SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY

Vol 39, No 1. March 2019

Brain Burst! Communicating Science

+Alchemy, Perception & Cowboys

Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au

Skeptic_Cover_Mar19.indd 1 4/03/2019 10:18 am The Skeptic March 19

Skeptical Groups in Australia NSW VIC Inc – Eran Segev Aust Skeptics (Victorian Branch) Inc – Chris Guest www.skeptics.com.au PO Box 5166, VIC 3001 PO Box 20, Beecroft, NSW 2119 Tel: 0403 837 339 [email protected] Tel: 02 8094 1894; Mob: 0432 713 195; Fax: (02) 8088 4735 [email protected] Skeptics’ Café – Third Monday of every month, with guest speaker. Meal from 6pm, speaker at 8pm sharp. More details on – 6pm first Thursday of each our web site www.skeptics.com.au/vic month at the Occidental Hotel, York Street in the city, near Wynyard Park (meeting second floor) Dinner meetings are held on a regular basis. Ballarat Skeptics in the Pub http://facebook.com/groups/3978112230309544

Hunter Skeptics – John Turner Tel: (02) 4959 6286 [email protected] Gippsland Skeptics in the Pub Interested parties contact Mark Guerin or Martin Christian Power Occasional social meetings at the Cricketers Arms Hotel, Cooks via the Gippsland Skeptics page: https://www.facebook.com/gr Hill. Those on the contact list will be sent details in advance. oups/291929110900396/?ref=bookmarks Currently meeting at 12.30 on third Sunday of each odd-numbered month. Melbourne Eastern Hills Skeptics in the Pub Contact: Andrew Rawlings [email protected] Blue Mountains Skeptics Tel: 0438 043 050 See Facebook for details. hyyp://groupspaces.com/meh-sitp https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melbourne-Eastern-Hills Coffs Coast Skeptics & Freethinkers Skeptics-in-the-Pub/19241290737690 See Facebook for details. Meets second Monday of each month at The Knox Club, Wantirna South. ACT Canberra Skeptics – Lauren Kelly Melbourne Skeptics in the Pub PO Box 555, Civic Square ACT 2608 See Facebook for details. www.canberraskeptics.org.au Tel: 0410 382 306 Meets on the fourth Monday of every month from 6 pm at the [email protected] (general inquiries), Mt View Hotel in Richmond. [email protected] (Canberra Skeptics in the Pub). A free monthly talk, open to the public - check website for details Mordi Skeptics in the Pub Skeptics in the Pub gather at 1pm on the third Sunday of each http://www.meetup.com/Mordi-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/ month at King O’Malleys Pub in Civic. For up-to-date details: Meets at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of each month at the www.meetup.com/ SocialSkepticsCanberra/ Mordialloc Sporting Club. ($4 to cover website costs)

For details on Skeptical groups in other states and territories, see inside back cover Volume 39 • No 1 March 18 Contents REPORTS 12 Plus ca Change 12 Ken McLeod

Heads in the Clouds 14 Ken McLeod and Mandy-Lee Noble 14

FEATURES 22 People Power 16 Tim Mendham School for Thought 22 Richrd Saunders/Brad Hoge Just the Facts 26 16 26 Maynard/Jane Hansen 39 ARTICLES 34 The Undiluted Truth 28 Annika Merkelbach/Natalie Grams

The Sceptical Chymist 34 Tim Harding 28 Curses Foiled Again! 39 Brian Dunning

Perception Deception 42 Tony Wheeler

Cowboy v Creationism 46 JW ‘Slim’ Lairraby 46 42

REGULARS Editorial 4 Around the Traps 5 Puzzles Page 9 50 Them! 10 Logical place 45 What goes around 48 Book reviews 50 Forum 56 Letters 60 Quotable Quotes 62 48 EDITORIAL

Sharing the news key aspect of the scientific in order to enthuse them and do a A method is the open sharing lot of the hard boring work, to those of information and the results of spreading the often difficult truth research so that others can review via the media, and those who help your work and heap praise upon you teachers work out the best way of … or expose your weaknesses and teaching what are possibly difficult or ISSN 0726-9897 explain where you went astray. Publish controversial scientific topics. Quarterly Journal of or perish is the maxim of choice. We also look at some who go back Australian Skeptics Inc Commercial interests may interfere to the fundamentals and explain (ABN 90 613 095 379) with that process, often to the chagrin how science works - not what the Editor of ‘pure’ scientists. But by and large results are, but how to do it and Tim Mendham communicating science is a vital part assess it. This is the starting point of of the procedure. science, and should be intrinsic to all Editorial Board Those who understand the value discussion of the results. Steve Roberts of a research grant or the support of Too many times the style of Eran Segev a generous benefactor will know that teaching or communicating has been Martin Hadley it is also of value to communicate what’s called “mug and jug”, with Design Services science to the broader community, the teacher/communicator being the Nova Consulting P/L and that includes ignorant politicians jug, and filling up the student/public and enthusiastic public. Making – the mug, in more ways than one – All correspondence to: sure that your activity is clearly with the information the jug decides Australian Skeptics Inc understood does away with a lot of they need. PO Box 20 misconceptions and fears (I’m looking This technique reminds me of Beecroft NSW 2119 at you, anti-vaxxers), and can add a famous TV broadcast by Prime Australia great support that can be played off Minister Robert Menzies (I’m talking Contact details against recalcitrant forces that want to 1950s to 60s). Menzies’ wit and Tel: +61 (0)2 8094 1894 minimise your work, if not have you ability to put down a heckler with Mob: +61 (0)432 713 195 go away entirely. one fell swoop were legendary. But Fax: +61 (0)2 8088 4735 Scientific method can be explained he wasn’t so interested in explaining fairly easily and clearly – I have an things to the people. On one occasion [email protected] idea: I do some work to see if the idea on TV he spoke about the economy – www.skeptics.com.au is correct; I double check and try to a rare thing in those days - and kindly trip myself up; I write up what I’ve told the audience that occasionally he The Skeptic is published four times done and show it to others; if they’re would come on and tell them what per year by Australian Skeptics Inc. not close friends they’ll check it for they needed to know. And wouldn’t Views and opinions expressed in articles errors (or cheating). If they point out they be grateful for it. and letters in The Skeptic are those of mistakes, then I go back and do it That wouldn’t cut it today. the authors, and are not necessarily again or try something else, or move Politicians need to explain their those of Australian Skeptics Inc. to America and claim to be a martyr policies to the public over and over, Articles may be reprinted with for the cause. If they heap praise upon ad infinitum. permission and with due acknowledge- it, then I win the Nobel Prize in 30 The same applies to scientists. ment to The Skeptic. years and I can write anything I like If they don’t communicate broadly All effort is made to ensure correct without ever being criticised again (to and clearly about what they do, they acknowledgement of all contributions. my face). might still win a Nobel Prize, but the We are happy to update credit when so In this issue of The Skeptic we public will never really understand informed. look at communicating science from what they’ve done and will never various perspectives. respect, rely, or support them. . Editorial submission deadline We look at the work of some who for the next issue: use different means of doing this, from - Tim Mendham, editor May 1, 2019 those getting the citizenry involved 4 NEWS The Skeptic March 19 Around the traps ... TGA’s minor changes to indications ignore nonsense

AUS: The Therapeutic Goods similarly unsupported and in some “determined to be not suitable for Administration has flagged a number cases nonsensical claims. listed medicines following further of changes to its list of “permissible In a statement issued on February review by TCM expert”, and two indications” for therapeutic goods, 15, the TGA says that “Since that have been removed because they deleting seven alt med claims while the implementation of the 2018 are duplicates of other indications ignoring many more that are blatantly Determination included in the list. unsupported and pseudoscientific. in March 2018, In other words, “Permissible indications” are stakeholders have out of 71 Ayurvedic statements that will describe the brought to our and 135 TCM therapeutic uses for medicines listed attention issues indications, five with the TGA. Manufacturers and that sponsors have been deleted distributors are required to use them have encountered because they to enter their product indications in when selecting are scientifically the Australian Register of Therapeutic indications unsupported, Goods. The indications list came into for their listed and two equally effect in March 2018. medicines. We unscientific are When the list was announced in draft also engaged removed simply and later final versions in 2017, it was a [unnamed] traditional Chinese because they appeared elsewhere, while roundly criticised as including many medicine expert to undertake a further the many unsupported indications pseudoscientific claims. review [of] the TCM indications such as “disinhibit water” remain. For instance, indications for included in the Determination to The TGA and the Australian traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) confirm that they are appropriate for government received a dishonourable include “harmonise middle burner listed medicines.” mention in the 2018 Australian (spleen and stomach)”, “unblock/open/ The changes include deleting Skeptics’ Bent Spoon award “for relax meridians”, “soothe/descend three Ayurvedic indications which enshrining pseudomedical indications the flow of stomach ”, “replenish are “not appropriate to be supported in legislation”. It is anticipated that essence”, “tonify/nourish/strengthen/ by evidence of traditional use and the TGA may again be nominated for replenish gate of vitality”, “balance Yin were included in error in the first the 2019 Bent Spoon following its and Yang”, and the wonderfully vague Determination”. latest inability to take unsupported “release exterior” and “disinhibit water”. For TCM, the TGA has made claims made for pseudomedicine and There were many other examples of four deletions, two because they were unscientific products seriously. .

Get ready for 2019

AUS: The Victorian Skeptics has value an empirical mindset. released details for Skepticon 2019, the The schedule is: Australian Skeptics National convention. • Thursday, December 5 – trivia night After two successful Skepticons in • Friday, December 6 – welcome Sydney this annual event is returning to event in the evening Melbourne. • Saturday December 7 – Sunday Skepticon 2019 will be held close to December 8 – main convention the Melbourne CBD between 6th and (with the convention dinner on the 8th December 2019. There will be many evening of December 7). international speakers and outstanding More details of speakers and venues locals attending, but this will be at heart will be announced soon, with regular a community event facilitating the updates on the convention website at exchange of ideas amongst those who skepticon.org.au. . 5 23 NEWS

Record numbers of measles cases Another disturbing video of chiro on baby GLOBAL: Measles killed 72 reflect a record number affected and children and adults in the European killed by the disease. This means that region in 2018. According to gaps at local level still offer an open monthly country reports, 82,596 door to the virus,” said Dr Zsuzsanna people in 47 of 53 countries Jakab, the WHO’s regional director for contracted measles. In countries Europe. reporting hospitalisation data, Menawhile, other countries have 61 per cent of measles cases were seen similar or worse outbreaks. hospitalised. In the Philippines, over 130 The total number of people infected people, mostly children, have died with the virus in 2018 was the from measles just since January this highest this decade: three times the year, and more than 8000 have fallen total reported in 2017 and 15 times ill. And WHO says that an epidemic the record low number of people of measles in Madagascar has caused AUS: Andrew Arnold, a Melbourne affected in 2016. more than 900 deaths – of more chiropractor, has been put on an infant. . This is despite the fact that the than 68,000 cases of the disease, 553 “undertaking” by the Board European region achieved its highest deaths were confirmed and another of Australia for performing controversial ever estimated coverage for the 373 suspected from measles since the treatments on a two-week-old baby. second dose of measles outbreak began in September. Those Arnold posted a video on Facebook – 90 per cent - in 2017. More most at risk are infants from nine to in August showing him manipulating children received the full two-dose 11 months old. the baby’s back, hips and collarbone, series on time, according to their In Madagascar, the epidemic is repeatedly tapping on his head, and countries’ immunisation schedules, blamed on a low immunisation rate holding him upside down by his legs. in 2017 than in any year since the for measles over a period of many The baby is shown crying as Arnold World Health Organisation started years, estimated to be less than 60 applies a spring-loaded chiropractic device collecting data on the second dose in percent according to figures from called an “activator” to his neck, tailbone 2000. WHO and UNICEF. and spine. Coverage with the first dose of the Victorian Health Minister Jenny vaccine also increased slightly to 95 WHO list of threats Mikakos said the footage was deeply per cent, the highest level since 2013. WHO has listed “” disturbing. “It’s appalling that young However, progress in the region, as one of the top ten threats to world children and infants are being exposed to based on achievements at the national health in 2019. potential harm,” she said. level, can mask gaps at subnational Vaccine hesitancy is “the reluctance Under the undertaking, Arnold must levels, which are often not recognised or refusal to vaccinate despite the not treat children aged under 12 while he until outbreaks occur. availability of vaccines thus threatening is investigated by authorities. “The picture for 2018 makes it to reverse progress made in tackling The undertaking reads “I will not clear that the current pace of progress vaccine-preventable diseases”. publish, display, promote or provide in raising immunisation rates will Vaccination is one of the most materials, information or advice that be insufficient to stop measles cost-effective ways of avoiding disease, relates to the assessment, management or circulation. While data indicate the WHO said. “It currently prevents treatment of children from birth to 12 exceptionally high immunisation 2-3 million deaths a year, and a years, including but not limited to the coverage at regional level, they also further 1.5 million could be avoided publication of material on social media, if global coverage blogs, and/or any other platform on the of internet.” improved.” In 2016, another Melbourne Other threats chiropractor, Ian Rossborough, was include public banned from treating any child under health issues, two years old, and is not permitted environmental to undertake any spinal manipulative issues, problems on patients between the age of with health two years and up to the age of six. This delivery, and followed the posting of a video of him specific diseases.. cracking the spine of a four-day-old 6 The Skeptic March 19

New president for FSM Goop on Statement on “gay ” AUS: Monash University Associate Professor is the new AUS: Australian Skeptics Inc. President of Friends of Science in (ASI) issued a statement in February Medicine. He replaces Professor John commending Premier Daniel Andrews Dwyer AO, the founding president. and the Victorian government for Friends of Science in Medicine, their recently announced plan to ban founded in 2011, has grown to “gay conversion therapy” across the state. become a major critic of unscientific Such practices include aversion health practices and fraudulent health therapy (eg electrocution of genitals, claims. It has advised governments and administration of drugs to make people media, made numerous submissions to USA: Actor and feel nauseous or vomit), participation in enquiries and provided extensive public Elise Loehnen, the chief content “exorcisms”, or prayer sessions to “pray advice concerning dubious health officer of her ‘health products’ the gay away”. claims and practices. It successfully company, Goop, are expected to These church-based have advocated the removal of private health host a new documentary series, been denounced by the Australian insurance taxpayer-funded rebates from as yet untitled, which is due to Psychological Society, the Royal ‘natural’ therapies that lacked evidence start streaming later this year on Australasian College of , the of efficacy. Netflix. The 30-minute episodes Australian Medical Association and the Professor Harvey said, “Valuing will reportedly feature doctors, Australian Human Rights Commission. scientific rigor is especially important researchers and alternative health They are not based on scientific in an age where unsubstantiated health practitioners, and “other experts evidence, have been proven not to work, claims are rampant and scientific on topics of interest to the Goop and are well known to cause physical consensus is ‘imbalanced’ by the views community”. and psychological harm. of extremists”. This follows a series, in “Extreme pressure from family, He was named a life member of which Paltrow and Loehnen talk to friends, church leaders, and parents Australian Skeptics in 2013 and was “leading thinkers, culture changers, can coerce people into undergoing gay joint winner of the Skeptic of the Year and industry disruptors”, such as conversion therapy, threatening them in 2016. . and ballet dancer with rejection from their church, family, Misty Copeland. and other social and financial supports,” Goop has also announced a new said Trish Hann, Vice President of ASI. partnership deal that will see episodes Hann points out that those who are of the podcast stream on planes subjected to gay conversion therapy within the Delta Air Lines fleet. ultimately find that their sexuality or Loehnen told Variety that part of gender remains unchanged, but they the company’s strategy was to tell are left with significant physical and “bigger stories” and that required a psychological trauma, and experience a TV budget. . high incidence of suicide. The statement says that Australian Skeptics Inc “finds it reprehensible that every state and territory of Australia still GM crop review in SA in a move that angered the SA grain allows this unsubstantiated treatment, industry’s peak body. despite evidence of spiritual, physical, South Australia is the only mainland and psychological abuse”. . AUS: The South Australian state that does not allow GM crop Government will consider overturning cultivation. a longstanding ban on genetically A review prepared by University modified (GM) crops, after a review of Adelaide agricultural economist into the economic consequences of the Kym Anderson said the ban had cost policy. farmers more than $33 million from The ABC reports that the 2004 to 2018 and would cost them moratorium on GM crops has existed another $5 million over the next six since 2004 and was due to expire later years. . this year, but was extended until 2025 7 23 NEWS

Pharmacies urged to remove Uri Geller won’t help homeopathy from their shelves Jeremy Corbyn

AUS: The Pharmaceutical Society evidence for the use of homeopathic UK: Spoon-bender Geller doesn’t of Australia has recommended that products. like the way UK Labour leader Jeremy community pharmacy banner and “Public health is put at risk if Corbyn has buying groups should “draw a line in people choose homeopathy over apparent the sand and cease all activities that treatments that evidence shows are links with encourage the stocking, promotion, safe and effective. … Where there are anti-Semitic recommendation or marketing of homeopathic products available from groups (not homeopathy”. community pharmacies, patients may to mention One of six recommendations see this as a de-facto endorsement.” . terrorists issued December (and followed up and Holocaust in a statement in January) is “Do not deniers). promote or provide homeopathic So he says he will products, as there is no reliable not help Corbyn in the evidence of efficacy. Where patients next UK election the way choose to access homeopathic he helped Theresa May become PM treatments, health professionals (she’s probably regretting that help). should discuss the lack of benefit with Geller also helped England in the 1996 patients.” Euro Cup by moving the ball during PSA National President Dr Chris a Scotland penalty kick (although one Freeman said that many people were critic suggested Geller actually moved not aware that there was no reliable the field, not the ball). .

SPECIAL OFFER Pete Evans’ latest health BS for Subscribers Australian Skeptics is offering AUS: Celebrity chef Pete Evans’ In February the Advertising subscribers to the hard copy latest venture has once again landed Standards Community Panel found edition of The Skeptic him in hot water with health experts, that promotion for the product this time over his alkaline water “did depict material which was not an additional digital copy claims. truthful and was misleading with for free. Apparently the “Pete Evans regards to the advertised product’s Many of our subscribers have Healthy Everyday Alkaline H20 with effect on the body.” pH 10+” water has the same pH level Another claim was made that the already taken up this offer. as many household cleaners. pH level of the water was actually not If you are not doing so but Professor Paul Rolan, Professor of as high as advertised, meaning that it would like to get the free Pharmacology at Adelaide University was either unsafe or not alkaline. said drinking such a high pH level of Evans responded by advising that digital copy, then email to water was unsafe. a numer of statements and claims on [email protected] the website had been removed. and we’ll adjust your The Alka Power water joins other products endorsed and promoted subscription accordingly. by Evans, including coconut water, Note, this offer is only open to dog food and branded kitchen sinks. subscribers to the hard copy The 2015 Bent Spoon winner has also been a vocal campaigner against (paper) edition and is limited fluoridation of water, vaccination to one free digital copy per and sunscreens. He recently subscriber. recommended “” - staring at the sun every morning - as one of the best forms of “free medicine”. . 8 PUZZLES The Skeptic March 19

ACROSS Brain testers 1. & 6. Know-it-all was born again. (11,3) CRYPTIC CROSSWORD no 41 8. Anticipation of a resolution of the Arab debt. (5,6) 10. Is French mind control system to be established 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 shortly? (3) M 11. Burying the chopper into family member calms you 8 E 9 10 down. (10) 12. Request found in a Skeptic. (3) I 15. Yeah, stir emotional state. (8) 11 12 C 17. Fancy breads carried by legendary male Skeptics. (6) T 13 14Y 19. Spiritual rubbish acquired at every birthday. (3,3) 15 16 17S 21. Dad hugs the Old Man to figure it out. (8) 18 23. Crows call from the boat (3) N A 24. 19 20 21 Overcrowding costing one confusion. (10) A 29. You - get out! Preferably in a flying saucer. (1-1-1) 22 P E 30. Trump spoon I stir for political expediency. (11) 22 23 24 L 25 26 31. Crazy Elk hides loot in Albania (3) 27 28 V 32. Japanese IT company employs an exaggerator as a sorcerer? (11)) 29 30 J W 31 32 A DOWN 1. Way to start a new life in brighter setting. (10) Tim Mendham + Steve Roberts 2. The birth place of South Africa? (5) 3. Key to a blind experiment. (5) DR BOB’S QUIZ 4. Bubbly trips over before Zag’s mate, (8) 5. Call-back, among the wise choices. (4) 1. What happened at 6pm on 6 Feb 1916, as witnessed by Hans 6. Spinner will molest, mar and generally mix up. (8) (Jean) Arp and his twelve children, and what was stuck up 7. Internally threaded cranks? (4) Arp’s left nostril at the time? 9. I’m fine in a frenzy. (4) 2. What is the only Russian city to be hit by a tornado? 13. Net result in time share. (4) 14. Crazy moron rates this as a stellar career. (10) 3. What is the longest undammed river in the world? 16. Progenitors are sure, such as Gilbert and Sullivan. 4. What is the oldest river? (4) 18. Bounder makes oak groan. (8) 5. Emperor Hirohito gave his speech which effectively ended 20 Wizard provides military security. (7) World War II (he did not use the word for “surrender”) in a 22. Ceremonial display for a Tubby politician. (4) private room at the Imperial Palace. How was it transmitted to the Tokyo radio station for broadcasting? 25. Shrine of a ram in South Australia. (5) 26. Gutsy having 51 in one account. (5) 27. & 28. Bum exposure of a celestial event? (4,4)

Answers on page 62

039 THEM Readers’ indigestible Tim Mendham looks at those who try to instill some scientific skepticism into gamer culture.

his issue, we look at efforts to reach the gamer community - nerds, geeks Tor whatever - which is often a significant proportion of the skeptical community. The first issue is how to identify the ‘target market’, and then work out how to reach them via their interests and obsessions. Read on.

