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“Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself” - Richard Feynman

“Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself” - Richard Feynman. What is science? Science is a process of trying to understand the world by making models (or theories) which have predictive power. It usually involves: • Observing

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“Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself” - Richard Feynman

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  1. “Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself” -Richard Feynman

  2. What is science? Science is a processof trying to understand the world by making models (or theories) which have predictive power. It usually involves: • Observing • Looking for patterns (which can be clues to underlying laws) This may involve - Sorting - Classifying - Measuring • Suggesting an explanation (hypothesis) which explains all the observations made so far AND predicts new ones • Making an experiment or collecting more data which tests the prediction • (If the experiment fails) Suggesting another hypothesis, and trying another experiment.... • Telling others what you have discovered. Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself” -Richard Feynman

  3. Let’s highlight some of the pseudoscience you’ve found in homework 1, and decide if it’s funny or serious.

  4. Letter to Editor, Boulder Daily Camera I became familiar with the vaccine controversy after being shocked by the number of immunizations (eight) recommended at my baby's first check-up. I would not allow this many bugs to be injected into my own body, let alone that of a 2-month-old baby. I proceeded to research the issue and learned the following: The rate of autism in the U.S. has increased from 1 in 10,000 in the late 1980s to 1 in 150 today. During this same period, the number of vaccines in the recommended childhood schedule has more than doubled… While epidemiological evidence does not support a link between vaccines and autism, toxicological and clinical evidence does. The epidemiological studies themselves are seriously flawed in many cases by, for example, cutting off the studies at age 3, before many cases of autism have been diagnosed. The Center for Disease Control (which had to be dragged kicking and screaming to ban mercury from childhood vaccines) has refused to study the vaccine-autism link. It has discounted the many testimonials from parents who believe their child's slide into autism was triggered by vaccines. ... It doesn't make sense to potentially put 1 percent of children at risk of for autism to protect against illnesses like chicken pox with a 0.002 percent fatality rate. It's sad that many parents have lost faith in the medical establishment and must struggle with these difficult risk-benefit decisions on their own. Even sadder is the growing number of families affected by the ongoing tragedy of the autism epidemic.

  5. Is an attitude like this a serious hazard to this woman’s neighbors? • Yes • No • I’m not sure

  6. Pools and schools closed… file:///C:/MyDocuments/Demos+Labs/PseudoScience+SurprisingData/measlesdeaths.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy

  7. Is a drug like this tested by the government before it is sold to you? • Yes, tested that it won’t kill you. • Yes, tested for effectiveness. • Tested with a control group that takes a “placebo.” • All of the above • No, it is not tested

  8. Is a drug like this tested by the government before it is sold to you? • Yes, tested that it won’t kill you. • Yes, tested for effectiveness. • Tested with a control group that takes a “placebo.” • All of the above • No, it is not tested

  9. Is a health supplement like this tested by the government before it is sold to you? Ephedra Is Back and Legal and it's the best weight loss aid the world has ever known. 100% organic, all-natural herb that grows in China. It's been used by humans for many centuries, and is currently being used safely by millions of people. We have it in stock. Right now. We're the only company with this product in stock. You'll lose those pounds you've been fighting with, and you'll do it without being hungry, spending hours in the gym, or having any adverse side effects. Our proprietary combination of ephedra, caffeine and aspirin is optimally designed to maximize your weight loss with zero side effects. The pounds will literally fall off your body. At least 5-8 pounds per week. We Swear By It. • Yes, tested that it won’t kill you. • Yes, tested for effectiveness. • Tested with a control group that takes a “placebo.” • All of the above • No, it is not tested

  10. Is a health supplement like this tested by the government before it is sold to you? Ephedra Is Back and Legal and it's the best weight loss aid the world has ever known. 100% organic, all-natural herb that grows in China. It's been used by humans for many centuries, and is currently being used safely by millions of people. We have it in stock. Right now. We're the only company with this product in stock. You'll lose those pounds you've been fighting with, and you'll do it without being hungry, spending hours in the gym, or having any adverse side effects. Our proprietary combination of ephedra, caffeine and aspirin is optimally designed to maximize your weight loss with zero side effects. The pounds will literally fall off your body. At least 5-8 pounds per week. We Swear By It. • Yes, tested that it won’t kill you. • Yes, tested for effectiveness. • Tested with a control group that takes a “placebo.” • All of the above • No, it is not tested • Tell how it killed a 23 year old Baltimore Orioles pitcher…

  11. If you become a journalist, and cover a science story, don’t be a lazyjournalist.Explain the science, not the personalities.Don’t create fake controversy.

  12. Is an issue truly controversial if 2/3 of scientists support one idea or theory, and 1/3 support another? • Yes • No (Opinion question. 1 pt. any answer.)

  13. Is an issue truly controversial if 95% of scientists support one idea or theory, and 5% support another? • Yes • No (Opinion question. 1 pt. any answer.)

  14. Is an issue truly controversial if 999 out of 1000 of scientists support one idea or theory, and 1 supports another? • Yes • No (Opinion question. 1 pt. any answer.)

  15. Global warming is significantly affected by humans.The universe is expanding and began about 14 billion years ago.Life constantly evolves and the changes may or may not be harmful to us. Two are about 999 to 1, and one statement about 95% to 5%. AIDS; Bird flu…Maybe universe started yesterday..

  16. Good sites: • http://www.snopes.com/ • http://www.nationalacademies.org/ • http://www.aaas.org/ How about TV? My Fox News (Faux News) and ghost stories… Are YOU better than the average TV commentator?

  17. You want to test a new headache pill. You find 100 people with a headache, and give them the pill. After an hour 60 of them say their headache is gone. You conclude the pill works. Good science, or not? • Good • Not

  18. Time to…identify the class psychics. But first – why are we doing all the science and pseudoscience discussion? CU Arts & Sciences says about the core: Courses in this area encourage the active practice of critical reasoning, evaluation, and discussion. They do so by providing opportunities for student participation beyond those offered in ordinary lecture courses, labs, or seminars. Critical thinking courses address matters of controversy within a given field of study or in the society at large. Students learn how to construct, defend, and criticize arguments; identify and assess tacit assumptions; and gather and evaluate evidence. You have to learn how….you don’t HAVE to do it in your life!

  19. Can show student-identified bad www sites (from homework #1) if time.

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