I am a firm believer in conservation and
preservation of the environment. I believe in being green and
frugal. I think we should tread lightly on the Earth because it is
the smart thing to do and the right thing to do. And I am not a
follower of the religion of Global Climate Change.
I am not a fan of junk science. How do you spot junk science?
The following warning signs were developed to help judges (who
usually not scientists) spot probable junk science:
1. The discoverer pitches the claim directly to the media.
2. The discoverer says that a powerful establishment is trying to
suppress his or her work.
3. The scientific effect involved is always at the very limit of
detection.
4. Evidence for a discovery is anecdotal.
5. The discoverer says a belief is credible because it has endured
for centuries.
6. The discoverer has worked in isolation.
7. The discoverer must propose new laws of nature to explain an
observation.
The full article is here: http://chronicle.com/free/v49/i21/21b02001.htm
I think if you added:
8. Scientists have reached consensus, and the debate is over.
you would have a near-perfect definition of junk science.
You would also describe the Church of
Global Warming very well. Consensus science isn't science, it's
religion. It is faith-based science. It's true because its believers
want it to be true. Any evidence to the contrary is ignored or
treated as denial.
