Andscience 2013

Celebrities and Science 2013 So here it is. Or rather, isn’t. There will be no Celebrities and Science review of 2013. No round up of celebrities’ misleading claims and none of the usual effort by scientists to work out the underlying misconceptions that gave rise to them. That’s not to say our file’s empty. In fact it is pretty full this year of examples people have alerted us to of silly diets and products and some more serious celebrity support for causes that fly in the face of evidence on cancer, autism, agriculture and much else. But the file is also full of responses and fuller than ever of examples of people in the public eye drawing attention to the importance of evidence on those subjects, and on others such as illegal drugs and wacky cures. We decided not to run the review this year because of some positive changes. At Sense About Science we like change. That’s what we exist for so in every part of our work we look for the moment when we are not needed and can move to other things. We published the Celebrities and Science review for seven years. Light hearted as they often were, the reviews have been more valuable than we ever looked for them to be... We revisited celebrity statements It reached the parts that science and learned some things. Sometimes rarely reached, especially back in 2006 we didn’t know whether a celebrity when it started. The NME, Chat magazine statement was wrong, and if it was, why, and BBC Radio One discussed whether or what the real picture was, and that was statements about radiation, vaccines or with an office full of people interested in the dangers of drinking milk were true. asking. (Okay we know that large molecules That wasn’t just useful on specifics but in can’t penetrate the skin but how small do establishing that there is often a ‘science they have to be? And we knew that Simon question’ to be asked when celebrities Cowell didn’t need intravenous vitamin talk about their diets or fads. Celebrity injections, but were they just stupid, or claims circulate well beyond traditional newspaper readership; some go global. dangerous?) Many lifestyle writers and The review didn’t quite match them but broadcasters hadn’t known either. To run it drew some of the same audience, and it the review we had to find out. People used went global too. By 2011 we saw well over the counterpoints from scientists to go 200 reports before we stopped counting. on challenging the statements themselves, which is a big hurrah! Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @Senseaboutsci Celebrities and Science 2013 2 Celebrities took notice. Well, agents, But the most important thing is that which is what matters. Every year we we’re all responding in real time. offered help and reminded people that it Why wait for a review? Celebrities are on was just a phone call away. And increasingly Twitter and Facebook. People can contact they have used it, including people who them and they (and their fans) can see what were named in early reviews. people write about them. Geeks write blogs responding to a news report and talk And that is one of the things that has to celebrity followers on the same hashtag. changed. Not only are scientists a bit People who write about evidence – not just more plentiful in the public eye but us, hundreds of others – pick up examples some actors, comedians, celebrity chefs, really quickly. We no longer have clippings TV stars, musicians and magicians have sent in from a celebrity mag someone ‘saw sought evidence and made a point of its at the doctors’ (hmm): people tweet or importance to their followers. We have email us links and we can respond the same called on our database of specialists and day, if someone hasn’t already – there is a research bodies to respond to requests lot more responsive capacity too with even for advice and some of those relationships the most traditional organisations learning now continue without our input. Our to speak in human on social media. efforts aren’t alone. Many charities with celebrity patrons make a point of briefing And that’s what our Ask for Evidence them well – see the lovely comment below campaign is all about – thousands of people from Gaby Roslin for Breakthrough Breast out there asking those who command Cancer. We started commenting on these attention to back up what they say. Even better examples a few years ago, and that if we were triple the size we are at Sense section of the review has grown each year. About Science we wouldn’t be able to In fact if we had run the review this year respond to everything on celebrities and the good examples would have been about science. But that campaign can do it. Read equal with the bad. on for more about it from our campaign team, and for a little celebrity science Chris Morris probably also helped. Asking nostalgia. famous people to help beat the devastating drug ‘cake’ and champion fictional causes such as an elephant with its trunk up its Tracey Brown backside showed that a few questions Director, might also avoid humiliation. There have Sense About Science been plenty more copycats since and celebrity agents are wary of being had over. Gaby Roslin is a valued supporter of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. She is Patron to the charity’s £1000 Challenge initiative and has also, recently, featured in their breast cancer awareness television ad. “I take my role as ambassador very seriously; breast cancer is a devastating disease that I have lost dear, beautiful friends to and I don’t want to lose any more. As part of my work with Breakthrough Breast Cancer I have also met other women and families whose worlds have been turned upside down by breast cancer. My involvement with the charity carries a great responsibility, to tell these people’s stories and to help Breakthrough continue their all-important fight to ultimately stop women dying from this disease. I do my best to stay on top of the issue, but having Breakthrough keep me informed of which facts and figures are vital to spread this message makes such a difference.” www.senseaboutscience.org Celebrities and Science 2013 3 80’s rock star Bonnie Tyler who said, when Looking back questioned about trying acupuncture: “I Celebrities and Science 2006 in which lost some weight but I was also on a more lifestyle guru Carol Caplin spoke about sensible diet at the same time which, if I’m “… the importance of keeping the lymph cynical, is more likely the reason for the system clear and unclogged” to prevent weight loss”, and actor Natascha McElhone breast cancer. Madonna spoke out about said sensible things about tetanus inoculation. her work with scientists “neutralising Celebrities and Science 2010 in radiation”. Good news on the celebrity which Olivia Newton-John said she took science front was in pretty short supply digestive enzymes and plant tonics to boost back then… her immune system, Naomi Campbell Celebrities and Science 2007 in which championed a maple syrup, lemon and Gwyneth Paltrow talked about “eating pepper regime and while Girls Aloud’s biological foods” as a way of avoiding Sarah Harding sprinkled charcoal over her cancer. Nicole Kidman, Julie Walters, meals. Cage fighter Alex Reid shared his Philip Schofield and Patrick Stewart tried tips for preparing for a fight – reabsorbing to reduce their Brain Age, endorsing his sperm. There were plenty of positives, Nintendo’s Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training. including Jennifer Aniston’s challenge to On the good news front Derren Brown reports that she followed a ‘baby food diet’. explained that asking “is it peer reviewed?” Celebrities and Science 2011 saw a is a valuable question to start with. strange difficulty with understanding the Celebrities and Science 2008 in which sea. US political commentator Bill O’Reilly Kelly Osbourne said she was convinced claimed we have no understanding of how microwave ovens cause cancer. Jenny tides work, while reality TV’s Snooki Polizzi McCarthy mixed up correlation and put forward her own theory for why causation on MMR and autism. Barack the sea is salty (too much whale sperm). Obama and John McCain also linked MMR Among the short-cuts to better health, Suzi with autism but American actor Amanda Quatro took a colon cleanser and Simon Peet said: “14 studies have been conducted Cowell took his vitamins intravenously. But (both here in the US and abroad), and we saw some good sense from the A-listers these tests are reproducible; no matter including Helen Mirren: “what makes you where they are administered, or who is lose weight – not eating.” funding them, the conclusion is the same: Celebrities and Science 2012 saw a there is no association between autism decline in some long-time serial offenders and vaccines.” including detox diets and immune ‘boosting’ Celebrities and Science 2009 in which products. Cricketer Stuart Broad, comedian footballer Robin van Persie (then of Al Murray and musician Gary Kemp spoke Arsenal) and four players from Liverpool sense on fad diets, vitamin supplements FC had horse placenta fluid dripped and alternative medicine. Gwyneth Paltrow on their injuries. Van Persie said: “She is had temporarily given up odd diets after vague about her methods but I know she suffering from malnutrition and others in massages you using fluid from a placenta.” the public eye sought advice from Sense The good news for 2009 was provided by About Science and medical charities.

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