LET'S PUT MORE LIGHT ON A MATTER - Tuesday 5th March 2019
Hi and welcome to this mini write-up. This time last month I just happened to do a radio recording. I aim to share with you the topics I recorded which caught my attention. This was followed by a mini novice research on scientific reports in the paper, the scientific method and lastly, a cry for 'opinion allied with careful research'.
Tuesday 5th February 2019 - radio recording
1 of 5 The first was 'A nagging sore throat' ...I heard how the Professor, leading the study, stated the story was 'Hyped'.
2 of 5 The second was in the programme 'Life Scientific' a comment by Physicist Jim Al-Khalili. 'He is unapologetic towards pseudo Science where it may be said, Quantum Mechanics explains: telepathy, homeopathy and that just because Quantum Mechanics is mysterious, you can't use it to justify any strange theory you want. '
He later went on to say, 'where: politics, music, sports and the arts is in everyday conversation, he's looking forward to science being a part of every day conversation'.
3 of 5 nb/ I popped to my local library and saw an article in New Scientist (Nov 2018 issue), 'The Problem with Grabby Headlines.' Tom Chivers stated, '...the way in which a statistic is presented can change how alarming it sounds. That too often both newspapers and scientific journals, choose the most alarming: but least informative approach.
4 of 5 I then picked up a book entitled '100 Ideas That Changed the World' by Jheni Osman, on the subject heading, 'The Scientific Method-Seeking the Truth' '...the formulation of a hypothesis, followed by an experiment to test the hyposesis-(it addresses the fact in one test a belief can be refuted.) p.24 'the scientific method relies on open and free communication...that secrecy has no place in science...that, 'true science thrives best in glass houses, where everyone can look in. When the windows are blacked out, as in war, the weeds take over ...'
5 of 5 Wednesday 20th Feb I came across a book by James Burgess, 'The Big Earth Book-Ideas and Solutions for a Planet in Crisis'. It was the following quote that really galvanised me and put other news headlines in perspective e.g. The Cost of Obesity-More Money Being Spent on Obesity than Police and Fire Service and doctors prescribe apps to treat child depression etc . He said, 'The stage where opinion, allied to careful research, is desperately needed. Sitting on fences is no longer an option.'
The Big Earth Book: Ideas and Solutions for a Planet in Crisis
by
Professor Al-Khlili concluded his 'Life Scientific', with the comment. 'Science should be something we can all talk about as a society. That science should be a part of the popular conversation...that we talk about: politics...sports or music. Why not talk about the latest discoveries in Science?'
So, my question to us all is: do we want information that potentially massages our fears or do we want a complete picture on matters and opportunities to form an intelligent opimion?
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