Como espectadores, acaso como consumidores (algunos hasta como actores) del entramado relacionado con la ciencia, y las tecnologías y los productos y procesos derivados, nos planteamos cómo es la mejor y más eficiente manera de estar informados, de "conocer". Si queremos ejercer un sentido crítico y poder tomar decisiones informadas, tenemos que llegar a ser capaces de elegir las fuentes más fiables, conocer los criterios al menos, saber qué limitaciones tendremos... Sin embargo, no es nada fácil. Qué más quisiéramos que poder tener una solución sencilla. Ahora bien: ¿podemos detectar algunas características ante las que sospechar? Sin duda, y la idea es que en este tiempo podamos analizar precisamente algunas de las historias que se han presentado recientemente en los medios, viralizadas a veces con gran éxito en las redes sociales, para intentar descubrir esas pautas. Por otro lado ¿podríamos confiar sin más en algunos medios de comunicación, o algunos sistemas más serios como las revistas científicas, incluso acudir a la respetabilidad de las universidades para facilitarnos la labor? Quizá, pero intentaremos descubrir que no siempre la apariencia de fiabilidad o de respetabilidad se corresponde con la realidad. Otro tema que abriremos para el debate: las diferencias socioeconómicas, las culturales o el nivel educativo, acaso la cuestión de género, ¿suponen variables relevantes?
Sin duda son muchos temas ante los que optaremos por ir descubriendo qué información clara, qué argumentaciones más sólidas, pueden permitirnos abrir un debate racional. Pero, ya lo anticipamos, no siempre llegaremos a pisar en terrenos suficientemente sólidos o a estar convencidos fuera de dudas razonables. Quizá ese es nuestro destino, al fin y al cabo.
Ciencia y moda y medios y sociedad... LA CIENCIA TOMA LA PALABRA.
1. Mitjans de comunicació, xarxes
socials, ciència i modes i etc.
@javierarmentia
Planetario de Pamplona
ARP Sociedad para el
Avance del Pensamiento
Crítico
2. Seamos optimistas: por mal que
veamos las cosas, siempre podrían
ir un poco peor.
(Algunos malintencionados afirman que basta
con dejar pasar el tiempo para comprobar que,
en efecto, toda mala situación es susceptible de
empeorar...)
Dejando aparte el desmantelamiento de la
ciencia con la excusa de la crisis,
tampoco es que pudiéramos tirar
antes cohetes... La presencia de la
ciencia es menor de la que debiera,
y para colmo su espacio solía
quedar invadido por timos,
pseudociencia o simple
propaganda y mercadotecnia.
9. MILAGROS VESTIDOS DE CIENCIA
equilibrios, resonancias, hologramas, salud, dinero y amor
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. EL VALOR DE LA IMAGEN
famosos y dietas y todo eso...
16.
17.
18. El primer libro de la dieta Dukan vendió 3,5 millones de ejemplares sólo en Francia
(donde en 2010 hubo tres diferentes best seller) y fue traducido a 14 idiomas. En
España se han vendido cerca de 1 millón de libros.
19.
20.
21. A LA VEJEZ VIRUELAS
o mejor tratamientos anti-aging y bayas tibetanas...
29. SOMOS SERES RACIONALES...
eso nos gusta pensar, pero realmente la ciencia que nos llega a
casa la aceptamos sin saber bien qué ni cómo, casi como magia
31. QUIEN DA PRIMERO...
da millones de veces (en forma de tuits, megusta, comentarios y
chascarrillos). En la Era Internet, lo importante es que te meneen
40. Que SÍ se ha ido a la Luna...
1.000.000 de personas trabajaron del 65 al 69
directamente con los proyectos estadounidense o
soviético.
¿Mienten? ¿Cuánto cuesta tapar una mentira
como que los viajes a la Luna fueron un montaje?
¿Habrían dejado los soviéticos que sus enemigos
capitalistas hicieran semejante engaño?
48. Stanley Kubrick no hizo el vídeo
falso del Apolo 11
No: todo es un montaje en un
falso documental
(mockumentary) titulado
OPÉRATION LUNE, del
director William Karel en 2002
para el canal Arte.
