For more detailed and statistically sound analysis, check out Science and Engineering Indicators 2008, which I posted about last year. It states “[...] many Americans do not reliably distinguish between scientific and nonscientific knowledge claims.” See my linked post for the quote and a few stats if you don’t want to go immediately to the full report.

Hat tip to Decrepit Old Fool’s “A depressing score“, but there are no comments there. He picked it up from Greg Laden’s “I am, like, really smart and stuff“, where you’ll find plenty of commentary.

So, is the sky really falling? Today is one of those days when I’m feeling too old and tired to rant about any of this … after all, what’s a few hundred years of darkness ^[1] now and then in the broader sweep of history?

image: Hannes Grobe, Erlenmeyer flask hg.jpg, Wikipedia

1. yes, I did read the Wikipedia article; can you say snark?

I’ve seen the above quote on several blogs; I’m just adding to the noise, Let’s see:

• angry mob on my side
• I can utter the statement “you are wrong“
• your ideas are bogus because you aren’t affected directly (you have to “feel” it, forget observation/data)

Then there’s the broader subtext of “I’m a celebrity, which trumps experts in the field.” — weakened somewhat in this context since they are both celebrities.

Yeah, I’m convinced by her irrefutable logic. Not.

Also see Anti anti-vaccination [added 2009-02-14].

There are many more articles out there, with much weirder stuff; this one just happened to be handy when I decided to post. Google around and enjoy the circus.

In the BBC article “Q&A: The LHC experiment“, LHC scientist Brian Cox answers some questions from the public. Most of the questions are “ok”, and include the standard “Is it safe?”, which Cox answers with

The LHC has absolutely no chance of destroying anything bigger than a few protons, let alone the Earth. This is not based on theoretical assumptions.

and refers the questioner to the CERN article The safety of the LHC.

But what about Big Bangs?

If you’re asking about the mini-big bangs at the LHC, then the chances are zero. It’s a bit of a misnomer actually to call the collisions mini-Big Bangs – each one has the energy of a mosquito hitting you in the face on a summer’s day, albeit confined to a very small space!

My favorite question is (emphasis mine):

Q: Can bacteria survive?
 
Would it be possible to put various simple bacteria into the experiment to see if they survive. We are relatively certain that plant RNA probably evolved during the Big Bang.
 
Animal DNA on the other hand could not and possibly came from meteorites carrying bacteria from other worlds (Panspermia theory). It would put this idea to bed if it couldn’t survive the Big Bang.

WTF? Who is this “we” of which he speaks? Perhaps they should stick with the Squirrel Smasher, about which a CERN scientist was “quoted”:

Biologists are just jealous of all the attention the LHC has been getting. Since they aren’t real scientists, they had to come up with this atrocity. Next thing you know the psychologists will build a brain smasher to compete.

I never cared much for tree rats anyway.

Update 2008-09-27: added link to Implicative Indicia

According to Presto! Teacher Out Of A Job, Piculas (the teacher) claims this is the result of a student being traumatized by a simple magic trick, using a toothpick and transparent tape, which Piculas demonstrated and showed the class how to perform at home.

Of course the school board says there are additional reasons, and “wizardry” doesn’t appear in hardcopy. Well, if I were on a school board and was accusing someone of wizardry, I wouldn’t want it documented either.

Now, personally, I think it’s the student (and perhaps his parents) who need some sort of intervention — there are some serious psychological issues here.

Of course, it’s probably difficult to get to the real truth of the matter. Piculas will paint himself in the best light. The school board will hide behind their bureaucratic wall of silence for personnel issues, with only a smarmy wink-wink to hint that if only they could talk about it, the tales they could tell.

I guess it wouldn’t be smart to name a science show “Mr. Wizard” today, eh?

images: Wikipedia (click on images)

45% – Lasers work by focusing sound waves. (False)
56% – Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. (False)
76% – Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? (Earth around Sun)
55% – How long does it take for the Earth to go around the Sun: one day, one month, or one year? (One year)

I’m not even going to get into the evolutionary or cosmological questions. The report also states:

The large numbers of Americans who regard astrology as at least somewhat scientific is an indicator that many Americans do not reliably distinguish between scientific and nonscientific knowledge claims. Available national data cannot differentiate those who misapply what they think are scientific criteria from those who in some respects reject conventional scientific criteria, even though they are familiar with them.

– “Science and Engineering Indicators, published by the National Science Board, provides a broad base of quantitative information on the U.S. and international science and engineering enterprise.”