Making Sense of Science: Separating Substance from Spin

Dean (Am I Making Myself Clear?), a science writer for the New York Times, guides readers through the often perplexing process of sorting conflicting reports on recent scientific developments. She moves step by step to aid the general public in assessing “the scientific and technical claims and counterclaims” with which they are regularly bombarded. Dean lays out how important it is to admit ignorance and examine the sources of information on a particular subject. Crucially, terms in everyday use have different meanings in scientific contexts. The most misunderstood is “theory,” which is not a fuzzy idea but something that has been examined, repeatedly tested, and supported by a vast body of evidence. Dean points out matters that cause confusion and distrust, particularly the large amount of basic research funded by private companies—a great source of conflicts of interest. She also examines political influence, noting that members of Congress are barely more scientifically literate than the general public. This bolsters her argument that voters need to know how to evaluate scientific claims—an argument that she details in an appendix. Dean’s excellent primer will be welcomed by those who find themselves lost in the fog of rival claims about scientific issues that affect us all. (Mar.)