trentmkelly/rationalwiki huggingface dataset:
Savanna hypothesis

{{Sources needed}}{{evolution}}
The '''savanna hypothesis''' is the proposal that the major divergence between the hominins and other great apes was driven by hominins moving out of the forests and onto the grasslands. It is one of the oldest and most established hypotheses for what separated humans from the other apes, dating back to [[Charles Darwin]]'s time. 

The hypothesis has come under intense fire in recent years with alternative hypotheses such as rapidly fluctuating environments or the pseudoscientific [[aquatic ape hypothesis]] competing for attention.  But the savanna hypothesis received new support by a proposal that humans adapted to run down animals in the hot African sun.  This included the development of large leg tendons and buttocks which do not appear in the other great apes, but allow humans to run efficiently on two legs by recycling the energy of running motions, as well as the loss of hair over most of the body to allow efficient cooling.  The animal chosen to be a victim would be able to sprint faster than the relentless human hunter until heat exhaustion caused it to collapse.

[[Category:Science]][[Category:Evolution]][[Category:Scientific hypothesis]]
{{stub|evolution}}

Categories: Science, Evolution, Scientific hypothesis
Saving Darwin: How to be a Christian and Believe in Evolution

{{christianity}}{{title-italics}}
'''''Saving Darwin: How to be a Christian and Believe in Evolution''''' is a [[theistic evolution]] book written by Karl Giberson. Giberson is a professor of [[physics]] at the Eastern Nazarene University. It was published in 2008 by HarperOne.

==Overview==

The book advocates Christian [[theistic evolution]] and opposes a literal reading of the [[Bible]]. The author also attacks [[creationism]] and [[atheism]]. According to Giberson, science and [[Christianity]] need not to be always at odds, and this is his attempt to unite them.<ref>[http://www.templeton.org/what-we-fund/grants/saving-darwin-how-to-be-a-christian-and-believe-in-evolution Saving Darwin: How to Be a Christian and Believe in Evolution at the John Templeton Foundation]</ref> Giberson writes that both [[science]] and [[religion]] can be reconciled and also explains his abandonment of his family's fundamentalist [[creationism]] beliefs which he explains were unscientific.<ref>[http://www.powells.com/biblio/95-9780061983412-0 Book Description at Powell's Books]</ref>

==Reception==

The book was written for a religious [[Christian]] audience and should not be read as a science book.<ref>[http://www.christianbook.com/saving-darwin-christian-and-believe-evolution/karl-giberson/9780061441738/pd/441732 Product Description of Saving Darwin: How to be a Christian and Believe in Evolution]</ref> It received positive reviews from other [[theist]]ic writers<ref>[http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles8/Roemer-Saving%20Darwin-How-To-Be-A-Christian-And-Believe-In-Evolution.php Book Review. Saving Darwin: How to Be a Christian and Believe in Evolution by David Roemer]</ref><ref>[http://ncse.com/rncse/29/2/review-saving-darwin Review: Saving Darwin by Denis O Lamoureux]</ref> but has been rejected by creationists and the [[intelligent design]] community for embracing evolution (natch).<ref>[http://www.uncommondescent.com/evolution/saving-darwin-whats-the-point/ “Saving Darwin” — What’s the point?]</ref> Glenn Branch in the [[Skeptical Inquirer]] gave the book a mixed review and said it would be enjoyed by Christians who accept [[evolution]].<ref>[http://www.csicop.org/si/show/christian_physicistrsquos_dispatch_from_the_evolution_wars/ A Christian Physicist’s Dispatch from the Evolution Wars]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Religious books]]
[[Category:Theistic evolution]]

Categories: Christianity, Religious books, Theistic evolution
Scam site

{{internet}}
A '''scam site''' is a website that purports to reveal the truth about [[woo]]-based scams and fraudulent products, but on closer inspection, are in fact filled with fake testimonials and [[anecdotal evidence]] that supports the product in question.

==SEO==
Scam sites are an extension of the [[search engine optimization]] (SEO) employed by companies to boost their web presence. In the case of fraudulent products, it is likely that suspicious people will immediately go to [[Google]] and type in something along the lines of "Woo Product X scam" or "Woo Product X fraud" to try and find information about whether a product is genuine. By registering domain names featuring terms such as scam and fraud, companies can drown out criticism of their products with false praise.

This tactic isn't restricted to fraudulent products, but has also appeared in a more sinister guise with hoax viruses. In some cases, virus hoaxes are circulated, via [[Facebook]] for example, and malicious sites that host actual viruses immediately spring up to capitalize on the relevant search terms. 

