Daily Dose of Common Sense

Actor Kirk Cameron is taking on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and preparing to spread woo as far as possible. He and some other religious activists will soon distribute their creationist book, which “picks apart” aspects of Darwin’s work, to colleges around the country. You may remember Cameron from such parts as Mike Seaver on Growing Pains, or perhaps as Dexter Riley in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.

Their book attempts to link Darwin’s ideas to the Nazi holocaust, and discusses the scientist’s alleged “disdain for women.” Oh, really? Because Christianity has such a long and documented history of being PRO woman. Like blaming the sins of the world on Eve. Or, prohibiting contraception because women exist just to bear children. Or, considering women as just property throughout much of history.

Cameron said:

“We have a situation in our country where young people are entering college with a belief in God and exiting with that faith being stripped and shredded. What we want to do is have student make an informed, educated decision before they chuck their faith.”

Only, the information he’s distributing is nothing more than scare tactics and misinformation.

“This has been refuted many, many times. The anti-evolutionist fearmongers have to link Darwin to every perceived evil from mankind,” says Kevin Padian, professor of paleontology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

Do you really think that, if Darwin could be discredited, it would come from Kirk Cameron? Wouldn’t this news make the rounds in the big science journals? We can only hope the students act rationally and listen to scientists and educators instead.

Photo courtesy of Flickr: kevindooley

Look out, ladies and gents. Science and scientists are getting banged around all over the place.

A recent poll asked 1,000 Americans to name a single scientist. 23% could not name one. That equates to one out of four people who don’t remember Einstein, Curie, Edison, or the like. The same survey discovered that 65% of Americans couldn’t name a famous female scientist. Wonder how high the percentage would be if they asked for the name of a famous female reality star?

And, it’s not just historical scientists who are having a hard time. Simon Singh is not a name many in the U.S. know, but this British physicist is in the battle of a lifetime across the pond. Highly respected as a scientist and author, Singh’s legal troubles began when he spoke out against chiropractors. Some chiropractors in England claim the ability to help cure colic, asthma, or ear infections in children through spinal manipulation.

In his book, Dr Singh questioned whether chiropractors could really achieve the results they claim. Later, in a column in the Guardian newspaper, he went further, saying the therapies for children were ‘bogus’.

Unsurprisingly, he came under an avalanche of criticism and the BCA [British Chiropractic Association] demanded an apology and a retraction. When it received neither from Dr Singh, it decided to sue him personally for libel.

There is no solid science to back up what the chiropractors claim. But, amazingly, the arcane libel laws in England make it so that Singh is guilty before proven innocent. The BCA doesn’t have to prove he’s wrong; instead, Singh has to prove the accuracy of his comments. Why is this all important? This suit could have ripple effects on other scientific journalists and their ability to exercise free speech. We should all be rooting for Dr Singh’s appeal to go through.

Lastly, science is really fighting an uphill battle concerning vaccines. There is no proven scientific evidence linking vaccines to autism, yet celebrities like Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey continue to spread a lot of incorrect anti-vaccination information. Sadly, a lot of people listen and kids will die. [Check out the Jenny McCarthy Body Count.]

Because the anti-vax movement picked up steam, 2008 saw the largest outbreak of measles in almost ten years. Whooping cough and mumps are also making a reappearance. Why are people so distrustful of science?

Now, more than ten years after unfounded doubts about vaccine safety first emerged, scientists and public health officials are still struggling to get the story out. Their task is made far more difficult by the explosion of misinformation on the Internet, talk shows, and high-profile media outlets, by journalists’ tendency to cover the issue as a “debate,” and [...] by an erosion of trust in experts.

Science is what saves us. It’s what heals, allows for better quality of life as we get older, and keeps our loved ones around longer. It searches for answers and constantly questions itself. It isn’t perfect, but it strives to find the truth.

Despite its use of actors instead of the real deal, I love the idea of the current Intel ad campaign that portrays their computer programmers and engineers as rock stars. Perhaps someone should create a similar campaign for the likes of Norman Borlaug, Jonas Salk, Rosalind Franklin, or Niels Bohr.

An AP story came out this week discussing how alternative medicine is more often sneaking into the mainstream. But, at what cost? The benefits of alternative medicine have yet to be proven, and some practices and supplements are flat-out harmful.

A few herbal supplements can directly threaten health. A surprising number do not supply what their labels claim, contain potentially harmful substances like lead, or are laced with hidden versions of prescription drugs.

“In testing, one out of four supplements has a problem,” said Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, an independent company that rates such products.

Some doctors interviewed said they include alternative methods in their treatment because it causes patients to relax and, at the same time, feel as though they are receiving better care. The doctors know it’s hoodoo, but are concerned more about what the patient perceives than the science. It’s almost a prescription of the placebo effect.

And it’s not just supplements, which may be just a waste of money. More dangerous are people with life-threatening diseases who miss a critical treatment window while off seeking unproven cures. Last week, a couple in Australia were found guilty of manslaughter after homeopathic treatments of their daughter’s eczema failed. The little girl died after the parents continued to reject conventional treatments for the condition.

Mainstream medicine and big pharmaceutical companies have had problems over the years, for sure. But, regulatory agencies, consumer watch-dog groups, and standard guidelines are in place to act as a system of checks and balances. So, the level of risk involved isn’t as high as that of alternative medicine.

The latest government survey shows the magnitude of risk: More than a third of Americans use unconventional therapies, including acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, and native or traditional healing methods. These practitioners are largely self-policing, with their own schools and accreditation groups. Some states license certain types, like acupuncturists; others do not.

The “natural” claim doesn’t mean it’s without risk. If a treatment promises something that is too good to be true, chances are it is a waste of time and money.

[Note: this post originally appeared on April 18, 2009 on Rational Moms.]

I love a quick, informative slideshow and this one doesn’t disappoint. Scientific American investigates the science behind some of the common pregnancy myths and wives’ tales.

For example, is heartburn a sign that your baby will have hair? Do overweight mothers give birth to overweight babies? Do pregnant women eat more when having a boy?

(Answers: Most likely, yes, and yes. But there’s more so follow the link!)