Column Chronicles: Science defied in new study

Science defied in new study

Frank Cotolo
January 8, 2015

A recent poll revealed that a majority of people 18 or older is skeptical about major scientific theories, past and present.

The survey was conducted to get an idea of what a majority of people 18 or older believed about major scientific theories, past and present.

The first topic was a surprise to many scientists because most of them thought that the Big Bang Theory was an acceptable concept of how the universe was created.

"We were sure that the Big Bang Theory was a popular theory," said Dr. Myron Cellulite, a scientist that read the poll results. "Everyone I ever mentioned it to said it was good, it was cool, it made sense, and things like that. Maybe that TV show with the same name gave our theory a comic side to it that causes disbelief?"

The study results indicated that most people surveyed had "little confidence" that a giant explosion created the universe 13.8 billion years ago.

One respondent said, "It's too long ago for anyone, even scientists, to come up with a theory like that. Besides, an explosion needs a fuse and where are there fuses out in space?"

Another respondent, one who believes in the Big Bang Theory, answered the previous question like this: "The String Theory provides the answer to the fuse argument. That’s where the fuse came from, it was a string that caught fire and made the big bang."

Also included in the survey was a question about the global warming of the Earth. It, too, was met with conflict. A majority claimed to have "considerable doubt about the science behind global warming, as well as the actual age of our planet".

Dr. Elbert Crampmustard of the University of Oregon's Planet Studies read the poll results about global warming and made a statement.

"The age of this planet," the doctor said, "is as close to what science calculates. These disbelievers offer no other age or a reason why our theories are wrong."

One respondent, however, did offer an alternative theory to the age of the planet. He said, "I think it is at least a few billion years younger than scientists determine and I am tired of hearing anything else. My dad told me that he counted barely a million years and my dad can name all the dinosaurs."

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.