How to tell science from pseudoscience

Each time I say "G5" I mean "5G". Sorry about that!

Is the earth flat? Is 5G is a mind-control experiment by the Russian government? What about the idea that COVID was engineered by the vaccine industry? In this video I explain how you can tell apart science from pseudoscience. Instead of giving you a long and mostly useless philosophical lecture, I will tell you a simple criterion that you can apply for most cases, which is that scientific models are the ones that explain lots of observations with few assumptions.

[charliemiller]

The Flat Earth Society is reporting that social distancing is pushing some of its members over the edge.

[supercommie]

I think pseudoscience has an advantage over actual science because it makes you feel like a genius without you having to do actual work. It's like McDonalds for the mind.

[Phoenix]

"Arguments that explain everything... explain nothing" - Christopher Hitchens

[stixstudios]

"It is possible to control other people minds, and yet somehow that has not prevented you from figuring out that minds are being controlled". That statement is pure gold Sabine!! Love your work. :)

[jeancorriveau]

"The scientific explanations are the simple ones, the ones that explain lots of observations with few assumptions." Good video!

[dhoffheimerj]

Once again, this scientist is outstanding. She presents complex ideas in a concise and elegant fashion, with subtle humor and good visuals.

[christianschafer]

"... but this is YouTube." 🙃

[Dee-nonamnamrson]

The simplest explanation for COVID is that the Biolab in the same city as the epicenter of the virus, that was studying bat coronaviruses, and had a record of poor safety protocols, accidentally released the virus. The bat that carried this coronavirus is only found 400 miles from the epicenter. You tell me which is more likely.

[musicalfringe]

"...have written a lot of intelligent things about. But this is YouTube."

Cracked me up 🤣

[Renato]

The only thing that flat earthers fear




...is sphere it self.

[johnathancorgan]

Heh, after reading the title I was counting the minutes until string theory appeared. Sabine, you never let us down!

[fogofmylife]

"literally connects the dots" 🤣 My god Sabine, hats off to your sense of humor!

[ibcoull]

I am going to credit Sabine with her usual well presented discussion, but... I must quibble about her use of the pejorative term ‘conspiracy theorist’. Those of us old enough to remember the day were introduced to the term as a synonym for ‘nut case’ with reference to those who questioned the government line on the JFK assassination. There is ample evidence (and especially the 1970 House Assassination Committee conclusion) that there was indeed a conspiracy to kill JFK. But the original connotation stuck, and there is more than a little irony in its continued use as such.

[healinghub]

I was desperately looking for someone to talk about this.I just getting harder and harder.Than you professor!

[jellymop]

That hat Sabine 🤣. Oh man I knew I subscribed for a reason. Intelligence and a sense of humor.

[gereonH]

Wenn die Erde eine Scheibe wäre, würden alle Katzen am Rand sitzen und Dinge über die Kante schubbsen. Das ist nicht der Fall - also ist die Erde keine Scheibe. q. e.d.

[Arithmancy]

Eloquent talk, well considered and descriptive.

[sandramae]

Do we still think covid came from bats? Lol

[TheoWerewolf]

"That does not mean that it is wrong, but that it is not scientific."
This one statement - the fact that you accept that there may be things that are not scientific, but still true, propels you past so many other populist scientists (I mean that in very much a positive sense - a scientist who strives to communicate with the public like Carl Sagan, for example).
Brilliant, as always.

[Supernaut]

Being under Covid19 self isolation I am becoming an immensely intelligent person watching Sabine’s videos.