Geeks, Gamers, Nerds & Kids

In an article in in In a 2010 Skepticblog entry titled culture like superhero comics, sword November 2012, Deborah Hyde, the “Why are nerds so unpopular”, Dr & sorcery fantasy, and science fiction: then-editor of the UK Skeptic (the Steve Novella, founder of The Skeptics many Skeptics are also sci-fi, fantasy magazine is no more, although a website Guide to the Universe, and superhero nerds, who will remains) described the rise of skepticism, says that culture is slowly attend both TAM and Comic specifically looking at the proliferation of moving in the direction Con (indeed, some comic major skeptical events, blogs, , of valuing smarts, even conventions now hold Skeptic vodcasts and sundry other casts. nerdiness. He says Bill side-events). You could “What is driving this change?” she Gates and his ilk are speculate that the Skeptics, asked. to blame for this to having rejected organised “The nerd factor is undoubtedly some degree. “We now , instead construct in the mix. Previously a derisive term, celebrate the alpha nerd. their own, disposable religion and somewhat like the other “n-word” Kids see wealthy powerful nerds with out of Batman, Gandalf, Mr Spock and and “queer”, it has been reclaimed by their attractive mates, and they get the other pop culture icons. its former victims and is now regularly message. Computers have done this – “Superhero movies, which are now wielded with pride. once the sole domain of nerds, they are mainstream blockbusters, often tell the “I sense that this rise in social status now chic.” story of the rise of the geek from nerdy of the technically gifted and sartorially/ That chicness may, however, only outsider to all-powerful dominant male socially impaired is probably related apply in higher education and beyond – (think of Spiderman, or Iron Man, or to the growth of the IT sector. Nerdy nerds in high school are often avoided, The Hulk). It is the story of the scientific is cool: do you remember the old TV if not picked-on. intelligentsia’s own rise to power since shows about radio hams and chemistry Alexandra Robbins, author of World War II, turned into myth, and students? Me neither. But now we have the “The Geeks Shall Inherit the endlessly re-told.” The IT Crowd, The Big Bang Theory and Earth”(Hyperion 2011), says that So what is out there online of a Brian Cox. Nerds have clout. Nerds are “Many of the differences that cause a skeptical nature specifically for geeks, cool.” student to be excluded in school are gamers, nerds and those kids who look It is the case that a perhaps surprising the identical traits or real-world skills forward to joining that fraternity (and it proportion of skeptics – and especially that others will value, love, respect, or is largely seen as a male group, though young ones – work in IT, so there is a find compelling about that person in the mix is definitely changing). strong nerd factor in many skeptical adulthood and outside of the school The answer is, it can be difficult meetings and discussions. Perhaps setting.” to find. Geek communities can be skeptical meetings fulfil a social need In 2010, Jules Evans on his very insular and close-knit, which that nerds and geeks find difficult Philosophy for Life website/blog, wrote is understandable considering their to fulfil elsewhere (except, of course, that “The rise of Skeptics has gone experiences in younger years. You may through online multi-player gaming.) hand-in-hand with the rise of geek need to be on the geek grapevine to pick

10 The Skeptic March 19

Game Play The cliched image of an avid video It changed its name to AiPT! game player (gamer) is an adolescent Comics to avoid any negative male, tucked away in their room connotations (the URL gives the tapping furiously at their keyboard. In old one away) and is now sporting actuality, the average age of a gamer much scientific content alongside the is definitely adult - some sources say information on comics, gaming, TV, about 35 years old - with almost equal movies, and wrestling(!). share male-female (women tend to Some of this is the “science of prefer mobile games). Estimates of superheroes”. But Russ Dobler, the the size of the gaming market vary, editor of the science section, says that up the best places. but one source puts the current figure “Yeah, there’s a whole category for As Aimee Whitcroft, self-professed at a high US$136 billion (others say that, but we also like the methods Geeks, Gamers, Nerds & Kids nerd and founder of Nerd Nite social about $90-100 billion). That puts it of science, not just the facts. That’s events in Wellington, told a NZ almost double the movie and music why there’s another whole section Skeptics conference in 2013, “Forming industries combined, and third place for skepticism, science’s loud- communities around interests and behind broadcast and cable television. mouthed little brother.” beliefs is pretty common behaviour While serious gaming has really In fact, AiPT! denotes February amongst people. Nerds/geeks/ only been going for 30+ years (post every year as Skepticism month whatever you want to call them are arcade games), comics have been - “skepticism in pop culture and no different, and in fact tend to do so on the market since the early 20th skepticism of pop culture” very enthusiastically.” The problem is, century (Japanese manga go back But it’s not just pop culture. There information on them was slight: “I’ve even further). Comic book sales are heavy-weight contributions – a had a look for data about this, and, nowhere near match those of gaming, professor of biology at the City well, it’s not really there. But I do know but there are content overlaps, with University of New York contributes that nerds and nerd communities are many games based on comic book a book review taking down EVERYWHERE.” characters. creationism, another expert takes a We therefore put out a call to all of Movies based on video games are decidedly critical look at a new TV the readers of this magazine – let us rarely successful either critically or program on videos. Just know your favourite geek/nerd sites that financially, but those using comic two examples out of many also feature scientific skepticism. book characters, such as the plethora This is not nerd fanboy stuff. One that wears its nerdish badge of superhero action films, have struck Which is not surprising, as Dobler proudly and also has a highly skeptical a deep vein of gold. The 56 films is also the newly-elected president of bent is AitP! Comics. We review that based on Marvel comics (Iron Man, the Skeptics. site at right. Hulk, Spiderman, etc) that have been “I believe in getting beyond the In the meantime, any look at released worldwide have grossed a echo chamber to reach the people nerdishness would not be complete combined US$31 billion. who really need it, and pop/geek without mentioning the nerdiest coolest This is serious business, but why do culture is a great way to do that. The t-shirt company, Snorgtees (snorgtees. we mention it in a Skeptic magazine? more skeptics that get involved, the com). Founded in 2004, the range Well, apart from the nerd factor, better the numbers look, and the features pop culture references, bad which is often shared between more leverage we have to open other puns, and sometimes quite heavy skeptics and gamers, there is at least doors in ‘mainstream’ media.” scientific concepts. The founders say one site that takes both aspects very There’s much good reading here, they started the company in their seriously indeed. even if you’re not a gamer, and this basement, “and faked everybody AiPT! Comics (www. site is highly recommended, not just into thinking that we own an actual adventuresinpoortaste.com) was for the content, but also because it business. We’ve even shipped a shirt started by two people as a blog in takes skepticism into an audience to NASA. That means space. So, 2011. It has now grown to dozens of that might previously have been technically, we’re a universal company.” contributors (and some of them are largely unaware of what scientific Wear your nerdiness with pride. . women!). skepticism really is. .

11 REPORT Alt Med Roundup 1 Plus ça change... SAVN co-founder Ken McLeod looks at recalcitrant chiropractors

n 7 March 2016 the Then on 16 September 2016 So on 11 November 2016 I and OChiropractic Board of Australia the Royal Australian and New several campaigners submitted a issued a statement on advertising in Zealand College of Obstetricians complaint about 104 chiropractors which it said “Chiropractors are not and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) treating women with the Webster trained to apply any direct treatment went further and issued a statement Technique, based on a random to an unborn child and should not supporting the Chiropractic Board, Google search. deliver any treatment to the unborn warning chiropractors to stop We updated our complaint in child. Chiropractic care must not be providing the Webster Technique to May 2017 to show that almost all represented or provided as treatment pregnant women.2 of the mentioned chiropractors had to the unborn child as an obstetric RANZCOG said in part: not changed their ways. By the most breech correction technique.”1 “RANZCOG supports the amazing coincidence, at the same Chiropractic Board of Australia in its time the ABC ran a news article clear position that chiropractic care showing that chiropractors have must not be represented or provided ignored those warnings and were W h at i s as a treatment to the unborn child continuing to treat pregnant women as an obstetric breech correction with the Webster Technique.3 Most t h e W e b s t e r technique. Chiropractors should not alarmingly, in the ABC piece, the be using the ‘Webster Technique’ National President of Chiropractic T e c h n i q u e ? or any other inappropriate breech Australia, Rod Bonello, said that he Webster technique is correction technique to facilitate this practice by chiropractors is OK Tused by chiropractors to breech version as there is insufficient because Webster “should be regarded “adjust” the spines of pregnant scientific evidence to support this as an experimental technique” and women to “assure normal practice. “there are many treatments in health delivery” and to prevent breech “In addition, RANZCOG does care across all health professions birth caused by “intrauterine not support chiropractors treating where the evidence is either very thin constraint”. It involves turning pregnant women to reduce their or non-existent and yet practitioners the baby within the womb. risk of caesarean delivery. There is still see value in the technique”. According to the website insufficient evidence to make any Call me an alarmist, but to me Chirobase (chirobase.org/06DD/ claims to consumers regarding the Bonello’s ‘experiment’ is outside webster.html), “This dubious benefits of chiropractic treatment to strictly controlled clinical trials. treatment is based on the reduce the risk of caesarean delivery. There’s no control group, no equally dubious theory that We commend the Chiropractic Board ethics approval, no peer-reviewed vertebral subluxations can on their statement that: publications, and no adverse reactions cause malfunction in the “Advertisers must ensure that register in this ‘experiment.’ (Note uterus by putting pressure on any statements and claims made in that the Chiropractic Board has never spinal nerves. Reliance on the relation to chiropractic care are not implemented the required adverse Webster technique during the false, misleading or deceptive or reactions register for chiropractors.) final weeks of pregnancy can create an unreasonable expectation of Further, chiropractors are advertising 3 endanger both the mother and beneficial treatment.” the Webster technique as a safe the child.” Now, what could be clearer than and effective technique, not as an . that? experiment. 12 The Skeptic March 1819

We received an update from The Webster AHPRA on 18 August 2017 to say technique is that investigations are continuing, claimed to and have heard nothing since. assist in normal Plus ça In January 2019, we checked deliveries, and the list given to AHPRA of 104 involves turn- chiropractors who advertise ing the baby themselves as providing the Webster in the womb ... Technique to pregnant women. - a dubious change Of that random sample made in practice based SAVN co-founder Ken McLeod November 2016: on a dubious looks at recalcitrant chiropractors • three could not be checked as they theory. were no longer on any website or their websites were down; • 59 are still advertising that they treat pregnant women with the Webster Technique. • Many (we did not count them) REFERENCES 3. https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/ have dropped their references 1. https://www.chiropracticboard.gov.au/ worldtoday/warnings-of-controversial- to the Webster Technique but news/2016-03-07-statement-on-advertising. chiropractor-adjustments/8541758 advertise that they treat pregnant aspx 4. https://nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/ women. 2. https://www.ranzcog.edu.au/news/Example- homeopathy So, from the sample that we gave News to AHPRA over two years ago, 56 per cent have taken no notice of the warning from the Chiropractic Board. Whatever action AHPRA and the Chiropractic Board took, they have not prevented chiropractors continuing to use the Webster Where are you going? Technique, and in our checking we found several others not in that list advertising their use of the Webster Dear subscriber ... Technique. Also in the process of checking If you change your that list of chiropractors we found postal or email by chance many who were providing the most outrageous , such address, please as treating concussion, subluxations, tongue-tie, using the Gonstead drop us a line. Technique and ‘activators’. Many advertise that they conduct x-ray We know how examinations without any perceived clinical need. traumatic it It’s clear that the chiropractic industry takes no notice of the would be to regulator. A cynic would say that they are reminded of the diligence miss even a the banks took in working with APRA and other financial regulators single copy until the Royal Commission put of The Skeptic. the spotlight on them. It’s time for a Senate Inquiry into AHPRA and an NHMRC study of chiropractic along the same lines as was done for homeopathy.4 . 13 REPORT Alt Med Roundup 2

Heads clouds SAVN co-founder Ken McLeod andin accredited the dietitian Mandy-Lee Noble look at a misty-minded wellness centre.

or some inexplicable into the second year of Freason, there are among this life and if breastmilk is magazine’s audience some strange not an option O’Neill people who do not monitor the advises against infant latest announcements from the formula recommending NSW Health Care Complaints parents use alternatives Commission.1 For those of you who such as almond milk, missed the announcement on 20 juice or raw whole December 2018: goat’s milk.4 More “Ms Barbara O’Neill digging also shows that “The Commission makes the O’Neill’s lectures include following interim prohibition order recommendations not under section 41AA of the Health Care to vaccinate and to use Complaints Act 1993: alternative therapies in Hilltop, or Deluxe). The packages “Ms Barbara O’Neill, a the place of conventional treatments include steam baths, health lectures, naturopath, must not under any for cancer. guided exercise sessions, two massages, circumstances: So far, so bad. It gets worse. two consultations and, if you take “1. Advise parents to feed goat’s milk O’Neill’s business, the Misty the deluxe room, one facial and one to newborn infants Mountain Health Retreat5 of treatment. The Hilltop “2. Provide any health services Bellbrook in northern NSW, is and Deluxe packages also offer a of any description, either in paid “dedicated to assisting people in private bathroom and queen-sized employment or voluntarily, to any recovery from disease through Posturpedic bed - presumably the person. natural means. As a not-for-profit lower priced Lodge room has a bed “This interim order remains in force organisation all our profits are used of some sort, but it is not specified. from 20 December 2018 for a period in subsidising the recovery of those in Prices for a fortnight’s stay range from of eight weeks.” need of assistance (Means Tested)”. $4700 to $5900 for a single, and So what could this be about? As a “detox health retreat” they $7750 to $8800 for a double. Could it be that naturopath Barbara say they can “help you recover” Between 2013 and 2015 the Retreat O’Neill (above right) advises her from heart disease, chronic fatigue, received $8700 in “government clients to feed newborn babies raw hormonal imbalance, diabetes, grants/subsidies”. We do not know at goat’s milk if breastmilk is not an candida/fungus, drug addictions, this stage what they were for, though option and thereby endanger their cancer treatments, heartburn, and investigations are continuing. lives?2,3 obesity/weight loss. But the Retreat is also a registered A little bit of digging finds It offers health sessions, “health promotion charity” with O’Neill advising the public to accommodation in air conditioned deductible gift recipient status from ignore evidence-based infant feeding rooms and “gourmet meals”, with the ATO, and is also exempt from guidelines. Instead, O’Neill advises prices varying from $2450 to $3100 fringe benefits tax, GST, and income parents to feed their infants no a week for one person, depending tax.6 foods except breastmilk until well on the quality of the room (Lodge, Worser and worser. Apart from 14 The Skeptic March 19

those activities that pose risk of harm to their clients and the general public as mentioned above, the C a n c e r L e c t u r e activities of the Retreat might not meet the Australian Charities and aturopath Barbara O’Neill is subject of a Prohibition Order issued by Non-Profits Commission’s (ACNC) Nthe HCCC and runs a ‘wellness’ retreat in NSW. She has 392 videos definitions of a “health promotion on YouTube. In one, she gives a 42 minute lecture on the causes and charity”. The ACNC website gives treatment of cancer ((https://tinyurl.com/y5h7cvg9). Ken McLeod put on Heads clouds a convoluted definition of what a ‘health promotion charity’ is and his waders and pulled out the key claims: provides examples of activities that • Cure baby’s earache by wrapping the baby’s head with steamed align with that definition. It is not onion (at 3:10); enough to promote a healthy lifestyle • Cure for the common cold is a house-clean (at 08:50); or ‘wellness’ but the organisation must be engaged in any of the following • Humans can cope with only two courses of antibiotics in a lifetime activities: (at 09:50); • raising public awareness of a disease • Microbes are not the enemy (at 11:00); • undertaking medical research • Vaccines don’t work (at 11:20); • developing or providing aids or equipment • Neurotoxins in vaccines, formaldehyde, aluminium, mercury • providing clients and carers with (at 11:25); evidence-based health education. • Some people get Alzheimer’s after the flu shot that never had Which it seems to us is not what Alzheimer’s (at 11:47); the Misty Mountain Health Retreat is doing. • “Head of epodomolology” (at 12:05); So, what would the ACNC make of • “Head of epodomolology” said take the flu shot, the flu shot won’t a complaint that the Misty Mountain stop the flu (at 12:35); Health Retreat’s naturopath is subject • “Antibiotics are causing more problems than they ever cured” of a Prohibition Order issued by the HCCC and might not qualify as a (at 17:00 and 21:15); ‘health promotion charity’ with all • “Your pancreas releases sodium bicarbonate” (at 18:40); those tax benefits? It seems the fog is • “The fungal link with disease is not acknowledged much in lifting on Misty Mountain, so watch medicine today” “and antibiotics are contributing to it” (at 21:00); this space. . • Garlic is 6 times more potent than tetracycline (at 21:30); REFERENCES • Most sexually transmitted diseases are fungal based (at 23:25); 1. You can overcome this dreadful oversight • Treat cancer by having no fruit for 6 weeks, no wheat for 6 weeks, by going to http://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au/ very little carbohydrate, alkalise the body (at 29:50); MailingListSubscribe.aspx 2. The harms of feeding raw whole goat’s milk • Cancer and fungus love an acid environment (at 30:30); to infants under 12 months is addressed • At MMHR we treat cancer with sodium bicarbonate wraps, in the NHMRC Infant Feeding Guidelines. hyperbaric chambers, probiotics, orbitally rearranged monoatomic https://nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/ elements which “heal DNA damage” (at 31:50 onwards); infant-feeding-guidelines-information-health- workers • “Cancer cannot live in the presence of ” (at 32:35); 3. Fresh goat’s milk for infants: myths and • Anecdote of a woman who lives near Melbourne had three large realities--a review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. fast-growing tumours, told by oncologist to have chemotherapy or gov/pubmed/20231186 she would die, came to MMHR for treatment, returned to 4. 05:38 in the video at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=aMgs6NynA0o and http:// oncologist, “cancer markers were normal”, first tumour disappeared www.barbhealth.com/wp-content/ in 14 months, “another 6 months and the other tumour went,”(34.04); uploads/2014/02/What-Shall-I-Feed-my-Baby. • “Cancer cannot get a hold on the body if the liver is working well” pdf (at 41:40). 5. www.mmh.com.au 6. http://www.abr.business.gov.au/ABN/ View/61097939672 15 FEATURE Science Communication

People Power Tim Mendham reviews the evolving phenomenon of citizen science

n 1676, Isaac Newton wrote a letter trying to see beyond your own limited studies the structure and behaviour of Ito Robert Hooke, mathematician, horizon. the physical and natural world through philosopher, the first Curator of Galileo stressed the need for observation and experiment. Experiments for the Royal Society, and observation and experimentation, but Before that there were, like Gilbert, a bit of a competitor to Newton. In the he owed much to another seminal figure “natural philosophers”. Most had a letter, Newton made the now famous born 20 years earlier, William Gilbert. sinecure that allowed them to apply statement that “If I have seen further, Like Galileo, Gilbert was a , themselves to a particular field of study, it is by standing on the shoulders of physicist and natural philosopher. He is like Newton’s holding of the Lucasian Giants”. remembered today largely for his book Chair of Mathematics at Cambridge The concept wasn’t new. A version De Magnete (1600), and is credited (he was the second person to hold that of the wording has been attributed to as one of the originators of the term role, and was followed 300 years later Bernard of Chartres in the 12th century. “electricity”. He had been utilising by Stephen Hawking). Many early John of Salisbury, writing about Bernard scientific method in his work and scientists were clergy, like Roger Bacon, in 1159, said “Bernard of Chartres used setting an example for his peers. In his Copernicus, Mendel, and William of to compare us to dwarfs perched on 2002 book The Scientists, John Gribbin Occam, who were allowed to pursue the shoulders of giants. He pointed out said that “Although Galileo is one of the their researches under the benign gaze that we see more and farther than our towering figures in science, known by of the religious powers (until they dared predecessors, not because we have keener name to every educated person today, to suggest something that went against vision or greater height, but because we and Gilbert is less well known than he the ‘established’ views of those power are lifted up and borne aloft on their deserves, Gilbert had the earlier birth holders). But many natural philosophers gigantic stature.” date and, chronologically speaking at had other occupations, and fulfilled That reliance on others, even if only as least, deserves the title of first scientist.” their passions in a particular field of a push-up to greater heights, underpins The word “scientist” was coined by science with amateur and part time everything that science is about – the Cambridge University historian and investigation. In fact, that is the meaning accumulation of knowledge, building on philosopher William Whewell who used of the word “amateur” - someone who previous discoveries and proposals, and it in 1834 to describe someone who does something for the love of it. 16 The Skeptic March 19

GENTLEMEN AND LADIES including writing for the “Amateur hypothesising and writing papers. The list of people who made major Scientist” column in Scientific American, Former Chief Scientist Alan Finkel scientific discoveries without ever having pointed out a few home truths in a described such a case in colonial Australia a science degree is long, including such response published in Science itself: “The in an article in The Conversation last year. luminaries as Leonard da Vinci, Ben journal Science was begun by a famous “In 1847, a young German named Franklin, William Herschel, Michael amateur scientist and inventor. Although Ferdinand von Mueller came to Adelaide, Faraday, Mary Anning, Charles Goodyear, his methods were sometimes ridiculed by with a dream: to be the botanist and Thomas Edison. Not to mention some scholarly scientists, their names are who catalogued every plant species Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, both university long forgotten. But everyone remembers in Australia. Off he went, collecting dropouts. Thomas Edison, who began Science as plants from Queensland to Victoria, up Mary Anning (1799-1847) is a a private venture in 1880. “Expelled mountains and over deserts, for the better particularly interesting case. Her family from school at the age of seven for being part of a decade. were poor, and collected fossils in the ‘retarded’, Edison was taught at home “He demonstrated beyond any doubt Lyme Regis region of England and sold by his mother. His life changed forever that Australia was very large and had a lot what they found from a stall outside their when he found an old copy of Michael of plants. home or later near a local pub to bring Faraday’s Experimental Researches in “Then inspiration dawned: A in an income. Mary eventually took Electricity and promptly built every collection of collectors. over the family ‘business’ and devoted project in the book. Thus the self-taught “Mueller realised that the way to herself to finding and selling fossils to English amateur scientist, who was also catalogue plants wasn’t to walk around interested parties, ranging from amateur schooled at home, passed the torch to the Australia collecting them – but to sit very researchers to the British Museum. (The young American.” comfortably in Melbourne, collecting tongue-twister “She sells sea shells by Mims summed up the role of collectors. the seashore” is possibly about her.) She ‘amateurs’: they “do science because “That’s exactly what he did. He is credited with the discovery of many it’s what they love to do. Without recruited through advertisements in important paleological finds - the first remuneration or reward, enthusiastic the newspapers, teachers in country complete Plesiosaurus, and in 1828 the amateurs survey birds, tag butterflies, schools, and the contacts made on his first British example of the flying reptiles measure sunlight, and study transient travels. Over the next forty years, more known as pterosaurs. In 2010, 163 years solar eclipse phenomena. Others count than 1300 amateur enthusiasts would after her death, the Royal Society included sunspots, discover comets, monitor contribute to Mueller’s flora of Australia. Anning in a list of the ten British women variable stars, and invent instruments.” His network spanned the continent, who have most influenced the history of Tapping into that love and passion can decades before Australia was a country. It science. benefit science greatly. included more than two hundred women There are those who have moved and twenty young girls, the youngest just sideways in their scientific careers: GROUP ACTION six years old when she sent Mueller her embryo transplants were pioneered by The corollary of individual amateur first plant.” an industrialist, genetics by a monk, scientists is the group effort – Another example: beginning on colour photography by two musicians, crowdsourcing information, doing Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank photocopying by a lawyer, automatic the grunt work that allows the ‘true’ M. Chapman, an early officer in the phone dialling by an undertaker; Dunlop scientists to get on with the job of then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed was a vet, Biro a sculptor, and Herschel an organist. Isaac Newton William Gilbert But these amateurs, these “gentleman scholars” of the 17th to the 19th centuries, especially those not from the right families, were often regarded with disdain as dabblers, particularly as the concept of the professional scientist came to the fore. And for some, it has remained that way. In 1996, an editorial in Science proclaimed an end to amateur science: “Modern science can no longer be done by gifted amateurs with a magnifying glass, copper wires, and jars filled with alcohol.” Forrest M. Mims III, an amateur scientist himself and a contributor to Science and Nature and other journals, 17 FEATURE Science Communication

