Apparently the first thread disappeared with the forum reboot. Although "spirituality and religion" is not the most appropriate place for it, let's start a new science thread here just for old times' sake. Therefore, feel free to post your science-related topics here. Keep in mind the principles of "uniformity of law" or inductive proof, uniformity of process, and falsifiability of claims.
That's a great article. I find it sad when scientists dismiss the study of the philosophy of science as "useless". One benefit is that it can help scientists come to appropriate interpretation of their results. Quantum mechanics consistently leads to solutions in which 2 states of equal energy/characteristics mix (i.e. degenerate states) and form one of lower and one of higher energy. I can believe that there is an anti-universe out there that is completely incomprehensible to us. I guess it would be empty, though. Unless we are the anti-universe. PS - no pictures of Spock's beard, please. The anti-universe would not have beards, TVs or starships.
http://www.american.com/archive/2012/may/science-vs-pr I don't usually post American Enterprise Institute links ,but this is a good one. I would excerpt, but that is a pain in the ass on an Ipad. Basically, it talks about the role of public relations in distoing perceptions of what science actually does.
In my own field of finance, I see this. Enterprising professors seeking to make a name for themselves for consulting revenues issue a press report to the investment media about a paper they are going to publish. The paper is appropriately hedged, because sure enough when you read it much of the data are statistically insignificant. The professors maybe kind of have found something, or maybe not. In the press release and thus the articles that end up being written, the conclusion is a sure thing.
This was just a case of the American Chemical Society desperate for favorable publicity for the field of chemistry. The author is a former president of the society.
In a similar vein to the article Dr. Wankler posted. Should scientists be more forthcoming about their flaws?
Blah blah blah... space is so boring. Steak, on the other hand: Steak Specialists Discover a New Cut of Beef
If you're asked to explain the Higgs Boson... A useful guide. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/shortcuts/2012/jul/04/how-explain-higgs-boson-discovery How to explain Higgs boson discovery Everyone's talking about the 'God particle' – but what if someone asks you to explain it. Well, it depends if it's an A-level physics student or a religious fundamentalist.
My wife worked in a lab (bio-chem lab) a few years back that had a mormon, Italian Catholic, Mexican Catholic, and a Buddhist, not to mention a gay male and a german couple. They had a lot of science-based meaing-of-life conversations, some of which were at dinners and barbeques. Really interesting conversations.
WE COME IN PEACE! Fantastic moment, and the new discoveries of things we didn't expect are going to be eye opening. Skycrane worked, and successfully trolled all the doubters 7 minutes of terror was intense.