The Skeptics Guide #776 - May 23 2020 (Ad Free)
Added 2020-05-23 15:37:36 +0000 UTCGuest Rogue David Cheeseman
COVID-19 UpdateNews Items: Online Symptom Checkers, Crewed Dragon Final Test, Robot Boots, Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
Who's That Noisy
Your Questions and E-mails: Inventor of E-mail
Science or Fiction
Comments
In Bob's report on the Robo-boots it seems that he's married to the idea that bicycles are efficient because, he believes, a rider is using their legs through 100% of the cranking cycle. So much so, that he negates suggestion by others that are also correct, even more so than his. On a normal pedal, once a rider's foot moves past bottom-dead center and is now on the upstroke the rider is not generating energy from that leg. However, avid cyclists utilize toe clips or clipless pedals that bind to their shoe, which would allow them to pull through the upstroke, thereby utilizing that energy. If you've ever ridden a bicycle or been on an elliptical you can definitely feel the distinction between legs. While I knew this from just being a bicycle rider and mechanic there are some great answers to the question of how a bicycle is so efficient on Quora. https://qr.ae/pNyxRC Bob isn't completely wrong, but he could stand to be more flexible in fielding questions and maybe speculate less. For instance, last week he speculated that using paper towels were better for drying your hands because it wiped off the virus due to friction. From what I've been able to find there's no evidence to support that fact. Just washing well and then drying your hands, in whatever way, is more important as moisture is a better breeding ground for viruses.
Noel Chrzanowski
2020-05-27 04:24:36 +0000 UTCShout out to our guest rogue! My wife was born in Groton, Connecticut because her father, a Navy submarine engineer, was stationed there.
Brad Gosser
2020-05-23 20:27:03 +0000 UTC
