2012 List of Goofy pseudo-science claims from celebrities

At this time every year the charity Sense About Science (SAS) lists the truly daft things that various celebrities have endorsed and embraced during the past year. Amazingly 2012 was different, they were all a very sensible lot and there is nothing to report …. er, sadly no, instead it was exactly what you might expect. So … Read more

Peter Higgs and Richard Dawkins hold different views of the public criticism of daft beliefs

The UK’s Guardian has an article that warrants some additional comment. The primary headline grabbing thrust is that the Higgs boson theorist says he agrees with those who find Dawkins’ approach to dealing with believers ’embarrassing’. “What Dawkins does too often is to concentrate his attack on fundamentalists. But there are many believers who are just … Read more

Why does having children make you live longer?

If you have kids, you will in fact live longer, this has been observed to be true, but why? A new study gives us some interesting insights. There is a study reported within “Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health” entitled “Childlessness, parental mortality and psychiatric illness: a natural experiment based on in vitro fertility treatment … Read more

Climate Change Denier Leaks IPCC Report Online – Blames Sun for Global Warming

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is preparing what is known as its Fifth Assessment Report for publication next year .. and somebody has leaked a draft. It’s an open process, but reviewers are not supposed to publish. The BBC Reports … In a statement, the IPCC says it “regrets this unauthorized posting which … Read more

Evolution really is True … even when you claim it is not because scientists say so

This is quite funny, well-known young earth creationist, Paul Nelson gets completely pwned. Dr Jerry Coyne is a professor of biology who is well-known in some circles for going head-to-head with the intelligent design community. Least you wonder who they are, those are the “God did it” brigade who attempt to make it all more palatable by stripping away all the religious bits … Read more