Questions

How do you, as a layperson, decide what you think is science and what you think is pseudoscience?

Of course, there are elements in science that fit well into common technology that we prove daily (no one denies the existence of microwaves or the legitimacy of aspirin, for instance); but I’m curious about the things scientists know but can’t prove to the general public (either because it’s not applicable to technology, because the proofs require extensive educations to understand, or both).

How do you separate the astrology from the astronomy, the chemistry from the alchemy, the cutting edge from the science fiction? If someone tells you about a spectacular new medical technology, how do you decide if it’s a great breakthrough or a snake-oil health fad?

I work in physics (quantum and particle physics), and I’m curious about perspectives on this matter from people who aren’t scientists; I’m curious how everyday people decide what to trust as legitimate and what not to trust.
S A: I hope you don’t think I’m that incapable of detecting blatant plagiarism. Even if a copy-and-paste of an encyclopedia article on “pseudoscience” would answer the question (which, in this case, it doesn’t), it would be legally advisable to cite the source of such an article, like so: http://www.unprovenconcepts.com/Pseudoscience/encyclopedia.htm
- CAustin

Did you know that the Salvation Army thrift stores across this nation have lots of volunteer helpers? Are you aware that many or most of these stores always need additional volunteer workers? I am a volunteer who takes in all the donated books, prices and shelves them, discards old books, and keeps the shelves neat. As a result, the book sales have sky rocketed. I try to keep the books in categories, such as fiction in one section, and then non fiction is broken down into history, cookbooks, crafts, computers, Christian reading, dieting, medical, and so on. It is very rewarding work, and I get to visit with some of the nicest customers. Would you like to volunteer? Wouldn’t you like to be doing something good for a good organization? Your thoughts ?
- Regina (SOC)

How do you, as a layperson, decide what you think is science and what you think is pseudoscience?

Of course, there are elements in science that fit well into common technology that we prove daily (no one denies the existence of microwaves or the legitimacy of aspirin, for instance); but I’m curious about the things scientists know but can’t prove to the general public (either because it’s not applicable to technology, because the proofs require extensive educations to understand, or both).

How do you separate the astrology from the astronomy, the chemistry from the alchemy, the cutting edge from the science fiction? If someone tells you about a spectacular new medical technology, how do you decide if it’s a great breakthrough or a snake-oil health fad?

I work in physics (quantum and particle physics), and I’m curious about perspectives on this matter from people who aren’t scientists; I’m curious how everyday people decide what to trust as legitimate and what not to trust.
- CAustin

what scientific physical medical breakthrough invention has he created besides babblings of his theory;hencefore we need to seperate him from the scientific community and put him in the science fiction catergory like george lucas who I personally admire.
many churches started hospitals;for an example st.john`s etc…..these names were not made up.Not to mention all the orthodox jewish doctors who contribute to science and medicine.
- paulywog

okay. i write books and im kinda stuck at this point. heres the scenario (this isnt real. just fiction): theres a kid (evan) who has an abusive mother, who is divorced. his mother was finally caught and his step-dad now has custody. but with only one thing of income, his step-dad cant support all the medical needs of this kid. so his step-dad gives custody rights to his sister, who has two kids of her own (jamie and zachk), both evan’s age (freshman in highschool when custody rights switched). evan and jamie are 14 and zachk is 15. well, evan has an older brother named chris. hes like 18 or 19, somewhere close to that. havent decided yet but hes graduated and looking for a nearby college. and he can drive.

heres the question: how old does a sibling have to be to get custody rights of a younger sibling if they are significantly younger? like, still in school or still a minor?

i just need to know the age, whether or not it appiles to siblings, or if its even legal cuz i dont know.
this wasnt to concern anybody. srry if it did. this may very well be happening somewhere else (not same names or same place, but the circumstances). i got the idea for this book from the numerous kids that are abused daily and nobody ever does anything about it. well, the fourth book os the only one that is basically real and really could happen. all the other ones in the series deal with dragons and werewolves and aliens and stuff.
- Raven

