In an era where we are overwhelmed with information, distinguishing between truth and fake news has become an intellectual battleground. Today I take you through the corridors of popular wisdom, dissecting its roots and exposing the scientific method as I learned it from scientists I work with.
- Scientific Method: How Science Unfolds
At the heart of every scientific discovery lies a systematic approach—the scientific method. It’s a roadmap that begins with formulating a hypothesis, a researcher’s educated guess about the relationship between different variables. The method then moves through defining a methodology to test this hypothesis, conducting experiments, validating results, and finally, rigorously analyzing the data obtained. Publishing the findings would need a peer review, which is the process of someone reading, checking, and giving their opinion on something that has been written by another scientist or expert working in the same subject area.
- Comparing Science vs. Popular Knowledge
While popular knowledge often relies on anecdotal evidence or traditional beliefs, science demands a more rigorous examination. Let’s try to understand the difference between the two, and how scientific principles foster a deeper understanding of the world around us.
- Common Myths of Popular Knowledge Debunked by Science
To debunk common myths perpetuated by popular knowledge, we could test our knowledge and challenge preconceived notions.
- Myth 1: Does eating chocolate cause acne?
- Myth 2: Can you really sweat out toxins through exercise?
- Myth 3: Is the five-second rule for dropped food scientifically sound?
To find the answers to the above questions we shall know where to search for information, as the virtual sea of information can be overwhelming, and it is crucial to navigate with discernment. There are of course reliable sources and platforms for accessing accurate information. From academic journals to reputable websites, understanding where to seek knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions in an era of information noise.
Remember that the pursuit of truth requires an active engagement with information. By embracing the scientific method and critically assessing popular knowledge, you can collectively contribute to a more informed and enlightened society. This is a real intellectual adventure, where curiosity is the compass and knowledge is the destination.
Let’s play a game and give your opinion on the above myths. Have you ever heard of them? How did you tackle them? And do you know any other myths?
Thank you for reading Wise&Shine. You can read more from me on my personal blog crisbiecoach.
I’m a big fan of popular myths and urban legends. It’s interesting what we believe to be true. No to the acne; no to the “sweat out toxins,” and sadly, no to the five-second rule, at least from a bacteria perspective. I still go there lol.
What an interesting exercise, Cristiana. I love this line, “Remember that the pursuit of truth requires an active engagement with information.” Right!
I looked up the first two and came up with these answers:
1. it’s complicated but maybe
2. no
3. I’ve seen this answer before and my recall was that for dry foods, the 5 seconds rule is okay. For anything wet or gooey – definitely not. But that the rule overall is not good.
For the method, I tried to search and then use sources that I thought to be credible. It’s nothing scientific or thorough enough to be peer reviewed or published though… 🙂
Thank you Wynne for looking up for the answers! Now we can debate the replies on question no 1 as Todd said no. I got something on that saying that it has been studied in lab but never tested on humans. So, I would say that more research is needed 😀
Thank you for encouraging us to question popular wisdom with a scientific lens.
This is such an excellent and important topic. I hope an appropriate amount of time is being spent on this topic at schools.
Here’s what I’ve heard about the rules :
1- chocolate causes acne- no
2- no
3- 5 second rule- sort of: it’s 2 seconds with dry foods only
🤷🏼♂️
Thank you Todd for taking the time to a answer the question!