The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #487 November 4th, 2014

Guest Rogue: David Young

Segment #1. This Day in Skepticism

November 8, 1895 – While experimenting with electricity, Wilhelm Röntgen discovers the X-ray.

Segment #2. News Items

News Item #1 – Virgin Galactic Crash https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29876154

News Item #2 – Homeopathy for Ebola https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-for-ebola/

News Item #3 – Fanged Deer https://www.livescience.com/48585-fanged-deer-sighting-afghanistan.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+C2C-InTheNews+%28Feed+-+Coast+to+Coast+-+In+the+News%29

News Item #4 – Time Undone https://www.npr.org/2014/11/03/361069820/new-clock-may-end-time-as-we-know-it

News Item #5 – Center of our Galaxy https://phys.org/news/2014-11-astronomers-puzzle-bizarre-center-galaxy.html

News Item #6 – Feng Shui https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1630864/hk10-million-public-funds-spent-fung-shui-over-past-decade

Segment #3. Who's That Noisy

Answer to last week: stone on ice

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: China

#1) Over 100 elementary schools in China are sponsored by tobacco companies, who have their name on the school, logo on the school uniforms, and the walls contain slogans such as, “Work hard for society; Tobacco can help you become an achiever!”

#2) Some police stations in China use guard geese instead of dogs to keep watch at night.

#3) The Guiness Book of World Records lists Ma Yu Ching's Bucket Chicken House in Kaifeng as the oldest documented restaurant in the world, in continuous operation in the same location since 1153 AD.

Segment #5. Skeptical Quote of the Week

"Boy, the idea of chaos is a scary proposition to some people. It is a scary proposition. And they will believe some ridiculous things to avoid the idea of having to deal with chaos. I say bring it on."

• George Hrab

Announcements:

SGU Down Under Tour Info: https://www.theskepticsguide.org/sgu-down-under-2