The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe The Skeptics Guide #1031 - Apr 12 2025
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Apr 12, 2025 In this episode, the hosts dive into the fascinating topic of de-extincting the dire wolf, debating the ethics and challenges involved. They tackle misconceptions about celestial phenomena and the flat Earth theory with humor. There's a keen discussion on the risks and responsibilities of AI, contrasting expert views with public skepticism. Listeners are drawn into the world of haptic technology, exploring its potential in VR. Plus, they discuss planned obsolescence in consumer products and genetic sequencing's nuances, making for an engaging mix of science and culture.
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TikTok Astronomy Misconceptions
- TikTok users question how Mercury and Venus never eclipse the sun, demonstrating misconceptions of scale.
- Another user wonders why Venus appears in front of the moon in a picture, missing the concept of perspective.
Dire Wolf De-Extinction
- Colossal Biosciences uses ancient DNA to create dire wolf-like animals.
- They engineered 14 genes across 20 loci from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull.
Dire Wolf Hybrids
- Colossal Biosciences inserted dire wolf DNA into the genome of a gray wolf.
- This raises questions about species definition and whether this is true de-extinction or a hybrid.