49.
50. La conspiración lunar, ¡vaya
timo!
Eugenio Fernández
Aguilar desmonta todas
las preguntas en su libro,
recientemente publicado.
(un poco de propaganda que el
mercado editorial escéptico está
fatal...)
51. El hangar en la Luna:
vaya timo de la tele pública
62. Frente al mal periodismo, al amarillismo o la
intención comercial o propagandística, no
nos cabe duda de que el conocimiento
científico, crítico, promueve más
eficientemente valores democráticos e
inclusivos, y que facilitan el progreso.
"Nuestro futuro depende,
colectivamente, de que la
ciencia se abra al público en
general."
James Rutherford, AAAS
63. razonar con pruebas
James Lett, filósofo,
propuso 6 reglas para comprobar si un
razonamiento que se nos presenta tiene
adecuado soporte en las pruebas. Lo
llamó FiLCHeRS (ladronzuelos):
Falsabilidad, Lógica, Comprensibilidad,
Honradez, Replicabilidad y Suficiencia.
65. LÓGICA
¿Los argumentos son sólidos, o incluyen
falacias o incorrecciones lógicas?
Es fundamental que un razonamiento
tenga una estructura lógica, si no, no
servirá para nada.
66. HONRADEZ
¿Se aportan las pruebas de buena fe, se
ocultan deliberadamente datos, hay
posibilidad de autoengaño acaso...?
68. SUFICIENCIA
¿Lo que se afirma es bastante para la
magnitud de lo que implica? ¿Aporta las
pruebas quien hace las afirmaciones? ¿Se
prueban con especial cuidado las
afirmaciones extraordinarias? ¿Hay algo
más que anécdotas? ¿Hay un excesivo
peso del argumento de autoridad?
Notas del editor
September 4, 1971-An official mapping aircraft of the Costa Rican government took this photograph. The aircraft was flying at 10,000 feet over Lago de Cote. An investigation could not identify the object as a "known" aircraft. Debunkers took some stabs at it, but it is still recognized as authentic by most investigators. No "earthly" explanation has ever been given to explain the object. 1972, Apollo 16, Moon mission dates: April 16-27, CDR: John W. Young, CMP: Kenneth Mattingly, LMP: Charles Duke. Importance of mission: Explored the Moon's rocky central highlands. NASA archives (photo No AS16-114-18423) Mission Apollo 16 on the Moon. Astronaut Charles Duke photographed collecting lunar sample at Station 1. The UFO is seen at just right of top center. No explanation has been given for the object. Tavernes, France, 1974. A classic French UFO picture. Photographed by an anonymous French medical doctor. Taken on March 23, 1974 in Tavernes in the section of Var, during a major UFO flap over France. Skeptics doubted the picture on the grounds that "luminous rays cannot end like this." Of course they do not, normally. But the skeptics simply forgot to consider that these are not luminous rays but light emission by ionized air, for example. The object in the photograph is still considered a UFO. Connecticut, 1987. Randy Etting was taking a walk outside his home. A commercial airline pilot with over 30 years experience, he always looked at the sky. On the night he took the photograph, he saw a number of orange and red lights approaching from the west. He got his binoculars and called his neighbors to come outside. The object, by this time was a great deal closer and seemed to be over I-84, just east of Etting's home... the lights were shimmering like distortion from engine heat, but he could hear no sound. Etting stated: "As the UFO passed over I-84, cars in both the east and west bound lanes began pulling over and stopping. The UFO displayed a semi-circular pattern of very bright multicolored lights. Five motorists reported that, as the object became visible, a number of cars lost power and had to pull off the highway." Petit Rechain, Belgium, 1990. One of the most famous UFO pictures ever taken. The photographer, to my knowledge, still remains unnamed. Taken on an April night during a well known "wave," the photo very clearly shows a triangle-shaped object with lights. One of the best proofs of UFOs we have, especially of a triangle. Original photo was too dark to show object outline, and had to be lightened. Occurred during the wave beginning in 1989. 2004-October. Taken in Valpara, Mexico. This photo is lacking details but I will tell you what I have. It was taken by newspaper reporter Manuel Aguirre. He works for the Mercury newspaper of Valpara. A band of glowing lights is seen in the distance over the city of Valpara. This photograph has not been debunked, and is considered legitimate. The unknown object appears to be circular or spherical in shape.
