To me, Science Woo has two related meanings. The first is trying to legitimize unsupported notions by couching them in scientific jargon. For example, someone might describe ghosts as “incorporeal humanoid energy phenomena.”
The other meaning is making unrealistic claims of what science can do. For example, “Science can now look deep into your brain and read your thoughts.” Science cannot do this at the moment.
It seems to me that this happens because people are generally not taught much of science; and almost no one is taught how to think critically. Without critical thinking and some background in science, it is impossible to make informed decisions about these claims.
It is my desire here to present some instance of science woo, and also to offer some tools that can help with evaluating claims that are made. I also discuss some of the impediments that interfere with critical thinking.
I understand that I am fallible, and what I say might be wrong. I try to check my facts, and I try to be fair in evaluating what seems to be woo. No doubt I am going to fail sometimes. It is unnecessary – and not possible – to contact me and tell me all about it. Just skip the wrong bits.
This site doesn’t use comments. Unfortunately, spammers and trolls abuse the comment section. Valid comments get lost in the spam and insults. The signal to noise ratio is too small to warrant allowing comments. I don’t know of a way to solve this problem that wouldn’t require me to police my own blog. I just don’t want to spend the time doing that..