observing them: women. Standing on During Pickering’s tenure at the the Harvard Observatory from 1877 to Shoulders his death in 1919, he gathered a crew Continued... of more than 80 women to catalogue data. Some of these women, called “computers”, would produce significant a new holiday tradition — a “Christmas work on their own; some would even earn Bird Census” that would count birds a certain level of fame among followers during the holidays rather than what of female scientists. But the majority was regularly undertaken at the time - are remembered not individually but hunting them. collectively, by the demeaning moniker The data collected by observers “Pickering’s Harem” (pictured below). over the past century allow Audubon As Pickering knew, he needed help. researchers, conservation biologists, The Harem were paid staff. A lot of wildlife agencies and other interested as a methodology of collecting and scientific data is now readily available individuals to study the long-term health classifying data. online, which opens it up to bringing in and status of bird populations across And the increasing amount of data amateur researchers. And a tightening . When combined with that scientists and researchers need to of resources and limited funding for other surveys such as the Breeding Bird deal with is a key driver for the take-up science and research makes that almost a Survey, it provides a picture of how of citizen science. necessity. the continent’s bird populations have For instance, astronomical Patrick Tegart, general member of the changed in time and space over the past observatories generate a staggering Australian Citizen Science Association, hundred years. amount of data. The Hubble Space says that “Australia is a large country that All of this activity by passionate Telescope, operating since 1990, has still has a lot of unknowns. Researchers amateurs en masse leads to the concept of made over 1.3 million observations are constantly working towards “citizen science”. and transmits around 20GB of addressing some of these knowledge raw data every week. The Atacama gaps, however, as Australia’s environment OUTSIDER SCIENCE Large Millimetre Array in Chile now is not static and is always changing, the The first use of the term “citizen anticipates adding 2TB of data to its data and knowledge needs currently scientist” can be found in the magazine archives every day. The Large Synoptic outstrip the capacity for researchers to New Scientist in an article from October Survey Telescope, an optical telescope collect it alone. Citizen science provides 1979 about “The failure of the science currently under construction in Chile, an opportunity for volunteers to help of ”, written by skeptic James will image the entire sky every few data capacity challenges and address Oberg. nights. It will be so sensitive that it will knowledge gaps. He says: “If UFOlogy is not a science, generate 10 million alerts per night on “It is a flexible concept which can what then is it? It might be considered new or transient sources, leading to a be adapted and applied within diverse as a protest movement against the catalogue of over 15 petabytes after 10 situations and disciplines.” impersonality and specialisation of years. And the Square Kilometre Array, For example, a volunteer can: modern science, which has all but when completed in 2020, will be the • Download an app and immediately eliminated the role of the ‘citizen- most sensitive telescope in the world. In start contributing observations of scientist’, the amateur investigator who just one year of activity, it will generate wildlife, light pollution, or the weather. in the past contributed substantially to more data than the entire internet. • Take photos to record the condition of the development of science through part- This was a problem time dabbling.” faced by Edward Charles The Oxford English Dictionary recently Pickering, director of the defined “citizen science” as “scientific Harvard Observatory. The work undertaken by members of the prevalence of photography general public, often in collaboration at the observatory was rising with or under the direction of markedly, with more data than professional scientists and scientific anyone had time to interpret. institutions”. The work was tedious, duties A study from 2016 indicates that thought to lend themselves the largest impact of citizen science is to a cheaper and less- in research on biology, conservation educated workforce capable and ecology, and is utilised mainly of classifying stars rather than 18 The Skeptic March 19

vegetation or beaches. • Join a project or volunteer group to collect water quality data, transcribe camera trap images and historic journals, or monitor the recovery of bushland after weed treatment. • Join an expedition to record valuable data about threatened species. There are citizen science projects in many countries around the world, and over the last decade or so formal associations have been established that help to systematise projects and coordinate volunteers across Europe, the US and Australia. The Australian Citizen Science Association (citizenscience. in May, 2018. It featured a Guinness expedition). The data, once captured, org.au) was conceived at the Inaugural World Record for the most people becomes available to the scientific and Citizen Science Workshop hosted by the simultaneously observing an object in the broader communities, via websites such Queensland Museum in May 2014, and night sky, when approximately 40,000 as individual institutions’ collections and incorporated two years later. registered citizens watched the moon for associated databases, the Atlas of Living 10 minutes on May 23. Australia, and the Global Biodiversity PROJECTS Information Facility (GBIF). Projects undertaken by the various DigiVol citizen science groups are many and DigiVol (digivol.ala.org.au) is a The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) varied, including: crowdsourcing platform that was The ALA (ala.org.au) is Australia’s developed by the Australian Museum in national biodiversity database. It is a StarGazing Live collaboration with the Atlas of Living collaborative, open infrastructure that Probably one of the better known citizen Australia. It is used by many institutions pulls together biodiversity data from projects, StarGazing Live (bbc.co.uk/ around the world as a way of combining multiple sources, making millions of programmes/b019h4g8) was originally the efforts of many volunteers to records accessible and reusable. The a British live television program on digitise their data. Currently there are philosophy behind it is “collect it, share astronomy broadcast yearly from 2011 52 institutions involved, with hundreds it, use it many times”. to 2017, with no program in 2018. The of expeditions (most via the Australian It is assisting scientists, planners, programs were primarily presented by Museum). managers and others to create a more scientist Brian Cox and comedian and The data may be in the form of detailed picture of Australia’s biodiversity amateur astronomer Dara Ó Briain. museum object labels, field notebooks for research, environmental monitoring, It was broadcast from Jodrell Bank and diaries, recording sheets, registers conservation planning and management, Observatory and featured live links from or photographs. Data can be extracted education, and citizen science activities. scientific facilities in Hawaii, South from museum labels and field notebooks The ALA is supported by the Africa, Norway and NASA. by transcribing (or typing out) the Australian Government through the In 2017, following the seventh series handwritten words. Other forms of National Collaborative Research of the BBC program which was filmed collecting data may be by tagging Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and in Australia, ABC TV broadcast an images or identifying animals and their is hosted by CSIRO. It is a node of the Australia-focused series in April 2017, behaviour in the images. GBIF. co-anchored by Brian Cox and Australian For instance, the database for the television presenter Julia Zemiro. The insect order Orthoptera collection at the CoastSnap Australian program was similar to the Australian National Insect Collection Much of our understanding about coastal UK format, the hosts being joined currently contains more than 460,000 change in NSW comes from two long by professional astrophysicists such as specimens from over 44,000 sites across term data sets in Moruya and Narrabeen, Lisa Harvey-Smith and Chris Lintott, Australia and nearby regions. And this meaning that our current knowledge amateur astronomer Greg Quicke, and database represents only a small fraction for managing coastal environments and Indigenous Australian Michael Anderson of the total holdings. This full collection hazards on over 750 NSW beaches is who shared the astronomical knowledge needs to be brought into the database. based on observations covering a very of Indigenous Australians and their Online volunteers for DigiVol are limited geographical extent and diversity connection with the cosmos. presented with tutorials to help them of beach types. Long term records need A second Australian series aired get started in joining a project (virtual to distinguish between natural variability 19 FEATURE Science Communication

Balls Peak Standing on the Shoulders Continued...

or sustained long-term change as well as frequent measurements to accurately assess trends, as well as depicting beach rsponse to storm events. Modern beach monitoring tools provide high resolution data but are costly in terms of equipment and time. With CoastSnap (tinyurl.com/y6887n76) community members can place their phones on a fixed cradle, take a picture and send it into the CoastSnap researchers. These photos can and identify where frogs are thriving New South Wales Office of Environment be used to measure beach change (width and where they aren’t. And by matching and Heritage, the Lord Howe Island and shape) and movement of the shoreline calls to weather and habitat, they are Board, and the LHI Museum, along to discover how each beach responds learning more about how different frog with a team of six experienced volunteer to changing ocean conditions as well as species are responding to a changing climbers, landed on the remote and extreme events. Since May 2017, nearly environment. To date, 57,713 calls almost inaccessible Balls Pyramid, an 2000 images have been contributed. There have been submitted, covering 81,636 erosional remnant of a shield volcano and are now four sites in NSW, and others verified frogs (more than one frog per caldera that formed about 6.4 million nationally and in Spain, England, Brazil, recording), and 183 species. years ago. It lies 20 kilometres southeast USA, Fiji and Portugal. of Lord Howe Island in the Pacific Ocean. ClimateWatch The expedition’s objectives included Big Microplastic Survey ClimateWatch (climatewatch.org.au) determining the extent to which the The University of Portsmouth, along was introduced to first year biology units critically endangered Lord Howe Island with a conservation charity Just One in 2011 at the University of Western phasmid Dryococelus australis existed Ocean, developed a citizen scientist Australia. Developed by Earthwatch beyond the restricted area in which it had microplastic research program. The Australia, the program invites previously been observed, and bringing aim was to gather data to help evaluate participants to monitor the timing of back four individuals for the Melbourne the environmental impacts of visible seasonal events in 185 species of plants, Zoo breeding program. microplastics (between 1mm and 5mm in animals, fungi and algae, and to track The team spent eight days on Balls width) on the UK coastal environment. changes in life cycles and/or distributions Pyramid, exploring and sampling the The Big Microplastic Survey project as the climate changes. These species phasmid habitat from base to summit, (microplastic.org) began in July 2018 and are usually conspicuous and are known and during daylight and after dark when numerous individuals and organisations as ‘indicator’ species, and represent a conditions become particularly perilous. from around the world have joined the small portion of the biodiversity in any They found 17 individuals at more than program. given area of Australia. Sightings can be five different elevations, and while this was made anywhere, or on predetermined fewer than expected - possibly because of FROGID ClimateWatch walking trails. Since recent drought conditions - the sightings Australia has over 240 known species its launch in 2009 ClimateWatch has meant that a female LHI phasmid could of frogs, almost all of which are found engaged over 20,000 participants who be returned to Melbourne Zoo to bolster nowhere else in the world. Some species have submitted more than 95,000 the breeding program. are flourishing, while others have declined observations, with a large proportion of dramatically since the 1980s, and four participants being university students ISSUES have become extinct. enrolled at Australian universities. To avoid scepticism by professional FrogID (frogid.net.au) is a national Students then assess and analyse results scientists, citizen science projects need project, with volunteers across the as part of their university courses. to be carefully planned and carried out country recording frog calls with nothing to ensure data is reliably accurate and more than a smartphone. With the data Balls Pyramid survey for phasmids consistent, and isn’t prejudiced by the obtained through FrogID, researchers In March 2017, the Australian Museum, biases of participants. Projects also need to are able to track the spread of cane toads in partnership with Melbourne Zoo, the be able to attract volunteers and consider 20 The Skeptic March 19

issues of time, effort, cost and accessibility were less variable than volunteer data. professions, he offered a taste of a world for volunteers. Alan Finkel agrees that “citizen science that many longed to enter. They proved Surveys of more than 1500 students has to be good science.” they were worthy of far more: full and at the ClimateWatch program showed “To be good science, citizen science equal access with men, on merit. that, while their environmental must be consistent with the exacting “Times have changed, and very much engagement increased significantly after standards we apply to every other for the better, thanks in large part to those participating in data collection and data experimental process. Ferdinand Mueller female pioneers. The need for those doors analysis, only 31 per cent agreed with knew that his claims to a comprehensive to science in the community remains. the statement that “data collected by flora of Australia would be widely reported “Citizen science has to make the world a citizen scientists are reliable” at the end and intensely scrutinised. Tripping better place. In the end, that’s what makes of the project, compared with the 79 through the fields collecting wildflowers it worth doing. Here was a project that per cent who thought that way at the is easy. Peer-reviewed botany is hard. His united men and women from every colony, start of the program. Researchers who collectors, including those with limited with a mighty vision, and a love of country. managed the survey surmised that this education or grounding in the scientific “We often focus on the ‘science’ part of change in perception was likely due to method, had to appreciate the difference. citizen science. The ‘citizen’ is important students discovering erroneous records He made it his priority to explain. as well. It reminds us that we are part of when they mapped data points and “When a woman on a sheep station something greater than ourselves, with a analysed submitted photographs. A picked up her basket and headed off duty to generations to come.” positive consequence was that students into the scrub, or put the samples on Newton saw further because he stood subsequently reported being more the mantelpiece to dry, she did so in the on the shoulders of giants, but now those careful to avoid errors in their own data name of science. It gave purpose to the shoulders may belong to amateurs and collection, and making greater efforts collectors, and rigour to Mueller’s research. citizen scientists as to contribute records that were useful “Mueller was an opportunist in his much as to the leaders for future scientific research. Enabling advocacy for amateur botany. He recruited of learning through participants as well as scientists to analyse children, because they were sharp-eyed the ages. . data could enhance data quality, and so and enthusiastic; school teachers, because address what is seen as a key constraint of they could outsource the work to students; About the author: broad-scale citizen science programs. and women, because he saw their talent Tim Mendham is executive In a paper published in 2015, Eva going to waste. In an era when women officer and editor with Lewandowski and Hannah Specht of the rarely went to university or entered the Australian Skeptics Inc. University of Minnesota described key dimensions of data quality in a broad review of biology-themed citizen science: data accuracy and precision; sufficient Ten Principles of Citizen Science sample size; and standardised sampling procedures (including sufficient spatial n an effort to develop a • Citizen scientists receive and temporal representation). “These Iconsistent and shared feedback from the project. dimensions are congruent with good approach to citizen • Citizen science, as with all scientific practice and thus suggest that science programs, the forms of scientific inquiry, the criteria used to measure the quality Australian has limitations and biases of citizens’ data should fit the standards Citizen Science Asso- that should be considered of professional science. In this sense, ciation has adapted and and controlled for. citizen science amounts to asking citizens adopted the European Citizen • Where possible and suitable, to fill in the blanks in a story written by Science Associations Ten Principles of project data and meta-data from citizen scientists.” Citizen Science. It is anticipated that science projects are made publicly In a systematic review of the peer‐ they will be reviewed annually. available and results are published in an reviewed literature on the quality of data • Citizen science projects actively open access format. collected, experts or professionals were involve citizens in scientific endeavour • Citizen scientists are suitably usually assumed to collect higher quality that generates new knowledge or acknowledged by projects. data than volunteers. However, when understanding. • Citizen science programs offer a range of both groups’ data were compared with the • Citizen science projects have a benefits and outcomes which should be same accuracy standard, professional data genuine science outcome. acknowledged and considered in project were more accurate in only 4 of 7 cases. • Citizen science provides benefits to evaluation. The few studies that measured precision both science and society. • The leaders of citizen science projects of volunteer and professional data did not • Citizen scientists may participate in take into consideration legal and ethical conclusively show that professional data various stages of the scientific process. considerations of the project. . 21 FEATURE Science Communication School for Thought Richard Saunders talks with NCSE about a program to help teachers teach about ‘controversial’ subjects – climate change and creationism

he National Center for Science Education, based in Oakland , T was set up to promote and defend “accurate and effective science education, because everyone deserves to engage with the evidence”. Since 1981, the NCSE has worked to ensure that what is taught in science classrooms and beyond is accurate and consistent with the best current understanding of the scientific community. It says that it “recognises that well-established areas of science that are culturally controversial, in particular climate change and evolution, are challenging to teach. Many teachers avoid or water down their coverage of these topics out of fear of conflict.” Dr Brad Hoge, director of teacher support, joined the NCSE in 2017 to help steward the organisation into its next phase. He has been a classroom teacher, a children’s museum curator, a research scientist, and a science educator, including working as an associate professor at the University of Houston - Downtown. He holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Rice University, and an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M.

RS: Normally with NCSE we talk Awareness Network] and there it – they are really good at it. We have about creationism, the work the Center are people working across the country a group of eight teacher ambassadors does to battle that, and that’s still on climate change on the education that we recruited for climate change. ongoing. But a more pressing issue that side of things. So we’re not looking at We had a meeting with them to develop the NCSE has taken on in the last four doing everything ourselves - we occupy a series of five lessons that focuses on or five years is climate change. What a particular niche where we think we are misconceptions. does the NCSE have in place and how successful about dealing with controversial It follows on from that Heartland do you help, especially teachers? issues without controversy, and helping message that was sent out to teachers teachers know how to do that. with misinformation – it was a very BH: We recently started our Teacher The Teacher Ambassador Program deliberate attempt to get teachers to Ambassador Program which is how we’re has three phases. Firstly we recruit teach the wrong things and to think addressing the issue directly. really strong teachers in areas where that climate change is not a topic that We’re part of a larger network called it is difficult teaching climate change is founded in science. [Editor’s note: in CLEAN [the US Climate Literacy and but they have figured out how to do 2017 the Heartland Institute sent out 22 The Skeptic March 19

Student protestors on climate change, Sydney November 30, 2018

350,000 copies of its publication Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming to middle, high school and college science teachers.] We identified five specific misconceptions in that mailing, and each lesson is devoted to one of them. The first lesson is based on consensus. We have a lesson where the students work with the data themselves, come to conclusions independently and then share the outcomes. From there they look at models, they look at the paleo record. And then the last two lessons are place-based. We’ve already done a series of align with what their beliefs are. The teachers find issues in the webinars with these lessons with a There are underlying similarities in local area where climate change is the partner organisation called the Alliance that the misconceptions are bolstered by underlying cause of wildfires, or drought, for Climate Education and those went an ideological or religious resistance to or changes to snowfall, that sort of thing. extremely well. Those are available on allowing that information to be true. They design their lesson around that and our website, along with the lessons get their students involved with data themselves. RS: Last year there was a student about their local issues. strike about climate change – I think The final one is solutions. A lot of RS: Interesting when you talk about it started in Sweden –and it made the time it’s more effective to start with how some teachers are hesitant. It does its way to Australia. And one day in solutions to get people involved with the remind me of some of the problems with Australia in late November thousands conversation. But with this lesson we creationism. of students didn’t go to school, they found that if we inoculate students with all turned up in the centre of Sydney data, by the time they get to solutions BH: I think there are a lot of parallels, and they held up posters about climate they’re really on board as something they particularly with our misconception- change and wanting the government can be involved in. based focus. We also have teaching to do something. They were obviously We’re currently working with the ambassadors for evolution, similarly passionate and concerned, but I couldn’t teacher ambassadors to set up workshops based on five misconceptions. help wondering if they were doing in their areas, to try to attract teachers Misconceptions in creationism the right thing for the wrong reason. who wouldn’t normally come to a are mostly larger conceptual In other words, do they have enough workshop with words like “climate misconceptions as well as the conflicts knowledge or were they simply jumping change” in it. What we have learned that many people see between evolution on the bandwagon? What do you think from our surveys is that teachers are and religion. There doesn’t need to be about the younger generation taking avoiding teaching climate change a conflict there – you can learn about such action? primarily because it’s controversial, and evolution and still have faith. somewhat because they also share those Climate change misconceptions are a BH: We certainly support students in misconceptions. little more logical fallacy because they’re expressing themselves in that way. Here So we’re trying to reach those teachers based on misconceptions that people in the US students it’s been more in the who may be a little tentative. If we can have naturally due to their inability to form of court cases that students have get our teacher ambassadors to teach grapple with probabilities and changing brought in different states about their them how to teach those lessons then we frequencies and personal biases, but being denied a quality education by can saturate it into that portion of the more fundamentally ideologically not having been taught climate change. teaching population that isn’t teaching resistant to the idea of climate change Those cases haven’t gone very far yet but climate change effectively. on a political level because it doesn’t they’re still working their way through 0323 FEATURE Science Communication

School for Thought NCSE climate Continued... change teacher ambassadors, with Brad Hoge (far left) and next to him, the court system to some level. Australian John There are a lot of programs that are Cook, founder of meant to empower youth in terms of Skeptical Science climate action and things like that. A website lot of the groups are looking to make their communities more resilient in getting students not only to understand climate change but translating that into things they can do locally to make a communicate effectively and the students need to learn here. A lot of the difference in terms of drought or water science behind it is still evolving in misconceptions we’ve spoken about are or agricultural issues and so on. terms of getting the data. There is data tied to misconceptions about science I mentioned earlier that we take our now that is clear enough to make that itself. own niche in this bigger piece and that connection between climate change and The has kind of become a is to get to those misconceptions and these events but it’s not a direct causal fad, or a meme. It’s always been there; inoculate students against them in a relationship and that is easily turned those groups have always been around. way that they can really into a misconception The last few years, a few celebrities and understand the issues. I definitely think by someone who athletes or whatever have made it a new Obviously most of these “ wants to deny it, fad, but I don’t think it will have any students wouldn’t have there is an energy in that wants to say more reaction now than it had in the studied climate change this generation that is “This is something past. to a level where they that’s happened We’re not focused on that, at least at understand the issues so very positive. all the time, we’ve this point, but we certainly monitor all of thoroughly that they can ” always had extreme it because it is worth being able to tell a speak about it in a way weather.” Unless teacher that, this is all part of the reason an expert could, but that’s not necessary. you can really talk about what the why we need people to be scientifically As long as they’re focussed on actions connection is and that there’s more heat literate and why they need to understand built around finding solutions to real in the ocean and perhaps more drier how science is done, and how it provides problems I think that’s very productive. air in the jetstream, or the jetstream explanation for phenomena, and how it’s is weaker, and various things that are not just a matter of opinion. RS: I guess this is a generational thing. contributing to those extreme events Science doesn’t proceed by debate. but is not directly causing them. Thar’s a You don’t have two sides and one says BH: It’s certainly that. I think this difficult thing to do. I believe one thing and the other says generation coming up does have a they believe something else, and the two sense of activism, they want to make RS: Let’s go off on a little tangent here sides come together for some consensus change part of their lives. And so I and I don’t know if this is something in the middle. That’s not what we mean definitely think there is an energy in this the Center will have to address one by consensus. When we talk about a generation that is very positive. day or not, but I’ve been absolutely consensus of experts in science it’s the There is maybe a razor’s edge in terms dumbfounded by the rise of the flat data that tells them what’s right, what of doing good and doing damage and earth movement. Is this impacting on the evidence is. So it’s not a compromise. conceptually with climate change. A lot anything you do here, or is it too bizarre It’s an agreement due to their finding the of the people who fight climate change or crazy? same conclusions over and over again and deny it will take advantage of some through different lines of evidence. But of that naivety at times and try to undo BH: It’s always been part of what we do it’s the evidence, the data that drives that some of those efforts. The impact on when we deal with evolution and the consensus. . extreme weather, for example, is one misconceptions to do with evolution. of those areas. Climate change is not We’re just about to recruit teachers causing a specific hurricane or a specific for a “nature of science” group because About the author: drought or a specific wildfire but it is any time we’re talking with evolution Richard Saunders is chief contributing because it is increasing the teachers or climate change teachers it investigator for Australian odds of those things happening. inevitably comes around to a discussion Skeptics Inc, and producer and That’s a really tricky thing to that it’s the nature of science that host of the Skeptic Zone. 24 ARE YOU SKEPTICAL? Are reason, science, education, critical thinking and common sense important to you? Then you should subscribe to The Skeptic.