September 4, 1971-An official mapping aircraft of the Costa Rican government took this photograph. The aircraft was flying at 10,000 feet over Lago de Cote. An investigation could not identify the object as a "known" aircraft. Debunkers took some stabs at it, but it is still recognized as authentic by most investigators. No "earthly" explanation has ever been given to explain the object. 1972, Apollo 16, Moon mission dates: April 16-27, CDR: John W. Young, CMP: Kenneth Mattingly, LMP: Charles Duke. Importance of mission: Explored the Moon's rocky central highlands. NASA archives (photo No AS16-114-18423) Mission Apollo 16 on the Moon. Astronaut Charles Duke photographed collecting lunar sample at Station 1. The UFO is seen at just right of top center. No explanation has been given for the object. Tavernes, France, 1974. A classic French UFO picture. Photographed by an anonymous French medical doctor. Taken on March 23, 1974 in Tavernes in the section of Var, during a major UFO flap over France. Skeptics doubted the picture on the grounds that "luminous rays cannot end like this." Of course they do not, normally. But the skeptics simply forgot to consider that these are not luminous rays but light emission by ionized air, for example. The object in the photograph is still considered a UFO. Connecticut, 1987. Randy Etting was taking a walk outside his home. A commercial airline pilot with over 30 years experience, he always looked at the sky. On the night he took the photograph, he saw a number of orange and red lights approaching from the west. He got his binoculars and called his neighbors to come outside. The object, by this time was a great deal closer and seemed to be over I-84, just east of Etting's home... the lights were shimmering like distortion from engine heat, but he could hear no sound. Etting stated: "As the UFO passed over I-84, cars in both the east and west bound lanes began pulling over and stopping. The UFO displayed a semi-circular pattern of very bright multicolored lights. Five motorists reported that, as the object became visible, a number of cars lost power and had to pull off the highway." Petit Rechain, Belgium, 1990. One of the most famous UFO pictures ever taken. The photographer, to my knowledge, still remains unnamed. Taken on an April night during a well known "wave," the photo very clearly shows a triangle-shaped object with lights. One of the best proofs of UFOs we have, especially of a triangle. Original photo was too dark to show object outline, and had to be lightened. Occurred during the wave beginning in 1989. 2004-October. Taken in Valpara, Mexico. This photo is lacking details but I will tell you what I have. It was taken by newspaper reporter Manuel Aguirre. He works for the Mercury newspaper of Valpara. A band of glowing lights is seen in the distance over the city of Valpara. This photograph has not been debunked, and is considered legitimate. The unknown object appears to be circular or spherical in shape.