==See also==
*[[Pyramid scheme]]
*[[Search engine optimization]]
*[[Scentura]]
*[[Webshites]]
{{stub|Internet}}

[[Category:Consumer issues]]
[[Category:Woo]]
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Scams]]

Categories: Consumer issues, Woo, Internet, Scams
Scare story

{{media}}
A '''scare story''' is an article masquerading as a news report that distorts facts in order to induce fear or panic in the reader using an [[appeal to emotion]], often made worse by [[selective reporting]]. Typically, scare stories are written both to increase readership/viewership by making the news seem more dramatic and exciting than it really is, and to advance the agenda of the publication or news outlet concerned. Scare stories abuse the trust many people place in the printed word and take advantage of uncritical readers to influence public opinion, at times very effectively.

Scare stories most commonly appear in the fields of [[politics]] and [[crime]]. A political scare story might latch onto a careless quote by a given politician, and extrapolate wildly in order to make it seem like they plan to do something outlandish and damaging if elected &mdash; for example, raise taxes or thrust large bags of money into the arms of borderline terrorist preachers. A crime scare story might typically report a genuine criminal case, but subtly shift the emphasis of the facts to make it seem like similar crimes are much more common than they really are.

Quite often, scare stories are also propagated by the [[anti-science]] movement. In the [[United Kingdom|UK]] in recent years, [[genetically modified food]], the [[MMR vaccine]], and [[stem cell research]] have all been the victims of scare stories exaggerating their supposed harmful effects, reporting [[bias]]ed scientific research, or pronouncing them dangerous before this has been adequately confirmed. Fringe scientists may be quoted as "experts" while the other side of the story is played down or completely ignored.

A classic form of [[pseudoscience]] scare story is the announcement that some heavenly body is coming our way and is likely to be a planet killer. The body in question may be [[Nibiru]], [[Planet X]], a [[brown dwarf]] binary companion of the Sun, or some unnamed [[asteroid]]. The expert at this is Marshall Masters, who has confidently predicted the end of the world in 2003, 2012, 2013, and 2016.<ref>[https://pseudoastro.wordpress.com/2016/09/11/planet-x-keeps-being-1-year-away-anyone-want-to-call-into-coast-to-coast-am-on-tuesday/ ''Planet X Keeps Being 1 Year Away''] --Exposing Pseudoastronomy blog, September 2016</ref>

==Techniques==
The following are features that may enable you to spot a scare story should you come across one:
*[[Betteridge's law|Headlines in the form of a question]], e.g., ''Does lacrosse cause [[cancer]]?'' (answer: no).
*First paragraphs containing phrases like 'Outrage was expressed at…' &mdash; this outrage is generally expressed by the reporter and nobody else.
*Views or facts that balance, oppose, or undermine the overriding tone of the piece being [[Penultimate paragraph syndrome|placed in the last paragraph of the article when everyone has stopped reading]].

==See also==
* [[Cautionary tale]]
* [[Mass hysteria]]
* [[Moral panic]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[category:Media]]

Categories: Media
Schlafly

{{fork|}}[[File:Schlafly family.png|thumb|The Schlafly family tree.]]
Either you just hit an [[Improbable things happen|absurdly unlikely]] [[Monkey typewriter theory|random selection of letters on your keyboard]], or you're looking for one of the following members of the '''Schlafly''' clan:

* '''[[Phyllis Schlafly]]''' — Now-deceased ultra-conservative matriarch, [[Antifeminism|anti-feminist]], and founder of the [[Eagle Forum]].
* '''[[Andrew Schlafly]]''' — Two-bit lawyer and founder of [[Conservapedia]]. (We have two articles about this guy. If you want the highly satirical version, go to '''[[Fun: Andrew Schlafly]]'''.)
* '''[[Roger Schlafly]]''' — Mathematician, blogger and sporadic Conservapedia contributor.
* '''John Schlafly''' — Also a lawyer, and an outed [[homosexual]] (and it's okay to be gay!).
* '''Thomas Schlafly''' — Owner of Schlafly [[Beer]], nephew of Phyllis.
* Some obscure member of the '''Schlafly''' family about whom we don't have an article.