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Send to: The Skeptic PO Box 20, Ph: (02) 8094 1894 —Mobile: 0432 713 195 Beecroft, NSW 2119 Fax: (02) 8088 4735—email: [email protected] FEATURE Science Communication Just The Facts Maynard talks with award-winning journalist Jane Hansen about the media’s role in getting the scientific message across.

ast year Jane Hansen won the inaugural Barry Williams Award for Night program and the host just let L Skeptical Journalism. She is a reporter for Sunday Telegraph/News Dorey rabbit on about her conspiracy Corp, and has written extensively on the anti-vaccination and anti- theories and he just did not pick her up fluoride movements, fad diets, and quack cures. SkepticZone reporter on it. I thought we – the media – cannot Maynard talks with her about media pressures, anti-vaxxers, bloggers, let people like that spread such rubbish haters, and getting it right. without checking it. So in my mind, therein was born the M: How are things in the print media about. I believe you’ve been writing No Jab No Play campaign. world right now? Has it changed? Is things about the anti-vaccination I started working at the Sunday it tough? movement in Australia. What angle Telegraph and my deputy editor Claire have you been taking and what have Harvey and I decided we needed to set JH: Yes, because we’re up against lots you found out? up a campaign that just attacked the lies of social media outlets that have no with truth – just facts, facts, facts. And overheads and no contract with the JH: Well, I was born and bred in also to find a way for the government truth. And that’s where you guys Mullumbimby on the NSW north to raise the bar on vaccination, because come in. coast, so ground zero, which is the they weren’t doing anything. stamping ground for Meryl Dorey, So we found the public health act, M: That must be really annoying who came here from the US in the looked at enrolment in child care for you when you see that a person 1990s and set up the Australian [anti] centres, and we challenged the NSW has just made stuff up and there’s Vaccination Network. It’s always Health to change the laws so that people no editor to give them a rap over the been a thorn in my side. I remember would have to prove they got their knuckles for it. watching in 2009 when Toni and David health information from real sources and McCaffrey had just lost their daughter not Dr Google. JH: It also gives me a story to write. Dana to whooping cough. And they And that’s where No Jab No Play M: And that’s what we’re here to talk and Meryl Dorey were on the Sunday came from. 26 The Skeptic March 19

M: And how did the anti-vaxxers JH: That they’re dangerous. They break And I don’t want to be mean to treat that? up families … Cini and her partner Marc but they One of the stories that I did was were vulnerable people who weren’t JH: They saw it as part of the about Chase Walker who was born particularly scientifically literate and conspiracy. with epilepsy and Cini Walker, his the anti-vaccine brigade were looking mother, had accepted this fact in the for a poster child, and they found it in M: And where did they put you in the first 12 months of his life – he was him because there aren’t many vaccine- conspiracy? having seizures within minutes of injured people and they absolutely being born. She wheeled her spastic destroyed that family. JH: A shill for Big Pharma. quadriplegic cerebral palsy child into a screening of the Vaxxed film M: It’s powerful stuff. Is it difficult M: Have you ever got an interview somewhere on the Sunshine Coast to keep a distance from this as a with Meryl or had a chance to go and the anti-vaccine movement journalist? back and forth with her? pounced on her. And all of a sudden her accepted fact about her child had JH: It fires my passion. The more hate JH: I have emailed her a couple of become their vaccine-injured poster blogs they write, it makes me want to times, but she doesn’t answer the boy. And then the medical cannabis dig in and just throw facts at it … you questions, she just sends her diatribes, people jumped on board. just throw facts at it. . her ‘boiler plate’. So blocking, that’s So all of a sudden this child is what I do to save my sanity. taken off his TPN total nutrition, he’s This is an edited version of an interview being fed organic mashed banana with on the Skeptic Zone #522, 21 October M: We’ve been talking about this. cannabis oil, he loses 25 per cent of his 2018 (skepticzone.tv) Do you think it’s a good idea to pre- body weight, which can kill a child. emptively block people? If you see a So the doctors brought him back into really annoying person on hospital but she abducted him from you can say I don’t want anything to there and the anti-vaccine people were About the author: do with them. crying conspiracy. And at the end of Maynard is a presenter, the day she’s lost custody of her child. entertainment host, JH: The rule is not to engage with them So they have actively destroyed an writer, and reporter for the because everything you say gets turned entire family. Skeptic Zone. around. Whenever I engage with Meryl it becomes another blog post for her. “Jane actually said this to me.” She’s deprived of oxygen now because journalists don’t want to talk to her because we don’t do that false balance thing. There’s a rule for journalists, if someone says it’s raining and someone else says it’s sunny we don’t write both sides, you just stick your head out the window and see the truth. We listen to the scientific world, we listen to the medical experts, we don’t go to the nutter and say “what do you think about that?”

M: What is the most egregious thing about the anti-vaccination movement generally?

Clockwise from top left: Cini Walker and her son Chase (from her Facebook page); Jane Hansen “no jab no play” article; Meryl Dorey. 0327 ARTICLE Science History theun- diluted truth Annika Merkelbach interviews Natalie Grams on her journey out of homeopathic practice and the consequences of now being under attack from her former colleagues

atalie Grams grew up in Bavaria, and studied medicine at Ludwig N Maximilian University of Munich, Technical University of Munich, and Heidelberg University, where in 2005 she gained licensure as a physician in Germany. In 2007 she received her doctorate as a medical faculty member at the University of Zurich. Until 2009 she was an intern at a private religiously-affiliated hospital in Heidelberg, where she specialised in geriatric and palliative medicine. In 2004, in parallel with her medical education, Grams began pursuing education in traditional Chinese medicine and homeopathy. She completed her homeopathic education with an additional professional designation in that area, and was active exclusively in private homeopathic practice from 2009 through 2015. As a practicing homeopathic doctor she was interviewed by journalists Christian Weymayr and Nicole Heissmann for their book The Homeopathy Lie (German title: Die Homöopathie-Lüge). Upon reading that book’s criticism of homeopathy, Grams wanted to write a rebuttal in defence of homeopathy – she ended up doing the opposite.

AM: Natalie, can you introduce yourself of my personal ‘story’. I didn’t succeed; homeopathically with the knowledge briefly: who you are, what you are the more I did my research, the more I had gained. The publication of the currently doing, and how your career I recognised that I had been mistaken book coincided with the abandonment developed? about homeopathy. Consequently, the of my successful homeopathic private book didn’t appear as a defence, but practice. That was very, very hard NG: In short, I’m a medical doctor. I’ve rather as a critical analysis, an effort to in a number of ways; at that time I worked as a professional homeopath in explain why many people think that didn’t even know what to do next. my own practice for a long time and homeopathy helps them. But the decision was for me without was strongly convinced of homeopathy. This changed my whole life alternative, against an ideology that Then I decided to write a book to plan. It was just not possible for was detected as false, but also against support homeopathy — the beginning me to continue treating patients earning good money. 28 The Skeptic March 19

Since then I have been more and NG: What to do after failing to will be perceived internationally. more skeptical about homeopathy, encourage a debate with my former However, the international criticism of doing further research, where engaging homeopathic colleagues? I joined homeopathy is not new; I will only be in many debates and dialogue with other critics of homeopathy and one additional person. A special aspect skeptics and scientists strengthened my in January 2016 we founded the to this, however, is that homoeopathy conviction and my knowledge. Information Network Homeopathy was invented in Germany, so criticism Afterward, I also really became a [Informationsnetzwerk Homöopathie from within Germany maybe gives the “skeptic by profession”. I am now with - INH]. The educational work that we whole thing a new spin. the German skeptics of GWUP, being do there has social, but also political, employed as a communication manager intentions. Therefore, I hoped that AM: You haven’t only had positive and trying to educate people about people’s view of homeopathy will begin experiences since 2015. What motivates homeopathy. I’m very pleased that to change. you? my book is now extending to English- Of course, it is not the case that speaking countries! nobody in homeopathy NG: I think that’s two things in anymore; far from it. But at least there particular. On the one hand, I am AM: How was the book accepted is a continuous media presence of the motivated by the fact that I made a in Germany and with your former criticism of homeopathy. People notice, mistake, and although I’m a medical colleagues? Is there anything that too, that the turnover of homeopathy doctor, I did not recognise this for a surprised you? is declining very slightly or stagnating - long time. It’s my aim to avoid [the that is what has changed situation] where other NG: Two things surprised me indeed. in the outer world. I never expected, people also make this First, I never wrote the book with Of course, a lot “ mistake and perhaps big expectations; it was published has changed with me, or intended, that believe in homeopathy, in a scientific publishing house with because I have learned this small book and so much so that a small non-fiction section without to be really skeptical, to they miss or delay any marketing. I never expected, and think skeptically, and to the story behind it a proper treatment, never intended, that this small book have a lot of fun with it. would cause such a with disastrous health and the story behind it would cause In the past, I thought outcomes. Especially such a public reaction, which really skeptics must be grouchy public reaction.” when it comes to went through the whole German press. people in the majority, children who cannot yet Second, I would have expected my but now I know that was a silly decide for themselves. Of course, this former homeopathic colleagues to be prejudice. Today it’s my experience how is the core, more a medical, altruistic interested in why I turned away from much fun it is to be really skeptical and motivation. homeopathy; if I had any intention, it to stand up for it in public; I wouldn’t But, on the other hand, I must was this. have thought that before. also say: the maliciousness I was But I was really a bit naive. I confronted with generated something thought “If I myself, as a professional AM: Your book has just been published like “Now more than ever” within me, homeopath, wasn’t aware of all that, in English [see review this issue of so I will not put up with that. I put they wouldn’t be aware of that either.” The Skeptic]. Do you expect similar up reasonable arguments and what Well, I thought, they’d notice it due to reactions internationally? happened? Instead of discourse, people my book, and then we’d talk about it distorted and twisted them and lifted all ... But what really happened was that NG: Well, I also know the story of this onto a totally personal level! I am from the beginning it was only hatred, very well, and of Simon fed up with this. This motivates me to slander, and insults, and no form of Singh, and I see parallels to my present myself and say “No, I’m sorry, dialogue at all. I was really treated as experiences there. Everyone probably here are the arguments and, now more a traitor. And that really shocked me experiences the same thing in these than ever, where are your reasonable a lot, because they are also medical cases. The skeptic, especially in pseudo- answers?” colleagues after all; you might have medicine, seems to be a controversial been assumed that there would be some figure anyway - experiences of attacks, AM: You are also a cofounder and the scientific interest and fascination with bullying or slander, even court cases head of the INH. Tell us more about discourse. seem to be ‘normal’. So, I don’t this organisation. Do you also work necessarily expect in my case to be any internationally? AM: You stopped practicing homeo- different. pathy over three years ago. What has In Germany, people have become NG: The idea for the initiative changed since then, with you and in a little accustomed to me now; now came from Dr Norbert Aust. It was homeopathy? I am curious to see how my position triggered by a blog entry that stated 0329 ARTICLE Science History

The Undiluted exciting. For example, the other day prevail. GSoW achieves very important in Mainz, I gave a lecture under police contributions to this - thank you! Truth protection. That doesn’t leave you cold, We did not name our information Continued... of course. You clearly must ensure a network “Anti-homeopathy balance in your life. I have the great Network” because we want to offer fortune that my family is a source of information and then everyone can power and strength for me. I do a lot of decide themselves. The motto of our “Homoeopathy has won, the ‘war’ sports and I’m also someone who just relaunched website will be “We clarify is lost, we can stop homeopathy meets a friend for coffee and doesn’t - you have the choice.” We don’t want criticism”, with the conclusion that talk about homeopathy at all, but to ‘ban’ homeopathy or take it away “irrationalism has prevailed”. Norbert about new hairstyles (laughs). Besides from anyone, however, this is one of Aust took up this blog post as a public life, I live a totally normal, but the most used arguments against our challenge: “Hey, wait a second. There authentic life - I think so. work. Our approach is quite different: are so many people sitting at home or we want everyone to be able to inform anywhere else criticising homeopathy AM: There are Wikipedia pages in themselves by factual and independent on their own with good arguments. English, French, and German about sources. We should meet and see what we can you. How important is Wikipedia and And that’s why I think the Guerrilla change and improve together.” initiatives like GSoW, but also the Skeptics on Wikipedia and the And that didn’t become a relaxed Information Network Homeopathy and neutral pages are so important. People meeting; we were super productive its website, for scientific education and shouldn’t perceive that we want to immediately. We at once found a participation? indoctrinate or influence information name, we created a website very soon, in a way like: “Do it exactly as we say and we had people who wrote our NG: I consider such initiatives to be it!” No, our approach is: “Here is the “Freiburg Declaration”. The declaration enormously important. I remember information, look at it and then decide summarises our points of view on how I finally learned about the for yourselves.” Help for real self- (or against) homeopathy. We’ve also scientific state of homeopathy - it decision and patient autonomy; this created an English version by now; it was also because I researched on the is also part of an enlightened patient- will appear within our internet. Back then, I doctor relationship. multilingual relaunched realised that there were And that is so necessary for website at the beginning “ Many are totally very few informative discussing homeopathy. Many are of 2019. [netzwerk- horrified when they pages that were based totally horrified when they learn that homoeopathie.eu/] on reliable facts. And homeopathy is literally “the pure learn that homeo- then there are a lot of nothing”, because they have never AM: Apart from being pathy is ‘the pure blogs that write in a heard about that before. Too many head of the INH, you style as “Anyone who people think: “Oh, homeopathy - that’s write books, articles, nothing’. They’ve believes in homeopathy the thing with the plants.” What a and columns; you’re never heard that. is stupid! The children fallacy! a member of the ” of anti-vaxxers have to My Wikipedia pages are frequently Münsteraner Circle be taken away!” That accessed. If people find a path to learn (expert board against pseudo-medicine doesn’t have any use if you’re looking more about homeopathy, that would in public health); you belong to for something factual. Almost nobody be great! the Giordano Bruno Foundations’ is so blatantly crazy that such claims advisory board; vice-president of HPD could be justified. AM: If this article would be read by (Germany’s leading humanistic web I really appreciate Wikipedia a homeopath, how would you politely portal); communication manager of the as a very neutral platform which explain to them in a few sentences that GWUP; actively work as a scientific offers factual, always source-based homeopathy does not work? educational person in social media; and information. It is therefore important are a guest on numerous broadcasts and that we are present with our skeptical NG: Two things. First, when I was a podcasts … and you also have a family. topics because everyone looks on homeopath, I always (typically) said: So how do you relax in your everyday Wikipedia first. I also have confidence “I don’t have to prove it. The patient life? Or is your activism itself already in the regulative power of Wikipedia’s and I see that it works.” Here lies the relaxation for you? writer community. Yes, there are great barrier. To understand and to real ‘editor’s wars’, even on themes accept as a homeopath that the visibly NG: That’s a rather good question, of pseudo-medicine. But I have ‘positive’ experiences you have with indeed. It would be a lie if I said “yes”; experienced, as when my site first homeopathy are not caused by an it’s obvious that all this is terribly appeared, that truth and honesty will ingredient (or energy, or information) 30 The Skeptic March 19

Hahnemann’s method of Dilution and Succussion H The facts are obvious and accessible for anyone. The decision about Left: Homeopathy homeopathy shouldn’t be made out of dilution - “the pure narrow-mindedness, but out of factual nothing” knowledge, on scientific rules. As a summary, we could say: on the Below: Memorial one hand, individual experiences offer to pseudoscience: no reliable evidence at all, and on the the Hahnemann other, there is no scientific evidence Monument (1900) in that homeopathy works. DC - the Xdlfgs;jdkmbkjbdf k nh dgjdo ‘dfogjkj po first foreigner not AM: You have received many negative g si m k associated with the reactions, including death threats. Do War of Independ- the police take such threats seriously? ence to have a (Question from ) sculpture in the US capital. NG: Yes, the police take that seriously. I’ve already needed their help a few times. Policemen accompany me in case something happens and I have never heard “that doesn’t interest us”. Quite the contrary, I’ve had a lot of positive and understanding reactions from them. I am very grateful for that. Because in such a threatening situation, you naturally don’t feel very comfortable when you know you’re running into something potentially dangerous. I also live incognito, so it’s also very important to me that my address can’t be found out by googling.

AM: What should happen to protect people from practising homeopaths who promise to heal incurable diseases? Should the law have any influence or is education enough? (Question from Robin Cantin)

NG: Of course, we all would wish that education would be enough, but I also in the globules, but by psychological thought: “Science is not ready yet to don’t believe that the law can intervene effects. That’s very important… and explain homeopathy.” But it’s different: here or that this would very useful. You very difficult. The time, the attention science is ready. can’t force anyone to undergo cancer that the therapist gives to the patient, At first, it proves that homeopathy therapy. From a medical ethics point the faith, the expectancy that both have doesn’t work. Furthermore, science of view, forbidding a certain cancer internalised - that’s what helps, what is able to explain why homeopathy is therapy would be as bad as forcing causes the apparent effects. This is well- unable to work; if this wasn’t the case, them to have therapy. We cannot do researched and explained. These are all we would have to reject great parts of that in orthodox medicine either. In totally valuable things, no doubt. But daily proven scientific knowledge. That this respect, probably education will that has nothing to do with any specific has nothing to do with science’s or stay essential, but I believe that other “medicine effect” transported by the scientists’ malice, it’s not a conspiracy factors could help. globules. in any way. It’s just what we know If people understand that And here I come to the second about homeopathy today, different homeopathy is neither point: we know all this for certain to what Samuel Hahnemann didn’t nor medicine. If they understand today. As a homeopath, I always know (could not know) 200 years ago. that something without side effects 31 ARTICLE Science History

The Undiluted done it - not primarily for financial AM: What can every skeptical person reasons, as is often mentioned do to improve little things themselves? Truth falsely; the CEO of the NHS named Continued... homeopathy “in best case a placebo”. NG: I think it is very important to We see that German homeopaths and not be condescending. Many skeptics their lobbies are very strongly stirred up are very harsh in their tone and insult because of this. people as “believers in bullshit”. They inevitably has no effect at all. In Germany we are missing say: “You’re stupid, you’re dangerous If they understand that the fact statements on homeopathy from big to the public.” But to most people health insurance companies pay players in official health care, from the facts just aren’t clear. And if you for homeopathy for economic and the government, medical associations, insult them, then they don’t want to marketing reasons and has nothing to and others. Well, you must hold in get to know them certainly. Such a do with its effectiveness. Just because mind that Germany is the country of style of discussion is felt as repulsive doctors offer it or because it is taught at origin of homeopathy with the greatest and leads to cognitive blockades and some universities, it’s not automatically tradition on it. This is why in Germany unwillingness. We must reflect upon effective medicine. All these are ‘false many people and public figures seem ourselves again and again and keep indicators’. If we can convey this on a to feel almost obliged to defend control of our speech. To be right isn’t broader basis, then we have questioned homeopathy. a reason to become condescending; we the status of homeopathy so much that But we also see that homeopathy must remain polite and patient. many people will not fall back on it for manufacturers are trying to expand We must make positive offers, serious illnesses on their own insight. into other countries where homeopathy not give the impression we want We must remove this ‘shiny halo’ does not play a role yet, for example, to “take away” anything, certainly from homeopathy, take away its to Sweden, Finland and Norway, or not give a feeling of indoctrination. undeserved social reputation. That and Romania. They’re trying I often find the skeptic tone too is what we skeptics have to do, as to reach people with their advertising harsh, too condemning. This is not educators; it’s our responsibility. offers, and there are courses for enlightenment. Yes, that is sometimes midwives, pharmacists, and doctors only a nuance, in a conversation or in AM: Are there lessons that other for making health professionals a comment on Facebook, where we countries can learn from Germany’s familiar with homeopathy. They try to simply present ourselves disgustingly, way of dealing with homeopathy in the gain a foothold there. Of course, we but that’s an important reason why we health system, or vice versa? (Question strongly warn not to fall for this kind can’t reach more people. And each of by Robin Cantin) of advertising and give homeopathy a us can improve that. Yes, it happens: platform in public health. you get sarcastic, you get cynical, and NG: Well, we think it is a very you’ve heard the same arguments a welcome development that in many AM: Are you currently more pessimistic thousand times before. Give attention European countries, homeopathy is or optimistic about the future of to that. Maybe sometimes it’s better if taken out of the health system. Spain medicine, the , and you ask a friend to comment on it and is currently debating it, France is the world? not do it yourself. . intensively discussing it, England has NG: That depends very much on Note:This interview is used by permission the kind of day I had (laughs). of the (www.csicop. Okay, maybe I’m suffering from a org) phenomenon like “survivorship bias” The interviewer thanks Natalie Grams because I always think “I made it”. for the interview, as well as Dr Scott That is, to recognise the reasonable way Harrison and Udo Endruscheit for their and the facts and to reach the shores kind help. The interview was originally of rationality, so it must be possible for in German. other people as well. Obviously, a great part of this is wishful thinking. More realistically, I think that if we skeptics About the interviewer: didn’t exist and didn’t stand up for the Annika Merkelbach is “truth” every day, nobody else would. a member of Guerrilla So, we have to do it! For a start, it does Skepticism on Wikipedia not matter if it works or not. Since it (GSoW) and of GWUP, just has to be done, because nobody else the German Skeptics does. And in the best case, it works. organisation. 32 The Skeptic March 19

T h e F r e i b u r g D e c l a r at i o n

n January 30, 2016, a group of experts from all walks of SELF-DECEPTION OF PATIENT AND THERAPIST Olife met in Freiburg to discuss homeopathy, and ways of We do not want to deny the therapeutic effects that can informing the public responsibly and countering the plethora be achieved in the context of a homeopathic treatment. of misinformation that Germans are regularly exposed to However, these have nothing to do with the specifically on that subject. They founded the Information Network administered homeopathic medicine. Rather, the suspected Homeopathy and decided on a range of actions, one of the and supposedly experienced effectiveness of homeopathic first being the Freiburger Erklärung zur Homöopathie - the preparations is based on suggestion and auto-suggestion of Freiburg Declaration on patients and therapists. Homeopathy - issued in The mechanisms of February 2016. such (self-) delusions The text of that are diverse but well Declaration follows: known and explored. Improvements in the HOMEOPATHY IS NEITHER state of health caused NATUROPATHY NOR by context effects MEDICINE cannot and should not Despite the support of be attributed causally politicians and the silence to the homeopathic of those who should know remedy. We assume better, homeopathy is that many homeopathic and remains a procedure physicians and non- that stands in clear medical practitioners contradiction to proven are unaware of the scientific foundations. The existence and diversity members and supporters of such mechanisms of the Information and act with the best Network Homeopathy of intentions. But see in homeopathy a INH founders & members: Norbert Aust, Susanne Aust, Udo Endruscheit, Natalie Grams that does not change persistently enduring the fact that the doctrine that is neither natural nor medical. The network brings conclusions are wrong and thus potentially harmful. together physicians, pharmacists, veterinarians, biologists, natural scientists and other dedicated critics of homeopathy, MEDICINE AND SCIENCE which unites the goal of bringing this often veiled fact more By no means do we claim that the scientific method we clearly into the consciousness of society. represent can currently explore and explain everything. But it puts us in a position to explain that homeopathy cannot NO SPECIAL STATUS FOR HOMEOPATHY explain itself. And it is the best way we have available to In the more than 200 years of its existence, homeopathy has distinguish effective treatments from ineffective ones. A firmly failed to prove its specific effectiveness according to objective anchored in the promise of salvation, which is further criteria. Rather, it only survives because it has a special status in nourished by interested parties, politics and journalism, can the German health care system, which according to the experts never be the guideline for action in medicine. in the network it does not deserve. While drugs have to prove their effectiveness according to objective criteria, homeopathy AIM OF THIS STATEMENT is exempted. We defend ourselves against such a two-class The targets of our criticism are not the patient looking for help system in medicine. and the individual homeopathic therapist, but the established Homeopathy has also failed to demonstrate a plausible doctrine and the institutions of the health service, which mechanism of action. Instead, its representatives give the long ago could recognise the absurdity of homeopathy, but impression that there are still uncertainties that need to be nevertheless did not intervene. We urge the participants clarified. We vehemently disagree with that. Homeopathy is of science-based healthcare to finally turn away from not an unconventional method that requires further scientific homeopathy and other pseudo-medical procedures and return examination. Its foundation consists of long-refuted theses to what should be self-evident: scientifically validated, fair such as the “similarity rule”, the “life force” or the “potentiation and generally comprehensible rules for high-quality medicine by dilution”. geared to the well-being of patients. . 33 ARTICLE Science History TheSceptical Chymist

