
Nodes of Science Newsletter: Introduction to our Fact in the Head Community
Fact in the Head is a community for evidence-based exploration into the facts in our heads. We cover a wide range of topics, but emphasise discussion of scientific issues as well as those subjects surrounded by confusion, misinformation, and misconception. The purpose of our group is to promote the habit of backing up claims of fact on social networks. We also encourage discussions on how to decide what makes for quality evidence and how to distinguish it from the less credible. We seek to make commonly accepted claims seem strange and counter-intuitive truths seem normal. Too often we accept claims as a fact, but we don’t analyse those claims thoroughly and critically. Not only that, but we frequently don’t even remember where we learned information, yet we trick ourselves into false confidence of our knowledge. For these reasons, discussion here should focus on high-quality facts, credible sources, and scientific literature. We should challenge other people’s claims, but also have the courage to challenge what we ourselves think we believe.

Nodes of Science SkePic Digest May 1 2016
Our Nodes of Science SkePic community communicates science and scientific skepticism through the visual medium. SkePic members share a great assortment of infographics, memes, counter-memes, and other art. The community encourages everyone to discuss effective communication strategies of visual media. Since there have been so many great contributions, we would like to share a sample to our wider audience.

Quantum Woo Theory: How Photons AND Coins Gain Consciousness
Quantum, Please welcome our new guest writer Sadri Hassani. He is a professor emeritus of the Illinois State University’s Physics Department. Professor Hassani is especially focused on how some people use the weirdness of Quantum Theory to promote pseudoscience. Follow…

Monsters versus Mobs: A Call to Unleash the Scientist/Narrator Hybrids
The scientific community and its genetic engineers need to incubate more scientist/narrator hybrids. Scientists need public support, and before the public will support various science projects, the scientific community has to embrace story-telling and creative communication based on enthusiasm, understanding, and compassion. If the scientific community wants public support, scientists need to take sides on public science issues while employing charismatic communicators able to connect with people’s values. Scientists cannot remain isolated while expecting the public to embrace new research. Doing good work is not enough.

Opening Minds with Minimal Fatalities: An Argument for Skepticism
“There is no such thing as a skeptic. It is not something that someone is, but rather something someone does. People have moments of thinking skeptically, but no individual is always a skeptic. Skepticism is a continuous process of being aware of not only irrationality of others, but also one’s own internal biases.” ~Knigel Holmes

Ken Wood: Lay-Mee-Zay-Rahbl | Pieces of Pi Shared – Science Narratives
“I wanted to be one of those people. I didn’t have the knowledge base that these people had, but I had the desire, and willingness to do hard work, so I jumped on board as a moderator, and started doing my part to help communicate science. It’s only been a year or two, but I’ve already grown, and the future looks bright. Whether I’m seeking out articles to bring to people for discussion, joining in on discussions to ask different questions, bringing evidence to help support or refute claims, searching for new tools and resources, or trying to contact professionals to help join the cause, I really love what I’m doing. It’s fulfilling, and it helps me in so many ways.” ~Ken Wood

Book Recommendations
A list of books that offer a deeper understanding of scientific issues Written by Knigel Holmes Photo credit: Tom Simpson | CC Skepticism Michael Specter Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives Food…
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