Andrei Mihai Read online

  The

  pocket

  guide

  to

  Pseudo

  Science

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  Authors

  Andrei Mihai, Tiberius Puiu, Alexandru Micu

  Editors

  Zoe Gordon, Samantha Adler

  Illustrations

  Alexandru Micu

  Foreword By

  Douglas Allchin

  We would like to take this occasion to thank all those who helped make

  this booklet a reality. Our family, friends, and readers who kept our

  spirits high when the going was tough. Our colleagues in the field of

  science journalism, the experts that took their time to walk us through

  the subjects being discussed here, and all the many others who helped

  us along the way -- we thank you.

  ZME Science was established in the summer of 2007. We’ve grown into

  a trusted and provocative source of science news and features since

  then, covering research and developments from all scientific fields. You

  can find us at ZME Science.com.

  © 2018 ZME Science. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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  Contents

  Foreword ........................................................................................... 6

  The psychology of pseudoscience .................................................... 7

  How can we know what’s real and what’s snake oil? .............................. 8

  Why are we writing this? .......................................................................... 10

  References (Introduction) ........................................................................ 11

  Flat Earth ........................................................................................ 13

  Why aren’t planets flat? ............................................................................. 13

  2,000 year-old proof ................................................................................. 14

  Magel an ..................................................................................................... 15

  References (Flat Earth) ............................................................................. 17

  Astrology ......................................................................................... 19

  Testing astrology ....................................................................................... 20

  Astrology studies ....................................................................................... 21

  The Carlson study ..................................................................................... 21

  Astrology works, but only in rigged studies .......................................... 21

  The Forer experiment ............................................................................... 22

  More evidence of paranormal inactivity ................................................ 24

  References (Astrology) ............................................................................. 25

  Homeopathy ................................................................................... 27

  What about the practice? Absolutely implausible ................................ 28

  Homeopathy studies ................................................................................. 29

  Why homeopathy seems to work ............................................................ 30

  Cautionary tales......................................................................................... 31

  A note on natural remedies ...................................................................... 32

  References (Homeopathy) ....................................................................... 33

  5

  Anti-Vaxxing ................................................................................... 35

  Consequences of the vaccine scare .......................................................... 36

  The infamous Wakefield paper ................................................................ 37

  More Anti-vaxxers, more diseases .......................................................... 38

  References (Anti-Vaxxing) ...................................................................... 43

  So, what’s Detox? ............................................................................. 45

  Detoxing and science ................................................................................ 46

  Want a detox? Just ask your liver ............................................................. 47

  A fad ........................................................................................................... 48

  References (Detox) .................................................................................... 49

  Climate change denial ..................................................................... 51

  Surely Earth’s climate has changed before?! ........................................... 51

  How do we know that climate change is happening? ............................ 52

  Climate change deniers ............................................................................ 55

  Nowhere is this campaign as prevalent as in the US ............................. 55

  Ending ........................................................................................................ 57

  References (Climate change denial) ....................................................... 58

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  Foreword:

  The Challenge of Science Con-Artists

  Imitators of science abound. Their motives vary: some are just naïve

  -- they fail to understand what makes science science, but it seems to

  validate their unfounded beliefs. Others want to cash in on the authority

  and prestige of science. They project an image of science, but without

  the substance. Their claims lack evidence. They may sound plausible.

  They may echo what one wants to believe. But they are lies, designed

  to procure personal profit. These persons are science con-artists. Their

  intent is deception and their product is pseudoscience -- a cheap

  masquerade of genuine science.

  Science con-artists use various tactics to gain trust. They wear

  white lab coats and speak reassuringly. They look the part, disguising

  themselves as presumed experts. They cherry pick favorable data and

  hide counterevidence. They pretend friendship. They purport to be your

  al y and savior against vague threats. They raise doubts about alternative

  claims (ironical y, even true claims). Sometimes, they just flood the

  media with their lies until they become so common and familiar that

  they eventual y seem like facts.

