Skeptics Guide #935

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #935 June 8th 2023 Segment #1. Canadian Fires and Global Warming Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – The Coming of AR https://www.zdnet.com/google-amp/article/apple-vision-pro-first-take-3-reasons-this-changes-everything/ News Item #2 – The Causes of Cultural Differences https://theconversation.com/nearly-20-of-the-cultural-differences-between-societies-boil-down-to-ecological-factors-new-research-206981 News Item #3 – Space Travel and Brain Health https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-33331-8 News Item #4 – UFO Whistleblower https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/another-ufo-whistleblower/ Segment #3. Your Questions and E-mails Question #1: Which Attenborough? Question #2: Breaking Placebo Effects Hi and thanks for the show. Does being vocally sceptical potentially break the very real placebo effect for others? Am I possibly doing a disservice to my friends when I argue against the homeopathic 'treatment' that helps them? Jaysen Naidoo South Africa 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: Weird Food #1) In Cambodia a popular delicacy is deep fried tarantula, a custom that arose out of necessity during the lean times under the Khmer Rouge. #2) Rhododendron honey is an expensive treat in Northern Australia, where the low levels of toxins are considered to add a unique and spicy flavor. #3) Corn smut is an invading gray fungus that is considered a scourge to corn growers, but eaten as a delicacy in Mexico. Segment #5. Skeptical Quote of the Week “Absolute certainty is a privilege of uneducated minds and fanatics. It is for scientific folk and unattainable ideal.” Caassius Jackson Keyser


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