Summary There are numerous speech stratagems which can be used to win an argument or influence the audience. Logical fallacies are mistakes in reasoning which make arguments false. The straw man is a fallacy which aims to misrepresent the opponent’s argument in order to more easily refute it. The slippery slope is a fallacy which posits that taking one action […]
Summary: Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is a major goal in the management of outbreaks and pandemics. Initial Pfizer/BioNTech clinical trials did not evaluate SARS-CoV-2 transmission but followed EMA’s recommendations. Clinical trials of vaccines do not usually study transmission. Instead, the reduction of infections is employed as a standard outcome. Recently, the lack of testing for the reduction of SARS-CoV-2 transmission […]
Summary: Many non-stick cookware items contain chemicals called PFAS, that have been indicated in multiple health issues. Overheating non-stick cookware damages it and releases toxic fumes. Scratched non-stick coating leads to plastic particles in food that accumulate in the stomach and kidneys. Other cookware options exist, such as stainless steel, cast iron or enamel coated. Non-stick cookware is amazing; one […]
Summary: This cycle of articles aims to introduce scientists, authors or philosophers whose works promote science, rationality, and skeptical thinking. Dr. Carl Sagan was, among others, an author, an astronomer, and science communicator. In his book “The Demon-Haunted World”, Dr. Sagan introduces a dragon to exemplify a skeptical approach to unfalsifiable claims. “A skeptic’s ally” is a new series of […]
Summary: RNAs are a diverse group of molecules that exist ubiquitously in nature. They may possess varying biological functions and can be utilised for varying therapeutic goals. The function of RNA is driven by its sequence. CRISPR sgRNA and mRNA vaccines consist of different sequences and act differently. CRISPR sgRNA binds to its target genome sequence and Cas9 protein in […]
Summary: The insect population, including that of pollinators, is constantly declining. Insects have important functions in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Pollinators, in particular, are responsible for the fertilisation and consequent growth of many plant species. One-third of the agricultural products we consume comes from plants whose survival is at least partially dependent on animal pollination. Wasp, honeybee, or bumblebee? […]
Summary: Blue light is emitted by artificial and natural light sources alike. For example, by screens and some LEDs but also by the sun. Prolonged exposure to very bright blue light can cause harm to the eyes. TVs, computer- and phone screens are not bright enough to cause damage. Exposure to blue light late in the evening can result in […]
Summary: There are numerous speech stratagems which can be used to win an argument or influence the audience. Moral equivalence (or false equivalence) is a fallacy which consists in drawing false equivalence between two things based on shared characteristics. Moral equivalence arguments also take the form of whataboutism or whataboutery. The goal of using the false equivalence fallacy is to […]
Summary: The common cold is not a name of one disease but a group of mild upper respiratory illnesses resulting from infection with different viruses. There is no prevention or treatment for the common cold. Currently used medications only treat symptoms of the disease. Vitamin C is an essential part of our diet. However, it does not prevent or treat […]
Summary: Scientists use a formalism called the Scientific Method to gain new insights into how the world works. The Scientific Method consists of asking a question, formulating a hypothesis, testing it, and re-evaluating it based on the outcome of the test. Scientific hypotheses can never be proven, but can always be disproved. If a hypothesis has been extensively tested, it […]