  Savvy consumers and citizens will be alert to the wiles of science

  con-artists and purveyors of pseudoscience. They will watch for signs

  of deception, heed the evidence, and realize who is a credible expert and

  who is a bogus imitator. This volume is your guid
e. Enjoy the journey!

  Douglas Allchin,

  Historian, philosopher of science, and science educator.

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  Faulty findings,

  real appeal

  --

  the psychology

  of

  pseudoScience

  The Earth is not flat. Vaccines don’t cause autism. Astrology doesn’t work. Neither does ‘detox’. Bringing a snowball into Congress doesn’t disprove climate change.

  None of those ideas hold any truth, but a growing number of

  people are buying into pseudoscientific beliefs. It’s not easy

  to say exactly why and how this is taking place, but at the

  core of the problem, we feel, lies a lack of trust. In experts, in science, a

  lack of trust in what we don’t understand.

  Pseudoscience propagates this lack of trust. It is, by its very nature, so

  completely opposed to what science is and stands for that it’s corrosive

  to it. These theories are presented as authentic research, but fail to

  meet the standards of the scientific method -- there’s no evidence to

  back them up.

  Just like matter and anti-matter, science and pseudoscience seem

  to cancel each other out with a bang -- and the long-term effects are

  dramatic, often deadly, and insidious [1].

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  We’ve talked to Karen Douglas, a Professor of Social Psychology at

  the University of Kent who specializes in social psychology and the

  belief in conspiracy theories. For her, pseudoscience is a refuge; the safe

  place in our minds where we retreat to feel right, keep our beliefs safe

  from any outside interference, hardships, from being challenged.

  One paper[2] Douglas and her colleagues published explains that pseudoscience offers us a way to make sense of the world when

  information is unavailable or conflicting. It reduces uncertainty and

  bewilderment, both states that we severely dislike. It finds patterns even

  in random events and defends our beliefs from being disproved.

  For Douglas Allchin, a historian and philosopher of science, it’s not just

  about a lack of trust -- it’s also about who to trust. Pseudoscience is a lot

  about power and profit, he argues. People who promote pseudoscience

  are essential y con artists, practicing a deliberate deception. The trick is

  to make it seem real.

  “Hucksters want their claims to look like science for a reason,” Allchin

  explains. “Science works hard to ascertain facts. But just looking like

  science is not the same as having all the evidence. Pseudoscience is like

  a magician’s trick. It seems believable, but it is all crafty il usion.”

  The line between science and

  pseudoscience can sometimes

  Which brings us to the

  be tricky to delineate clearly.

  question: how can we

  Science isn’t a sum total of

  know what’s real and

  information whol y beyond

  what’s snake oil?

  critique nor does it claim to

  have all the answers.

  Science is a process[3] -- namely, the process through which we obtain information and gain knowledge. It’s a set of long-proven methods, a

  systematic approach that helps us make sense of the universe around

  us. It’s what brought us planes, nice houses, and the smart device you’re

  reading this on.

  Pseudoscience, on the other hand, is a body of claims built on shaky

  reasoning (and quite a bit of cherry-picking) that masquerades as

  science. It uses seemingly correct but flawed ideas, unscientific methods,

  and manipulation.

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  . . .

  "Hucksters want their claims to look like science for a

  reason. Science works hard to ascertain facts."

  "But just looking like science is not the same as having all

  the evidence," Allchin explains.

  "Pseudoscience is like a magician's trick. It seems

  believable, but it is all crafty illusion."

  . . .

  It’s what brought us diet fads, “fake news”, and the recent measles [4]

  [5] [6] epidemic. The effects of this trend cannot be overstated.

  We’re facing real, significant, near-irreversible climate change [7] [8].

  We’re seeing the reemergence of diseases that our vaccines had almost

  wiped out. We’re trying to go to Mars while some people still insist the

  Earth is flat. Public opinion is increasingly polarized around key issues

  such as energy, climate change, politics, and health. Pseudoscience has a

  big role to play in that [9]. Many situations can be spun and manipulated, taken advantage of.

