What is Science?

If you are new to our site and to science in general, this is a good place to start. This is a collection of pieces we have written on what is, and is not, science, to try and help you get a better understanding of it. If you have any questions, please send us an e-mail to either one of us (links are on the sidebar to the left).

The Basics
    What is the Scientific Method?
    What does it mean to say, "Science only accepts natural answer"?
    Why won't scientists accept anecdotal evidence?
        What is pareidolia?
        And even more reasons for not accepting anecdotes

How we can use science to evaluate claims
    What is a scientific claim?
    Who should have to prove (or disprove) the claim?
    How much evidence do we need to accept something?
    How can we pick between ideas?
    Why does science constantly change?

The Language of Science
    Part I (Technical Language)
    Part II (Qualifiers)
    Part III (Technobabble)

Some basic types non-scientific arguments
    Arguing from an unknown
    Arguing from popularity
    Arguing from final consequences

Applying all this to real claims
    What does it mean to be skeptical?
    Radioactive water
    Fairies
    Flat earth theory
    Nessie on Google Earth
    Organic food
    Glymetrol, a dangerous herbal supplement
    Creationism
    Aliens from other worlds: Two different approaches to finding an answer

And finally some examples of really cool science
    Puppies as Evidence of Evolution
    Amazing Lightning
    Saturn's Weird Hexagon
    A Musical Take on Science
    Coloring Dinosaurs
    Mosquito-Shooting Lasers