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by BurningFrog 3588 days ago
I think we could use a "Science News Snopes" service that evaluates the science stories that goes viral while they're still being spread.

We just need a few know-it-all scientists who can write, an office and a bit of funding!

2 comments

Looks like good work, but I'm thinking more of a rapid response system that will have something up within hours after "Gluten causes GMO in children" goes viral.

With the hope that the debunking can stop the growth before it's grown to full size.

It's a good idea. I suspect you will want this to be selectively applied though. Not that I know anything at all about your opinions or positions, but most people have holy cows they do not want questioned. Also, there is A LOT of BS being published these days. Very nearly all biomed papers can be torn apart and dismissed after a day or two because they contain the same statistical and logical errors over and over.
BBC Radio 4 has a show called "More or Less" I'd recomend to anyone interested in this topic. I remember an episode on the advise on drinking and how it's been a flip-flop sort of answer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qshd