Science & pseudoscience – Part of chapter 3 Including guest appearance by religion & popular (but incorrect) culture

Have you read the book at all yet? 1.Yes 2.No 3.Abstain

Scientific Method 5.Share results/ ideas with others (not in book) Science is useless if nobody learns! 4.TEST IT - Careful observations taken to d etermine if observations disprove the hypothesis. Try to isolate the cause/effect -- Control groups, examine only one thing at a time, remove psychological effects. 3. Make a prediction about something new 2.Form hypothesis 1.Make observations - Ask a question Cyclical process – can (re-)start anywhere in the cycle. 6.If hypothesis fails: Revise or reject the hypothesis If hypothesis didn’t fail: Look for new predictions Real world Real biases Personalities (Objectivity p. 83)

Which step is most difficult for astronomers compared to other scientists? 1.Asking question 2.Forming hypothesis 3.Making prediction 4.Test hypothesis 5.Share ideas/results with others 6.Revising/rejecting hypothesis

Hallmarks of Science – figure 3.26 p 79 (Good scientific theories / good science) There are 3 big ideas about “science” vs. other kinds of thinking. 1.Have TESTABLE predictions (green circle) TESTABLE means you must be able to prove the idea WRONG 2.Seek NATURAL explanations of observations (blue circle) Why natural? Those can be disproved! (blue circle) These first two usually split science and religion. 3.Pick the simplest model that explains observations. (Occam’s razor) Make sure experiment is repeatable (pages 79 & 82). Good science doesn’t need to be CORRECT. Very few good scientific ideas ARE right. Examples: quantum physics, theory of relativity, “law of gravity.”

What’s in a name? Theories… pages Guess – any old random idea to explain observations Hypothesis – an idea that can be tested Theory – a hypothesis that has been tested a LOT and has passed them all. It can be wrong, but according to current research, that isn’t likely. Everyday English uses “guess,” “theory,” and “hypothesis” as synonyms. Scientists do not. A scientific Theory, like evolution, is NOT just a guess. Evolution is the only good model that is backed by tests, data, and evidence. It is the only scientific model.

Religion vs. Science No scientist claims a theory is definitely correct. Theories can always be disproven later. (Gravity.) All scientific matters can be tested. Not all religious ideas can be tested. Science does NOT contradict religion Science: how processes appear to be related. rules that nature follows NOT why these rules work. Science is testable It’s religion if you can’t do an experiment to prove it wrong. Faith Religion isn’t always testable. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong!

(Pseudo) Anti-Science p. 83 pseudo = false Common and popular examples: Creationism (Intelligent design) Astrology Palm reading, Tarot cards Religion with science words (NOT science; don’t teach it in science class) Predicting future by birth date 20 million people = same birthday; 4 births per sec. 10,000 babies born in US every day. (1 per 8 seconds) -Semi-legit! Acting mixed with spoken & body language interpretations! Personality reading! Astrology, Palm Reading, etc. tend to make very general predictions which YOU then match to observations of your life. Or they ask leading questions, and they follow your lead. Science works exactly opposite. Observe, then make predictions.

I’m on a soapbox for this slide… Anti-Science in popular culture No scientific study has linked vaccines to having autism. –Many scientific studies link lack-of-vaccines to getting sick. –In first half of 2008, measles more than tripled in the USA. –Most cases were kids who didn’t get a vaccine, fearing autism. –Measles can kill you. It is contagious. –VACCINES SAVE LIVES! Almost all (90+%) science indicates global warming is human-caused and will cause environmental and financial damage over the next 100 years. –My generation can’t / won’t fix the problem. –Your generation will have to.

A scientific theory can be a fact. 1.True 2.False

Summary Science Testable No conflict with religion How can we test that? How can we know?