You might also have been looking for one of Andrew Schlafly's deceitful debating techniques:

* [[Conservapedia:Schlafly Statistics|Schlafly Statistics]]
* The [[Conservapedia:Schlafly Reversal|Schlafly Reversal]]

==See also==
* [[Fun:Schlafly Doo/Liberal Protection Suit]]
* [[Fun:Schlafly Quote Generator]]
School of Economic Science

[[File:School of Prac Phil Day Sch E79 crop jeh.jpg|thumb|right|165px|The School of Practical Philosophy, New York]]{{hinduism}}
The '''School of Economic Science''' (also the '''School of Philosophy''' and the '''School of Practical Philosophy''') is an international organisation  that teaches "economics with justice"<ref>http://www.economicswithjustice.co.uk/</ref> and philosophy based on SES leader Leon MacLaren's (1910-1994) interpretation of {{wpl|Advaita Vedanta}},<ref name="iirep.com">http://www.iirep.com/Report/report.htm</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Dorine Tolley |title=The Power Within: Leon MacLaren, A Memoir of His Life and Work |year=2009 |isbn=1-4392-1030-6}} p216-219.</ref> a philosophical system based on orthodox [[Hinduism]].<ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/6636/Advaita</ref>

It has offshoots in the [[United Kingdom]], [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Africa]] and the [[Netherlands]]. In the last 50 years or so, the London branch has had some 130,000 students through its doors.<ref name=Stang />

==Teachings==

===Philosophy courses===
{{cquote|All trains are long. All coaches are long. Therefore, all trains are coaches." That is logic, and it is no good for anything at all. There is absolutely no relationship between rationality and logic.|||SES Instructor<ref name=Stang>http://web.archive.org/web/19990508022017/http://www.philosophers.co.uk/current/cult.htm</ref>}}

Rather than offering an introduction to multiple current philosophies, the SES promotes ''its'' philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. Advaita involves the claim that there is an identity between the individual Self (the Atman) and the universal Self (the Brahman).<ref name=Stang />

The courses are promoted as being Socratic dialogues, but instead are merely vehicles to disseminate the Truth of Advaita. Hounam and Hogg state: "… students are not taking part in some philosophical free-for-all. Although no one has yet told them, they are receiving instruction in the Truth."<ref>''Secret Cult'', p. 98</ref>

Other tidbits:
*[[Socrates]] ''proved'' that our [[soul]]s had existed before our birth.<ref name=Stang />
*Even those people in the deepest states of unconsciousness, presumably including the most serious of persistent vegetative states, have awareness.<ref name=Stang />
*Sexual and gender conservatism. As Jeremy Stangroom states: "It was partly down to dress codes &mdash; the men, on the whole, wearing suits and ties, and the women, in a manner reminiscent of The Stepford Wives, long-flowing dresses."<ref name=Stang />

Against claims of being a religious [[cult]], David Boddy, spokesperson for the SES, stated: "We’re not a malicious organisation. We stand for certain principles. We encourage people who come to the school to live in a certain way. It’s pretty harmless. It’s not subversive. It holds to certain [[family values]]. And it values [[marriage]] and all that kind of stuff."<ref name=Stang />

==External links==
*[http://www.andypryke.com/pub/SchoolOfEconomicScienceACult School of Economic Science A Cult]

==References==
{{reflist}}
Schumann Resonance

{{Physics}}
The '''Schumann resonance''' is a spectrum peak in the Earth's electromagnetic field spectrum, excited by lightning discharges in the upper atmosphere.

==What it is==
The resonance occurs when lightning disturbs ions in the atmosphere. The Earth's atmosphere just happens to be of the proper dimensions for electromagnetic radiation of [[extreme low frequency]] to resonate, which is exacerbated by the lightning strikes. Schumann resonances are the principal background in the electromagnetic spectrum,<ref>The electrical nature of storms By D. R. MacGorman, W. D. Rust, W. David Rust. Page 114.</ref> ranging from 3 to 60 Hz<ref>Handbook of atmospheric electrodynamics, Volume 1 By Hans Volland. Page 277.</ref> — on the threshold of human hearing.<ref>[http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/ChrisDAmbrose.shtml|Frequency Range of human hearing] — but remember that sound and electromagnetic radiation are very different phenomena. You can't actually hear Schumann resonances.</ref>

==Woo==
The alleged mystery of the Schumann resonance has attracted [[New Age|New Agers]] and other [[woo]]-pushers to it.

[[Gregg Braden]] has claimed in his book ''Awakening to Zero Point''<ref>Braden, Gregg S., ''Awakening to Zero Point''</ref> that the resonance is increasing in frequency, and that this has something to do with the [[Fibonacci sequence]]. Of course, he misrepresents the harmonic frequencies in order to make this claim. In actual fact, the harmonic series of waves all occur at the same time, and can either reinforce each other or cancel out. If this implied that the Schumann resonance is increasing, then music would be impossible on string instruments.

