You know, it occurs to me that we know practically nothing through science. By “we” I mean all of us as individuals, not all of us collectively. I “know” that an object, when dropped, will accelerate until its acceleration is offset by the friction of the atmosphere, a speed we call “terminal velocity.” I know [...]

So my post about flossing got some response through Facebook. A former colleague of mine said that there actually was scientific evidence showing that tooth decay caused heart disease.

Using Google Scholar I went looking for it, but didn’t find anything particularly convincing. I found several large studies that looked for [...]

On the Today Show last Monday I heard a flossing advocate explain that people with gingivitis are more likely to develop heart disease as well, so you can reduce your chances of getting heart disease simply by flossing your teeth.

The host was incredulous and so was I.

The American Anthropological Association (AAA, not to be confused with the automobile advocacy group) caused a furor among anthropologists because they decided to remove the word “science” from the mission statement. And you thought mission statements were just a way to waste time arguing and eating company donuts.

The Elf and I watched the Mythbusters take on the “plant ESP” myth — also called “Primary Perception” — last night. You heard this one? A lie detector expert named Clive Backster hooks plants up to lie detectors. When he attacks the plant the lie detector measures an increase in stress. Even creepier: he gets [...]

Want to make a small number look big? If at all possible, convert it to a percent.

The lesson is plain, says Dr. Charles Glueck, director of the University of Cincinnati Lipid Research Center, one of twelve centers that participated in the project: “For every 1% reduction in total cholesterol level, there is [...]

It didn’t take very long at all for another “linked to” study to enter my peripheral vision. The headline reads:

Attention Problems Traced to Time Spent Gaming [ Continue Reading →