Tag: detecting

I’m a professor of chemistry, have a Ph.D. and conduct my own scientific research, yet when consuming media, even I frequently need to ask myself: “Is this science or is it fiction?” If what you’re reading seems too good to be true, it just might be. Mark Hang Fung So/Unsplash, CC BY There are plenty of reasons a science story might not be sound. Quacks and charlatans take advantage of the complexity of science, some content providers can’t tell bad science from good and some politicians peddle fake science to support their positions. If the science sounds too good to be true or too wacky to be real, or very conveniently supports a contentious cause, then you might want to check its veracity. Here are six tips to help you detect fake science. Tip 1: Seek the peer review seal of approval...