Celebrities and Science 2009
The review is not exhaustive: it looks at new themes
and stubborn misconceptions, notes the odd good
example and corrects fresh mistakes. Celebrities
would do well to realise that checking science
claims before making them publicly is not compli-
cated. Many blunders can be avoided by consulting
someone who knows basic physiology or chemis-
try. We have illustrated that this year by asking our
Voice of Young Science network of early career re-
searchers to respond to some of the claims. This
2009 review reiterates the message to people in
the public eye from our thousands of scientist vol-
unteers: science advice is only a phone call away.
What’s new in the review of 2009?
We were disappointed to note that, for the
first time, sporting names are prominent
in the review, particularly for endorsing
unproven therapies. Over 2010, we will
be taking the ‘check your facts’ message into
the sporting world, in an effort to turn this
around so that UK athletes will lead on scien-
tific sense in the 2012 Olympics.
Overall, the main message from scientists to
celebrities this year is nutrition is neither
the cure nor cause of everything. We
have seen a flurry of comments about diet
and nutrition, such as Roger Moore’s claim
that foie gras is causing Alzheimer’s Disease
and Heather Mills’ claim that meat gives you
“the illness you die of”.
In the 2008
Celebrities and Science review, we
were tentatively optimistic that celebrities
had dropped their enthusiasm for ‘chemical
free’ products and lifestyles. Sadly, like shoul-
der pads and mini-skirts, ‘chemical free’ claims
never really go away and in 2009 we have seen
renewed calls to avoid deodorants and the pill
because they ‘contain chemicals’. Once again
this year, scientists are stressing that noth-
ing is chemical free and the effect of a
chemical depends on the dose.
Compiled by Julia Wilson, Sense About Science, with help from volunteers Amanda Hughes and Jessica Strangward. Designed by Sean McMaho