Since the Schumann resonance covers about the same frequency range as [[brainwave woo|brain waves]], some New Agers go even farther, and assume that the Earth's ionospheric oscillations are evidence of [[Gaia hypothesis|the Earth's]] [[Nature woo|state of consciousness]]. And that therefore, programs which induce a different frequency of ionospheric oscillation (e.g. HAARP) are altering the Earth's consciousness, which will cause things like crop failures and droughts if you do it at a "bad" frequency. Conversely, there's also the claim that you can "heal the Earth" by inducing such oscillations at the frequency of [[alpha waves]] — or that if enough people all put their own brains into an alpha-wave state at the same time, this will induce the Schumann resonance to oscillate at the same frequency and cause the same healing of Mother Earth.

==In fiction==
The New Age interpretation is mentioned in the anime series [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Anime/SerialExperimentsLain ''Serial Experiments Lain''], in which it has ''something'' to do with the plot. We're not sure, really. But it still makes more sense than Braden's book.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Physics]]

Categories: Physics
Science (français)

{{hatnote|This is a French translation of [[Science]].}}{{sciencenav}}
'''La science''' est la méthode utilisée pour acquérir de l'information objective et fiable. La science utilise la méthodologie scientifique, presque toujours utilisant la méthode scientifique. Le but de la science est d'acquérir de l'information pour améliorer le monde.
== Types de sciences==
La science est divisée en plusieurs sections suivant les phénomènes étudiés :
On parle souvent de sciences {{fr"|dures}} et de sciences humaines, bien que certaines spécialités fassent le lien entre les deux:

-Sciences dures ;
*La [[Biology|biologie]] : L'étude de la vie
*La [[Geology|géologie]] : L'étude de la terre
*La [[Chemistry|chimie]] : L'étude des atomes et de certaines de leurs réaction
*La [[Physics|physique]] : L'étude de l'Univers et de son évolution
-Sciences humaines :
*La [[Sociology|sociologie]] : L'étude des sociétés humaines
*L'[[History|histoire]] : L'étude des évènements passés
*La [[Linguistics|linguistique]] : L'étude du langage et des langues

== Le mouvement anti-science ==

Quand la science parle de certains phénomènes, des groupes variés (souvent motivés par des raisons religieuses, politiques, idéologiques ou commerciales), qui n'aiment pas cette théorie, l'attaquent. Cela peut causer des problèmes sérieux : par exemple, le rejet du [[Global warming|réchauffement planétaire]] aurait des conséquences désastreuses pour l'environnement, et il y a un risque de mauvaises informations sur les sujets importants, comme le [[Intelligent Design|dessein intelligent (DI)]] en biologie. Certains personnalités politiques n'aiment pas les résultats obtenus par la science{{fact}} puisqu'ils contredisent leur idéologie.

==Pseudoscience==

On appelle pseudoscience des mouvements qui se prétendent scientifiques mais qui n'appliquent pas la méthode scientifique, par exemple l'astrologie ou la numérologie. Il arrive parfois qu'une science naisse à partir de pseudo-science (par exemple la chimie se développant à partir de l'alchimie). Dans le domaine des sciences humaines, la distinction est parfois difficile à faire.
==Voir aussi==
{{otherlang
|pagelang=fr
|en=Science
|pt=Ciência
|zh=科学
}}
{{stub|science}}


[[Category:Français]]
[[Category:Science| ]]

Categories: Français, Science
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

{{title-italics}}{{scriptures}}
{{cquote|Strange and frantic and incomprehensible and uninterpretable.|||[[Mark Twain]]<ref>[http://www.online-literature.com/twain/christian-science/4/ Christian Science (essay)]</ref>}}
'''''Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures''''', first published in 1875, and written by 19<sup>th</sup> century [[spirituality|spiritual]] leader [[Mary Baker Eddy]], is the primary source for the theology of [[Christian Science]], laying out its theology of [[reality]]-denial, the nonexistence of [[evil]], and the primacy of [[spirit]] over [[matter]]. 

Most of the book is set up in commentary form, somewhat similar to the final form of Blaise Pascal's ''Pensées'', but a large section at the end of the book consists of [[Testimonial|personal testimonies]], mostly of [[faith healing]] experiences. Readings from ''Science and Health'' are used in lieu of a sermon in church services, according to a schedule set down by Eddy early in the church's history. 

