Preface to
this issue
You fancy yourself
a pretty good science student. You attend biology class quite regularly. You even refrain from doing crossword puzzles during chemistry lecture. But are you really well informed about the science that affects your life and how you understand the world?
Scientific
discoveries have a profound impact on our lives, shaping our lifestyle and health habits, influencing government policy decisions,
and sparking heated moral debates. We have a responsibility to understand science
and use it carefully and wisely. Unfortunately, it is very easy for all but the
experts in a particular field to be misled by misinterpretations of new discoveries.
The
students of Dr. Julie Reynolds’ Writing 20 class at Duke University have assembled a collection of eleven short essays
addressing some misconceptions and misunderstandings common to even the college-educated.
Check out the links on this page to find out some fascinating new things. Hone
your understanding of evolution. Get the real scoop on condom effectiveness. And find out if you really understand what Einstein’s theory of relativity is
all about.
