num_pages: 326
description: ¿Qué tienen en común la fusión fría, la máquina de movimiento perpetuo, el empleo de la mecánica cuántica como ´alternativa al envejecimiento´, la afirmación de que las líneas de alta tensión provocan cáncer, la homeopatía o la comercialización de la ´vitamina O´ como fuente suplementaria de oxígeno? Según el profesor Robert L Park se trata de casos flagrantes de seudociencia o ´ciencia vudú´. En este libro el lector encontrará una entretenida y detallada explicación de por qué es imposible que estos falsos descubrimientos, panaceas médicas y máquinas milagrosas puedan funcionar tal como defienden sus autores y proclaman algunos medios de comunicación, recibiendo de paso una magistral lección de verdadera ciencia y de sentido común.-----------------------Scientific error, says Robert Park, "has a way of evolving ... from self-delusion to fraud. I use the term voodoo science to cover them pathological science, junk science, pseudoscience, and fraudulent science." In pathological science, scientists fool themselves. Junk science refers to scientists who use their expertise to befuddle and mislead others (usually juries or lawmakers). Pseudoscience has the trappings of science without any evidence. Fraudulent science is, well, fraud--old-fashioned lying. Park is well-acquainted with voodoo science in all its forms. Since 1982, he has headed the Washington, D.C., office of the American Physical Society, and he has carried the flag for scientific rationality through cold fusion, homeopathy, "Star Wars," quantum healing, and sundry attempts to repeal the laws of thermodynamics. Park shows why a "disproportionate share of the science seen by the public is flawed" (because shaky science is more likely to skip past peer review and head straight for the media), and he gives a good tour of recent highlights in Voodoo . He has a rare ability to poke holes compassionately, without excoriating those taken in by their fondest wishes. Park is less forgiving of scientists (especially Edward Teller) when he thinks they've fallen down on the job, a job that should include helping the public separate the scientific wheat from the voodoo chaff. --Mary Ellen Curtin
language: Spanish; Castilian
title: Ciencia o vudú. De la ingenuidad al fraude científico
titlecomplete: Ciencia o vudú. De la ingenuidad al fraude científico
genres: Philosophy, Physics, Science, Nonfiction, Psychology, Popular Science, Science Nature, Self Help, Pseudoscience, Skepticism
ratings_count: 1587
series: Voodoo Science
publisher: DeBolsillo