Text: “Acupuncture: In Depth.” https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-in-depth “Current evidence suggests that many factors—like expectation and belief—that are unrelated to acupuncture needling may play important roles in the beneficial effects of acupuncture on pain.” There is some research that shows some benefits of acupuncture but it isn’t clear whether or not the actual Read more…
Text: “Mapping the harm of COVID-19 misinformation on social media.” https://uwm.edu/news/mapping-the-harm-of-covid-19-misinformation-on-social-media/ Social media is, unfortunately, full of instances of “little knowledge” which make it a good topic for May 2023 TOK essay prescribed title #4. There are a number of influence people on social media who have very little expertise Read more…
Text: “NASA’s New Shape-Shifting Radiator Inspired by Origami” This specific example has an interesting connection to May 2023 TOK essay prescribed title #3. This is an instance where a group of scientists has looked outside of their “bubble” into Japanese art and have used what have learn to improve the Read more…
Text: “A Scientist’s Gender Biases Mouse Research” “Duhaime-Ross reports on a new study, which found that mice are scared of men. When a male researcher works with a mouse, the mouse’s body courses with stress hormones. This doesn’t happen when a woman scientist is doing the work. The difference in how mice respond to male Read more…
Text: “A pointed question: Can science study acupuncture?” https://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/acupuncture#:~:text=Over%204%2C000%20scientific%20studies%20have,underlying%20causes%20of%20these%20symptoms. The linked article looks into the challenges of trying to answer questions regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture.
Text: “DNA test jailed innocent man for murder.” BBC news. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19412819 Extract from the article: “David Butler has every right to be cynical about the use of DNA evidence by the police. He spent eight months in prison, on remand, facing murder charges after his DNA was allegedly found on Read more…
Text: “What it’s like to attend a flat-Earth convention.” Quartz. https://qz.com/1268605/what-its-like-to-attend-a-flat-earth-convention/ The belief in the flat earth theory – despite a lack of evidence supporting it – is actually somewhat gaining in popularity. This degree of open-mindedness (i.e. believing in something without a solid basis for that belief) could easily Read more…
Text: “The abortion clues that can hide on your phone.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61952794 Extract: “After the Supreme Court overturned citizens’ constitutional right to abortion in the US, there has been concern about data protection, particularly in the 13 states which have already moved to make ending a pregnancy illegal… Gina Read more…
Text: “Abortion: What does overturn of Roe v Wade mean?” BBC News. Extract: “The US Supreme Court has opened the door for individual states to ban or severely restrict the ability for pregnant women to get abortions… the court has overturned that earlier ruling, effectively making it possible for states Read more…
Text: “The ‘CSI Effect’: Does It Really Exist?” https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/csi-effect-does-it-really-exist Extract: “Many attorneys, judges, and journalists have claimed that watching television programs like CSI has caused jurors to wrongfully acquit guilty defendants when no scientific evidence has been presented. The mass media quickly picked up on these complaints. This so-called effect was promptly Read more…