Tim Harding describes the transition from alchemy to chemistry.

nlike physics, geology and thus better suited for making weapons Ubiology, chemistry is a relatively and armour. It was made by smelting new science - less than 400 years old. copper and alloying with tin, arsenic, Yet for thousands of years, people have or other metals. This technology was been extracting chemicals from plants largely invented by trial and error, for medicines, dyes and perfumes; without any chemical knowledge of the Robert Boyle (1627-1691) by an unknown artist, fermenting beer and wine; making nature of metals or alloys. The science and his book of “doubts and paradoxes” pottery and glazes; rendering fat into of chemistry did not exist at all in these soap; making glass; extracting metals ancient times. from ores and making alloys like bronze. It has been claimed by some writers century was quite rapid – more like a But this does not mean there was any that alchemy was a precursor to revolution than evolution. It has been knowledge of the underlying chemistry chemistry, or that chemistry ‘evolved’ suggested that this was due to the involved. from alchemy. I think this is wrong. development of scientific methods. I For instance, metal-working and Chemistry no more evolved from think this is also wrong, for reasons I smithing have existed since the Bronze alchemy than astronomy evolved from shall later explain. Age, which began with the rise of . Alchemy was a mystical Alchemy was practised throughout the Mesopotamian civilisation in the pseudoscience like astrology, rather Europe, Africa, and Asia; but as this essay mid-4th millennium BCE. Bronze than being a protoscience of chemistry. is about the transition from alchemy to was harder and more durable than The eventual mainstream switch from chemistry, which happened in Europe, I other metals available at the time, and alchemy to chemistry in the 17th shall focus on western alchemy. 34 The Skeptic March 19

WHAT IS ALCHEMY? The ‘holy grail’ of Western alchemy was the production of the fabled Philosopher’s Stone, which really had nothing to do with philosophy but was supposed to bestow spiritual wealth and immortality. This Stone would also enable the alchemist to turn base metals such as lead into silver and gold. In theory, this was merely the test employed to check whether the Stone was genuine, but in practice it became the main driver of alchemical experimentation. Other goals of alchemy included the creation of panaceas able to cure any disease, and the development of ‘alkahest’, a hypothetical universal solvent able to dissolve every other substance, the planets and the metals, and to including gold. (A potential problem further their metallic transformations by with alkahest is that, if it dissolves performing them at times when certain everything, then it cannot be placed ‘planets’ were in conjunction. The into a container because it would also seven principal ‘planets’ and the seven dissolve the container.) principal metals were called by the same Western alchemists continued names: Sol (gold), Luna (silver), Saturn antiquity’s belief in the classical ‘four (lead), Jupiter (tin), Mars (iron), Venus elements’ of earth, water, air, and fire. (copper), and Mercury (mercury). They held that metals grew slowly and naturally in the earth, the product of HISTORY OF WESTERN ALCHEMY a ménage a trois between the otherwise The beginnings of Western alchemy opposing forces of mercury, sulphur may generally be traced to ancient and Top: Modern table of alchemical symbols by and salt. Alchemists tried to speed up Hellenistic Egypt, where the city of Aristotle Pramagoulis (egregoredesign.com) these supposedly natural processes in the Alexandria was a centre of alchemical laboratory. activity, and retained its pre-eminence Above: Mary the Prophet (or Mary the Jewess), They guarded their work in through most of the early Greek and first western alchemist (engraving Maier 1617) secrecy including cyphers and Roman periods. The oldest known cryptic symbolism, somewhat akin alchemical texts are preserved on what Egyptian alchemist and gnostic mystic to astrological arcanery. Their work is known as the Leiden Papyrus, which who lived at the end of the 3rd and was guided by Hermetic principles dates from around 300 CE. It is written beginning of the 4th century CE. He relating to magic and mysticism. (These in Greek, and contains 101 recipes for was born in Panopolis (the present day principles are named after Hermes the production of fake gold, silver and Akhmim) in the south of Roman Egypt. Trismegistus, the purported ancient dyes. He wrote the oldest known books on author of the Hermetic Corpus, a series Maria Prophetissa (or Mary the alchemy, which he called Cheirokmeta, of esoteric early Greek-Egyptian texts.) Jewess), was possibly the first western using the Greek word for “things There were some connections alchemist. She is known from the works made by hand”. He is one of about 40 between the two mystical of Zosimos of Panopolis, as none of her authors represented in a compendium of alchemy and astrology. The belief of writings have survived. Maria is thought of alchemical writings that was probably the alchemists that all natural events to have lived between the first and third put together in Constantinople in the are connected by a hidden thread, that centuries CE, and is credited with the 7th or 8th century CE, copies of which everything has an influence on other invention of several kinds of laboratory exist in manuscripts in Venice and Paris. things, that “what is above is as what is apparatus such as the eponymously This was when the term “alchemy” first below”, constrained them to place stress named ‘bain-marie’. began to be used. on the supposed connection between Zosimos of Panopolis was a Greek- As early as the 14th century CE, 35 ARTICLE Science History

The Skeptical Roger Bacon (c1219 - c1292), engraving by Chymist Michael Maier in his Symbola aurea (1617) him in the absence of a mature science Continued... of chemistry in his time. According to Ackroyd (2007), the young Newton set up an alchemy laboratory in his cracks were seen to be growing in the chambers at Cambridge, and he had facade of alchemy, and people started to 175 alchemical books in his library – became sceptical. In 1317, the Avignon one tenth of the total. However, for Pope John XXII ordered all alchemists Newton alchemy was a private interest, to leave France for making counterfeit more like a hobby than a profession. He money. A law was passed in England in did not publish on the subject, and his 1403 which made the “multiplication alkahest was an undiscovered element writings consisted of personal notes and of metals” punishable by death. But from which all other elements (earth, annotations on alchemical texts. despite these and other apparently fire, water and air) were simply extreme measures, alchemy did not die. derivative forms. Paracelsus believed THE RISE OF CHEMISTRY The lure of making gold from lead was that this element was, in fact, the Chemistry is the science of matter too much of a monetary magnet. Philosopher’s Stone. at the atomic to molecular scale, Several practical problems with Paracelsus advocated the tria prima dealing primarily with collections and alchemy emerged. There was no (three primes) of salt, sulphur and interactions of atoms, such as molecules, systematic naming scheme for new mercury. They were not, however crystals, and metals. Chemistry studies compounds, and the language was simply the substances which bear these matter in solid, liquid and gaseous esoteric and vague to the point that the names today. Salt was the prime of states. It really has nothing to do with terminologies meant different things fixity and incombustibility, mercury of alchemy – the only similarity being the to different people. Indeed, many fusibility and volatility, and sulphur of use of laboratory experiments. alchemists included in their methods flammability. So anything that burned The Classical Greek philosopher irrelevant information was sulphur and Democritus (c460 - c370 BC) and such as the timing of different substances later Epicurus and Leucippus held that the tides or the phases “ Isaac Newton afforded different everything is composed of ‘atoms’, of the moon. Like dabbled in alchemy ... in sulphurs, mercuries which are physically indivisible; that astrology, the esoteric and salts. The between atoms, there lies empty nature and codified the absence of a mature Three Primes were space (called the void); that atoms are vocabulary of alchemy science of chemistry. thought to be related indestructible, and have always been appeared to be more ” to the Law of the and always will be in motion; that useful in concealing the Triangle, in which there is an infinite number of atoms fact that they could not be sure of very two components come together to and of kinds of atoms, which differ much at all. produce the third. These views may in shape and size. Although this early In fact, according to Brock (1992): seem strange, even unintelligible to us atomic theory appears to be more nearly “The language of alchemy soon but, even in the 17th century, they were aligned with that of modern science developed an arcane and secretive still believed by some of the best brains than any other theory of antiquity, it technical vocabulary designed of the time. was a philosophical theory rather than to conceal information from the In 1608 the alchemist Sendivogius a scientific theory. Classical Greek uninitiated.” To a large degree, this proposed that one metal could be atomists could not possibly have had language is incomprehensible to us propagated from another only in the an empirical basis for modern concepts today, though it is apparent that readers order of superiority of the planets. He of atoms and molecules, so this was not of Geoffery Chaucer’s ‘The Canon’s placed the seven planets in the following the beginnings of chemistry. Yeoman’s Tale’ or audiences of Ben descending order: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Nevertheless, in the 17th century, Jonson’s The Alchemist were able to Sol, Venus, Mercury, Luna. “The virtues a renewed interest arose in Classical construe it sufficiently to laugh at it. of the planets descend,” he said, “but Greek atomism. The major figures in The 16th-century Swiss alchemist do not ascend; it is easy to change Mars this rebirth were Francis Bacon, René Paracelsus (Philippus Aureolus (iron) into Venus (copper), for instance, Descartes, Pierre Gassendi, and Robert Theophrastus Bombastus von but Venus cannot be transformed into Boyle, the latter being the first real Hohenheim, from whom the word Mars.” chemist, perhaps best known for Boyle’s ‘bombastic’ is derived) believed in Even the great Isaac Newton dabbled Law. This law describes the inversely the existence of alkahest. He thought in alchemy, for which we can forgive proportional relationship between the 36 The Skeptic March 19

absolute pressure and volume of a gas, if ‘rhetorical’ moves by chemists in the the temperature is kept constant within Academie des Sciences. a closed system. Later pioneering chemists such Once again, before the advent of Brandt, Cronsted, Black, Cavendish, chemistry, Robert Boyle (1627–1692) Geoffrey, Priestley and Lavoisier built was an alchemist. He believed on the work of Boyle, but as this essay the transmutation of metals to be is about the transition from alchemy to a possibility, and he carried out chemistry, I do not propose to discuss experiments in the hope of achieving it. their work in detail. In his ground-breaking book One exception is Antoine- The Sceptical Chymist (1661), Boyle Laurent de Lavoisier (1743–1794), demonstrated problems that arise from a French chemist who is celebrated alchemy, and he proposed atomism as the “father of modern chemistry”. as a possible explanation, which soon Lavoisier demonstrated with careful became widely accepted among the measurements that transmutation of physical sciences. Boyle called the water to earth was not possible, but that alchemists who were disciples of the sediment observed from boiling Paracelsus “vulgar spagyrists”. Boyle water came from the container. He showed that Paracelsus’s theories of the burnt phosphorus and sulphur in air, Above: John Dalton (1766 - 1844), chemist, tria prima – salt, sulphur, and mercury and proved that the products weighed physicist and meteorologist – were totally inadequate to explain more than the original, and that the chemistry and he was the first to give weight gained was lost from the air. Below Antoine Lavoisier (1743 - 1794), before a satisfactory definition of an element. Thus, in 1789, Lavoisier established the losing his head in the French Revolution Boyle endorsed the early atomistic view Law of Conservation of Mass, which of elements as the undecomposable is also called Lavoisier’s Law. By this Later on, the English chemist constituents of material bodies, and that investigation Lavoisier destroyed part of John Dalton in 1803 proposed a atoms were of various sorts and sizes. the experimental basis of alchemy, and modern atomic theory which stated He also made the distinction between established specific methods by which that all matter was composed of small mixtures and compounds, and he made chemical changes can be investigated, indivisible particles termed atoms, considerable progress in the technique such as the use of the mass balance. that atoms of a given element possess of detecting their ingredients, a Lavoisier worked with Claude unique characteristics and weight, process which became designated Louis Berthollet and others to and that three types of atoms exist: by the term “chemical analysis”. devise a system of chemical simple (elements); compound (simple For Boyle, chemistry was the nomenclature which serves as the molecules); and complex (complex science of the composition basis of the modern system of molecules). In 1808, Dalton first of substances, not merely an naming chemical compounds. published a New System of Chemical adjunct to the arts of the Lavoisier’s Traité Élémentaire Philosophy, in which he outlined the alchemist or the physician. de Chimie (Elementary Treatise first modern scientific description of the Chemistry soon became of Chemistry, 1789) was atomic theory. recognised as a legitimate the first modern chemical Pattison Muir (1902) gives credit to science, alongside physics, textbook, and presented a the Classical Greek atomists rather than geology and biology. As unified view of new theories the alchemists in inspiring the work a result, Boyle has been of chemistry. In addition, of Boyle, Lavoisier, Dalton, and other whimsically called “The it contained a list of early chemists. He says: “Instead of father of chemistry and elements, or substances blaming the Greek philosophers for lack the brother of the Earl of that could not be broken of quantitatively accurate experimental Cork”. down further, which inquiry, we should rather be full of Wootten (2015) notes included oxygen, nitrogen, admiring wonder at the extraordinary that although alchemy hydrogen, phosphorus, acuteness of their mental vision, and the had once been respectable mercury, zinc, and sulphur. soundness of their scientific spirit.” in the eyes of Newton Lavoisier also established The demise of alchemy cannot and Boyle, it had become that elements could not be be attributed to the development of entirely disreputable by converted from one to scientific methods. This is because the 1720s. He states the other, which was the experimental scientific methods had that this was a result final nail in the coffin of already been developed around four of a series of alchemy. hundred years earlier by the English 37 ARTICLE Science History

The Skeptical Alchemy Museum in Rosicrucian Park, Chymist San Jose, California Continued...

philosophers Robert Grossteste and Roger Bacon, as explained in an essay of mine in the June 2016 issue of The Skeptic. According to Wootton (2015), alchemy was never a science, and there was no room for it to survive among those who accepted a scientific approach. For they had something the alchemists did not: a critical community of scientific peers prepared to take nothing on trust. Wootton argues that alchemy and chemistry were both experimental disciplines, but they belonged to different types of community. The demise of alchemy provides natural substances, using alchemical or a REFERENCES further evidence that what marks out combination of alchemical and spiritual Ackroyd, Peter. (2007) Isaac Newton modern science is not the conduct of techniques. In the practice of what is Vintage Books, . experiments (alchemists conducted known as , the ‘samskaras’ are Boyle, Robert (1661) The Sceptical Chymist. plenty of laboratory experiments), but claimed to transform heavy metals and J. Crooke, London The Project Gutenberg the formation of a critical scientific toxic herbs in a way that removes their eBook: https:/tinyurl.com/y6luv3gm community capable of peer reviewing toxicity. These mystical beliefs persist to Brock, William H. (1992). The Fontana discoveries and replicating results. the present day. History of Chemistry. Fontana Press, Alchemy, as a clandestine enterprise, Two Spagyrists of the 20th century, London. could never develop such a community. Albert Richard Riedel and Jean Davidson, John S. (2001). Annotations to Wootton says that Popper was right to Dubuis, merged Paracelsian alchemy Boyle’s ‘The Sceptical Chymist’ chem.gla. think that science can flourish only in with occultism, teaching laboratory ac.uk/staff/alanc/annotations.pdf. an open society. pharmaceutical methods. The schools Martin, Sean. (2015). Alchemy and they founded, Les Philosophes de la Alchemists. Pocket Essentials, Harpenden. MODERN ALCHEMY Nature and The Paracelsus Research Pattison Muir, M. M., (1902) The Story Today new interpretations of alchemy Society, popularised modern spagyrics of Alchemy and The Beginnings of are still perpetuated, sometimes including the manufacture of herbal Chemistry. The Project Gutenberg merging in concepts from hippie, New tinctures and products. The courses, eBook https://tinyurl.com/y4afpx92. Age or other radical countercultural books, organisations, and conferences Principe, Lawrence M. (2011) ‘Alchemy movements. Even conservative generated by their students continue Restored’. Isis. 102.2: 305-12. Christian groups like the Rosicrucians to influence popular applications Sendivogius. (1608). The New Chemical and Freemasons have a continued of alchemy as a New Age quackery Light. The Alchemy Web Site: levity.com/ interest in alchemy and its practice. . alchemy/newchem1.html symbolism. According to Principe Wootton, David. (2015). The Invention of (2011), occultists reinterpreted alchemy About the author: Science – A New History of the Scientific as a spiritual practice, involving the Tim Harding originally Revolution. Harper Perennial, New York. self-transformation of the practitioner majored in biochemistry. He Russell, B. (1961) History of Western and only incidentally or not at all the has also studied the history and Philosophy. 2nd edition. George Allen transformation of laboratory substances, philosophy of science twice & Unwin, London. which has contributed to a merger of – once as part of a science magic and alchemy in popular thought. degree and more recently as Some forms of quackery believe in part of an Arts degree majoring the concept of the transmutation of in philosophy. 38 FEATURE History The Skeptic March 19 Curses Foiled Brian Dunning takes a look at the tale, the popular explanation, and AGAIN! the real science behind the curse of Tutankhamun.

e’ve all heard the story of the Wmummy’s curse, and we’ve all heard the popular explanation — but you may not know the numbers behind the story. In 1922 Howard Carter was exploring the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, with his friend and financial backer George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. After a 15 year search, they opened the fabulous tomb of King Tutankhamun, the most spectacular tomb found to date, and now known three-legged dog howled and dropped as KV62. Carter poked a hole through dead, and all the lights in the city of the seal and peered inside, and when Cairo suddenly went out. Lord Carnarvon asked if he could see And then others of Carter’s party anything, Carter famously replied began to die of mysterious causes. In “Yes, wonderful things.” fact, more than two dozen men were But things got less wonderful rather said to have fallen to the curse. Carter quickly, so the story goes. Front and himself, it appears, had to suffer the centre in the antechamber was a clay fate of watching all his friends and tablet, deciphered by one of Carter’s associates drop off like flies all around colleagues, that read: “Death will slay him. Even his beloved pet canary was with his wings whoever disturbs the killed by a cobra in a freak incident. peace of the pharaoh.” The newspapers trumpeted the terrors None of them seemed too of the mummy’s curse concerned about Death’s wings, to all the world. because the archaeologists immediately proceeded to apply their early 20th century archaeological ignorance Top to bottom: The to King Tut and his goodies. Items unbroken seal to King were collected and broken, and even Tut’s tomb; King Tut’s mummy itself was said to Lord Carnarvon; have been chopped into pieces and Howard Carter; set out in the sun where it quickly and Carter’s book deteriorated. According to legend, from 1923. Lord Carnarvon soon died from a mosquito bite, and simultaneously, his 0339 ARTICLE History

Clockwise from right: Lord Curses Carnarvon, his daughter Isabelle, and foiled again Howard Carter outside the tomb of Tutankhamum; extracting the treasure; Continued... the tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Carter bore these miseries until he finally died himself, sixteen years after unleashing the curse. Now the critical mind can easily find many causes for skepticism with this story: • First, the accounts of the curse all come from 1920s-era newspapers, well known for sensationalism and expansion of facts to make great headlines. Reliable records of what happened to Carter’s people after they left the dig are hard to come is no record of any written by. References to the simultaneous curse, either in Carter’s death of dogs, the canary, and the own documents or in any lights going out in Cairo are found modern collections; at only in these unreliable newspaper least not associated with reports and so can be considered Tutankhamun’s tomb anecdotal at best. specifically. Another post- • Second, Lord Carnarvon was hoc rationalisation exists known to be in pretty frail health to explain the absence of a at the time, and infection was a written record: It was expunged to mummies, Aspergillus niger and common cause of death. He had avoid frightening the locals. Again, Aspergillus flavus, and that can be aggravated the mosquito bite on his a better explanation is that such a potentially harmful to people with cheek while shaving, and developed written curse did not exist. weakened immune systems. Bacteria erysipelas resulting in septicaemia are also found in tombs. and pneumonia. There was no curse TOMB TOXINS Another problem with the tomb needed to explain the dangers of One of the first people to present a toxin explanation is that it sounds these conditions. serious scientific explanation for the good to a layperson, but it is, in fact, • Third, the explanation that the deaths associated with King Tut’s curse armchair science. It’s a reasonably curse’s effect on Carter himself was was Dr Caroline Stenger-Philippe, who plausible idea, but one that has never to leave him alive and proposed in 1986 actually happened in the real world. well while others died that ancient mould in National Geographic is among those is clearly a post-hoc “Tomb toxin - a the tomb could have who have delved into this subject in rationalisation. Sure, I plausible idea but caused potentially detail, and found that working suppose it’s possible that fatal allergic reactions. Egyptologists are not concerned about Carter’s long healthy one that has never Since fruits and the possibility of tomb toxins. They’ve life could be evidence actually happened vegetables and other never heard of any colleagues suffering of a curse, but the lack in the real world. organic items were from it; thousands of tourists go in and of an effective curse ” buried in tombs, out of the tombs every day with no ill is probably a better and since the tombs effects, and even when Egyptologists explanation for it. were completely do wear masks during excavations it’s • Fourth, and this goes back again hermetically sealed, it is plausible that because of dust, not tomb toxins. to the pulp-fiction nature of mould spores could have existed and F. DeWolfe Miller, professor of the newspapers of the era, is the remained viable through the millennia. epidemiology at the University of inconsistencies among various This proposal has become known as Hawaii said “Given the sanitary versions of the tale, notably the “tomb toxins”, and has been broadened conditions of the time in general, and alleged stone tablet bearing the to include other compounds, such as those within Egypt in particular, Lord curse. It should be noted that there two moulds that are found on ancient Carnarvon would likely have been safer 40 The Skeptic March 19

inside the tomb than outside.” exposed lived to 75. The p-value of this So, we end up with one piece of So we have two things at this point difference was 0.87, so there’s an 87 hard, testable evidence: Statistically in our investigation: First, really weak per cent chance that this difference was speaking, nothing unusual happened in and primarily anecdotal evidence merely due to chance. Average survival the Valley of the Kings; but pop culture that anything unusual happened; and after the date of exposure was 20.8 gained another rich layer of adventure second, a hypothesised cause that years for the exposed group, and 28.9 fiction. . turns out to be quite a poor fit for years for the unexposed group. While the observed data. King Tut’s curse is this sounds like a large difference, the Reprinted with permission from Skeptoid beginning to look about as withered up p-value was 0.95, meaning there’s a 95 #106, June 2008 – skeptoid.com as he looks himself. per cent chance that you’d have such a difference anyway due to random STATISTICS variation. In 2002, the British Medical Journal Nelson’s conclusion: “There was About the author: published a study by Dr Mark Nelson no significant association between Brian Dunning is host and from Monash University in Melbourne. exposure to the mummy’s curse and producer of the award- He decided to take a statistical look at survival and thus no evidence to winning podcast, Skeptoid: the people who were actually there, and support the existence of a mummy’s Critical Analysis of Pop see if their dates of death actually were curse.” Phenomena. accelerated as a result of exposure to any possible curse. He performed a retrospective cohort study, which is a specific type of analysis based on medical records of certain groups of people. Nelson considered only the Westerners in Carter’s party, since there was a difference in life expectancy between Westerners and Egyptians. He defined “exposure to the curse” as participation in any of four specific events where sacred seals were breached in the tomb, the sarcophagus, and the mummy itself. And then the number crunching began. To better understand these results, it’s necessary to comprehend what’s meant by a “p-value”. It’s a term used by statisticians, and it refers to the probability that your test results could be due to normal random variations. A p-value of 0, the lowest possible, means there’s a 0 per cent chance that your test results are due to normal random variances, so low p-values generally mean that your results are significant. A p-value of 1, the highest possible, means that your results are 100 per cent consistent with what we’d expect to see from normal random variations, therefore your results are quite probably insignificant. Of 44 Westerners present, 25 were exposed to the curse. Those 25 lived to an average age of 70, while those not

Excitable newspaper coverage of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb and the mythical curse. 41 ARTICLE Classic Catch - Witness

