JUNK SCIENCE & JUNK EDUCATION Go Hand in Hand.

• Author: BARON, LEE ANN FISHER

Unfounded scientific claims and theories can be traced to declining standards in science education.

SCIENCE is exciting partly because single discoveries can change the course of history. Think of the effects on human health and longevity of the discovery of antibiotics, the multifaceted impact on people's lives of the discovery of polymers, or the far-reaching importance of the Human Genome Project. However, most of the "revolutionary discoveries" made throughout history have turned out to be wrong.

Error is a regular part of science. That is why stories of new findings or discoveries, no matter where or how widely they are reported, should be regarded with healthy skepticism. The proper scientific approach to such claims involves a set of procedures called the scientific method, which requires the design of tests or experiments that can be repeated with the same results by anyone. These tests must also contain controls to ensure that the results are statistically significant.

Most erroneous conclusions by scientists are discovered during the process of publishing their research. Other scientists review submitted articles, often repeating any relevant tests or experiments and always evaluating the conclusions that have been drawn from them. So-called "junk science" bypasses this system of peer review. Presented directly to the public by people variously described as "experts" or "activists," often with little or no supporting evidence, this junk science undermines the ability of elected representatives, jurists, and others--including everyday consumers--to make rational decisions.

An example of junk science I like to use with my students is the myth of "fat-free foods" invented by the food industry with the help of Federal regulators. By regulatory definition, these foods may contain monoglycerides and diglycerides, but not triglycerides. From the point of view of solid science, this definition makes no practical sense, given that the body metabolizes mono-, di-, and triglycerides in essentially the same way. Meanwhile, unwary consumers take the "fat-free" label as a license to eat these foods to excess, and Americans are more obese now than ever before.

A more amusing example is "Vitamin O," a wonder supplement advertised to "maximize your nutrients, purify your bloodstream, and eliminate toxins and poisons--in other words, [to supply] all the processes necessary to prevent disease and promote health." It was described on its label as...