Category Archives: Uncategorized

Don’t mistake an assumption for a fact

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Fallacy Man

I want you to imagine for a minute that you have been selected for jury duty, and you are sitting in the courtroom listening to the evidence. As you watch, the prosecution calls an expert forensic scientist to the stand, … Continue reading →

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When is it reasonable to demand more studies?

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Fallacy Man

I recently wrote a post in which I reviewed the scientific literature on vaccines and autism, and the responses from the anti-vaccine crowd were predictable. The most common of these responses followed the basic format of, “but it could be … Continue reading →

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Evolutionary mechanisms part 3: the benefits of mutations

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Fallacy Man

Mutations have an almost universally negative connotation (except in the context of superheros). When people hear the word, they instantly think of disabilities, bizarre disfigurements, and grotesque scenes from science fictions. The reality is, however, quite a bit different. Although … Continue reading →

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The logical paradox of ghost hunting

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Fallacy Man

Many people believe in the paranormal, and a great deal of time and effort is spent searching for evidence of it. Indeed, shows like “Ghost Hunters” are extremely popular, and the notion of using scientific equipment to detect the supernatural … Continue reading →

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Evolutionary mechanisms part 1: What is evolution?

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Fallacy Man

I am utterly enamored with evolution. To me, it is not only the central concept of biology, but it is the single most interesting topic in all of science. Nothing fascinates me as much as evolution. Unfortunately, when I tell … Continue reading →

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