Bad Science, Homeopathy and Provings: Sex, Medicine and Prurience

Homeopathy is a favourite kickabout of sceptical writers and bloggers (eg Science based medicine; some Bad Science blogs although only those with homeopathy in the title or extract are listed so many relevant posts are missing; Skepdude). Ben Goldacre of badscience.net writes about the weird and wonderful practice of homeopathy in Bad Science (see standard preamble). Goldacre discusses the open goal of dilution at some length and supplies a brief overview of provings.

How to Sell to The Poor and Functionally Illiterate

The kerfuffle over adverts for Horlicks and Maggi Noodles that were inadvertently broadcast in the UK has been illuminating for more reasons that any one article can describe: Row over ad for Horlicks ‘that makes children tall’.

Diary of a Science Ineffectual 3

Dear Diary,

Today I read an article in Economist. The opening lines sum up the contents:

“LONG-TERM mobile-phone use increases risk of benign tumours!” “Clean bill of health for the mobile!” “Mobile phone-cancer link not proven!” Those who have followed the saga of whether or not mobile phones are damaging people’s brains are used to contradictory headlines. A decade of coverage has left readers and viewers more confused than enlightened, with news reports alternating between alarming claims and soothing reassurances. Yet even by the standards of modern news, it is unusual to see such contradictory headlines about the same piece of research. Which is why a study, called Interphone, provides a cautionary tale.

One of the comments indirectly posed an issue that would tax Emily Post.

Diary of a Science Ineffectual 2

Dear Diary,

When I was a girl, it was rumoured that some girls’ schools offered Botany rather than Biology at ‘O’ Level because the curriculum for the latter involved aspects of human biology, including reproduction. My school was less dedicated to the cause of turning out Science Ineffectuals so we were allowed to study biology but not Grapes of Wrath: Hamlet, Othello and King Lear with their assorted deaths and mutilations were fine but the brief scene in which Rose of Sharon breastfeeds the ailing stranger after the death of her baby was Going Too Far even for a literary classic.

Review of Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

Collection of my explorations and reviews of parts of Bad Science by Ben Goldacre. The posts are ordered by topic, not in chronological order: there may be additional reviews in the future.

Standard preamble for most of the posts.

Niggles about Ben Goldacre’s ‘unattractive sneering’ about humanities graduates

Ben Goldacre’s Bad Science: Humanities Graduates as Pantomime Adversaries
Summary: In Bad Science, Ben Goldacre claims that ‘humanities graduates run the media’ and that they have an agenda the belittle science. His glib superficial treatment of this subject precludes any useful exploration of the evidence for a poor public understanding of science and why this might have happened. There is a short diversion involving the BBC 2-parter, The New Two Cultures, by neuroscientist and arts enthusiast Mark Lythgoe. Neither of these two scientists appear to have a broad understanding of (or interest in) the factors that may have led to these two cultures.

Ben Goldacre, the Book of Daniel and Some Confusion About Trials

Ben Goldacre of badscience.net writes about trials and trial design in Bad Science (see standard preamble). Most of his discussions or descriptions of trial design are helpful and illuminating but some of the examples that he uses to illustrate trials seem to misleading or confusing.

Bad Science, Ear Candling and Misappropriating Culture for Profit

Ben Goldacre of badscience.net writes about ear wax and experiments with ear candles in Bad Science. He quotes from the BBC description of ear-candling but does not include one of the most telling parts of this treatment fable, the claims about the Hopi Indians.

Bad Science and the Cosmetics Industry

Ben Goldacre of badscience.net writes about detox and cosmetics in Bad Science.

Like contemporary Matthews, the detox industry dedicates itself to warning us that we are whitened sepulchres: even those who appear beautiful outwardly are ‘full of uncleanness’. Plainly, it is the cosmetics industry that keeps us presentable and sweet-smelling and its products are the only thing that keeps us from retching in eachother’s presence.^(a)

Bad Science: Dr Mary Staggs and the Detox Foot Spa

Ben Goldacre of badscience.net has put together some lively sketches for his ‘theatre of goo’ in Bad Science.^(a) I am guiltily fascinated by the preoccupation with detox. If past generations in the UK were overly interested in their bowels, the present day obsession seems to be detox rituals that have a strongly religious flavour. The question behind many articles takes the form, ‘if we repent and admit that we are powerless to control our fondness for lattes, chocolate and alcohol, can we trust in the power of detox and be shriven of our excesses’?

Ben Goldacre and the origins of nutritionism

Ben Goldacre of badscience.net has published a book with some intriguing observations (see standard preamble). Bad Science has many interesting points but also some infuriating ones that detract from the whole. Some of the irritation lies in Goldacre’s choices at various points: eg, his chosen examples for the history of nutritionism and some puzzling omissions from the placebo chapter (eg, the Cochrane review that concluded that there is little evidence to support ‘a large effect for the placebo response’).