Skeptics Guide #934

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #934 June 1st 2023 Segment #1. Quickie with Bob Brain Stimulation to Improve Function https://www.sciencealert.com/biggest-study-yet-suggests-electric-stimulation-boosts-brain-function Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Harvesting Energy from Air https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/harvesting-energy-from-water-vapor/ News Item #2 – Breakups and Hindsight Bias https://phys.org/news/2023-05-break-ups-hindsight-bias-romantic-relationships.html News Item #3 – AI Seance https://futurism.com/ai-seance News Item #4 – Monster Stars https://www.sciencealert.com/signs-of-monster-stars-10000-times-our-suns-mass-found-at-the-dawn-of-time Segment #3. Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Which Attenborough? Question #2: Trees and CO2 Hi, I’m a recent listener to your podcast and I have a question for your panel. In the 5/29 issue of the New Yorker Magazine, an article on trees questions the wisdom of mass tree plantings as away to combat global warming. Specifically, it says that although the world’s forests absorb around 16 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, they also emit 8 billion tons. I know that some carbon dioxide is emitted due to respiration at night, but these numbers still seem way off. Can this be true? The online version of the story is dated 5/22. WHAT WE OWE OUR TREES Forests fed us, housed us, and made our way of life possible. But they can’t save us if we can’t save them. By Jill Lepore May 22, 2023 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. #1) A newly published clinical study finds that a daily eyedrop can partially reverse myopia (nearsightedness) in children. #2) A study conducted during the pandemic shutdown finds that over the short term reducing pollution increases global warming. #3) Researchers report the production of an organic solar cell with a record-breaking efficiency >19%, which is close to commercial silicon solar cells. Segment #5. Skeptical Quote of the Week “The plural of anecdote is not data” Erika Engelhaupt


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