A giant country that forgot it’s own ideals of freedom and instead prefers to bully others, faked hypocrite people dividing themselves on “winners” and “losers”, ignorant masses of people who can barely read or write, millions of people who don’t have medical insurance and can’t afford to get treatment, widespread violence(remember Columbine and Virginia Tech), racism, homophobia, people with bigger bodies then elephants (blame that crappy Yankee food), cult of cool that is incredibly “uncool” and last, but not least, every country I visited had prettier girls. All pretty American girls are in Hollywood movies(mostly science-fiction).
- answering machine

Choose one: 1. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens; (Largest novel, 19th century British fiction, for readers with a good vocabulary who want a challenge) 2. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; (Written about 1930s African American characters in Central Florida, great read, some readers may struggle with the dialect) 3. A Separate Peace by John Knowles; (Set in World War II New England, smallest of novels, best choice for struggling readers) 4. The Hot Zone by Richard Preston; (Non-fiction, this tells the story of a near outbreak of the deadly virus Ebola, contains graphic depictions of disease, medical deaths) OR 5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (Also 19th century British fiction, for readers with a good vocabulary who want a challenge, gothic love story).
which would you recommend a 16 year old with a short attention spand to read
- Minx

Which of the following (Theres a description beneath each title in case you haven’t heard of any of them):

Nineteen Minutes Jodi Picoult Fiction
In Sterling, New Hampshire, 17-year-old high school student Peter Houghton has endured years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of classmates. One final incident of bullying sends Peter over the edge and leads him to commit an act of violence that forever changes the lives of Sterling’s residents.

The Fifth ChildDoris LessingFiction
In The Fifth Child, the Lovatt family, once idyllic, unified and happy, struggle when the fifth child, who is an outcast and disliked by his brothers and sisters, disrupts the family dynamics.
^I can relate a lot to that one, I’m like the fifth child, except that I was second.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Kim EdwardsFiction
A doctor, forced to deliver his own twins, makes a life-changing decision about the fate of one born with Down Syndrome that haunts him and his family.

My Sister’s Keeper Jodi PicoultFiction
Conceived to provide a bone marrow match for her leukemia-stricken sister, teenage Anna begins to question her moral obligations in light of countless medical procedures and decides to fight for the right to make decisions about her own body.
- The Party Scene

Which of the following (Theres a description beneath each title in case you haven’t heard of any of them):

Nineteen Minutes Jodi Picoult Fiction
In Sterling, New Hampshire, 17-year-old high school student Peter Houghton has endured years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of classmates. One final incident of bullying sends Peter over the edge and leads him to commit an act of violence that forever changes the lives of Sterling’s residents.

The Fifth Child Doris Lessing Fiction
In The Fifth Child, the Lovatt family, once idyllic, unified and happy, struggle when the fifth child, who is an outcast and disliked by his brothers and sisters, disrupts the family dynamics.
^I can relate a lot to that one, I’m like the fifth child, except that I was second.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Kim Edwards Fiction
A doctor, forced to deliver his own twins, makes a life-changing decision about the fate of one born with Down Syndrome that haunts him and his family.

My Sister’s Keeper Jodi Picoult Fiction
Conceived to provide a bone marrow match for her leukemia-stricken sister, teenage Anna begins to question her moral obligations in light of countless medical procedures and decides to fight for the right to make decisions about her own body.
- The Party Scene

Which of the following (Theres a description beneath each title in case you haven’t heard of any of them):

Nineteen Minutes Jodi Picoult Fiction
In Sterling, New Hampshire, 17-year-old high school student Peter Houghton has endured years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of classmates. One final incident of bullying sends Peter over the edge and leads him to commit an act of violence that forever changes the lives of Sterling’s residents.

The Fifth ChildDoris LessingFiction
In The Fifth Child, the Lovatt family, once idyllic, unified and happy, struggle when the fifth child, who is an outcast and disliked by his brothers and sisters, disrupts the family dynamics.
^I can relate a lot to that one, I’m like the fifth child, except that I was second.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Kim EdwardsFiction
A doctor, forced to deliver his own twins, makes a life-changing decision about the fate of one born with Down Syndrome that haunts him and his family.

My Sister’s Keeper Jodi PicoultFiction
Conceived to provide a bone marrow match for her leukemia-stricken sister, teenage Anna begins to question her moral obligations in light of countless medical procedures and decides to fight for the right to make decisions about her own body.
- The Party Scene