Who isn't impressed with the continued advancement and growing potential of today's science? Whether it be in the medical field, biology, genetics, or technology we are inundated with information. Much of this information has led to the modernization of society and the quality of life. However like everything else in this world there are those who in my view misuse the scientific to direclty of indirectly, with or without malice, to fulfill a personal agenda. Sometimes it is just a case of a self serving ego or perhaps a bad habit of oversimplifying scientific findings. I have observed through my life that is hard for intelligent people to recognize or except that there is more that they don't know than there is that they do know. And yes I realize that my observations are not an official guage of all intelligent people. So for the sake of discussion take my opinion in context.
An ancillary benefit of all the science we gain from is some entertaining television programs that are very informative and just plain entertaining. For example I love this show called Myth Busters where these guys try and put urban legends to a scientific test. But my favorite show of this type is called Sports Science. They turned this huge warehouse into a sports study lab. They use modern science to test things related to sports. Like how much thrust is required to dunk a basketball for example.
It was a recent episode I saw that inspired this article. Let me state very clearly that I loved the episode and continue to be impressed with how they test and present the material. So I am not speaking out in anger or making any assertions toward the makers of the show. This is just an example of how easy it is to oversimplify or even mislead people with science. Of which I am not anti science I am just sensitive to the potential of a corruption of facts.
In one segment they were performing a test to determine if heat or cold would have a tangible effect on the distance of flight of a golf ball. As is the case in most scientific experiments the variables are created by the scientists doing the experiment. Which is normal of course. In this case they went to the testing site at the Titleist company known of course for making golf balls. They proceeded to take a significant number of golf balls and heat them and obviously many others were subjected to cold. Now keep in mind that the main objective was to determine what effect this would have on the distance a golf ball could be driven. So to make all things equal they used a machine that is designed to swing a club perfect every time it hits a golf ball. Which makes perfect sense since the only difference between the golf balls now, were some were hot and some were cold. As a result the hot golf balls traveled consistently 10 yards (in the air) further than the cold golf balls. And as was shown through some really cool graphics, this was because the heat allowed more of the surface of the golf ball to be struck by the club. At the end of this part a voice over says "so if you want to add 10 yards to your drive heat up your golf balls". Which would have been funnier if he didn't add the word golf in front of the word balls but that's just a juvenile humor reference by me.
This is where I "drive" home the point. Actually this test does not prove that anyone in particular would gain 10 yards on their drive. Yes the test was valid and the data received was factual. A heated golf ball can travel farther than a cold golf ball. The reason that the word can should be added is simple. Remember the variables of the test were created by the team of scientists. What golfer whether professional or novice has a perfect swing? In the show they even make sure to say that they are using the machine because "even Tiger Woods doesn't have a perfect swing everytime". Which again you had to do to make all things equal to properly compare the heated and cold golf balls. But it is an exaggeration to at least a degree to say this test proved that anyone could take a heated golf ball on a course with them and drive the ball 10 yards farther. Why do I say this?
Well the test didn't allow for many other variables. For one we already established the golfer was a machine. Well depending on how well you swing a golf club it's impossible to account for all the other potential obstacles that would prevent your golf ball from flying any distance whether your ball is hot or cold. So not only did this test not factor in the ability of the golfer, it did not measure the effect of the weather conditions or the elevation at which you are playing golf. Nor did they test different brands of golf balls. They did not consider the variety of clubs that are on the market. You get where I am going here.
My point is the test was very enjoyable, compelling and very useful. It completed an objective and provided factual data. However in the end we need to be careful with how we apply this information or the conclusions we take from it. Far to many times intelligent minds mix facts with presumption of what those facts mean. And of course people in general are prone to jump to conclusions so it is not exclusive to scientists. However if someone is rightfully repected for their work and profession manipulates the facts it can open the door for people to subtly or even overtly use factual data to appear to support what is really an assumption or an agenda. Regardless if it was meant to harm people, convince people or just impress people this is a line we shouldn't cross.
So I tip my hats to all those working hard in the lab and in the field for their dedication and loyalty. But to those who are reckless and careless by taking facts and molding them to their liking I ask "please stop?"
