The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe The Skeptics Guide #1098 - Jul 25 2026
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Jul 25, 2026 Live show vibes from Madison with audience banter and quick games. Debates over constitutional fixes like ending the Electoral College and banning gerrymandering. A look at a rocket test failure and its fallout. Exploration of why people report ghostly experiences. New desalination tech that recovers lithium. Heavy cosmic rays and AI risks for engineered bioweapons are discussed. Science-or-fiction Great Lakes trivia.
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Laser Etched Panels Turn Brine Into Sellable Salts
- Researchers used femtosecond laser-etched solar evaporation panels to channel salts to edges, preventing clogging and concentrating salts for sale.
- The method yields purified salts (including lithium) rather than brine, reducing harmful ocean discharge.
Ultraheavy Nuclei Explain Superhigh Cosmic Rays
- Ultra‑high energy cosmic rays may be ultra‑heavy nuclei (many protons) so magnetic acceleration gives them vastly more energy and helps them survive long trips.
- Bob Novella explains heavy nuclei feel stronger electromagnetic forces and resist energy loss via photodisintegration longer than lone protons.
Set Hard Time Limits For Meetings
- Impose strict time limits on meetings to force focus and prevent fill-the-time inefficiency.
- Stephen Novella argues a one-hour hard stop would have shortened many currently bloated meetings that expand to fill allotted time.
