A British science journalist who posts to YouTube under the handle Potholer54 has released another video and it's just as entertaining and informative as all his others. In it he demonstrates how to pick fact from bullshit with a funny commentary. Why are people so easily duped? A couple of times recently I've received some scam calls… Continue reading Scientific consensus and arguments from authority
Tag: Climate science
The age of science denial
A commenter on the ...andThenTheresPhysics blog has shared a terrific excerpt from a 100-year-old science book by Huxley and Gregory he found in his attic. It's about the greenhouse effect and how we knew way back then that adding CO2 to the atmosphere would increase the surface temperature on earth. The atmosphere surrounding the earth… Continue reading The age of science denial
It’s a conspiracy!
I've finally finished reading Recursive Fury: a paper which studied blog comments written in response to the publication of NASA faked the moon landing-therefore (climate) science is a hoax. I'm not going to comment on the moon landing paper other than to say that it explored the connection between the endorsement of free-market economics and conspiratorial thinking.… Continue reading It’s a conspiracy!
Can we trust scientists?
I saw this video on New Anthropocene recently and think it's worth sharing. It is mostly about climate change but also science more broadly and why people don't always trust the scientific consensus whether it be a consensus about climate change, vaccinations or evolution. Many years ago I lived next to a young woman who… Continue reading Can we trust scientists?
What we know
I've just found this great interview with Richard Alley, a glaciologist at Pennsylvania State University, and he is a delight to listen to. If I were making a movie about some impending catastrophic event which included a part for an honest and dedicated scientist whose role was to alert the human population, I would pick… Continue reading What we know
Abrupt climate change
I've just watched a good video on the andthentheresphysics blog about climate change that begs to be shared. It's called Expecting the Unexpected and features scientists discussing the possibility of abrupt climate change which is something we should fear. Here it is: Climate science contrarians like to say that climate change is nothing to worry… Continue reading Abrupt climate change
Hypocrites, climate change, tragedies and solutions
I've just had an amazing morning on twitter. I woke up to a tweet from someone basically saying that because I don't pay the annual TV licence fee in the UK then I probably don't have the right to complain about their service. So I jovially replied that I'll be back in the UK come… Continue reading Hypocrites, climate change, tragedies and solutions
An open letter to the BBC
I have finally got around to writing my letter to the BBC to complain about their coverage of climate change. Here it is below for all to read. If anyone would like to copy it in part or full for the purposes of emailing the BBC as well, then please be my guest. The email… Continue reading An open letter to the BBC
The denial of science
Daniel's recent battle with a Thai monkey got me thinking about vaccinations. He has had all of his rabies vaccinations now but it was quite a detailed process with lots of shots required and at very particular intervals and all of the same type i.e.there are a few options for rabies vaccinations I am told… Continue reading The denial of science
More excrement from James Delingpole
There's nothing quite a like an article written by James Delingpole to spoil my evening and incite anger. His articles are almost always inflammatory, biased, full of inconsistencies and quite often wrong. I just read his latest turd in the Telegraph and with each line I felt my blood pressure rising and my anger escalate.… Continue reading More excrement from James Delingpole
Thin Ice Climate Movie
Today is Earth day and the official launch of the Thin Ice Climate movie, which is downloadable for free from here - Thin Ice Climate. It is the creation of geologist and amateur cameraman, Simon Lamb. The spiel: In recent years climate science has come under increasing attack, so geologist Simon Lamb took his camera… Continue reading Thin Ice Climate Movie
Factors besides CO2 – Myles Allen and Wally Broecker
http://vimeo.com/46397395 A great video (<3 minutes) from Myles and Wally about how other factors can modify the impact of rising greenhouse gases. Myles Allen is a Professor in the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics Department at the University of Oxford. Wally Broecker is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia… Continue reading Factors besides CO2 – Myles Allen and Wally Broecker
Peer review and hot cross buns
Ben Martin is going to explain how academics get their work published in peer-reviewed journals. He is Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Auckland. He is also an associate editor for the Journal of the Australian Mathematical Society and has himself published a number of peer-reviewed papers. Rachel: Let's say, you've written a paper. You… Continue reading Peer review and hot cross buns
How do you analyse horse shit?
I can't resist posting a link to an article I read in Desmog recently. It includes the contents of a letter written by environment editor of the SMH, Sam Cubby and sent to an Australian climate change conspiracy theorist. He begins, "In considering your request that I identify errors in the report you sent to… Continue reading How do you analyse horse shit?
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