Junk science involves sifting selectively through statistics to bolster preconceived notions.
The federal Office of Research Integrity quietly disclosed last month that Robert Liburdy, a high-profile researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, deliberately falsified data on the link between electromagnetic fields and cancer. The New York Times followed up last week, reporting that Liburdy had settled the investigation by agreeing not to make applications for federal grants for three years and not contesting the findings in administrative proceedings. The impact of Liburdy's work cannot be understated. He was among the first biologists to suggest how EMFs could trigger cancerous responses in cells - particularly in children with leukemia. The discovery in 1992 paved the way for power-line litigation and media hype about the health dangers of EMF exposure.