keyboard layout was not created to limit jamming but rather was designed for convenience. Segment #5. Skeptical Quote of the Week "If you have an effect that nobody can replicate, then your phenomenon fades away. So if you want to have a legacy, then you jolly well better have an effect that replicates" Susan Fiske, Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs - Department of Psychology, Princeton University


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