Henry Jay Forman's Blog, page 4
March 10, 2014
March 9, 2014
Fight Ignorance - Support #Science!
Science is under attack again. A return of the Know-Nothings.There was a time, not long ago, in this country where the support for science was non-partisan. While one of the major parties has become captive to those who are anti-science, there are people across the political spectrum, who because of the general lack of scientific knowledge and latching onto conspiracy theories, have taken positions that are unsupportable by evidence.
In an important article Michael Hiltzik writes in the LA Times about how promoting ignorance is destroying society.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi...
Viva La Evolution!
In an important article Michael Hiltzik writes in the LA Times about how promoting ignorance is destroying society.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi...
Viva La Evolution!
Fight Ignorance - Support Science!
Science is under attack again. A return of the Know-Nothings.There was a time, not long ago, in this country where the support for science was non-partisan. While one of the major parties has become captive to those who are anti-science, there are people across the political spectrum, who because of the general lack of scientific knowledge and latching onto conspiracy theories, have taken positions that are unsupportable by evidence.
In an important article Michael Hiltzik writes in the LA Times about how promoting ignorance is destroying society.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi...
Viva La Evolution!
In an important article Michael Hiltzik writes in the LA Times about how promoting ignorance is destroying society.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi...
Viva La Evolution!
March 7, 2014
Pseudo intellectualism is destructive to society
Frauds and fools who sound like they know what they are talking about are a danger to society.
March 6, 2014
POISONOUS SCIENCE IS ON SALE!! CARBON MONOXIDE, FUGU, AND FUN!!
$0.99 FROM NOW TO FRIDAY AT 11 AM EST ONLY! Poisonous Science is $0.99 in a Kindle Countdown Deal. Don't mess with a toxicologist! Poisonous Science is a humorous murder mystery about the competitiveness of academia.Ten 5* reviews. http://www.amazon.com/Poisonous-Scien...
March 2, 2014
Famous Scientist Murdered
Scientist, noted for work on blowfish found dead in officeThat's how Poisonous Science begins. It's not a great idea to destroy the careers of other scientists, particularly when they are toxicologists. After a series of murders are discovered to be connected to a worthy but failed application for funding, our hero, a forensic pathologist turned FBI field agent, tracks the murderer across the country. Humorous turns and romance fill this quickly moving mystery. It's available in Kindle digital edition for $2.99 on Amazon and in print through these online stores:Barnes and Noble
ABE Books
Ebay
Amazon
ABE Books
Ebay
Amazon
February 18, 2014
Sex and Pornography
are missing from Poisonous Science.
I'll bet you’ve never read a book like Poisonous Science!This is a very unusual book. It’s not your usual mystery. Instead, using a story that comes uncomfortably close to reality, it describes the toxic world of academic competitiveness in a humorous mystery. Lots of fun for anyone, but a must read for academics. It has twelve reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Softcover printed version Amazon Barnes and NobleABE BooksEbay
Kindle version through Amazon
I'll bet you’ve never read a book like Poisonous Science!This is a very unusual book. It’s not your usual mystery. Instead, using a story that comes uncomfortably close to reality, it describes the toxic world of academic competitiveness in a humorous mystery. Lots of fun for anyone, but a must read for academics. It has twelve reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Softcover printed version Amazon Barnes and NobleABE BooksEbay
Kindle version through Amazon
February 15, 2014
Can #Science and #Religion Coexist?
For the open-minded:
There is not one simple answer to this. There are two. If the religious belief is in events that are provably false by measurement and/or experiment, then it is in conflict with science. If the religious belief is in untestable concepts including the existence of a deity, then science has nothing to do with that.
But, of course, people will complicate this argument. Fundamentalists will insist that the Bible or some other religious text is equivalent to scientific evidence. This is fallacious because the scientific method requires that any hypothesis (a fancy word for educated guess based on evidence) be falsifiable. This means that an experiment might show the statement is false. Consistency of results with the hypothesis is not proof. In fact, science only gets closer and closer to truth by testing of hypotheses and altering the hypotheses that are shown to be erroneous. When there is a great amount of experimental evidence consistent with a hypothesis, it advances to a theory. But, it's still open to tweaks. This is what gives an opening to those who call Darwin's theories about evolution, not any more certain than biblical stories. That is nonsense as anyone who actually understands the difference between skepticism and faith could tell you. But, people can believe in a deity and evolution. If they believe that a deity set evolution in motion, that's untestable by science. Indeed, there are some well-known scientists who are religious.
What about the other side? Atheists don't believe in the existence of deities. They do not have scientific evidence for that. So, atheism is faith that the odds of a deity existing are so small that believing in a deity must be fantasy.
