Comments on: How Science Reporting Works http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 06:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Xenu http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576772 Xenu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576772 So true it's almost not funny. So true it’s almost not funny.

]]> By: Xopher http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576780 Xopher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576780 This is why I stopped reading the Science Times. Anything in a field I knew about was this level of crap, so I figured the stuff in other fields probably wasn't much better, which meant I was filling my head with bullshit. This is why I stopped reading the Science Times. Anything in a field I knew about was this level of crap, so I figured the stuff in other fields probably wasn’t much better, which meant I was filling my head with bullshit.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576783 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576783 So it works like every other kind of reporting. So it works like every other kind of reporting.

]]> By: redrichie http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576785 redrichie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576785 Oh-ho-ho. Brilliant. I totally lol'd In fact I'm still grinning like an imbecile. Oh-ho-ho. Brilliant.

I totally lol’d

In fact I’m still grinning like an imbecile.

]]> By: gollux http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576794 gollux Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576794 @Antinous Yep, pretty much. @Antinous

Yep, pretty much.

]]> By: slgalt http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576801 slgalt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576801 This comic covers science news cycle in a bit more detail: http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1174 This comic covers science news cycle in a bit more detail:

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1174

]]> By: adralien http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576804 adralien Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576804 It's a shame science reporting is like this as it leads to all kinds of trouble. The investigative path of science is fascinating and it would make really good news stories, but there's the large assumption that no-one cares about science unless it makes your junk bigger. SLGALT, nice, I like the "dingding"... I think that's also how the circle of self-fulfilling credibility in reporting works as well... It’s a shame science reporting is like this as it leads to all kinds of trouble. The investigative path of science is fascinating and it would make really good news stories, but there’s the large assumption that no-one cares about science unless it makes your junk bigger.

SLGALT, nice, I like the “dingding”… I think that’s also how the circle of self-fulfilling credibility in reporting works as well…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576807 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576807 SCIENTISTS BAFFLED SCIENTISTS BAFFLED

]]> By: Davin http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576811 Davin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576811 Unfortunately, this is an awful lot like how scientists write their conclusion sections, too. Unfortunately, this is an awful lot like how scientists write their conclusion sections, too.

]]> By: endymion http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576827 endymion Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576827 #6: Ha! I actually like that comic more than the original post. (Sorry Cory!) #6: Ha! I actually like that comic more than the original post. (Sorry Cory!)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576830 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576830 Hi all, If you liked this comic, you might want to check out http://www.healthnewsreview.org/. It's the work of a group based at the University of Minnesota that critiques health reporting. Hi all,

If you liked this comic, you might want to check out http://www.healthnewsreview.org/. It’s the work of a group based at the University of Minnesota that critiques health reporting.

]]> By: Shelby Davis http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576831 Shelby Davis Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576831 @SLGALT: Aha! When I saw this I knew there was a more complete comic out there a bit ago, but couldn't remember which one! Good call! @SLGALT:

Aha! When I saw this I knew there was a more complete comic out there a bit ago, but couldn’t remember which one! Good call!

]]> By: gATO http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-577601 gATO Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-577601 Did you noticed that there's a webzine called <b>ding ding</b>, in the comic linked by SLGALT?!? Has quite the ring, doesn't it?? I'm off to register that domain right now, byez! Did you noticed that there’s a webzine called ding ding, in the comic linked by SLGALT?!? Has quite the ring, doesn’t it?? I’m off to register that domain right now, byez!

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576834 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576834 @11 looks like spam to me @11 looks like spam to me

]]> By: wnghanglow http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-577864 wnghanglow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-577864 t's vn fnnr whn prt f th cmc sn't mssng. Try hrdr nxt tm whn y stl cntnt frm nthr wbst. btw th rst s sppsd t sy *wll w cn cr cncr n th ftr* nd th nwsppr rds*scntst crts tm trvl?* thn th scntst sys F** y! nd th nwsppr rds scntst rps rprtr! t’s vn fnnr whn prt f th cmc sn’t mssng. Try hrdr nxt tm whn y stl cntnt frm nthr wbst. btw th rst s sppsd t sy *wll w cn cr cncr n th ftr* nd th nwsppr rds*scntst crts tm trvl?* thn th scntst sys F** y! nd th nwsppr rds scntst rps rprtr!

]]> By: Jonathan Badger http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576844 Jonathan Badger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576844 @Antonius Not quite. You see, unlike the majority of news subjects like politicians or religious leaders, the scientists actually produced real results that could have been reported on in non-sensational manner. Yes, it's annoying how findings are often overhyped (and it's naive to think that scientists themselves don't contribute to this in many cases), but that doesn't change the issue that unlike most fields, there is more than the blowing of hot-air going on in science. @Antonius
Not quite. You see, unlike the majority of news subjects like politicians or religious leaders, the scientists actually produced real results that could have been reported on in non-sensational manner.

Yes, it’s annoying how findings are often overhyped (and it’s naive to think that scientists themselves don’t contribute to this in many cases), but that doesn’t change the issue that unlike most fields, there is more than the blowing of hot-air going on in science.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-577868 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-577868 New to the internet? There's this thing called a "link" that you can click to see the whole comic. New to the internet? There’s this thing called a “link” that you can click to see the whole comic.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576846 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576846 I was thinking of the way that the media completely ignores substantive political issues in favor of reporting decades-old details of politicians' personal lives. I was thinking of the way that the media completely ignores substantive political issues in favor of reporting decades-old details of politicians’ personal lives.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-577617 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-577617 Another pertinent version of this comic would be: Scientists: Our data and models indicate that Global average temperatures will likely only rise 2 degrees in the next 100 years, instead of the 6 degrees suggested by previous studies... Media: Global Warming averted! SUV sales to pick up again! Another pertinent version of this comic would be:

Scientists: Our data and models indicate that Global average temperatures will likely only rise 2 degrees in the next 100 years, instead of the 6 degrees suggested by previous studies…

Media: Global Warming averted! SUV sales to pick up again!