September 4, 1971-An official mapping aircraft of the Costa Rican government took this photograph. The aircraft was flying at 10,000 feet over Lago de Cote. An investigation could not identify the object as a "known" aircraft. Debunkers took some stabs at it, but it is still recognized as authentic by most investigators. No "earthly" explanation has ever been given to explain the object. 1972, Apollo 16, Moon mission dates: April 16-27, CDR: John W. Young, CMP: Kenneth Mattingly, LMP: Charles Duke. Importance of mission: Explored the Moon's rocky central highlands. NASA archives (photo No AS16-114-18423) Mission Apollo 16 on the Moon. Astronaut Charles Duke photographed collecting lunar sample at Station 1. The UFO is seen at just right of top center. No explanation has been given for the object. Tavernes, France, 1974. A classic French UFO picture. Photographed by an anonymous French medical doctor. Taken on March 23, 1974 in Tavernes in the section of Var, during a major UFO flap over France. Skeptics doubted the picture on the grounds that "luminous rays cannot end like this." Of course they do not, normally. But the skeptics simply forgot to consider that these are not luminous rays but light emission by ionized air, for example. The object in the photograph is still considered a UFO. Connecticut, 1987. Randy Etting was taking a walk outside his home. A commercial airline pilot with over 30 years experience, he always looked at the sky. On the night he took the photograph, he saw a number of orange and red lights approaching from the west. He got his binoculars and called his neighbors to come outside. The object, by this time was a great deal closer and seemed to be over I-84, just east of Etting's home... the lights were shimmering like distortion from engine heat, but he could hear no sound. Etting stated: "As the UFO passed over I-84, cars in both the east and west bound lanes began pulling over and stopping. The UFO displayed a semi-circular pattern of very bright multicolored lights. Five motorists reported that, as the object became visible, a number of cars lost power and had to pull off the highway." Petit Rechain, Belgium, 1990. One of the most famous UFO pictures ever taken. The photographer, to my knowledge, still remains unnamed. Taken on an April night during a well known "wave," the photo very clearly shows a triangle-shaped object with lights. One of the best proofs of UFOs we have, especially of a triangle. Original photo was too dark to show object outline, and had to be lightened. Occurred during the wave beginning in 1989. 2004-October. Taken in Valpara, Mexico. This photo is lacking details but I will tell you what I have. It was taken by newspaper reporter Manuel Aguirre. He works for the Mercury newspaper of Valpara. A band of glowing lights is seen in the distance over the city of Valpara. This photograph has not been debunked, and is considered legitimate. The unknown object appears to be circular or spherical in shape.
September 4, 1971-An official mapping aircraft of the Costa Rican government took this photograph. The aircraft was flying at 10,000 feet over Lago de Cote. An investigation could not identify the object as a "known" aircraft. Debunkers took some stabs at it, but it is still recognized as authentic by most investigators. No "earthly" explanation has ever been given to explain the object. 1972, Apollo 16, Moon mission dates: April 16-27, CDR: John W. Young, CMP: Kenneth Mattingly, LMP: Charles Duke. Importance of mission: Explored the Moon's rocky central highlands. NASA archives (photo No AS16-114-18423) Mission Apollo 16 on the Moon. Astronaut Charles Duke photographed collecting lunar sample at Station 1. The UFO is seen at just right of top center. No explanation has been given for the object. Tavernes, France, 1974. A classic French UFO picture. Photographed by an anonymous French medical doctor. Taken on March 23, 1974 in Tavernes in the section of Var, during a major UFO flap over France. Skeptics doubted the picture on the grounds that "luminous rays cannot end like this." Of course they do not, normally. But the skeptics simply forgot to consider that these are not luminous rays but light emission by ionized air, for example. The object in the photograph is still considered a UFO. Connecticut, 1987. Randy Etting was taking a walk outside his home. A commercial airline pilot with over 30 years experience, he always looked at the sky. On the night he took the photograph, he saw a number of orange and red lights approaching from the west. He got his binoculars and called his neighbors to come outside. The object, by this time was a great deal closer and seemed to be over I-84, just east of Etting's home... the lights were shimmering like distortion from engine heat, but he could hear no sound. Etting stated: "As the UFO passed over I-84, cars in both the east and west bound lanes began pulling over and stopping. The UFO displayed a semi-circular pattern of very bright multicolored lights. Five motorists reported that, as the object became visible, a number of cars lost power and had to pull off the highway." Petit Rechain, Belgium, 1990. One of the most famous UFO pictures ever taken. The photographer, to my knowledge, still remains unnamed. Taken on an April night during a well known "wave," the photo very clearly shows a triangle-shaped object with lights. One of the best proofs of UFOs we have, especially of a triangle. Original photo was too dark to show object outline, and had to be lightened. Occurred during the wave beginning in 1989. 2004-October. Taken in Valpara, Mexico. This photo is lacking details but I will tell you what I have. It was taken by newspaper reporter Manuel Aguirre. He works for the Mercury newspaper of Valpara. A band of glowing lights is seen in the distance over the city of Valpara. This photograph has not been debunked, and is considered legitimate. The unknown object appears to be circular or spherical in shape.