Sir Isaac Newton explains the scientific method

In 1703, Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) was elected President of the Royal Society. He retained the Presidency until his death. The Royal Society became the chief expression of scientific opinion in Europe under his leadership.

Newton declared that the purpose of the Royal Society was to deliberate on Natural Philosophy which consists of "discovering the frame and operations of Nature, and reducing them, as far as may be, to general Rules or Laws - establishing these Rules by observations and experiments, and thus deducing the cause and effects of things." This became the working definition of the scientific method.

In 1704 Newton presented his studies of optics to the Royal Society. He declared his intent "is not to explain the Properties of Light by Hypothesis, but to propose and prove them by Reason and Experiment". He set out his vision of experimental science as an alternative to the hypotheses and theoretical principles of the natural philosophers who had considered the phenomenum of Light, in the past.

Source: Brief Lives - Newton by Peter Ackroyd, Chapter 15.

People with BMIs between 19 and 22 live longest

People with BMIs between 19 and 22 live longest say the BBC. Death rates are noticeably higher for people with indexes 25 and above (see link). Where is the evidence for this in the Scientific Literature? (source: Christopher Govan Street).

I'm 5'7.5" height so my BMI are:

• BMI 27.5 = 12st 8lbs (weight @ 24/12/06)
• BM1 24 = 11st 1lb (my target)
  
• BMI 22 = 10 st
• BMI 21 = 9 st 8lbs
  
• BMI 18.6 = 9 st
  

(Source: Calculator)

The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is evidence that risk of chronic disease in populations increases progressively from a BMI of 21.

In the analyses carried out for World Health Report 2002, approximately 58% of diabetes and 21% of ischaemic heart disease and 8-42% of certain cancers globally were attributable to a BMI above 21kg/m2. This report says "Disease relationships were evident with increases in adult BMIs above 21".

A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and one 30 or above is considered obese.

The BMI is not infallible. For instance, it is possible for a healthy, muscular athlete with very low body fat to be classified obese using the BMI formula. If you are a trained athlete, your weight based on your measured percent body fat would be a better indicator of what you should weigh.

Creationism creeps into UK schools

"The fact is that creationism, in all its guises, is no longer a quintessentially American problem," says Michael Zimmerman, the architect of The Clergy Letter Project, an alliance of Christians who back evolution.

E O Wilson might want to talk to The Clergy Letter Project. (source: Christopher Govan Street)

IN THE beginning there was the Discovery Institute in Seattle, Washington, the religious think tank that has backed the US "intelligent design" movement. And lo it came to pass that a group called Truth in Science appeared in the land of the Brit-ites.

Now, making what most see as a mockery of its name, Truth in Science has circulated material to UK schools aiming to counter the teaching of evolution in science classes. Some 59 schools in the UK are now using the information packs, which promote the notion that life on Earth was created through intelligent design, a euphemism for the biblical story of creation.

According to The Guardian newspaper in London, the packs include a manual and two DVDs and were sent on 18 September to all the country's secondary schools. "The fact is that creationism, in all its guises, is no longer a quintessentially American problem," says Michael Zimmerman, professor of liberal arts and sciences at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the architect of The Clergy Letter Project, an alliance of Christians who back evolution.

“Creationism in all its guises is no longer a quintessentially American problem”

"It is spreading worldwide and has made significant inroads in the UK," says Zimmerman. "The best way to overcome this pernicious situation is for religious leaders and scientists to come together to discuss how religion and science can be compatible - how they use different methodologies to help people understand the world and the human condition," he says.

From issue 2580 of New Scientist magazine, 02 December 2006, page 4

Laws of Science - Darwins Law of Evolution?

"Darwins Law of Evolution" (source: Christopher Govan Street)

In science, there are a specific number of established scientific laws, or physical laws as they are sometimes called, that are considered absolute and inarguable facts of the physical world. Laws of science may, however, be disproved if new facts or evidence arise to contradict them. A "law" differs from those as hypotheses, theories, postulates, and principles, etc., in that a law is a general statement about nature that is considered proven beyond doubt. Conservative estimates indicate that there are 18 basic physical laws in the universe: ^[1]

Fluid mechanics Archimedes’ principle Force, mass, and inertia Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion Newton’s three laws of motion Newton’s law of universal gravitation

Heat, energy, and temperature Newton’s law of cooling Boyle’s law Law of conservation of energy Joule’s first and second law The four laws of thermodynamics

Quantum mechanics Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle

Others, such as Roger Penrose with his 2004 book The Road to Reality – a complete guide to the laws of the universe, argues that there are a large number of established laws of science.

Evolution should be taught as fact

Friday April 21, 2006
Guardian Unlimited

Children should be taught from the age of 11 that Darwin's theory of evolution is a fact, an eminent scientist said today.

Richard Pike, the chief executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said that references to it being a "theory" should be abandoned.

His comments came the week before prominent creationist speaker John Mackay, a former science teacher from Queensland, is due to tour halls and chapels in the UK attacking Darwin's ideas, claiming that Genesis is literally true and that the Earth is a few thousands of years old, not millions.

Teachers' union conferences this Easter debated the dangers of creationism and "intelligent design" being taught in faith schools and academies.

Dr Pike said: "Above all, we should no longer talk of the theory of evolution as though it is 'just an idea'. So well-established is it, that it now warrants the designation of an immutable scientific law, (Christopher Govan Street: Law of Science - maybe Evolution should be described by Darwins Law?) and should be taught as such. It is on this basis that further dialogue should begin."

He added: "A wider understanding of the scientific basis of our existence will position all of us to address more effectively the major issues facing our planet.

"In this there is no role for 'creationism' or 'intelligent design', and religious education must recognise the allegorical nature of much of its source material."

Earlier this month leading scientists from the Royal Society warned against the teaching of Christian theories such as creationism in school biology lessons.