Scientific illiteracy all the rage among the glitterati

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

When it comes to science, Barack Obama is no better than many of us. Today he joins the list of shame of those in public life who made scientifically unsupportable statements in 2008.

Closer to home, Nigella Lawson and Delia Smith faltered on the science of food, while Kate Moss, Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore all get roastings for scientific illiteracy.

The Celebrities and Science Review 2008, prepared by the group Sense About Science, identifies some of the worst examples of scientific illiteracy among those who profess to know better – including top politicians.

Mr Obama and John McCain blundered into the MMR vaccine row during their presidential campaigns. "We've seen just a skyrocketing autism rate," said President-elect Obama. "Some people are suspicious that it's connected to the vaccines. This person included. The science right now is inconclusive, but we have to research it," he said.

His words were echoed by Mr McCain. "It's indisputable that [autism] is on the rise among children, the question is what's causing it," he said. "There's strong evidence that indicates it's got to do with a preservative in the vaccines."

Exhaustive research has failed to substantiate any link to vaccines or any preservatives. The rise in autism is thought to be due to an increased awareness of the condition.

Sarah Palin, Mr McCain's running mate, waded into the mire with her dismissal of some government research projects. "Sometimes these dollars go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I kid you not," Ms Palin said. But the geneticist Ellen Solomon takes Ms Palin to task for not understanding the importance of studies into fruit flies, which share roughly half their genes with humans. "They have been used for more than a century to understand how genes work, which has implications in, for example, understanding the ageing process," she said.

Hollywood did not escape the critical analysis of the scientific reviewers, who lambasted Tom Cruise, for his comments on psychiatry being a crime against humanity, and Julianne Moore, who warned against using products full of unnatural chemicals.

"The real crime against humanity continues to be the enduring misery caused by the major mental illnesses across the globe, and the continuing lack of resources devoted to supporting those afflicted," said the psychiatrist Professor Simon Wessely.

In answer to Moore, the science author and chemist John Emsley said that natural chemicals are not automatically safer than man-made chemicals, which undergo rigorous testing.

"Something which is naturally sourced may well include a mixture of things that are capable of causing an adverse reaction," Dr Emsley said.

Other mentions went to the chefs Nigella Lawson, who said "mind meals" can make you feel different about life, and Delia Smith, who claimed it is possible to eliminate sugar from the diet. The dietician Catherine Collins said that Lawson's support for expensive allergy foods is a wasted opportunity and too costly for those on limited incomes, while Lisa Miles of the British Nutrition Foundation said that sugars are part of a balanced diet.

Kate Moss, Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore all espoused the idea that you can detoxify your body with either diet (scientifically unsupportable) or, in the case of Moore, products such as "highly trained medical leeches" which make you bleed. Scientists point out that diet alone cannot remove toxins and that blood itself is not a toxin, and even if it did contain toxins, removing a little bit of it is not going to help.

But top prize went to the lifestyle guru Carole Caplin for denouncing a study showing that vitamin supplements offer little or no health benefits as "rubbish" – it is the third year on the run that she has been mentioned in the review. Science author and GP Ben Goldacre pointed out that the study Ms Caplin referred to was the most authoritative yet published. "Carole should understand that research can often produce results which challenge our preconceptions: that is why science is more interesting than just following your nose," Dr Goldacre said.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/...ti-1212406.html

[HAL 9000 96]

Yawn. Damn scientists and reporters putting things into the context they want it to be. Leave Nigella alone!!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Al Gore didn't make the list?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The global warming topic was avoided..... imagine that.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The global warming topic was avoided..... imagine that.

Let's call Fox. They'll be fair and balanced.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

This is news? I thought it was common knowledge that a good percentage of celebrities and politicians, like their commoner counterparts, have only the most tenuous grasp of scientific knowledge.

Edited December 27, 2008 by Wacken

[HAL 9000 96]

God, this whole "vaccines cause autism" ####### is so ridiculous, not to mention dangerous. I was pretty ashamed to see Obama fall for it. No scientifically credible study has shown a connection between these vaccines and autism, yet this myth continues to pervade because the media and our politicians keeps lending it credibility.

Well at least in this article he didn't mention it established causality... more like what some suspect.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

When GW Bush was asked to comment on why he didn't make it on the list, he replied, "Science? (Laughs) That's for nerds!"

[spookyturtle 9,466]

When GW Bush was asked to comment on why he didn't make it on the list, he replied, "Science? (Laughs) That's for nerds!"

He doesn't know what science or a nerd is.

[Amby 490]

[NickD 203]

Some people are suspicious that it's connected to the vaccines

Listened to a doctor that spent his life developing new vaccines, stated at first, it is job to keep babies alive, not to make them ill or cause autism. Been some time since I heard this program, and have a poor medical memory. But recall him stating is something like you are screwing in light bulb, then an earthquake occurs. So does screwing in a light bulb cause earthquakes? In the very few cases where autism did show up, like one baby in hundreds of thousands, it was concluded that this baby received a vaccine, again do not recall the type, that caused the autism. But he did point out that in extended studies, the numbers of babies per thousands that are born with autism has not increased with these life saving vaccines. Several parents did call in with autistic kids to verify that, and also stated that autism was in their heritage, but can't blame heritage, can we? Problem is in the jeans, or is that genes.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

God, this whole "vaccines cause autism" ####### is so ridiculous, not to mention dangerous. I was pretty ashamed to see Obama fall for it. No scientifically credible study has shown a connection between these vaccines and autism, yet this myth continues to pervade because the media and our politicians keeps lending it credibility.

I agree.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

He doesn't know what science or a nerd is.

GWB: Nerds? Ain't that those little pink and purple candies? I like those! I like...I like to pop a few in my mouth right before I go brush clearin'! Heh-heh-heh.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

He doesn't know what science or a nerd is.

GWB: Nerds? Ain't that those little pink and purple candies? I like those! I like...I like to pop a few in my mouth right before I go brush clearin'! Heh-heh-heh.

At least he doesn't have that stupid smirk on his face.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

He doesn't know what science or a nerd is.

GWB: Nerds? Ain't that those little pink and purple candies? I like those! I like...I like to pop a few in my mouth right before I go brush clearin'! Heh-heh-heh.

At least he doesn't have that stupid smirk on his face.

He's got that frat boy look on his face. Like he just gave one of those science nerds a snuggy.