Owing to a technical difficulty, I can't provide any illustration to accompany today’s What We’re Reading feature. But hey, you don’t only read it for the pictures, do you? In any case, please let us know in the comments section below what you think of our reading suggestions—and tell us what you've been reading, too. Have a great weekend!
- There Is No Scientific Method, The New York Times, July 4, 2016 — James Blachowicz muses on whether the scientific method is something distinct from other forms of “systematic investigation.” I’m not sure he does so effectively. Judging from the comments, many thought that Blachowicz was denying the existence of scientific thinking, something he attempts to correct in an appended statement.
- California Town Fixes Crooked Curb, Breaks Geologists’ Hearts, National Public Radio, July 6, 2016 — When is a curb not just a curb? When it’s tangible evidence of Earth’s shifting plates. And when is a town doing its job actually a bad thing? When it erases that evidence. A report from Hayward, California—not so far from NCSE headquarters, come to think of it. And check out Andrew Alden’s blog post for further information.
- Snow and Sea Ice Keep Hitting Record Lows This Year in the Northern Hemisphere, The Washington Post, July 7, 2016 — “As climate scientists nervously watch the Arctic and high latitudes this summer—fearing how 2016’s record warmth could push the delicate system—two new pieces of data are hardly consoling,” Chris Mooney reports. “We are moving into a world with a lot less reflective snow and sea ice in the Northern Hemisphere than there used to be.”
- Lawmakers and Campaigners Fight Climate Science Denial in the Classroom, DeSmog, July 7, 2016 — NCSE, Climate Parents, and the Alliance for Climate Education are all featured in Larry Buhl’s account of the ongoing efforts to support teachers in presenting climate change accurately, honestly, and confidently. Says a young activist, “If schools don’t teach climate science to everyone, then the message to students is that climate science isn’t important.” Amen!
- Correcting a Flood of Misinformation, Church & State, July/August 2016 — Americans United for Separation of Church and State reports a new book refuting the claims of young-earth creationists about the Grand Canyon. NCSE’s own Steven Newton is quoted as praising the book as doing “a great job explaining the science of Grand Canyon’s spectacular geology, as well as helping readers understand how the creationist misuse of Grand Canyon finds no support from science.”
