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Science Friday > Archives > 2003 > August
> August 29, 2003:
Hour Two: Mars / Skepticism and Belief
Ever consulted a pet psychic? Swear you saw a UFO? Think you met
Elvis and Bigfoot at the local convenience store? In this hour of
Science Friday, we'll talk about science, pseudoscience and the nature
of scientific proof. Why do we believe in strange things? Are we skeptical
enough?
Plus, the time is right for looking at Mars from Earth, with the
Red Planet closer to us now than it's been in centuries. We'll get
the latest on the climate of Mars, and hear about research into whether
or not the surface of Mars may once have been ocean-covered. The latest
findings from one team say 'probably not.' Call in with your questions
and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern), and share your opinions
online in our Listeners' Lounge (registration required).
Guests:
Philip Christensen
Korrick Professor of Geological
Sciences
Principle Investigator, Mars THEMIS
and Mars TES
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
Michael Shermer
Publisher, Skeptic magazine
Author, "Skeptic"
monthly column, Scientific American magazine
Author,
"Why People Believe Wierd Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and
Other Confusions of Our Time" (Owl Books, 2002)
Pasedena, California
Stuart Vyse
Author,
'Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition' (Oxford University
Press, 2000)
Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology
Connecticut College
New London, CT
Books/Articles Discussed:
Related Links:
Mars Exploration: Home
Mars
2001 Odyssey THEMIS
Thermal
Emission Spectrometer Project Homepage
NASA
- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took this close-up of the red planet
Mars
Skeptic.com
CSICOP
On-line
James
Randi Educational Foundation
The
Skeptic's Dictionary
This segment produced by Annette Heist and Anna Lee Strachan
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