Michael Specter: The danger of science denial

http://www.ted.com Vaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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Science & Technology

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[pastafarianprophet]

Bravo. Every half-wit too afraid to read a book that wants to sound smart can't stop yapping about new age hooey and homeopathic placebos and the dangers of progress.... and these people don't get publicly humiliated nearly as often as they need to. 

[195ashes]

@spinolex Little bit of insider info for you here. One of the lecturers on my biomedical course has stated that, currently, she and geneticists around the world are investigating the genetic modification of chloroplasts and chromoplasts in plants to engineer desired proteins. These proteins could be viral antigens for example. Basically, if it works, you could be vaccinated agaisnt a virus by eating a piece of fruit. This could save lives around the world.

[yunged]

Fantastic talk

He spoke the truth without trying to pander to the idiots

He crammed a lot in whilst still remaining understandable

I have never heard of him before but he has a new convert :-)

[certifiedhealthnut]

E. extended life maybe however most people like my grandfather lived his last years unconscious & all doped up on drugs. refer 2 A. everyone dies, most r so afraid they dont truly live their potential!

F. if we are doing so great with science why isnt there massive funding for FREE ENERGY? because oil/bankers/weapons/agribiz/dr­ugs/chemicals corps. run the US gov. which runs the world with their military! this brothers attitude to me is 1 of dangerous ignorance/arrogance!

his argument has holes

[certifiedhealthnut]

A. everyone dies.

B. there is definitive evidence that GMO foods ( NOT hybridized, totally different subject entirely ) are detrimental to biological organism that ingest them.

C. Yes although there is plenty of progress in the occidental world there are still plenty of people starving senselessly because of greedy economic & political agendas carried out by the US gov./military!

D. while he may be right about some supplements he is dead wrong about herbs in their whole food state.

[jjhicksdotcom1]

It is completely naive to think that the "scientific process" is simply about going forward vs. going back. It's about using 'science' to increase revenue & shareholder dividends. There is no science in allowing companies like DOW & Monsanto to prove that what they've created is safe.

And I'm sorry, but adding Vitamin A to a grain of rice is not the same as embedding a pesticide into a life form and patenting that new life form.

[hebephoebe]

Smallpox gone...to be replaced with obesity, cancers and heart disease...all preventable, but exacerbated by the promotion of Industrialised Farming. Go forward? Not in the direction that this talk is suggesting.

As for GM foods being 'specific' the truth is there is NO DATA to show that these foods are safe...due to the data being supplied by the companies that benefit from the sale of the seed...truly a case of the fox looking after the henhouse. Many questions unanswered here!

[nlsavager]

This guy sounds like he is genticaly modified.



[lightandbeautiful]

Homosexual activists understand the power of words.

Please visit my channel to watch a one-minute video clip in which popular atheist author Richard Dawkins admits that homosexual activists "hijacked the word 'gay'".

The word "homosexual" is more appropriate and accurate because it, unlike the word "gay", actually describes the behavior/attraction/relationsh­ip being discussed.

The word "gay" helps homosexual activists push their agenda.

[thesenamesaretaken]

@TheR88R Isn't this why the "Terminator genes" were developed? Of course, people complain about that too. Monsanto are evil no matter what they do.

[drshamast]

He is an IDIOT

[drshamast]

what study you referring to B S ?

[AndrewFTW101]

How the fuck did I end up here?

[Aldridge517]

"Let people do what they want to do. It makes them feel good." These words are extremely dangerous when put in certain context.

[spinupplusdown]

@BaberJacks Global Warming is not propaganda! There's data which proves that the average temperature of the Earth is rising.

[Keysteeze]

Some of the genetically engineered produce come with sterile seeds, Charming.

[TheR88R]

Michael Specter is either one of MONSANTO'S deplorable corporate shills hiding his true intentions in condescension and propaganda or an ignorant albeit specifically educated full grown child who cannot differentiate between his optimistic fantasy world and the real world around him.

[TheR88R]

people deny science because science is denied to people. it is not given to them. it is SOLD to them. we dont live in "the federation" where we are all in this together. we live in a world where evil - yes objectively evil - corporations run the planet.

[TheR88R]

does this prick work for MONSANTO or something? the danger isnt necessarily that food is being modified - it is that the modified foods are being grown in one place, then germinating all of the surrounding crops - then the owners of said GM crops are proving that the lowly farmer is growing something that is their property - thus forcing them to pay MONSANTO just so they can keep their own farm. IF PEOPLE WERENT DENIED THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE THEY WOULDNT BE IN SCIENCE DENIAL DIPSHIT.

[Nerd0042]

This guy needs to talk slightly slower.

[staidenofanarchy]

@BaberJacks vaccines do contain mercury, but it is so small an amount that it canot be harmful. Litebulbs and phone bateries also contain mercury, but it doesnt kil us despite using them daily.

GMOs are just a more precise way of cross-pollination of plants, like bees do. Its just more precise

97% of scientists have acknowledged global warming as a real problem. We are killing are planet

vitamins are good. Nice job sherlock

big pharma takes out elements of ilness, helping the overall condition

[spinolex]

@BaberJacks I have no reason to doubt these results, but i think GMOs have the potential to be a big step forward for humanity. Unfortunately we are far away from grasping what actually happens when a Genom is modified. We know a lot, but there is more we do not know. The problem with GMOs today is that their development is motivated by corporate greed and that the companies do not really care about the health of the consumer. Heavy lobbying is also a problem, which makes fair debates impossible

[BaberJacks]

fuck this bullshit propaganda, when i get enough cash im gonna get 100acres or so and grow and eat organic foods safe to eat, i'll have my own water fluoride free, i will live for free, i will have my own source of electricity. i will be off the grid