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576851 Snig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576851 There was a cartoon years ago of rats in a cage in a lab who were celebrating, in view was a newspaper with the headline "Cancer cured in Rats". There was a cartoon years ago of rats in a cage in a lab who were celebrating, in view was a newspaper with the headline “Cancer cured in Rats”.

]]> By: apoxia http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576855 apoxia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576855 #6 SLGALT You bet me to it! I was just checking the comments to see if anyone had linked to the PhD comic. I love that comic, it truly captures the horror that is PhD research. #6 SLGALT

You bet me to it! I was just checking the comments to see if anyone had linked to the PhD comic.

I love that comic, it truly captures the horror that is PhD research.

]]> By: Maggie Koerth-Baker http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576878 Maggie Koerth-Baker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576878 I LOL'd. And then I sat staring sadly at the wall for a couple minutes. I LOL’d. And then I sat staring sadly at the wall for a couple minutes.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576882 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576882 maggie @18 - nooo! - your engaging and well-educated science journalism gives us all hope for the future! don't lose heart! maggie @18 – nooo! – your engaging and well-educated science journalism gives us all hope for the future! don’t lose heart!

]]> By: Cicada http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576883 Cicada Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576883 @15- The first one takes lots of time to report properly-- more than TV news is likely to have time for, and possibly more than the average attention span. The second takes about five seconds. <p>Hell, consider the amount of background knowledge someone would have to have to make an informed decision on global warming policy...how many thousands of pages of research it'd take to actually understand the economic tradeoffs involved, how much training it'd take to understand those pages, etc. Now do that again with every other science topic... @15- The first one takes lots of time to report properly– more than TV news is likely to have time for, and possibly more than the average attention span. The second takes about five seconds.

Hell, consider the amount of background knowledge someone would have to have to make an informed decision on global warming policy…how many thousands of pages of research it’d take to actually understand the economic tradeoffs involved, how much training it’d take to understand those pages, etc. Now do that again with every other science topic…

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576901 ackpht Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576901 One of my favorite quotes is from an old Bob Hope comic book: "Dumb people resent smart people. And most people are dumb." One of my favorite quotes is from an old Bob Hope comic book: “Dumb people resent smart people. And most people are dumb.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-577670 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-577670 Cancer reporting is tricky, and there is a tendency with cancer news for two things to happen: a) the primary source overhypes the discovery in a press release and, b) the beat reporter for the media outlet does nt have enough scientific background to ask the right questions. There is getting to be more awareness that cancer cures in mice don't mean anything. On the other hand, many science writers have excellent science backgrounds, but then they get flak from scientists who can be very controlling about how their work is reported, even when they are pretty much wrong. Scientists as a rule are really terrible writers and do not understand that you can't include every detail, proviso, and qualifier in a scientific paper in a single 400 word news brief, and also explain the science for a lay audience. Sometimes the best you can do is a crude analogy. In short, while I cringe when I see headlines such as the above, I also tend to think that bashing science writers is a pretty cheap shot. Anyone who thinks they can do it better, go ahead and try. Cancer reporting is tricky, and there is a tendency with cancer news for two things to happen:

a) the primary source overhypes the discovery in a press release and,

b) the beat reporter for the media outlet does nt have enough scientific background to ask the right questions.

There is getting to be more awareness that cancer cures in mice don’t mean anything. On the other hand, many science writers have excellent science backgrounds, but then they get flak from scientists who can be very controlling about how their work is reported, even when they are pretty much wrong. Scientists as a rule are really terrible writers and do not understand that you can’t include every detail, proviso, and qualifier in a scientific paper in a single 400 word news brief, and also explain the science for a lay audience. Sometimes the best you can do is a crude analogy.

In short, while I cringe when I see headlines such as the above, I also tend to think that bashing science writers is a pretty cheap shot. Anyone who thinks they can do it better, go ahead and try.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576909 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576909 Haha. That sounds about right, then the same scientists read the article to figure out who cured it. <!-- a href="http://mybowlingblog.com -->pba 2009 Haha. That sounds about right, then the same scientists read the article to figure out who cured it.

pba 2009

]]> By: Jason Rizos http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-576965 Jason Rizos Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-576965 Even worse: Hypothesis: Does Marijuana cause insanity? Conclusion: No, not at all. Newspaper Headline: Scientists investigate insanity-causing properties of Marijuana. EBSCO Search Results for "Marijuana" + "Insanity": 1 (more) Even worse:

Hypothesis: Does Marijuana cause insanity?

Conclusion: No, not at all.

Newspaper Headline: Scientists investigate insanity-causing properties of Marijuana.

EBSCO Search Results for “Marijuana” + “Insanity”: 1 (more)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/30/how-science-reportin.html#comment-577773 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-577773 Apparently no one here has been peer-reviewed for Nature, Science, Cell, PNAS, etc...this is so untrue it IS funny. Yet another cheap shot for those who chose worthless endeavors opposite science that are now sitting in the unemployment line, and need to be cheered up at the the expense of the very people who are the sole reason the average life-span doesn't end at age 40. Apparently no one here has been peer-reviewed for Nature, Science, Cell, PNAS, etc…this is so untrue it IS funny. Yet another cheap shot for those who chose worthless endeavors opposite science that are now sitting in the unemployment line, and need to be cheered up at the the expense of the very people who are the sole reason the average life-span doesn’t end at age 40.

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