Ep 156: Science... sort of - Mars 'n' Stars

00:00:00 - Not to alarm you, but it's possible we're all living in a simulation (see Rationally Speaking for a primer). Some physicists have thought up a measurement that might prove our reality or show it for the farce it is. Ben poo poos, and the conversation meanders back and forth between philosophy and physics, eventually just settling on The Matrix. 00:36:28 - Drinks can help you simulate happiness. Ben enjoys the oddly spelled Jamaican Cream Soda Sof Drink. Charlie has risks his tongue trying the Voodoo Bacon Maple Ale made from Rogue. And Ryan experiments with a quinoa old-fashioned mixed up with Corsair's new Quinoa Whiskey. 00:44:42 - Trailer Trash Talk tackles the legacy of 007 by breaking down our thoughts on the upcoming 23rd installment of secret agent James Bond, Skyfall. 00:59:34 - Methane on Mars, if it's there the Curiosity rover intends to find it. Charlie helps break down what such a discovery would mean, and the instrumentation that could make it happen. 01:13:147 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like methane on Mars. Hard to detect and we're not sure what they mean if we we find them. Ben has an e-mail from Steven, a fan of Feynman, asking our thoughts on new forms of higher learning like the Khan Academy? A lively discussion on the efficacy of lectures ensues. And be sure to go hear Ben participate in a panel discussion of education in podcasting from Podcast Squared. Ryan reads an iTunes review from Rob G. who makes sure to give his dog longer walks to listen to the show. Good for the dog, good for Rob's brain. And Charlie has an update from Temporal Tony about the merits of being a science teacher over an actual researcher as well as getting an NSF grant to study extremophiles in China even after citing this very show in her personal statement. Risky move, Tony.   Thanks for listening and be sure to check out the Brachiolope Media Network for more great science podcasts!   Music for this week's show provided by: The Grid - Daft Punk Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix James Bond Theme - Moby At War With The Sun - The Big Pink