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articles tagged: popular science
when, why, and how popular science lies to you
# science

when, why, and how popular science lies to you

When science, the media, and short-sighted metrics meet, the end result is often long on flash and short on facts.

wait, you get your science news from where?
# science

wait, you get your science news from where?

A longform article on GMOs in Elle demonstrates why you really shouldn't be getting your scientific advice from fashion magazines.

psychologists, convenience samples, and really shoddy popular science writing
# sex

psychologists, convenience samples, and really shoddy popular science writing

Too many studies about sex and psychology use convenience samples of college students. At the same time, too many writers criticize those studies for the wrong reasons.

how bad questions inspire equally bad answers
# tech

how bad questions inspire equally bad answers

Big Think's informative and educational Q&A feature once again produces answers that fail to inform or educate.

how not to write a skeptical pop sci article
# tech

how not to write a skeptical pop sci article

Charles Seife wants his fusion reactor and he wants it now, dammit, or no funding for you.

no, no, you should fear jargon
# science

no, no, you should fear jargon

Jargon is useful, but not when you're tying to explain the fundamentals of your work.

the challenge of popular science writing
# science

the challenge of popular science writing

No good deed goes unpunished, including writing a science book that will get critiqued by scientists who aren't shy about getting pedantic.

why scientific success is hard to measure
# science

why scientific success is hard to measure

Science doesn't move at the speed of headlines. It moves at whatever speed scientists can discover and confirm something new.

why you shouldn’t sing praises to a crank
# science

why you shouldn’t sing praises to a crank

Seriously, it's not a good idea to encourage ignoramuses who see themselves as titans of science on the verge of being lavished with fame and fortune.

when science can’t live up to the popular part
# tech

when science can’t live up to the popular part

Computer science produces popular headlines about robots and gadgets. But its most complicated and meaningful questions aren't going to make it to pop sci publications...

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