The text of the book is in the public domain in the [[United States]] due to the 1987 vacating of a 1972 [[copyright]] extension granted at the behest of Church of Christ, Scientist members in the [[Richard M. Nixon|Nixon administration]]. Since the intent of the law that gave a copyright extension specifically to the book was to assist a specific religion, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the law was unconstitutional because it violated the [[separation of church and state]].<ref>[//www.nytimes.com/1987/09/23/us/christian-science-text-s-copyright-is-ruled-illegal-by-appeals-court.html Christian Science Text's Copyright Is Ruled Illegal by Appeals Court] September 23, 1987 ''The New York Times''.</ref>

==External links==
*[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3458 Science and Health text] at Project Gutenberg

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|Christianity|Christianity}}
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]
[[Category:Religious books]]

Categories: Pseudoscience, Religious books
Science and Human Origins

{{crenav}}{{title-italics}}
'''''Science and Human Origins''''' is a misleadingly named [[Christian]] anti-evolution book written by developmental [[biologist]] Ann Gauger, molecular biologist [[Douglas Axe]] and attorney [[Casey Luskin]]. It was published by the [[Discovery Institute]] in June 2012.
All of the authors are Christian [[creationist]]s and belong to the [[Discovery Institute]].<ref>[http://www.discovery.org/a/19161 Science and Human Origins at the Discovery Institute Press]</ref> Whilst the authors are well-qualified in their own fields none of them have any education in [[anthropology]].

==Overview==

The book argues that humans do not share a [[common ancestor]] with chimpanzees, and that humanity has descended from the biblical [[Adam]] and [[Eve]].<ref>[http://www.uncommondescent.com/human-evolution/science-and-human-origins-conclusion-it-is-possible-we-came-from-just-two-parents/ Science and Human Origins conclusion: It is possible we came from just two parents]</ref><ref>[http://robertsaunders.org.uk/wordpress/2012/07/04/science-and-human-origins-the-discotute-misrepresent-science-once-more/ "Science and Human Origins”: the Discotute misrepresent science once more]</ref> According to the book, humans cannot have evolved as we have intelligence.<ref group=note>Which is something the authors lack.</ref> Furthermore, a natural process cannot explain human origins so [[God]] [[Goddidit|must have done it]].

==Reception==
Many feel that is an [[anti-science]] book and has received negative reviews from [[scientist]]s for pushing a [[religious]] agenda. The sole purpose of the book was an attempt to try and prove Adam and Eve existed. The book has been debunked chapter by chapter in a lengthy online review by Auckland University of Technology Ph.D. candidate Paul McBride.<ref>[http://www.jackscanlan.com/2012/07/paul-mcbride-reviews-science-and-human-origins-spoiler-alert-its-not-great/ Paul McBride reviews “Science and Human Origins”]</ref><ref>[http://apomorph.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/science-and-human-origins-chapter-5.html#!/2012/06/science-and-human-origins-chapter-5.html Science and Human origins Review]</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{stub|Creationism}}
{{crebox}}
[[Category:Intelligent design creationism]]
[[Category:Religious books]]
[[Category:Discovery Institute]]

Categories: Intelligent design creationism, Religious books, Discovery Institute
Science and Public Policy Institute

{{globalwarmingnav}}
The '''Science and Public Policy Institute''' is a misleadingly named [[think tank]] specialising in [[global warming denial]].<ref>It should not be confused with the earlier pro-public-health think tank of the same name.</ref>

The SPPI states it is "a nonprofit institute of research and education dedicated to sound public policy based on [[sound science]]. Free from affiliation to any corporation or political party." It does not reveal its funding sources; however, it shares a building and personnel with the "Centre for Science and Public Policy," a project of "Frontiers of Freedom," which [[Astroturf|gets its money from]] the [[oil]] industry (a million from ExxonMobil<ref>[http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=24 The money, it's everywhere!]</ref> for a start).

It awarded [[Christopher Monckton]], who writes quite a lot of its papers, an imaginary [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in 2007.<ref><capture>[http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/personnel.html#20100812 Can't delete this.]</capture></ref>

SPPI's greatest hits include a report in which they claim that sea levels have not risen, their evidence being a graph showing sea level rise, but tilted such that the long-term trend is flat.<ref>[http://www.skepticalscience.com/monckton-myth-16-bizarro-world-sea-level.html Monckton Myth #16: Bizarro World Sea Level], Skeptical Science</ref> Yes, [http://i.chzbgr.com/completestore/2011/5/4/74c9c444-e2fb-4fa5-abbe-7c303e9457f0.jpg really.]

Also among its personnel listed are Craig Idso of the [[Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change]] and [[Willie Soon]].

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{stub|environmentalism}}

[[Category:Think tanks]]
[[Category:Global warming denialists]]
[[Category:Denialist organizations]]
[[Category:Misnomers]]

Categories: Think tanks, Global warming denialists, Denialist organizations, Misnomers