It's the year 2024 and West Virginia just passed a law that will allow the teaching of religious alternatives to science (meaning creationism) in public schools. 🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-... by Amanda Townley of the National Center for Science Education in Scientific American
Some people (mostly of the kind who use "woke" as an insult) criticize Scientific American for covering political issues, but we've been advocating for the teaching of evolution since the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925 and we're not about to stop
The idea that it's possible to ascend politics and ideology and enter a realm of absolute perfect truth is a right wing concept that is deeply unscientific. But depressingly popular regardless.
It's popular because it's popular among kids of a certain age to try to collect "objective" metrics to feel more in control of their lives. The resurgence of "IQ", the prominence of review scores, and the constant appeal to "honesty" when it's just an opinion. Some ppl just don't grow out of this.
You could ask yourself who has more privilege today than a white boy w/ a smart phone?
I don't need to say it's exclusively a kids' thing or that it's a new thing to say that the current trendiness is largely to do with a new generation growing up online and absorbing the same old bad ideas.
I think it is much more to do with older generations raised to believe there is no alternative. They have the money and the power. They are reacting to their assumptions being challenged and questions.
Toni Morrison said all art is political. In the sense that science challenges authoritarians, science is accused of being political by those who don't like its findings. E.g. Vavilov's genetic work on crops, and contemporary examples such as man-made climate change and COVID. Publish and be damned!
on the one hand, it's easy to agree with half of this. on the other, i don't care what fascists have to say unless it's "i am repenting my evil ways and embracing plural democracy".
I love your magazine and how it has covered trans and LGBTQ+ issues and humane advocacy. Your recent article on parents, like myself, gave me a lump in my throat harkening back to the moment (and first few years) when my child, now 10 years on, told me they were going to transition. Thank you !🙏🏻
I see no reason for anybody to argue "scientists should stay out of politics." Do realtors stay out of politics? Bond traders? Businesspeople in general?
I know it makes life easier for people who want to distort science if they can do so without opposition.
Science gets to represent itself, too!
IMO facts aren't political. Or if they are, then we are broadening the definition of "political" to mean anything which involves the interaction of people with the physical world, in which case all science is political. Either way, please carry on!
The “fun” thing about “free speech” and “freedom-loving” conservatives is how they think their crap must be injected into public and governmental spaces, while they’re absolutely free to block any challenge in their “sincerely held beliefs”. We seriously must stop walking on eggshells for religion.
