This description of Ivory Soap is a classic example of junk science from the 19th century. A wide variety of commercial advertising (ranging from hype to outright fraud) would also fall into this category at its most egregious it might better be described as deceptive science. Thus the arguments in favor of limiting the use of fossil fuels in order to reduce global warming are often characterized as junk science by those who do not wish to see such restrictions imposed, and who claim that other factors may well be the cause of global warming. There is usually an element of political or ideological bias in the use of the term. Human nature being what it is, there is always some danger of this happening to discourage it, most of the prestigious scientific journals will refuse to accept reports of noteworthy work that has already been made public.Īnother term, junk science, is often used to describe scientific theories or data which, while perhaps legitimate in themselves, are believed to be mistakenly used to support an opposing position. All of these could have been averted if the researchers had not been so enthused with their results that they publicized them before they had received proper review by others. The best known of these incidents are the "discoveries" of N-rays, of polywaters, and of cold fusion. There have been several well-documented instances in which the correction process referred to above was delayed until after the initial incorrect interpretation became widely publicized, resulting in what has been called pathological science.
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