  But we can’t afford to waste time and energy being divided on topics

  that are clear-cut, or to doubt the experts just because we don’t like what

  they’re saying. We can launch world-ending nukes with a button -- we

  can’t risk having people not listen to basic scientific facts, or judging

  life through a twisted, distorted lens. The growth of pseudoscience in

  all its forms is one of the most worrying developments of our modern

  times, we believe. It’s more important than ever to be well-advised, to

  stay informed and -- why not -- to learn more about the very world we

  live in.

  The time has never been more ripe for good science. So, here, we will be

  presenting some of the most widespread and insidious pseudoscientific

  ideas going around. Every chapter is a new idea, arranged in a way that’s

  short and easy to read.

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  How sure are we?

  Very sure. We’ve only selected topics where the evidence is absolutely

  overwhelming.

  It’s not just about fighting the

  dangers of pseudoscience.

  We do it because the world is

  an incredibly beautiful place,

  Why are we and science is how we explore

  it. This passion to know and

  writing

  understand is what drives us

  forward. In a world where you

  this?

  have the sum of the world’s

  knowledge at the push of a

  button, everyone deserves the

  truth.

  We hope you will enjoy this foray into some of the most popular (and

  dangerous) pseudoscientific beliefs. Since it’s dangerous to go alone,

  here is a short guide with some healthy habits:

  • Listen to facts over opinion. Everyone has their own biases, we all

  think of the world in our own unique way. But it’s important to

  mold your opinions from facts, rather than the other way around.

  • Keep a critical mindset. Double-check. We scour libraries or the

  Internet for data, but we also pay mind to the sources of that data.

  Be critical of others, even yourself, but stay within reason. Don’t

  doubt anything just for the sake of doubting.

  • Trust in the (provable) competence of others. If you want someone

  to fly a plane, you need a pilot. If you want someone to build a

  house, you trust an architect. If you want to learn about science,

  wel , trust the scientists.

  • Stay humble. There’s no quick and easy solution that substitutes

  for years spent in academic study and research

  • Lastly, understand that unrestrained skepticism can be as toxic

  as no skepticism. After a certain point, you si
mply have to defer

  judgment to those whose entire job is to know what they’re talking

  about.

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  References (Introduction)

  1. Eduardo Nicolas Schulz, “Pseudoscience and conspiracy theory are not

  victimless crimes against science”, The Conversation.

  2. Karen Douglas, Robbie Sutton, Aleksandra Cichocka, (2017), “The

  Psychology of Conspiracy Theories, ” Current Directions in Psychological Science.

  3. Alexandru Micu, “What is the scientific method: definition, steps, and

  pitfalls” , ZME Science.

  4. Alex Matthews-King, “Measles epidemic in Europe hits record high,

  World Health Organisation warns” , The Independent.

  5. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, “Measles

  outbreaks still ongoing in 2018 and fatalities reported from four countries”.

  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Measles Cases in 2018” .

  7. Alexandru Micu, “We may be close to runaway climate change, a new

  paper warns” , ZMEScience.

  8. Alexandru Micu, ““No convincing alternative” to human activity causing

  climate change, US’ National Climate Assessment reports”, ZME Science.

  9. Mike Collins, “Pseudo Science And The Age Of Irrationalism”, Forbes.

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  Flat Earth

  The Earth

  is

  Flat-out

  Spherical.

  here’s why, and why we’re sure

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  Flat Earth

  Flat They say that fashion goes round

  in circles. It seems that sometimes,

  pseudoscience also does that -- an

  Earth idea that was widespread 2,000

  years ago is gaining steam on social

  media.

  Yes, I’m talking about Flat Earth.

  The Earth is round. Technical y, it’s an oblate spheroid, but for the

  sake of this discussion, “round” is good enough. The Earth isn’t unique

  in that -- all planets are round, and for a very good reason: gravity.

  Planets start off as clouds of dust and gas[10]. Under the effect of gravity, all of this matter is compressed near its center. Gravity pul s equal y from

  all directions towards the core, giving planets their spherical shape.