This video was created many years ago–based on Moyers’ description of the American space program, it was probably made in the early to mid 1960’s.   I had never before seen any video of Asimov (though I have read some of his writings), and I found this video (part of an episode fr...

Over the past three years of writing for DI,  I have discussed evolution with many creationists who have posted comments at this site.  These exchanges have been good for me.  They have forced me to think harder about exactly what it is that I understand about evolution and what evidence supports...

I'm going to try an experiment. The Triumvirate has been in mothballs because of me being just too gosh darn busy - and now, as an assignment I must write a paper that is of sufficient quality to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Naturally, I'm a little stressed out. Also, being that my under...

“Once upon a time, there was a caveman named Fred. (I refuse to name him “Oog” or something, just on principle.) Fred was a very bright guy, but he had absolutely no knowledge of the laws of nature. Please don’t ask how poor Fred managed to grow up this way: it’s a sad ...

How does pseudo-science “beat” science?  I’m still thinking this through, but here is where I am at the moment.  Here are three steps often employed by pseudo-scientists: Step I: Claim that honest work done by careful scientists is not credible without having any appreciation of ...

Provoked by a persistent fellow who has been haunting this site and who constantly downplays the scope, value and accuracy of science in his comments, some of us have been increasingly trying to express what it is, exactly, that makes science valuable and more “truthful” than pseudoscien...

We have all been through one cycle after another of debate with someone who insists that science is a religion. This is a tiresome argument on one level because it is one with all sorts of things that fall under the category of “I know it when I see it.”  But on another level, it’...

Topic:  Proposed change to comment policy concerning ill-informed comments regarding A) the scientific method and B) evolution by natural selection. At DI, we’ve had a wide-open comment policy.  Until recently, I have rarely rejected comments.  The ones I have rejected consisted mostly of preac...

Ok so in Part One we talked about how people often form incorrect beliefs about the world due to anecdotal evidence, the correlation-causation mistake, and the logical fallacy “if you can’t prove it false, it must be true”. Today we’re going to talk about the correct way to d...

Jonathan Gottschall proposes embracing the scientific method in literary theory. As ridiculous as that may sound, he makes an interesting case in talking about Roland Barthes’ assertion that the author is dead (meaning, all interpretation is subjective, therefore, no text can be presumed to ha...