“Science is a way of trying not to fool
yourself”
-Richard Feynman
Good science
vs. bad science
or
pseudoscience.
An important
class goal, and
useful, too!
A friend tells you, “I took Echinacea and
felt better…Echinacea works!
Would this convince you that Echinacea
works?
Yes
No
OK, Let’s be honest here. Which would
you believe more, something a good friend
told you or the results of repeated scientific
studies that you looked up on the web?
Something my friend told me
Results of repeated scientific studies
(either answer is worth 2 points!)
My grandfather, beer and cigars.
Let’s see how accurate you and your friends are. Count the basketball
passes…
Characteristics of Science and
Pseudoscience
(summary on DD web site)
Favorite good/bad sites from homework 1.
But first…Cargo Cult Science
Bad:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0AcunusOjFw (Nibiru)
www.treatallcancer.com
http://news.aol.com/article/scientist-says-bigfoot-fails-dnatest/136118?icid=100214839x1207491082x1200391066
Good:
http://www.sciencenews.org/
www.snopes.com
www.astronomy.com
www.nasa.gov (BUT!)
National Academies*
American Association for the Advancement of
Science*
* linked on our “Good Science” page