“Do my eyes deceive me?”, asks Tony Wheeler in this Classic Catch article from Autumn 1988. And the answer is …

saw it, so it must be true!” must be I one of the most difficult claims for the skeptic to counter when faced with the honest witness of a UFO, Bigfoot or . Yet our senses can lie, and in some respects the eyewitness account is the poorest evidence of what happened. To appreciate such deception, we need to understand the physiology of our senses. Out there is the real world; a solid, warm, moving, noisy, smelly, light world. But is what we perceive reality, or just a synthesised, altered approximation of it? To better understand perceptual errors, and a few paranormal phenomena, I would like (very briefly) to discuss the physiology of out repetitive background noise so you are aware of hearing someone perception. that while you still hear the noise speak unexpectedly to you but fail Our perceptions are based on you are not continually conscious of to understand the words, and you sensory information, energy received, it unless you choose to be so. At the respond with a prompt “Pardon?” transformed and transmitted by same time, missed small sections of just as the processed perception sensory cells (transducers). This conversation can be reconstructed of the speech is presented to your information is carried and processed from the meaning consciousness leaving by the networks of nerve cells of the preceding and you listening to a appropriate to that sense, and our succeeding words and “ In some respects, repetition of what consciousness is presented with phrases so that you are the eyewitness you have just ‘heard’. a simulation of reality. It is this aware of a complete, Sometimes the simulation that we know, and it is the sensible message. account is the poorest system goes wrong, reception, transduction, peripheral and These two processes evidence of what as when an otherwise central processing and presentation are the means by happened. unimportant that makes up perception. The closer which you can enjoy ” repetitive sound the simulation approximates to reality, a single conversation that you would not the more truthful and honest our in the midst of a noisy cocktail party normally be aware of is annoyingly perception of our environment will be. (Broadbent, 1962). heard in an otherwise quiet This processing of the speech heard environment. In such circumstances HEARING is performed in segments and takes your perception of a dripping tap To give you an example, our sense time. The time lag between hearing can be amplified until it painfully of hearing is good in that it filters and perceiving is noticeable when dominates your consciousness. 42 The Skeptic March 19

TOUCH the path of a camouflaged The sense of touch is generally more oncoming vehicle. In fact reliable, except that some parts of the he had seen it, but had body are surprisingly far less sensitive failed to perceive it. than others. While you can localise A forward view of a light point stimulus to within one an approaching vehicle, millimetre when applied to your lips or especially a motorcycle, is fingertips, the same stimulus applied to an irregular outline full of your thighs or body can only be located varying shapes, colours, to within 50 or 60mm. illumination and shadows, Similarly, you cannot differentiate and on a straight road between single or paired stimuli when is stationary against its their separation is the same as, or less background with only its than, these distances. size increasing relative to (Both of these phenomena are the its background to alert basis of clinical tests for the normality you to its presence. It is of the sensory nervous system.) because this perceptual error is so common and SIGHT so hazardous that the use We are accustomed to considering of dipped headlights by motorcyclists Rubin’s vase - developed around 1915 by vision to be the most important sense, is now quite a common practice in Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin. and usually it probably is. Nevertheless, many countries and ‘running lights’ are vision certainly isn’t the most reliable becoming available on safety-oriented of senses, and indeed many books have production vehicles. layer as the optic nerve, and where been published on the rich array of Another easily demonstrable there are no photoreceptors. Although visual illusions known (eg Robinson, difficulty of visual perception is our you are blind to images falling here 1982). severe lack of appreciation of what we you are normally unaware of this When we ‘see’ we can only perceive cannot see. Clinically this is apparent disability because you are unaware of that which we recognise; if a totally when a patient presents himself with a your lack of visual ability outside your unfamiliar image, or a familiar image reduced visual field due to degenerated visual field. in a very strange and unexpected retinal photoreceptors, the surprising A purely physiological aspect of environment, is presented our visual aspect being the great extent of the vision in dim light is that while the system is momentarily confused and damage and loss in the visual field class of retinal photoreceptors known our consciousness will be presented before the patient is aware of the as ‘cones’ are good for bright colour with the nearest familiar approximation problem. vision, and the ‘rods’ are better for to what we have seen. This is probably In other words, they hadn’t been dim black and white vision, there are the origin of most ‘sightings’ of aware of what they could not see. only cones and no rods at the retinal and paranormal ‘fauna’ (Czechura, Another (normal) aspect can be fovea where the image which we are 1984). demonstrated here and now. Close focussing at falls on the retina. For this A classic recent example is Easdown’s your left eye and look into the room; reason, we cannot see very dim images (1985) account of a brief sight of a can you identify any area within your well when looking directly at them. large animal by a truck driver being visual field that you cannot see? Now, To demonstrate this, the next cloud- perceived as a familiar, albeit 14 foot with your left eye still closed, focus free night traverse your gaze across the tall, kangaroo, when in reality it was a your right eye on the dotted circle night sky and as your gaze approaches normal-sized (but unexpected) camel. below and slowly bring this page a very dim star (at a distance about Irregular outlines with varying closer to you from your furthest reach; equal to that of the diameter of the colour and lighting are difficult to between about 360 and 250mm away moon), you will ‘see’ that star fade recognise, and in these situations the the cross will no longer be perceived - toward invisibility and then return to poorly understood image is left out and it will disappear! its former brightness. An associated the consciousness is presented with the aspect is that in dim light, when you uninterrupted background (Luckiesh, 0 X are relying on your rod cells, you 1965). This explains the effectiveness cannot ‘see’ colours, a property of the of camouflage and the surprisingly The explanation for this is that less-sensitive cone cells. Consequently large number of collisions where a within this distance range the image of moonlit scenes are seen in black and driver giving way and/or stationary the cross falls on your retina where the white. at a junction has moved forward into nerve axons pass through the retinal In dim light, paradoxically, many 43 ARTICLE Classic Catch - Witness

Less familiar, but more dramatic, opposed to their actual qualities Perception are the sensations projected to or abilities, can be deliberately deception the perceived ends of irritated manipulated, and this is indeed a sensory nerves. This is particularly large part of a physician’s ‘bed-side Continued... characteristic of amputations when, manner’. It isn’t the physician’s abilities immediately following surgery, the as demonstrated by any objective sensations projected to where the ends evidence that inspires confidence in things are ‘seen’; just look at the of the sensory nerves used to be are the patient, but his perceived abilities. increases in the incidence of sightings of UFOs and thylacines at dusk RECOLLECTION touch presented by Molnar (1984), and the As we have seen when studied positive after-image ‘seen’ after a flash separately, we can so easily demonstrate of light in a dim environment known the sophistry of our individual senses, as Bidwell’s ghost was recognised as and this unreliability is just as prevalent early as 1894 (Walker, 1985). hearing taste when examining the recollection of incidents that have just been perceived. OTHER SENSATIONS smell The eyewitness testimony of Temperature has a few quirks a criminal incident is commonly too, mainly because it is a purely thought to be the most reliable form pons comparative sense. As any parent brain stem of evidence. However, numerous medulla running their baby’s bathwater can experiments have repeatedly shown tell you it is very difficult to judge spinal cord that being present at the scene of an the temperature of the water with the incident, or even actually watching an hand, and even the traditional elbow vision incident, does not necessarily qualify is only marginally better. (Similarly, one as a good witness to what actually you cannot reliably perceive in happened, who did what, and the absolute terms how much light later recognition of the participants there is; if photographers could they (Buckhout, 1974). wouldn’t need to be lumbered with so real that the amputee has difficulty Indeed, erroneous eyewitness light meters.) believing and remembering that that testimony is remarkably frequent, To demonstrate this, place each part of the limb has been amputated. the errors being due to subconscious hand in a bowl of water, one at 15oC It is because of these phantom elaboration and the filling in of any and one at 40oC. After three minutes, sensations that the recovering patient gaps in the perception, the movement transfer both hands together to a awakening from the anaesthetic is of the scene of the incident closer third bowl of water at 25oC. Of the so often disbelieving when informed to the observer’s position, and sensations that you perceive which is that some part of a limb had to be the rearrangement of events and ‘correct’? amputated. So vivid roles according to In the same way, our perception and convincing are The amputee has preconceived ideas. The of ourselves is often slightly different these sensations that “ facts fitting the most from reality. How often does the it is not unusual for difficulty believing obvious interpretation unexpected image of yourself (a a patient to convince that that part of are those believed, reflection in a shop mirror) startle an inexperienced regardless of the reality. you as being someone that you feel nurse that the only the limb has been The extent of you should recognise, but can’t quite way to relieve an amputated. such revision of one’s place? The most familiar discrepancy itch is for her to ” recollection increases between our self-perception and reality retrieve the lost limb with the time elapsed occurs when pathology produces pain from the cold store so that it can be since the incident. And this is even in one of our visceral organs; because scratched! without taking into account the we cannot perceive as such these parts It is a severe and tragic discrepancy psychological influences encouraging of ourselves, the pain is referred to the between one’s perceived obesity the subconscious revision of one’s periphery supplied with sensory nerves and reality that is part of the cause recollection so as to agree with the by the same spinal segment. This is of anorexia nervosa, the condition evidence of other witnesses, the peripheral pain, and is the reason that typified by the young girl starving authorities, etc, let alone the effects of the famous pain of a heart attack is herself to death so as to lose a few one’s racial, sexual, etc, prejudices. perceived in the left shoulder and arm, imagined superfluous inches. The commonest situation where not in the heart itself. The perception of others, as eyewitness testimony is called for 44 happened. little resemblance towhatactually road trafficcollision,unhappilybears whether afterwitnessingacrimeor our recollection of whatwe perceived, of anincidentcorrectly. It seemsthat have perceivedaspect observers every few tests itisusualtofindthat very happened (Carr, 1974).Indeed, in the junction,letalonewhatactually vehicles of involved andthegeometry about thenumbersandcoloursof uncommon forwitnessestobewrong from experiencedmotorists;itisnot as unreliable, even whenobtained Unfortunately, suchtestimonyisjust is following road trafficcollisions. In mostinstances, thissimulationis an approximate simulationofreality. our consciousnessispresented with of oursensesenforces that theview An understandingofthephysiology actually said. rather thanthecontentofwhatis employment, grantorotherinterview, style ofanapplicantorcandidateat will beirrationallyconcernedwiththe even supposedlyrational scientists little thatissensible. saying very who talksimpressively whileactually probably thinkofatleastonepolitician to govern. Indeed, mostpeoplecan real to theirability evidencepertaining style oftheirspeechratherthanonany physiognomy, mannerismsandthe govern ismore oftenbasedontheir perception ofapolitician’s abilityto just unusuallyshy. snobbish andunfriendlyisinreality whom we hadlongregarded asaloof, been surprisedtofindthatacolleague Nevertheless, how manyofushave (see Shute, 1938foranexample). wealthy andextraordinarily influential later isrevealed tobebothextremely dressed, inconsequentialmanwho the commonestoffictional,poorly deviate from reality, asindicatedby perception ofpeople’s character can Everyone isaware ofhow farour CHARACTER ASSESSMENT CONCLUSION This deception is so important that This deceptionissoimportant More isthatour important ourselves. assessing theevidenceofothers,and these limitationsinmindwhen As skeptics,we willdowell tobear anapplicant. incident orinterviewing misperceptions whenrecalling an be ledseriouslyastrayby subtle absence ofapproaching traffic. a UFO,mythologicalanimal,orthe lead tosincere belief inthesightingof environments erroneous simulations improvement. However, incertain good enough,andcaneven bean Walker, J. 1985.“Bidwell’sGhostandother Shute,. London: N.1938.Ruined City J.O.Robinson. 1972.The Psychology of Molnar, R.E. 1984.“ReportsofThylacines Luckiesh, M.1965.Visual Illusions. New Easdown, R.1985.“TheFourteen-foot G. V.Czechura, 1984.“Apparitions,UFOs Carr, J. 1974.“HowGoodaWitnessare R.1974.“EyewitnessBuckhout, Broadbent, D.E. 1962.“Attentionand Autumn 1988. reprinted from is Note: ThisClassic Catch article REFERENCES Further thanthis,we canoften 100-104. Afterimage.” Phenomena AssociatedwiththePositive Cassell. University Library. Visual Illusion.London:Hutchinson The Skeptic 4(4):9&12-14. and ofUFOs:SimilaritiesPatterns.” York: Dover. 6. Kangaroo.” MotorManualwinterspecial: and Wildlife.”TheSkeptic 4(1):14-16. You?” Driveno30:60-64. 23-31. Testimony.” American 206(4):143-151 the PerceptionofSpeech.”Scientific . Scientific American 231(6):Scientific The Skeptic Scientific American 252(2):Scientific Skeptics. secretary oftheQueensland Queensland, aswellbeing Pharmacology, Universityof the DeptofPhysiology& Tony Wheelertaughtin At timeofwriting,Dr About theauthor: , Vol 8No 1, know. position thatfactsarethings we and unverifiablefacts,orweadopt the to acceptthattherecanbeunknown we knowaboutit.So,eitherhave true. Butwecannotverifyafactunless and thatwearejustifiedinbelievingit knowledge –apropositionthatistrue other accountisthatafactanitemof by scienceorotherinvestigations.The be unknownfactsyettodiscovered positions. Thismeansthattherecan describe realityindependentlyofpro- proposition true.Inotherwords,facts - afactisthatwhichmakestrue in meaningtothedictionarydefinition of facts.Thefirstaccountisequivalent phical accountsoftheepistemicstatus However, therearetwomainphiloso- facts areobjectiveandverifiable. ignorance.” the mediumbetweenknowledgeand too much”.AsPlatosaid:“Opinionis to besubjective,suchas“Itisraining about matterscommonlyconsidered a judgment,viewpoint,orstatement gauge –itisnotjustamatterofopinion. can beobjectivelymeasuredinarain it actuallyisraining.Therainthatfalls tion “Itisraining”describesthefactthat experiments. Forinstance,theproposi- verified byrepeatableobservationsor (such as2+2=4).Scientificfactsare empirical observationordeductiveproof demonstrated tocorrespondeither is verifiability;thatis,whetheritcanbe - T of dubiousclaimsthataremade. looks forobjectiveevidenceinsupport important toscientificskepticism,which which aresubjective.Thedistinctionis are objective,asopposedtoopinions truth; reality”.Thisimpliesthatfacts has reallyhappenedoristhecase; Dictionary definesafactas“what so straightforward.TheMacquarie Philosophers generallyagreethat On theotherhand,anopinionis The usualtestforastatementoffact Logical Place

the question, buttheanswerisnot his mightseemlikeasimple What is A Fact? The Skeptic March 19 by Tim Harding 45 ARTICLE Classic Catch - Skeptics of the Past C owboy Clobbers C r e a t i o n i s m

JW ‘Slim’ Lairraby moseys on down to the Olde West, to witness Hopalong Cassidy’s friend expound on the age of the Universe and the futility of special creation. Yee hah!

t could be the first signs of I approaching senility, but I was recently moved to read, for the first time in 30 years, a Western. I came across a book, “Tex of the Bar 20” by Mulford (pictured right) was no Cassidy, was seeking to distract the Clarence E. Mulford, in a second- Shakespeare, he was the author of attention of the chief villain, Henry hand bookshop. Remembering popular fiction and his works reflected Williams (no relation to any former my teenage addiction to the genre, the popular prejudices of his time (his president of Australian Skeptics), and to the works of Mulford in books were written between 1906 and while certain plans were maturing. particular, I acquired and re-read 1940). There were certainly no good Now read on ... the book. Other readers of a certain live lnjuns in Mulford’s books. He did, vintage, who had similar juvenile however, use the medium to propagate “Don’t you try to fool me!” warned passions, may recall Mulford as the some factual, historical, geographical Tex. “Don’t pretend you don’t know! creator of the character Hopalong and climatic information about the An’ let me tell you this. You are wrong, Cassidy (the real one, not the time and the place about which he like th’ ministers an’ all th’ rest of th’ wishywashy hero of the Saturday wrote. In the book under review, I theologians. That’s th’ truest hypothesis movie matinees). was astonished to read the following man ever postulated. It proves itself, I This is not a confession of a passage. To set the scene, Tex, the tell you! From th’ diffused, homogene- misspent youth; there is no point. eponymous hero and a colleague of ous, gaseous state, whirlin’, because of 46 The Skeptic March 19

molecular attraction, into a constantly Hennery - it only leads us nowhere. you, I’ll warrant you a rough passage, more compact, matter state, constantly Was it Archimedes who said he could my friend. ‘Come, let’s e’en at it!’ We’ll becomin’ more heterogeneous as pressure move th’ earth if he only had some place give you the floor, Henry - and here’s varies an’ causes a variable temperature to stand? He wasn’t goin’ to try to lift where I really enjoy myself for the first of th’ mass. Integration an’ heterogeneity! himself by his boot straps, was he, th’ old time in three weary, dreary years. We’ll From th’ cold of th’ diffused gases to th’ fox? That’s th’ trouble, Hennery: after all rout your generalities with specific terrific heat generated is said, we still got to find facts; we’ll refute your ambiguities with by their pressure toward some place to stand.” precisions; we’ll destroy your mythological th’ common centre of He glanced over Henry’s conceptions with rational conceptions; C r e a t i o n i s m attraction. Can’t you see head to see Doctor Horn your symbolical conceptions with actual it, man?” smiling at him, and he conceptions; your foundation of faith Henry’s mouth wondered how much of his by showing the genesis of that faith - remained open and heavy lecture the physician couch your lance, but look to yourself, inarticulate. had heard. Had he expected for you see before your ill-sorted array “You won’t answer, an educated man to be an a Roman legion - short swords and a like all th’ rest!” accused auditor he would have been flexible line. Its centurions are geology, Tex. “An’ what heat! more careful. physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, One huge molten ball, “That was th’ greatest and mathematics. Nothing taken for changing th’ force of th’ hypothesis of all - the granted there! No pious hopes, but solid planets nearest, shifting th’ hypothesis of Laplace - it facts, proved and re-proved. Come on, universal balance to new answered th’ supposedly Henry - proceed to your Waterloo! Special adjustments. ‘Equilibrium!’ demands unanswerable. Science was no longer on creation indeed! Comparative anatomy, Nature. An’ so th’ struggle goes on, ever th’ defensive, Hennery,” he summed up single-handed, will prove it false!” tryin’ to gain it, and’ allus makin’ new for the newcomer’s benefit. “My G--d!” muttered Henry, equilbriums necessary, like a dog chasin’ “Truly said!” beamed the doctor, forgetting his mission entirely. a flea on th’ end of his spine. Six days an’ getting a little excited. “In proof of its a breathin’ space!” he jeered. mechanical possibility Doctor Plateau If you can decypher the prose, “Six trillion years, more likely, an’ demonstrated, with whirling water, that Mulford was using the popular fiction no time for breathin’ spaces! What you it was not a possibility, but a fact. The medium to support the concept of got to say to that, hey? Answer me this: nebular hypothesis is more and more evolution. The science may be a bit What form of force does th’ integration accepted as time goes by, by all thinking dodgy, looked at from our knowledge postulate? Centrifugal? Hahl” he cried. men who have no personal reasons strong base, 65 years on. If we remember “You thought you had me there, didn’t enough to make them oppose it.” that the book was published in 1922, you? No, sir; not centrifugal - centripetal! He clapped the stunned Henry on the during what was then considered to be Integration - centripetal! Gravity proves back. the last gasp of the fundamentalists, it. Centrifugal is th’ destroyer, th’ maker “Trot out your refutations and the and only a couple of years prior to the of satellites - not th’ builder! Bah!” he marshall and I will knock them off their famous Scopes trial, it seems to me grunted. pins! Bring on your theologians, your that Mulford was a very useful Skeptic “You can’t disprove a word of it! Try special-creation adherents, and we’ll indeed. I suspect that, if Ole Happy it - just try it!” pulverize them under the pestle of cold and his pardners had stumbled upon Henry shook his head slowly, drew reason in the mortar of truth! a bunch of ornery creationist polecats, a deep breath, and sought a more “But I never thought you were the town would not have been big comfortable position. interested in such beautiful abstractions, enough for all of them. . “These here chairs are hard, ain’t Henry; I never dreamed that inductive they?” he remarked, feeling that he had and deductive reasoning, confined to Note: This Classic Catch article is to say something. Surely it was safe to say purely scientific questions, appealed to reprinted from The Skeptic, Vol 8 No 1, that. you. What needless loneliness I have Autumn 1988. Tex leaped to his feet and scowled suffered; what opportunities I have down at him. “Evadin’, are you?” he missed; what a dearth of intellectual demanded. Then his voice changed exercise, and all because I took for About the author: and he placed a kindly hand on his granted that no one in this town was JW “Slim” Lairraby, companion’s shoulder. competent to discuss either side of such marshall of Dodge City, was “There ain’t no use tryin’ to refute subjects. But he’s got you with Laplace, killed (chewed up) in the it, Hennery,” he said. “It can’t be done Henry; got you hard and fast, if you hold Gumfight at the PK Corral. - no, sir - it can’t be done. Don’t you to the tenets of special creation. He is channelled by ever argue with me again about this, “Now that there are two of us against Sir Jim R. Wallaby. 0347 REGULARS

The cycle of life WISHFUL THINKING Wishing, gambling and calculating. Confirmation bias is the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of And so it goes, the almost inevitable one’s existing beliefs or theories. A variation of this realisation that all knowledge is is apophenia, the tendency to perceive connections and meaning between unrelated things. The term was coined connected and connectable. by psychiatrist Klaus Conrad (pictured below) in his 1958 publication on the beginning stages of schizophrenia. He defined it as “unmotivated seeing of connections [accompanied by] a specific feeling of abnormal meaningfulness”. He described UNREASONABLE THINKING the early stages of delusional thought as self-referential, over- Pascal and his sister were interpretations of actual sensory perceptions, as opposed to influenced by doctors treating his hallucinations. Apophenia has come to mean a universal father’s broken hip, who were followers human tendency to seek patterns in random information, of Jansenism, a splinter group from the such as gambling. Catholic Church that espoused moral rigour and asceticism. Unlike his sister, he fell out with the movement and followed what some have called his “worldly period” (1648-54.) However, following “an intense religious vision”, he reconverted to Catholicism. It was during this period that he wrote two of his most famous epithets: “The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing” (Fragments) and “We almost invariably arrive at our beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what we find attractive” (De l’art What goes around ... de persuader). The latter statement, in particular, is a classic description of confirmation bias. CALCULATING BRAIN Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) was a French child prodigy, mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic theologian. His earliest work was in the natural and applied sciences where he made important contributions to the study of fluids, and the concepts of pressure and vacuum by generalising the work of Evangelista Torricelli. Pascal also wrote in defence of the scientific method. In 1642, while still a teenager, he started some pioneering work on calculating machines. After three years of effort and 50 prototypes, he built 20 finished machines (called Pascal’s calculators and later Pascalines - above right), establishing him as one of the Blaise Pascal on the 500 franc note, first inventors of the mechanical first issued in 1968, with the Tour Saint- calculator. Jacques to the left. Source: Wikipedia, except where noted

