Science Tales

Analogous to Michael Shermer's Scientific American column, The Skeptic, these vignettes present well-known scientific controversies where a significant number of people hold to explanations that don't fit with real-world evidence. These include climate change, electroconvulsive therapy, homeopathic and chiropractic treatments, evolution, the MMR vaccine, and science denialism. For all, Cunningham lays out the history of the controversy and the facts that do or do not support claims made. He notes, for example, that homeopathic treatments do not work medically, but the extended patient attention offered by homeopaths may assist psychologically and thus "work" for illnesses caused or exacerbated by stress. Cunningham's strength lies in translating complex scientific issues into simple sentences and logical statements. Clean, stylized line drawings, augmented by judicious color, are supplemented by photos and simple diagrams.