UFOs and Pseudoscience by Robert Nemiroff Michigan Technological University
Physics X: About This Course 1. Officially "Extraordinary Concepts in Physics" 2. Being taught for credit at Michigan Tech 1. Light on math, heavy on concepts 2. Anyone anywhere is welcome 3. No textbook required 1. Wikipedia, web links, and lectures only 2. Find all the lectures with Google at: 1. "Starship Asterisk" then "Physics X" 3. http: //bb. nightskylive. net/asterisk/viewforum. php? f=39
Falsifiability The possibility that a theory could be proven false. Good theories are true but falsifiable. If a theory is not falsifiable, it may have little use. Some "crackpot theories" may sound good or cool, but if they don't make any testable predictions -- predictions unique to that theory -- then there is no way to tell if they are true. Those theories are not falsifiable.
UFOs and Pseudoscience Why is pseudoscience popular? 1. Scientists are portrayed as unpopular authority figures 1. Unelected 2. Self-proclaimed, unavailable 3. “Not like you and me” 4. It is cool to say “they” are wrong
UFOs 1. Unidentified Flying Objects 2. Never yet confirmed to be intelligent aliens from another planet 3. “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence”
A Lenticular Cloud Over New Hampshire Credit & Copyright: J. D. Rufo, J. Koermer, PSC APOD: 2003 April 30
A Lenticular Cloud Over Hawai'i Credit & Copyright: Peter Michaud (Gemini Obs. ) APOD: 2005 August 21
A Supercell Thunderstorm Cloud Over Montana Credit & Copyright: Sean R. Heavey APOD: 2010 November 30
Examples of Pseudoscience 1. Astrology 2. UFO-logy 3. Moon landing “hoax” 4. Ghosts 5. Creationism Intelligent design, etc. Ask: Why don’t most universities teach creationism? Ask: Why does the Pope believe in evolution? 6. “Face on Mars” 7. Many recent criticisms of global warming 1. 2. 3.
Goals of Pseudoscientists 1. Appear smart by creating doubt Everything is “only” a theory “My theory is just as good as yours” “Scientists are trying to undermine religion” Practiced sound bites Hard data “is there, ” will be presented “later” 2. Might further a political agenda 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Science: Predictability, Reproducibility 1. A scientific theory Makes testable predictions Creates reproducible results (falsifiable) Passes “peer review” 2. Occam’s Razor 1. A scientific theory should be no more complicated than it needs to be 1. 2. 3.
Mars Then and Now Credit & Copyright: Tom Ruen, Eugene Antoniadi, Lowell Hess, Roy A. Gallant, HST, NASA APOD: 2003 November 12
A Face On Mars Credit: The Viking Project, NASA APOD: 1998 April 6
Debating Pseudoscience: "Grab the Frame" The Frame: what is normal 1. 2. 3. 4. Your doctor is a scientist You send your kids to schools to learn from scientists Your car is fixed by a mechanic who uses science Your house was built by engineers using science 1. Don't live in a house built using the occult
Debating Pseudoscience: "Grab the Frame" RJN advice: Don't let crackpots portray science and scientists as fringe. 1. Science is normal 2. Scientists are like you and me 1. "Every cook is a chemist" 1. The occult is the fringe 2. Occultists are not like you and me
Debating Pseudoscience: "Grab the Frame" No major religion endorses creationism 1. Or UFOs 2. Or other pseudoscience No major university teaches creationism 1. Or UFOs 2. Or other pseudoscience
Debating Pseudoscience: "Grab the Frame" How can you tell if a claim is pseudoscience? 1. To start, be skeptical, not gullible 2. Look up the claim on Wikipedia 3. Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence 1. Read C. Sagan: "The Demon-Haunted World"
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