48 The Skeptic March 19

RISKY BUSINESS WISHFUL THINKING The gambler’s fallacy, also known as the “Monte Confirmation bias is the tendency Carlo fallacy” or the fallacy of the maturity of chances, is to interpret new evidence as confirmation of the mistaken belief that, if something happens more frequently one’s existing beliefs or theories. A variation of this than normal during a given period, it will happen less frequently in is apophenia, the tendency to perceive connections and the future. It may also be stated as the belief that, if something happens meaning between unrelated things. The term was coined less frequently than normal during a given period, it will happen more by psychiatrist Klaus Conrad (pictured below) in his 1958 frequently in the future. In situations where the outcome being observed publication on the beginning stages of schizophrenia. He is truly random and consists of independent trials of a random process, defined it as “unmotivated seeing of connections [accompanied this belief is false. It is a fallacy that a sequence of trials carries a Pareidolia - making unsupported by] a specific feeling of abnormal meaningfulness”. He described memory of past results which tend to favor or disfavor future visual or audio connections, such the early stages of delusional thought as self-referential, over- outcomes. The fallacy can arise in many situations, but is most as seeing faces in a bath tub - is a strongly associated with gambling, interpretations of actual sensory perceptions, as opposed to form of apophenia. hallucinations. Apophenia has come to mean a universal where it is common among human tendency to seek patterns in random information, players. such as gambling. GAMBLING WITH FATE The term “Monte Carlo fallacy” originates from the best known example of the phenomenon, which occurred in the Monte Carlo Casino (see left) in 1913 during a game of roulette. Roulette is named after the French word meaning “little wheel”, and players may choose to place bets on either a single number, various groupings of numbers, red or black, odd or even, high or low. On August 18, the ball fell on black 26 times in a row. This was an extremely uncommon What goes around ... occurrence, with a probability of around 1 in 33 million. Gamblers lost millions of francs betting against black, A TURN OF THE WHEEL reasoning incorrectly that the streak was causing Roulette has been played in its present form an imbalance in the randomness of the wheel, as early as 1796 in Paris. An early description of and that it had to be followed by a long the roulette game in its current form is found in a streak of red. French novel La Roulette, ou Histoire d’un Joueur by Jacques Lablee, which describes a roulette wheel in the Palais Royal in Paris in 1796. The first form of roulette was devised in 18th century France. The roulette mechanism is a hybrid of a gaming wheel invented in 1720 and the Italian game Biribi. (The wheel has places numbered 1-36, and in the European version one 0, though in the American version there is a 0 and 00.) Many historians believe Blaise Pascal introduced a primitive form of roulette in the 17th century in his search Roulette, a game traditionally played with for a perpetual motion machine. style, elegance and dignified restraint. Source: Wikipedia, except where noted

49 REVIEWS Botany + Science

Faulty flora different world view, albeit one I don’t share. But then Gagliano jolts me out of this mildly diverted state by bringing science into it. She has always Thus Spoke the Plant A remarkable journey of groundbreaking maintained her desire to test her hypotheses scientific discoveries and personal encounters with plants. in a scientific way, which she does and has had By Monica Gagliano them peer-reviewed published (often with some difficulty). Some of the science is convincing, in Penguin Books, A$32.99 part, but almost always it needs to be repeated, preferably in other laboratories as well, and to be challenged more rigorously in the design of the r Monica Gagliano, the author experiments. Dof Thus Spoke the Plant, is What troubles me more is when Gagliano to be congratulated for testing our dismisses other scientific pursuits, such as genetic assumptions and extending the modification of plants, because it contradicts self-imposed limits to our scientific her view of how we should interact with plants. enquiry into the way plants work. Plants, to Gagliano, are sovereign subjects, not That’s always a good thing. objects for us to use. Which makes it hard to A few years ago I interviewed her grow, breed or eat any carrot or tomato. The logic on ABC RN, around the time of her of this doesn’t make any sense to me. first experiments into plant learning Gagliano also avoids countering other and communication. It was part interpretations of her work, or alternative theories of a show I hosted over a couple of to the concept of a smart plant. She says it is for summers called, appropriately enough, plant physiologists to work out why, she is just Talking Plants. To be fair to Gagliano, showing it happens. Which is not helpful. she dismisses the term “plant-speak”. Gagliano is harsh on those who don’t view However it is replaced with the equally the world the way she does. I appreciate she has challenging “plant-writing”, described been dissed and worse by scientific colleagues as the product of a “listener who but for someone asking us to embrace a whole filters out personal noise to hear the new way of living with our vegetable friends this plants speak … engag[ing] in active dialogue with seems hypocritical. For example those scientists those nonhuman intelligences”. That listener, in who listen to plants with microphones are very this case Gagliano, “acts as a coauthor physically ‘seventies’ and dismissed along with tourists who deliver[ing] those conversations to the page”. when visiting forests spend more time in the gift Gagliano prefers to think of this interaction as shop, or arrive in a tour group. While I might a “human-plant collaborative endeavour”. As she agree with the sentiments surely it is up to us all is the first to admit, this takes it beyond scientific to interact with, and study, the world in whatever materialism, which is where many of us start and way we feel comfortable. It doesn’t seem to gel finish. with the attitude she wants to her own work. As I’ve already made it clear in these pages In the end Gagliano says she is all for chance. [The Skeptic March 2017], I think plants are Keep an open mind, she says, not bound by time fascinating, but stupid. Still, I’m curious about the and other things. There are a lot of tears in the burgeoning topic of plant ‘intelligence’ and always few years covered by this story, tears of happiness happy enough to have my assumptions tested and revelation mostly. Trees in particular give her (although those that know me best also know in life meaning and direction. I just wish she was as the end I’d prefer not to be wrong). tolerant of scientists and well-meaning humans as Gagliano stretches what I consider to be she is of the plants sending her their rather weak reality, and in this latest work she not only talks signals of intelligence. about her own research into the oddest nooks We need people like Monica Gagliano to lead and crannies, but peppers the book with ‘plant- us into new territory, and I wouldn’t be surprised writing’ from her somewhat hallucinogenic if some of her findings lead to interesting new experiences with plants. So we learn of sensitive research threads. It’s just that so far, to someone plants learning things, pea plants finding their like me, it doesn’t yet make any sense. way through mazes by detecting noises, and native tobacco plant that seems to just give advice. - Reviewed by Tim Entwisle To some degree I can drift along with this as a Director, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria 50 The Skeptic March 19

Doing it right public will reduce his audience by half. In the end, he used one … the famous one. Rice’s book has no equations, though it does have a number Scientifically Talking of graphs, and like Hawking’s it is pitched most By Stanley A Rice definitely at an average reasonably intelligent Prometheus Books, US$25.00 reader, perhaps slightly younger in Rice’s case though that might be because scientific method is probably a lot easier to understand than quantum physics and black holes. keptics regard the scientific method as the ne But it is not less important - indeed, it is Splus ultra of assessing claims of the natural probably more important - as scientific method world, whether science or pseudoscience. The is also one of the most important fundamental fact that pseudoscience rarely - if ever - resorts concepts in understanding the world and how to scientific method to put its claims to the it impacts on us that humankind has ever test is indicative enough that we are dealing developed. with a pseudo version of knowledge, regardless In the introduction to his book, Rice says that of how many times proponents claim that scientific method is “organised common sense” they are endorsed by scientists or laboratory and “is perhaps the most exhilarating liberation tested, or use quantum science as a handy but of which the human mind is capable”. Ok, inappropriate catch-all explanation. In fact, many there is some “liberation” in the book, but from proponents of what we would call pseudoscience the get-go he admits that there are ingrained acknowledge that their claims are not scientific, problems with our ability to appreciate the justifying their position by pointing out that method and its result. “science doesn’t know everything” or that their “The human mind does not look for truth in claims are real but “unknown to science”. data but rationalises it - no matter how many or But what is “scientific method”? How does it how few data there are. The easiest thing for our work, and why should skeptics be so confident brains to do, when overloaded with information, that it can be applied to successfully prove or is to pay attention only to the information disprove, endorse or rubbish, specific claims? that agrees with what we already believe.” This is what Stanley Rice sets out to do, in a Confirmation bias is a problem, but it is not very readable non-academic fashion. a moral or a political problem but an intrinsic Rice is a professor of biological science at one: “Let me set the record straight. Humans are Southeastern Oklahoma State University, with always biased. All humans. Always.” a speciality in botany. The subtitle of his book Scientific method is set up to attempt to is “How to liberate your mind, solve the world’s bypass those biases, and as he says: “Most of this problems, and embrace the beauty of science”, book is about the kind of errors our ape brains which is pretty ambitious. This is can lead us into, and what the scientific method what science does, but asking a does about them.” book like Rice’s to cover all of that is The book then proceeds through a series of perhaps a tad overreaching. It does discussions on how scientists do their jobs, how embrace the beauty of science, often experiments are set up, how measurement is quite eloquently, particularly in the managed (and managed to avoid measuring the natural world which is his speciality, wrong things), and a long discussion on false but he is describing a process not a and pseudo science. result, so we’ll leave liberating minds In the latter section, he begins with a handy and solving world’s problems to guide to the characteristics of pseudoscience. In science itself, at the highest level of summary, these are: absence of self-correction; the application of academic and peer- reversed burden of proof; over reliance on reviewed learning. anecdotal data; undefined terms; refusal to pay In the introduction to A Brief attention to evidence; primacy of a political History of Time, one of the best- agenda; ridicule of or threats against critics; and selling and most-unread science ‘follow the money’. books in history, Stephen Hawking He is often critical of religious doctrines as bemoans the fact that every equation non-scientific and suffering very poor logic when used in a book aimed at the general they try to work in the world of science. He 51 REVIEWS Science + Homeopathy

looks at creationism in particular, on scientific terminology is “Think of a word but one gets the feeling that in that you frequently use but that could be many places he is referring misunderstood by somebody.” to religion generally. A second more concerning problem is a habit What comes across he has of mentioning specific people without overall is a passion elaboration. There may be a reference in the for science, for notes, but a few sentences would be sufficient experimentation to explain what he is getting at and alleviate the and discovery - “a need for a reader to look up the source. joyful discipline” But these are small concerns. This is a book he calls it. In his for those who are at the cusp of science, who enthusiasm to get might be wavering between an understanding the message across, of what science is and a possible leaning to his style of writing pseudoscience - high school students are a can at times be chatty key market, but there would be many others (with the occasional who could do with the clear and enthusiastic aside and corny joke explanations and expositions that Rice puts that you might get from forward. a well-meaning but un-hip “We scientists deserve the esteem that we relative). He diverges into have for being unbiased - not because we are particular areas of activity where unbiased but because we, more than anyone else, you might think, “yes, interesting, recognise and, to the extent humanly possible, but have you got off the track?” Do we control for our biases.” really need pages on the intelligence of plants This is an ideal world, where biases are and ants? controlled, and scientists are well-meaning. But the answer is yes, that is what makes While it might not always be so easy or so science and some scientists so interesting and successful (and Rice admits and discusses this), exciting - their passion will not let them stick to it is one which must be pursued, step by hesitant dry academia and they have to get their hands step, forward and backwards. He likes the idea of dirty in the real muddy world. And diversions, scientists publishing their failures as well as their such as the interesting things ants do, are successes, if only to save other scientists from relevant as they can lead to an understanding of going down the same dead-end. ill-judged theories and how the scientific method And that’s what this book is about - the corrects against those. explanation of a method of learning that leads, Sometimes his desire to encourage passion eventually, hopefully, to liberating your mind, in others goes a little astray - each chapter ends solving the world’s problems, and on the way with a suggested exercise to get the reader into getting a taste of how wonderful and beautiful a scientific experimental frame of mind. But the world is. these can be pretty generic and not obviously useful - one that comes at the end of a discussion - Reviewed by Tim Mendham

I’m Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com

A weekly science podcast dedicated to furthering knowledge by blasting away the widespread pseudosciences that infect popular culture.

http://skeptoid.com

52 The Skeptic March 19

The bitter pill Grams’ book was published there (in German) in 2015, she had hoped that it would spark a considered conversation about the role and Homeopathy Reconsidered: What really helps patients future of homeopathy. She was actively trying By Natalie Grams to defend the profession, particularly after the Springer, A$35.86 publication of a highly critical book that she had been interviewed for*. Instead her book sparked vitriol. Her homeopathic colleagues didn’t like it, calling her a traitor and organising protests that “ ll homeopathic medicines with have turned violent when she has presented at Apotencies [higher than 6x] are conferences in her home country of Germany. definitely free of active ingredients that Her book is now out in English, with a closing could have a physiological effect. No chapter added covering the reaction to the original ‘spiritual healing energy’, as it was called German publication. by [founder Samuel] Hahnemann, can Despite those quotes at the top of this be proven in any grade of homeopathic review, the book is actually quite sympathetic to potency. There is no ‘vital force’ in homeopathy, though not in the way you might the way Hahnemann imagined it. expect. There is no principle of similarity in Grams goes to some length (though the nature. From a scientific point of view, book is only just over 120 pages) to cover homeopathic drug testing is implausible homeopathic philosophy and practice. She points and untenable. There are no studies that out several times that there are different streams prove the effects of homeopathy beyond of homeopathy, though most professionals stick reasonable doubt; at best, an unspecific pretty much to the fundamental version as created placebo effect can occur. The theory of by Hahnemann in 1796. While this includes homeopathy taken as a whole has no the pseudoscientific notions of vital forces, scientific basis and therefore cannot be unlimited dilutions and the succussion process, part of today’s medicine.” similarities between symptom and cure, etc, it Them’s fightin’ words. And they are even more also encompasses in-depth patient consultation, shocking when you know they come from the pen and a holistic approach to patient concerns on a of a practising homeopath who wants to defend her physical, emotional, and spiritual level. (The last profession. area, she says, is concerned with thinking and Dr Natalie Grams’ aim for her book was imaginative processes, and has nothing to do with to “express certain theses in which I reject the ghosts or spiritualism.) untenable parts of homeopathy but try to show It is not unusual for an initial consultation a way to integrate the parts of it that seem to be to take hours, with the practitioner listening worth preserving into modern medicine”. patiently while the patient describes their Grams understands the science and the aims and symptoms and concerns. This shoulder-to-cry- procedures of both evidence-based and alternative on role, the time devoted to the patient, and medicine. She studied medicine at Ludwig the holistic approach to the patient’s condition Maximilian University of Munich, Technical is what has made homeopathy (and other University of Munich, and Heidelberg University, alternative methodologies) popular, particularly where in 2005 she gained licensure as a physician in comparison with what some patients see as in Germany. In 2007 she received her doctorate a rapid-fire pill-oriented solution offered by as a medical faculty member at the University of traditional western medicine. Zurich. Until 2009 she was an intern at a private Of course, homeopathy also has its pills religiously-affiliated hospital in Heidelberg, where (globules), and Grams admits that these are she specialised in geriatric and palliative medicine. nonsense. They are supposed to be specifically In 2004, in parallel with her medical education, designed for the patient and their ailments, she began pursuing education in traditional though one wonders, therefore, how health shops Chinese medicine and homeopathy. She completed can sell them over the counter pre-prepared. her homeopathic education with an additional professional designation in that area. A NEW ROLE Germany is where Samuel Hahnemann was But it is that consultation process where Grams born, and it is a stronghold of homeopathy. When feels homeopathy has something to offer. 53 REVIEWS Homeopathy + Skepticism

“Who knows more about a patient than manager, helped set up the Information Network a homeopath after a complete homeopathic Homeopathy, and now finds herself on the other anamnesis [medical history]? Recall that the side of the coin, arguing against homeopathy, the homeopathic anamnesis includes: physical; opposite of what originally intended when she set emotional; mental; spiritual; social; family out on the journey of writing her book. history; and medical history. … In short, it (This is a similar story to that of Britt Hermes, includes everything you can learn about a person. former naturopath turned skeptic, now being sued Homeopaths should therefore be able to develop a for her dismissive and highly critical commentary. truly individual therapeutic approach, more so than Interestingly, though Hermes is American, she therapists employing other methods.” is now studying in Germany. Is there something What she recommends is that homeopaths are about that country that encourages Damascene brought into the “normal medicine” fold: “A well- conversions and personal attacks from those who trained homeopath could act as a kind of health feel offended?) coordinator and decide which therapy method or methods are appropriate (and desirable) for a THE UPSHOT given patient. This could also include conventional So, is the book worth reading? medical measures. In some other cases, however, As a record of a journey out of one set of beliefs the homeopathic consultation alone would be and into another, most definitely. But that is decisive.” peripheral to her message, which is that homeopaths Let’s not forget that she already agrees that the can offer something, but it might not be medicine. treatment side of homeopathy is not supported This argument is thought provoking, and if you scientifically, and it is largely that area where the agree that this sort of lengthy in-depth consultation scientific community has come down hard on is useful, all well and good. But you might not need homeopathy: the treatments are bunk. And it is homeopaths to do it. those treatments, as much as the consultations, Her coverage of homeopathic practice is broad which the public sees as the basis of homeopathy. and scientific, though a little shuffling of some of Grams seems to therefore be suggesting a role for the sections might have been useful, as at times homeopaths without homeopathy, on the basis that you’re reading about the effect before you get to their consultations are detailed enough and allow what it is all about. the patient to get a lot of things off their chest. One thing that is missing from the book is a Of course, that is where the placebo aspect discussion or reference to the 2015 report by the comes into play, and she does talk about that. If the Australian NHMRC which soundly debunked patient feels warm and fuzzy with the homeopath’s homeopathy. Understandably, the original book bedside manner, then they’ll feel equally warm and did not mention it, as it came out about the same fuzzy about the little pills, as ineffective as they are. time as her writing had finished. The report has But considering the response she got to her book received international coverage and created a storm from the homeopaths, it’s doubtful if they could of outrage among homeopaths in Europe, though ever leave the treatment aspect to one side. Nor curiously little in this country, despite three local could they leave the diagnosis – full of vital energies homeopathy organisations lodging a complaint and similars and spirits – out of the picture. with the Commonwealth Ombudsman in 2016. And could you expect them to recommend a (European homeopaths keep claiming that a non-homeopathic treatment? response from the Ombudsman is due any minute; What you’re left with is a practitioner with a so far, it hasn’t happened.) However, Grams’ skill in listening, but whose ability to diagnose, additional chapter, written in 2018, also fails to prescribe, and treat a patient is suspect. mention the NHMRC report and subsequent Was Grams being a tad naive expecting her brouhaha, despite it being used as an important fellow homeopaths to hit their collective palms on rallying cry by the homeopathy industry. their foreheads and say, “My god, you’re right! We Perhaps she found it too damning for her were doing it wrong for 220 years”? attempted reconciliation of the medical fraternities. Perhaps we could say more optimistic than And she had already done enough damning of naïve. But it is probably true to say she did not her own. expect the level of vitriol her book did generate. - Reviewed by Tim Mendham So strong was it, and so convincing was the scientific evidence against homeopathy, that she * The Homeopathy Lie (German title: Die left the field, closed her homeopathic practice, Homöopathie-Lüge) by Christian Weymayr and joined the German Skeptics as communications Nicole Heissmann, published in 2012. 54 The Skeptic March 19

Readin’, writin’, ’rithmetic and rationality

Show Me the Evidence means and Nora figures out how to search for it. By Greg Bender The story ends, just like that. Quick and simple. Bookbaby, A$21.86 Afterward, there’s some information on the scientific method and a few graphics to show how to go from hypothesis to conclusion in a kid-friendly fashion. The book discusses the hen I was about 5 years importance of finding evidence and may help Wold, I really thought my even the youngest kids figure if they’re being then 18-year-old brother was the duped and then, hopefully, prevent them from most amazing person on the face of falling for Grade-A Bologna in the future. the planet. One day he said, “Hey The graphics are basic and they kind of Kendra, what’s that on your shirt?” resemble clipart. It looks like Show Me the When I looked down, he thumped Evidence was a PowerPoint presentation at one me in the nose. I was a bit hurt, time in its life. That said, younger kids probably both physically and emotionally, won’t care. They may even enjoy it for its simple but he pulled that trick (and a style and colour usage. few others) time and time again. It isn’t an in-depth story and it isn’t full Eventually, it made me very wary of excitement, but there is a lot to be gained and distrustful of my once dearly from this book. It’s short enough to fit into beloved bro. How was I supposed the attention span of a small child. It lovingly to know the difference between when he was being embraces critical thinking and breaks it down for truthful and when he was being an a-hole? young children. Show Me the Evidence by Greg Bender is Part of what makes children so adorably kind- designed to help kids figure out the answer. It’s hearted and innocent is their small understanding seemingly geared for ages 4 to 6, but truthfully, we of the world and their massive lack of experience all know a few folks that could benefit from this with people in general. This sweetness can also book. Though plain and very short, it’s a useful make them gullible and vulnerable to influence story that addresses big ideas for little kids: using from those around them that don’t have the kids’ the scientific method. best interests in mind. The story is super simple: a girl named Nora has The future is going to be much more difficult, a bully of a brother, Carson, who is always playing cluttered with blatant misinformation and mean pranks on her. He once told her there was pseudoscience at every corner. We must begin a hair fairy that would give her gifts if she cut her investing in our kids and giving them the keys hair and put it under her pillow. Another time he to unlock the skills that will help them grow to told her she would turn invisible if she ate broccoli, make good, informed choices in this world. then pretended not to see her for days on end. For this reason, Greg Bender gets two thumbs Carson knows that Nora loves elephants, so up for his attempt to make the world a better, one day he tells her there is an elephant outside. safer place for everyone. Show Me the Evidence is She rushes to the window and there isn’t anything a great read for very young children and can be to see. He tries to convince her that it’s only there used to help them begin the process of separating when she blinks, and tells her that if he is fooling, the good info from the garbage. she can have his cookie. In the end, Show Me the Evidence isn’t about The doubt from all the previous pranks weigh on telling kids what to think, but providing them Nora’s mind, so she begins looking for clues. She with the tools to understand how to think. doesn’t see footprints, there are no leaves missing Isn’t that just as important for our kids as from the tree it’s supposedly eating from, and she having books that help them count and read? doesn’t smell elephant dookie. Her conclusion is that Carson had better pay up - Reviewed by Kendra Reed with that cookie. He learns what the term evidence Reprinted from AitP! Comics 55 FORUM Philosophy + Science Applying philosophy In which are discussed neuroethics, informed consent, is/ought, and how philosophy really does deal with the Big Questions

he philosophy versus science extensively on how “science, not philosophy, T debate has filled the pages of has illuminated where the universe came from, this magazine for some time now, how it works, and where it is going”. Ian then with Garry Bakker1,2 and Ian states that an unnamed philosopher claimed Bryce3 heaping scorn and derision that 3000 years of debate has not established on the discipline of philosophy. the origin of human ethics and argues not only Both claim that philosophy has that science, but Darwin have answered this given humanity nothing of value question. Ian cites human behaviour systems, since it has been unable to answer genetics and memes as evidence for this claim. a single “Big Question”1,3. This is a curious assertion, as philosophy does Tim Harding, James Fodor not seek to determine the origin of human and Dr Patrick Stokes have ethics but to address the ethical questions which already addressed much of humans face as we interact with the world. Here, Bakker’s arguments in detail, so I note Bakker’s statement1 that “any meaningful I will not go over this well-worn question can best, or only, be answered by ground again. I will address the observation and experimentation, ie (sic) by the following: Ian Bryce’s most recent scientific method”. contribution to this discussion I challenge Bakker and Bryce’s assertion that and specific claims made by both philosophy has had no real-world impact on Bakker and Bryce regarding the human affairs. I refer to Bakker’s statement that role of philosophy and science in the “is/ought” debate in ethics is an empirical morality. not a philosophical question. I will address two In the most recent edition of Bakker and Bryce’s claims, firstly that the of this magazine, Ian Bryce3 study of morality is an empirical one rather writes that he was “puzzled” by than a philosophical one; and secondly, Bakker’s Tim Harding’s wish to “exclude science from statements regarding informed consent. philosophy”. Ian goes on to describe a face-to- Bakker essentially argues that experimental face interaction with Tim Harding in which he evidence on moral reasoning undermines the asked him directly whether “philosophy should plausibility of moral rationalism. Bakker is use observations from the real world”3. I asked correct that until recently the ideas put forward Tim directly whether Ian’s characterisation by moral philosophers regarding moral reasoning accurately represented his position. Tim stated were non-empirical. Recent experimental that his argument is that philosophy and science evidence has challenged the rationalist views of are different but equally valuable disciplines that Kant, Plato, and Kohlberg that moral judgements can work together. Tim’s argument is not that are caused by moral reasoning. Our developing philosophy and science are incompatible, but understanding of neuroscience, genetics and that they perform different roles, with science neurobiology and the application of experimental using observation, experimentation and the psychology has allowed us to empirically test resulting data to discover facts about the world, claims around moral cognition. Jonathan Haidt and philosophy often using these facts, applying presents compelling evidence that cool-headed reason and drawing conclusions. reason leading to moral judgement formation In his letter, Ian expands on his account of the is an illusion, and posits that reason occurs discussion with Tim, claiming that those on the post-hoc to rapid intuition4. Experimental philosophy side of the argument were unable to psychologist Joshua Greene hypothesises a dual- present an example of a “meaningful finding in process model of moral intuitions and argues that philosophy which did not use observations of the we should privilege consequentialist intuitions5. real world”. Ian goes on to state that he lectures Philosophers Richmond Campbell and Victor 56 The Skeptic March 19

