Scientific illiteracy among the celebrities of fashion

In terms of science, Barack Obama is not better than many of us. Today joined the list of shame for those in public life who have made scientifically insupportable in 2008.

Closer to home, Nigella Lawson and Delia Smith failed in the science of food, while Kate Moss, Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore get all the roasts of scientific illiteracy.

The Heart of examination and Science 2008, prepared by the group Sense About Science, identifies some of the worst examples of scientific illiteracy among those who profess to know better - including politicians.

Mr. Obama and John McCain blundered in the MMR vaccine row during his presidential campaigns. "We have seen the rise of one type of autism," said Obama elected president. "Some people are suspicious that is connected to the vaccines. This person included. The science is not conclusive, but we to research, "he said.

His words were echoed by Mr. McCain. "It is indisputable that [autism] is on the rise among children, the question is what is the cause," he said. "There is strong evidence that it has to do with a condom in vaccines. "

Exhaustive investigation failed to substantiate links to vaccines or preservatives. The increase in autism is thought to be due to greater awareness of the state.

Sarah Palin, Mr. McCain's operating mate, waded through the mud with his dismissal of some research projects of the government. "Sometimes these dollars to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I do child, "said Palin. However, the geneticist Ellen Solomon Palin takes the task of not understanding the importance of studies in fruit flies, which share about half their genes with humans. "They have been used for over a century to understand how genes work, which has implications, for example, understanding the aging process," he said.

Hollywood has not escaped criticism commentators scientists, who lambasted Tom Cruise, for his comments on psychiatry is a crime against humanity, and Julianne Moore, who warned against the use of chemicals not natural .

"The real crime against humanity remains the continuing misery caused by major mental illnesses in the world, and lack of resources to support those affected," said psychiatrist Professor Simon Wessely.

In response to Moore, author of the Science and chemist John Emsley said that natural chemicals are not safer than synthetic chemicals, which undergo rigorous testing.

"Something that is natural, May and include a mixture of things that can cause an adverse reaction," said Dr Emsley.

The entries were the heads of Nigella Lawson, who said that "the spirit of the meal may make you feel differently about life, and Delia Smith, said it was possible to eliminate the sugar in the food. Dietitian Catherine Collins Lawson said that the support of the expensive food allergy is a missed opportunity, and too expensive for people of limited income, while Lisa Miles of the British Nutrition Foundation said that sugars are part of a diet balanced.

Kate Moss, Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore all embraced the idea that you can detoxify your body or with food (scientific unbearable), or in the case of Moore, products such as "highly trained medical leeches" , That make you bleed. Scientists stress that food alone can not eliminate toxins and the blood itself is not a toxin, and even if it contains toxins, eliminating a few that will not help.

But the first prize went to the lifestyle guru Carole Caplina to denounce a study showing that vitamin supplements offer little or no health benefits as a "waste" - is the third year of a career that has been mentioned in the review. Science writer and member Ben Goldacre noted that the study of Mrs. Caplina referred to is more published. "Carole must understand that research can often produce results that call into question our prejudices is the reason that science is more interesting than just following your nose," says Goldacre.