Sense About Science publishes its annual review of celebrities' misleading claims

[mr blur]

Where there's a celebrity, there's often a fad diet, miracle crystal bracelet or misunderstanding about science. In 2011, Simon Cowell thought it was best to get his vitamins delivered intravenously, American TV host Bill O'Reilly reckoned the Earth's tides were a mystery, and Gwyneth Paltrow championed expensive detox treatments.

These celebrity missteps, and many others, are highlighted in the sixth annual review published by the charity Sense About Science (SAS). "We're seeing changes – people are contacting us, medical charities are briefing their celebrities more and working with us to follow up dangerous advice, and we now have over 5,000 scientists and hundreds of organisations signed up to offer help," said Tracey Brown, managing director at SAS.

"So there really is no excuse for celebrities promulgating misleading claims. While it gives us a good reason to talk about sound science on subjects like oceans and diets, sadly our publications don't go nearly so far so fast as a comment by an A-list actress."

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/dec/28/scientists-simon-cowell-promoting-nonsense

And the Sense About Science website, from where yu can download Celebrities and Science 2011:

http://www.senseaboutscience.org/resources.php/82/2011-celebrities-and-science

[LeftishBrit]

1. k&r