Forging a Head: The Upside of Scientific Hoaxes

Posted by timothy on Sunday May 1, 2011 @12:24AM from the may-I-interest-you-in-some-goat-organs? dept.

An anonymous reader writes "In a very funny piece over at Science Careers (published by the journal Science), scientist-comedian Adam Ruben suggests that a lot of good can come from a well-intentioned hoax. 'Hoaxes have infiltrated science for centuries,' Ruben writes, 'from fake fossils (Piltdown Man, archaeoraptor, Calaveras skull) to fake medical conditions (cello scrotum, the disappearing blonde gene) to fake animals (Ompax spatuloides, Pacific Northwest tree octopus, Labradoodle).' In contrast to fraud, Ruben argues, such hoaxes do a great service to science by illustrating 'failures of our most important tool: our skepticism.'"

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Re:I did not evolve from an ape.... by Readycharged · 2011-05-01 00:47 · Score: 0, Troll

Ok....That should read, "I was never an ape.....or an amoeba, for that matter" Seriously, evolution is unproven.
God is punishing the Bible Belt by mangu · 2011-05-01 01:33 · Score: 0, Troll

As punishment for your disbelief, the Lord has sent the worst tornado season and the worst floods ever recorded. This is His new Commandment: "Thou shalt believe that burning fossil fuels cause global warming".