Science Myths

The following are science myths, i.e. they do not (accurately) represent science.

Myths exist for many topics: science, environment, health, physics, scientists, ...

Choosing to believe the myths and ignore the science can result in adverse consequences, and can be fatal!

!CRMxI:start

"Science myths"

not, "Science", https://sites.google.com/site/conceptreferencemodel/concepts/science

"The application of science always produces a good outcome"

"The application of science always produces a bad outcome"

"A great scientist knows everything"

"Science is perfect"

"Science is wrong"

not, "FACT: Ignoring science can be costly", https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/inoculating-science-denial/

"A strong correlation implies causation"

"All scientists do experiments in laboratories"

"All scientists wear lab coats"

"All scientists have big fuzzy hair and look like Professor Martyn Poliakoff", https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=fBQnhLGT9RM

"You must have a PhD to do science"

"Rocket scientist", https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/rocket-scientist-20060818-transcipt.html

"Computer scientist"

"Data scientist"

"Science is the same as technology"

"Science is the same as innovation"

"Screening saves lives for all types of cancer", https://www.nature.com/news/the-science-myths-that-will-not-die-1.19022

"Antioxidants are good and free radicals are bad", https://www.nature.com/news/the-science-myths-that-will-not-die-1.19022

"Humans have exceptionally large brains", https://www.nature.com/news/the-science-myths-that-will-not-die-1.19022

"Individuals learn best when taught in their preferred learning style", https://www.nature.com/news/the-science-myths-that-will-not-die-1.19022

"MYTH: Only a few scientists think climate change is real"

not, "FACT: There is a significant scientific consensus on climate change", https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/

"MYTH: People are not having an impact on the climate"

not, "FACT: Evidence of climate change", https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/climate-change-evidence-causes/basics-of-climate-change/

"MYTH: Diesel vehicles are clean and good for the environment"

not, "FACT: the health impact costs of diesel cars are significantly higher than petrol, electric and hybrid vehicles", http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2018-06-06-pollution-cars-and-vans-costs-%C2%A36billion-year-health-damages#

"Radioactive isotopes are good for health: Radium", http://www.open.edu/openlearn/ocw/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=26801&section=2.6

"Any amount of radiation is dangerous", https://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/radiationmyths_myth2.asp

"MYTH: It has been scientifically proven that e-cigarettes are safe"

not, "FACT: the contents and safety implications of e-cigarettes are uncertain", https://sciencelife.uchospitals.edu/2016/05/10/electronic-cigarettes-the-facts-and-the-myths/

"MYTH: Neutrinos travel faster than the speed of light"

not, "FACT: neutrinos do not exceed the speed of light", http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2012/06/once-again-physicists-debunk-faster-light-neutrinos

"MYTH: The LHC particle accelerator at CERN will create a black hole and destroy the Earth"

not, "FACT: similar and greater energies than those at CERN arise from natural cosmic rays, and we are still here", https://angelsanddemons.web.cern.ch/faq/black-hole

!CRMxI:end

Comments

Typically, computer and data "scientists" are unlikely to practice actual science, though some may come close if they develop theories and test them using experiments. Many of these "scientists" might just be computing professionals or data analysts.

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