Skeptic Check: Mayhem and Octoberhem

Big Picture Science

Science, Technology

4.5 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 2 May 2011

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The end is nigh. Only, on which nigh should we rely? According to billboards, Judgment Day is in May and the end of the world follows months later. But other authorities claim 2012 as the apocalyptic year, as predicted by the ancient Mayans. It’s a busy time for doomsday prophecy. Find out what’s driving these pessimistic predictions and whether it’s time to cash in your stock portfolio. Meanwhile, a survey of the real threats to Earth, and indeed to the universe, from asteroids, exploding stars, or a big cosmic rip. And the lingering menace of atomic weapons... Is nuclear war inevitable or can intelligence and political will forestall atomic Armageddon? Finally, why everything’s going to be alright! An optimist’s tour of the future. It’s Skeptic Check, our monthly look at critical thinking on Are We Alone. Guests: Phil Plait - Astronomer, and author of the Bad Astronomy blog at Discover Magazine Ron Rosenbaum - Author of How the End Begins: The Road to a Nuclear World War III Catherine Wessinger - Professor of religious studies at Loyola University in New Orleans Mark Stevenson - Author of An Optimist's Tour of the Future: One Curious Man Sets Out to Answer "What's Next?" Descripción en español Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast.
0:05.0	This episode is brought to you by Revolute.
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0:28.1	Until 18th of June 2024, 18 plus, T's and C's apply, exchange fees and fair usage limits supply.
0:35.0	Tech moves fast.
0:38.0	So keep pace with the Daily Crunch Podcast from Tech Crunch.
0:42.0	With new episodes every day, this podcast Crunch new tech, regulations, and more.
0:53.0	Listen to Tech Crunch Daily Crunch now, wherever you get your podcasts.
0:58.0	That's Tech Crunch Daily Crunch, wherever you get your podcasts. Getting the word out that the end of the world is nigh is more efficient than it used to be.
1:14.3	No more people standing on street corners wearing sandwich boards.
1:17.8	May 21, 2011 is to be the rapture, just to be the first day of judgment. I believe it with all my heart.
1:27.0	A wise man.
1:28.0	Harold Camping from Family Radio is claiming that the end is near and if you missed his radio and television
1:33.5	campaign well it's hard to miss his billboards big brown signs reading
1:38.0	judgment day may 21st in a large yellow sticker saying the Bible guarantees it.
1:44.0	Now that's Judgment Day, but the end of the world comes in October.
1:47.0	Welcome to mayhem and October hem on Skeptic Check on Are We Alone.
1:52.0	I'm Molly Bentley.
	...

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