Kumar draw on the dual-process model with the neuroethics train when a particular body of their model of moral consistency reasoning which empirical work appears to suggest that our brain suggests that reason and emotion closely interact, may preference their particular moral view. driving moral change at the societal level6. While This leads me to Bakker’s claim that the is/ they do not have experimental evidence to ought question is empirical not philosophical, support their model, they put forward plausible leading me to conclude that Bakker does not suggestions for hypothesis testing. understand the question in the first place, nor the types of questions moral philosophers engage NEUROETHICS with. What, if anything, does experimental It is true that some moral philosophers have been evidence say about the purpose moral hostile towards the growing field of neuroethics7. judgements serve within a society, and does this These critics mischaracterise neuroethics by mean anything for a normative ethical theory? claiming that it seeks to tell us what is right or Understanding how the human brain processes good. The aim of neuroethics is to understand information relating to moral decisions, or how our brains come to have values, or, as that we are prone to treat a particular moral philosopher Patricia Churchland puts it: “… decision in a particular way, tells us nothing how can neurons value something?”7. Readers of about the ‘rightness’ or ‘wrongness’ of any moral this magazine would know that understanding judgement. Neuroscience can tell us what ‘is’ our biases is a matter of interest to Skeptics. The about our moral judgements, but not what is work being done in neuroethics could help us good - the very question that moral philosophy to overcome those biases that influence moral wrestles with. It is fair to ask whether rational cognition, and potentially provide us with the theories can provide guiding principles by which tools to achieve better outcomes for society7,8. to live a good life if they do not incorporate So, as you can see, I do not disagree with the neurobiology underpinning how humans Bakker and Bryce that an empirical approach make moral judgements. I think it is a mistake, to ethics is both necessary and useful. However, especially with the science being in its infancy, the field is not without its critics and for good to place too much weight on the findings within reason. As an example, Berker points out that the neuroethics or to disregard the role of moral hypothetical scenarios that Greene tests in his philosophy in guiding moral decision-making laboratory using fMRI may not represent how we and developing moral frameworks. make moral judgements in real-life9. Of course, Both Bakker and Bryce argue that one of the major limitations of neuroethics is observational evidence is sufficient to answer that it would be unethical to test how we would these moral questions, however they fail to really respond if asked to push the fat man off the recognise that scientific and moral observation bridge to stop the trolley. are different. G. E. Moore argued against ethical A different empirical approach to morality has naturalism that what we call “goodness” or “the been taken by Paul Zac, who has been lauded in good” is not a natural property12. I refer readers the media for his work on oxytocin or, as he calls to the entry in the Stanford Encyclopaedia of it, “the moral molecule”. I highly recommend Philosophy12 for a more detailed explanation of that interested readers explore science journalist Moore’s argument. Gilbert Harman draws from Ed Yong, and economist John Conlisk’s excellent Moore’s work, giving the example of a proton critiques of Zac’s research. Yong10 expresses going through a cloud chamber resulting in a concern that Zac’s promotion of the molecule as vapour trail which can be observed. He notes that being the driver of morality is not just stretching the scientific observation is itself evidence for the the science, but stretching the truth, and wildly physical theory - the physical theory explains the oversimplifying a complex issue. Conlisk11 directs proton, which explains the trail which explains his criticism towards Zac’s claims regarding your observation13. Harman gives an example of the effect of oxytocin on market behaviour, a moral observation, in this case seeing a group of citing, among other things, concerns regarding children setting a cat on fire and observing that methodology, data quality and reliability. There the act of setting a cat on fire is wrong. Seeing the is certainly growing evidence of biological drivers cat set on fire and making the moral observation of moral behaviour, however, we must exercise “that’s wrong” does not explain the “wrongness” scepticism as the experimental evidence is in of the observed act. He explains how making the its infancy and in some cases unreliable. I find moral observation does not appear to be evidence it concerning to see some moral philosophers - for the moral principle because the principle Peter Singer as an example - jumping on board does not help explain the moral observation13, 57 FORUM Philosophy + Science

Applying philosophy continued the is/ought argument. The type of empirical findings Bakker refers to may tell us that ‘x’ will work, but this does not tell us that ‘x’ is good, nor demonstrating that science and philosophy are does it tell us whether a particular societal goal is not guided by the same principles. good. Bakker states that “Rationalists and humanists decide on what laws and social mores to advance INFORMED CONSENT and adopt according to what history and thought Moving to Bakker’s comments on Harding’s experiments tell us will best achieve society’s example of informed consent in clinical trials. goals. And those goals … are determined not by Bakker argues that consent is sought “not because theology … or philosophy … but by systematic of some absolute moral law, either conferred by a observation of what human beings are actually deity or deduced by a philosopher; but because of found to value…The goals of a person, of the consequences for science, medicine and society society, or of humanity are to be discovered, of not having such a consensual system”. Bakker’s not imposed. They are an ‘is’ not an ‘ought’.”1. point here suggests a lack of both knowledge and Bakker would have you believe that science can understanding of the intense and lengthy debates answer the is/ought question by telling us what in the bioethics literature regarding the nature of works. This fundamentally misses the point of informed consent. Indeed, the field of bioethics is an example of applied philosophy, thus calling into question both Bakker and Bryce’s claims that philosophy is of no value in the real world. Informed consent, as it is currently conceived, stems from those historical atrocities carried out in Nazi Germany; at the hands of researchers in Tuskegee, and other notorious examples of how human beings have been sacrificed in the pursuit of empirical facts - the irony should not be lost on the reader. When Bakker states that consent is not sought because of “some absolute moral law” but because of “the consequences for society” he seems oblivious to the fact that once again he is taking a philosophical position. What are the consequences of not obtaining consent from patients? We can see from historical examples that a deficit in trust towards the medical and research community can result, as we see among African Americans who suffered gross injustices at the hands of doctors and scientists. Once again, the irony should not be lost when we consider how the scientific community and society at large have benefited from the use of Henrietta Lacks’ tumour tissue to develop the first immortal cell line14. It is the world of philosophy - specifically the bioethics community - which has truly engaged with the ethical implications of how HeLa cells were obtained. It is the bioethics community which seeks to engage with the implications of dual-use research while many scientists protest that we are an impediment to progress. But returning to the is/ought question, 58 The Skeptic March 19

the focus of the moral philosopher turns to vaccination and GMOs dismiss the scientific whether, for example, trust itself is good. method. Bakker’s assertion that his undergraduate Assuming that the answer to this and similar degree confers on him an expertise in assessing questions are implicit is a mistake. In order to the value of this vast and complex discipline promote what is good, we need to demonstrate its demonstrates a lack of humility; and humility, I goodness and wrestle with what makes it so. would argue, is critical to both good philosophy As Bakker suggests, we can operationalise and good science. everything, but too often researchers are unaware of how they can impact patients and Joanne Benhamu participants, how they may undermine justice. Northcote VIC Bakker overlooks the fact that the discussion of evidence is itself a subset of philosophy, that the REFERENCES factual knowledge that empiricism has given 1. Bakker, G., “Science & the Real World”, in The us is diminished without the philosophical Skeptic, December 2017, Australian Skeptics Inc: study of the nature of knowledge itself. That Sydney, Australia. being said, part of the ethical justification for 2. Bakker, G., “More philosophising”, in The Skeptic, offering any intervention to a patient is the prior June 2018, Australian Skeptics Inc: Sydney, Australia. plausibility and empirical evidence substantiating 3. Bryce, I., “No contest”, in The Skeptic, December that intervention. Philosophical debate about 2018, Australian Skeptics Inc: Sydney, Australia. informed consent has centred on various notions 4. Haidt, J., “The Emotional Dog and Its Rational Tail: of autonomy; the principles of respect for A Social Intuitionist Approach to Moral Judgment”, autonomous choice, beneficence and justice; the Psychological Review, 2001. 108(4): p. 814-834. role of trust; the fiduciary duty doctors have to 5. Greene, J., The Secret Joke of Kant’s Soul, in Moral patients, and further, how we conceive of and Psychology, Vol. 3, W. Sinnott-Armstrong, Editor. relate to our bodies; the role of power in the 2008, MIT Press. investigator participant relationship; the notion 6. Campbell, R. and V. Kumar, “Moral Reasoning on of the self in the present state and over time; the the Ground”. Ethics, 2012. 122(2): p. 273-312. role of values and preferences and consideration 7. Churchland, P.S., Braintrust What Neuroscience thereof; our duties to ourselves and to others; the Tells Us about Morality, 2011, Princeton, N.J.: goals of research itself. My recently completed Princeton University Press. Masters thesis took a hard philosophical approach 8. Christensen, J.F. and A. Gomila, “Moral dilemmas to informed consent to clinical trials drawing from in cognitive neuroscience of moral decision-making: epistemology and philosophy of language but A principled review”, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral providing real-world solutions for how we can best Reviews, 2012. 36(4): p. 1249-1264. protect research participants. 9. Berker, S., “The Normative Insignificance of In both Bakker and Bryce’s arguments there is a Neuroscience”, Philosophy & Public Affairs, 2009. hubris that I find concerning. Too often science is 37(4): p. 293-329. called into question by those who are disgruntled 10. Yong, E. “The Weak Science Behind the Wrongly when the facts challenge their worldview. We Named Moral Molecule”, The Atlantic, 2015. in the skeptic community challenge these 11. Conlisk, J., “Professor Zak’s empirical studies on individuals by highlighting that while the scientific trust and oxytocin”, Journal of Economic Behavior & method is imperfect it is the best tool we have Organization, 2011. 78(1–2): p. 160-166. for understanding the natural world. Those 12. Baldwin, Tom, “George Edward Moore”, The who would argue, as Bakker and Bryce do, that Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2010 philosophy is unimportant and irrelevant in this Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed). https://plato.stanford. scientific of all ages fail to see that so much of edu/archives/sum2010/entries/moore/. what we do in science is imperfect. It is because of 13. Harman, G., The Nature of Morality - An our very humanity that we frequently fail in our Introduction to Ethics, 1977, New York, NY: Oxford scientific endeavours. The replicability problem in University Press. psychology stands as a stark example, as does the 14. Skloot, R., The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. recent use of CRISPR in China and the ethical 2011, New York, USA: Broadway Books. problems with this research. By misconstruing the goals, methods and intent of philosophy, Bakker and Bryce fail to recognise Editor’s note: At this stage, we will call a its value in the same way that proponents of halt to discussion on this topic in these pages, pseudoscience who question climate change, which has now been going close to 18 months. 59 LETTERS To the Editor

What you think ... Geologists & climate Skeptics & Religion hat a relief to read a geologist, Reply to Mr Meyerson re “Discussing Religion”, W and a fossil fuel one at that, The Skeptic, 38:4, December 2018. advocating for the science behind anthropogenic global warming (Colin Bembrick, The Skeptic38:4, p60). hank you for taking the time to be encouraged, particularly with law Geologists and mining engineers Trespond to my letter in The Skeptic makers. would be expected to know much September 2018. I shall afford you the In reference to the futility to attempt more than the general public about courtesy and respect that should be a fea- to engage in meaningful discussion climate change, given all the evidence ture of all contributions to the magazine, between a person that has an evidence- in the geological record; in fact, which I think you should be mindful of. based system of belief with a person with Earth’s climate seems to have been [ Editor’s note for the reader’s in- a faith-based system of belief, I should always changing and, in recent times, formation: In September 2018 Anthony have added a second conclusion. The the planet was warming even before Barnett commented on a reprint of a one you chose “It is based on scriptural the industrial revolution. However, debate from 1990 on religion, published passages. It is ‘written’ in The Bible, ergo it’s happening now possibly at in The Skeptic, 38:1, March 2018, in it must be so.” the fastest rate ever, and the heat- which past president Barry Williams Alas the YouTube of the debate you retentive properties of atmospheric suggested that we should not investigate referred to is no longer available. How- greenhouse gases are indisputable. religion as such; debating belief in a god ever, I viewed other debates between Perhaps feeling professional would be futile, although manifestations Anne Widdecombe and . It responsibility, ie a guilty conscience, are fair game. Mr Barnett agreed, sug- confirmed what I concluded in my first for contributing to AGW through gesting it was “futile, not needed, possibly letter. The Church, including the Catho- coal and oil burning, they have an destructive, and dangerous”. Michael lic Church, is a force for good. They understandable interest in denying Meyerson responded by asking how then provide vital support for parishioners the link? It must be noted that Colin could we debate the church’s position on and aid to countries in crisis. As Stephen is retired now. I’m not sure that his various social and scientific issues. He Fry argued, though, they can also be a comparisons with Alfred Wegener’s said that “Barnett’s contention that the force for evil. We have evidence of this Continental Drift hypothesis is minds of people who believe in something in the recent Royal Commission into valid, however. When I learned on the basis of faith cannot be changed is the Systemic Child Abuse in Religious about that in high-school geography, wrong”, and referred to a debate between Organisations. Also consider the proces- back in the early 1960s when it was Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry sion of senior clergy through the Law still ‘controversial’, it just seemed versus Anne Widdecombe and Archbishop Courts and the sadistic brutality of the so logical to my schoolboy mind; Onaiyekan on the subject “the Catholic Magdalen Sisters in Ireland. I did not with convincing evidence piling up Church is a force for good.” Read on …] see any evidence of any person changing ever since, it’s become the bedrock My letter referred directly to a previ- their conclusions about religion. (pardon the pun) of modern geology. ous contribution by Barry Williams. I If you think there is more danger in Comfortingly, geologists can’t in any should have made that much clearer, not discussing religion than discussing way be held accountable for tectonic that the letter relates to the discussion of it, make yourself familiar with the Fatwa plate movements. religion in The Skeptic only. Certainly, against author Salmon Rushdie or the On the other hand, given the you are correct, religious debate should carnage committed against the staff of implications of AGW, and the almost the magazine Charlie Hebdo. Further impossible challenges to forestall it, accounts of religious intolerance are de- it’s only natural that many people will tailed in a book by Michel Onfray called be tempted to shrug it off in various The Atheist Manifesto. ways, including the professionals For these reasons I believe there is no whose careers might be at stake. reason to alter my conclusion that reli- gion should not be a topic for discussion Paul Prociv in The Skeptic. Mount Mellum, QLD

Anthony Barnett Oakdale, NSW. 60 The Skeptic March 19

Organic maths

he Skeptic 38:4 December 2018 inefficiency of organic farming been warming ever since. CO2 Tis a very interesting issue. I methods is greater than what I alarmists do not seem to take this particularly thought the article “The described. Additionally, this highlights into account. Nor do they consider old is still present” with comments on the importance of checking sources, the circulation of the currents in the the general public’s fear of all things facts, figures, checking conclusions molten Earth’s core. Nor many other nuclear was very good. As nuclear made by authors (especially articles), natural factors – they concentrate is the only base load low emission and not accepting the information you only on the levels of a trace gas in source for electricity, it is very timely. engage in at face value (as I mentioned the atmosphere, making up 0.04% If you don’t agree that nuclear is the in the piece). Particularly from of this atmosphere. They ignore the way, I’m happy to discuss my point ‘second-hand’ sources. My apologies to effects of water vapour, which has a of view. the authors of the Seufert et al (2012) far greater ‘greenhouse’ effect than I very much liked the article paper for misrepresenting their results. CO2. And only anthropogenic CO2 by Jonas Larsen on “The Green Here’s something I could have at that! Meanies”. However, I was attracted included in the article. Clark, M., & So does not the hotter sun (and by the maths on organic farms (page Tilman, D. (Environmental Research there are other influences) support 28, columns 2 and 3). Letters, 2017): “Our analyses based the contention that global warming “According to a meta-analysis by on 46-paired organic-conventional is due to natural factors, not human Seufert et al, which compared the systems examine the comparative activities? yield of organic and conventional environmental impacts of these farms, organic farms can produce agricultural systems across five Alan Moskwa up to 34% less yield on average environmental indicators and a broad Magill, SA per unit of land compared with its range of foods. We found that organic conventional counterparts. In other systems require 25%–110% more land words, up to a third more land would use (p < 0.001; n = 37), use 15% less be needed to produce the same energy (p = .0452; n = 33), and have amount of food.” 37% higher eutrophicaion potential Not according to my maths. If (p = .0383; n = 20) than conventional a conventional farm produced 100 systems per unit of food.” units, an organic farm would produce Keep up the keen eye. 66 units. It would need 50% more land to produce the other 34% to get back to 100 units. Column 3 has two other comparisons, so I wonder how the maths was done there. Plimer Regards Jim Young & Greens

artin Hadley writes an Jonas Larsen responds M interesting review of Ian Plimer’s book (“Giving Greenies a Black Eye”, The Skeptic, 38:4, December 2018), but I think he is as hanks for highlighting such a bit unfair on Plimer. T simple error in mathematics; I Mentioning only the last example, should have been more careful to not Hadley write “Plimer says there were rush off and write the next sentence. ice ages when CO2 was much higher In all actuality, my comments about than at present. A response is that the the mistake you picked up was an sun was cooler then. And Plimer says off-the-cuff comment to try and give what?” some impact. However, not only did Well, what should he say? Does you correct a piece of misinformation, not that response say it all? The sun but you also highlighted how the has become hotter, the Earth has 61 QUOTES

What they said ... Thomas Huxley “ Science … commits suicide when it adopts a creed.” - The Darwin Memorial (1885)

“ The man of science has learned to believe in justification, not by faith, but by verification.” - On the Advisableness of Improving Natural Knowledge (1866)

“ The improver of natural knowledge absolutely refuses to acknowledge authority, as such. For him, skepticism is the highest of duties; blind faith the one unpardonable sin.” - On the Advisableness of Improving Natural Knowledge

“ The scientific spirit is of more value than its products, and irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.” - The Coming of Age of The Origin of Species (1880); Collected Essays, vol. 2

“ The great tragedy of science – the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.” - Presidential Address at the British Association, “Biogenesis and abiogenesis” (1870)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD SOLUTION DR BOB’S QUIZ SOLUTIONS

R E C N A M O R C E L K E L

N 1. The start of the Dadaist art movement; and a brioche.

E A P O T O C L

R

M S I N U T R O P P O O F U

P 2. August 1, 2011, in Blagoveshchensk in eastern Russia.

O L T A M M L

F 3. The Amazon. N O I T S E G N O C O K R A S

O R G N P S A

G 4. The Finke river in central Australia is c400 million years

E M O H T A F X E G A W E N R old. In age, it is followed by the Meuse (Maas) in Western

Europe (c340 million years), and the New River (how T O S K G G G

I ironic) or the Susquehanna or the French Broad, all in the

S D R A E B I A I R E T Y H

S Appalachians and all c325 million years old.

A T M K Z I E

T 5. Recorded on a gramophone record, which was smuggled out A K S A E N O I T X A L E R

A in a basket of women’s underwear. S L O M I E A I

T S E L H T A E R B D E T A B

A C V P N A U E

N A M S E C N S S I A N E R A

62 The Skeptic March 19

Local Skeptical Groups

QLD SA Queensland Skeptics Association Inc Skeptics SA – Laurie Eddie www.qskeptics.org.au 52B Miller St Unley, SA 5061 Email: [email protected] Tel: (08) 8272 5881 [email protected] Mobile: 0429 143 955 Thinking and Drinking - Skeptics in the Pub Join us for dinner on the last Monday of February - November, Contact: [email protected] Junction Hotel, cnr Ipswich & Annerley Rds, Annerley, from www.meetup.com/Thinking-and-Drinking-Skeptics-in-the- 6pm, guest speaker at 7.30pm Pub/ calendar/10205558 Brisbane Skeptics in the Pub or http://tinyurl.com/loqdrt http://Brisbanesitp.wordpress.com, follow links for Facebook, Meets on the third Friday of every month at The Benjamin on Twitter and email list Franklin pub, 233 Franklin St, Adelaide. Meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:30pm at the Plough Inn, Southbank WA WA Skeptics – Dr Geoffrey Dean Dr Paulie Gold Coast Skeptics – PO Box 466, Subiaco, WA 6904 www.gcskeptics.com www.undeceivingourselves.org Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gcskeptics Details of all our meetings and speakers are on our website. Twitter: @gcskeptics Instagram: @gcskeptics Perth Skeptics – Tanya Marwood GC Skeptics in the Pub meet every third Monday at the Angler’s meetup.com/Perth_Skeptics Arms Hotel, 50 Queen Street, Southport. See website and Meetings at Henry on Eighth, 45 Eighth Ave, Maylands Facebook for details.

NT TAS Darwin Skeptics – Michelle Franklin Leyon Parker Hobart Skeptics – PO Box2027 Humpty Doo NT 0836 PO Box 84, Battery Point TAS 7004 Tel: 0408 783 145; www.facebook.com/group/darwinskeptics/ Tel: 03 6225 3988 BH, 0418 128713 [email protected] [email protected] Skeptics in the Pub - 2nd Monday each month, Meetings to be announced - see Facebook page for details 6.30pm, Ball & Chain restaurant, Salamanca Place Launceston Skeptics – Jin-oh Choi 0408 271 800 [email protected] www.launcestonskeptics.com Launceston: Skeptics in the Pub third Thursday of each month 5.30pm @ The Royal Oak Hotel Launceston: Skeptical Sunday, 2nd Sunday of each month 2.00pm @ Cube Cafe

NOTE: LISTINGS WELCOME We invite listings for any Skeptical groups based on local rather than regional areas. Email us at editor@ skeptics.com.au with details of your organisation’s name, contact details and any regular functions, eg Skeptics in the Pub, with time, day of the month, location etc. Because this is a quarterly journal and most local groups meet monthly, it is unlikely we will be able to include references to specific speakers or events. Skeptic_BackCover_Mar19.indd 64 4/03/2019 10:12 am