Frank Swain is a science writer and blogger. He is based in the UK.
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Sense About Science have published their annual roundup of the worst science howlers emanating from the pages of Hello! magazine, and it's a bumper crop. From horse placenta to homeopathy, celebrities love their bogus science. Among the more LOL-worthy comments featured:
Having dodged poison daggers and golden guns, Roger Moore reveals an even more nefarious tool for assassinating the world's elite: namely that foie gras causes Alzheimer's.
Beatle-baiter and professional wingnut Heather Mills insists meat hides inside your body for 40 years while it "gives you the illness you die of. And that is a fact"
Breakfast TV leftover Denise Van Outen whipped out that old chestnut, claiming Bionsen deodorant was "chemical free".
In their document, each celebrity claim is answered by a specialist in the particular field. Sense About Science hopes that the playful ribbing will stimulate clebrities to take a more informed view in their science proclamations. All the bad science (and a few notable examples of good sense) are available for download.
Comments
Oh happy days- the Mail is covering this story. Irony at its finest.
Posted by: Al | January 4, 2010 2:36 PM
It seems that all sense of perspicuity goes out the window when people talk about food policy. Yes, there is a problem with foie gras: the ethical problem of whether the animals it's made from have been unfairly overfed. This is, of course, a completely different ball-game than Alzheimer's!
How do they expect to get a civil debate about such an extremely contentious issue if they start by lying about their own thesis!?!
Posted by: Collin | August 19, 2011 4:23 AM