There is not one simple answer to this. There are two. If the religious belief is in events that are provably false by measurement and/or experiment, then it is in conflict with science. If the religious belief is in untestable concepts including the existence of a deity, then science has nothing to do with that.
But, of course, people will complicate this argument. Fundamentalists will insist that the Bible or some other religious text is equivalent to scientific evidence. This is fallacious because the scientific method requires that any hypothesis (a fancy word for educated guess based on evidence) be falsifiable. This means that an experiment might show the statement is false. Consistency of results with the hypothesis is not proof. In fact, science only gets closer and closer to truth by testing of hypotheses and altering the hypotheses that are shown to be erroneous. When there is a great amount of experimental evidence consistent with a hypothesis, it advances to a theory. But, it's still open to tweaks. This is what gives an opening to those who call Darwin's theories about evolution, not any more certain than biblical stories. That is nonsense as anyone who actually understands the difference between skepticism and faith could tell you. But, people can believe in a deity and evolution. If they believe that a deity set evolution in motion, that's untestable by science. Indeed, there are some well-known scientists who are religious.
What about the other side? Atheists don't believe in the existence of deities. They do not have scientific evidence for that. So, atheism is faith that the odds of a deity existing are so small that believing in a deity must be fantasy.
Can Science and Religion Coexist?
For the open-minded:
There is not one simple answer to this. There are two. If the religious belief is in events that are provably false by measurement and/or experiment, then it is in conflict with science. If the religious belief is in untestable concepts including the existence of a deity, then science has nothing to do with that.
But, of course, people will complicate this argument. Fundamentalists will insist that the Bible or some other religious text is equivalent to scientific evidence. This is fallacious because the scientific method requires that any hypothesis (a fancy word for educated guess based on evidence) be falsifiable. This means that an experiment might show the statement is false. Consistency of results with the hypothesis is not proof. In fact, science only gets closer and closer to truth by testing of hypotheses and altering the hypotheses that are shown to be erroneous. When there is a great amount of experimental evidence consistent with a hypothesis, it advances to a theory. But, it's still open to tweaks. This is what gives an opening to those who call Darwin's theories about evolution, not any more certain than biblical stories. That is nonsense as anyone who actually understands the difference between skepticism and faith could tell you. But, people can believe in a deity and evolution. If they believe that a deity set evolution in motion, that's untestable by science. Indeed, there are some well-known scientists who are religious.
What about the other side? Atheists don't believe in the existence of deities. They do not have scientific evidence for that. So, atheism is faith that the odds of a deity existing are so small that believing in a deity must be fantasy.
There is not one simple answer to this. There are two. If the religious belief is in events that are provably false by measurement and/or experiment, then it is in conflict with science. If the religious belief is in untestable concepts including the existence of a deity, then science has nothing to do with that.
But, of course, people will complicate this argument. Fundamentalists will insist that the Bible or some other religious text is equivalent to scientific evidence. This is fallacious because the scientific method requires that any hypothesis (a fancy word for educated guess based on evidence) be falsifiable. This means that an experiment might show the statement is false. Consistency of results with the hypothesis is not proof. In fact, science only gets closer and closer to truth by testing of hypotheses and altering the hypotheses that are shown to be erroneous. When there is a great amount of experimental evidence consistent with a hypothesis, it advances to a theory. But, it's still open to tweaks. This is what gives an opening to those who call Darwin's theories about evolution, not any more certain than biblical stories. That is nonsense as anyone who actually understands the difference between skepticism and faith could tell you. But, people can believe in a deity and evolution. If they believe that a deity set evolution in motion, that's untestable by science. Indeed, there are some well-known scientists who are religious.
What about the other side? Atheists don't believe in the existence of deities. They do not have scientific evidence for that. So, atheism is faith that the odds of a deity existing are so small that believing in a deity must be fantasy.
February 11, 2014
Air Pollution in the San Joaquin Valley
Ozone, particles, and other bad stuff in the airMy TV appearance from 2010
If you're concerned about air pollution, this video will give you some information. Unfortunately, with the drought and fires, the situation remains a great challenge.
I served for five years as the Governor's appointed scientist on the Governing Board of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. It was a great learning experience for me in understanding how economics and politics affect public health policy. I hope my contributions to the discussion helped inform policy and improved the quality of the air for the people of the valley.
If you're concerned about air pollution, this video will give you some information. Unfortunately, with the drought and fires, the situation remains a great challenge.
I served for five years as the Governor's appointed scientist on the Governing Board of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. It was a great learning experience for me in understanding how economics and politics affect public health policy. I hope my contributions to the discussion helped inform policy and improved the quality of the air for the people of the valley.
