13 Things That Do Not Make Sense

[Mister Andersen]

http://space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524911.600

[Rhishisikk]

Okay, so science doesn't know everything, and once you cross the barrier of quantum physics, you're out in the zone.  You could probably include a lot of things about psychology in that list.  The sheer fact of the matter is the more of the universe we figure out, the more unknowns we discover. 

Argh.  Who was it who said "Failing anything else, mankind is certain to discover immortality through spectacular error."?

Or: "Most discoveries are not accompanied by cries of 'Eureka', but rather a muttered 'Now what is causing THAT?' "

[TheAuldGrump]

I am slightly annoyed that the placebo effect garnered two out of the thirteen - homeopathy is an example of the placebo effect in action, not its own category

Cold fusion has also been pretty thoroughly disproven, too many of the backers have histories for such wonders as perpetual motion....

Some of the others are interesting though.

The Auld Grump, for those looking for information on some of the backers of cold fusion I recommend Skeptical Enquirer. Heck, I recommend it even if you aren't looking into cold fusion. Also good is Robert Park's What's New.

[Psion]

Cold fusion has also been pretty thoroughly disproven, too many of the backers have histories for such wonders as perpetual motion....

Heh. I keep hearing this from the scientific cool kids. Cold fusion isn't explained by currently understood principles of physics and has not been shown to be a viable power source. But that's saying something different from being "thoroughly disproven." Helium "ash" shows up in cold fusion experiments, so it's fairly apparent that something is happening.

And as for the backers... because someone wacky supports a theory being evidence of falsehood is pretty shaky scientifically speaking. So take care chucking stones in glass houses.

[Golden Dragon]

And as for the backers... because someone wacky supports a theory being evidence of falsehood is pretty shaky scientifically speaking. So take care chucking stones in glass houses.

The shorthand for rebutting the genetic fallacy is: Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

[TheAuldGrump]

Cold fusion has also been pretty thoroughly disproven, too many of the backers have histories for such wonders as perpetual motion....

Heh. I keep hearing this from the scientific cool kids. Cold fusion isn't explained by currently understood principles of physics and has not been shown to be a viable power source. But that's saying something different from being "thoroughly disproven." Helium "ash" shows up in cold fusion experiments, so it's fairly apparent that something is happening.

And as for the backers... because someone wacky supports a theory being evidence of falsehood is pretty shaky scientifically speaking. So take care chucking stones in glass houses.

For many of the backers I would not use the term 'wacky' - I would use the term 'crooks'. The fact that they are selling glass houses....

The Auld Grump, who has a bridge to sell, nice, central urban location....