Pesky Paradox

Book mark courtesy of my on-demand engineer, i.e., my husband. The book photographed is Pseudo Science, by Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen (great read!)

I began this new year listening to all of my favourite podcasts (podcasts- helping to make adulting manageable since 2003). I have been reflecting on one expert in particular, the wonderful Esther Perel. Esther often invokes the idea of paradox in her work. Paradoxes are all around us. For example, in a relationship we likely want both security and freedom, it's not an either/ or (1). I want my cat to provide companionship, but also to get off my laptop when I'm trying to write this blog.

Paradox is very much a part of science as well. To engage in the scientific method in a rigorous way, means embracing paradox. As Dr. Carl Sagan says, "At the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes--an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive they may be, and the most ruthless skeptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new. This is how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense."

My promise to you is that I will embrace openness and skepticism as we delve into different scientific topics. I hope that you join me in this attitude, so together we can untangle the messy, beautiful, and important world of science.

We all have our area(s) of expertise. We all know a lot about a little. Once we step outside of our area(s) of expertise, how do we navigate? In order to tackle new ideas and concepts that we are unfamiliar with, critical thinking must prevail! If you can think of a catchier slogan let me know.

Let's break this down into something we will undoubtedly come across on the wild west that is the internet. We will see legitimate scientific sources alongside a whole lot of pseudoscience. The definition of pseudoscience, from the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, "a system of theories, assumptions, and methods erroneously regarded as scientific" (2). We love a good explanation, we do not like uncertainty. So humans have always invoked pseudoscience to explain things (3).

It can be tough to determine what pseudoscience is versus science, defined as, "knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method" (4). Did you also fall asleep halfway through that definition? I think of science much more as a process, where the rigorous scientific method is utilized. If you are not spending some of your time crying over an experiment, are you really doing science? It is tedious, slow, and frustrating. But it is our most valuable player for discoveries.

Pseudoscience comes up with "easy" solutions, masked with scientific terminology. Solutions that may seem intuitive. But the bottom line? Pseudoscience doesn't work. I don't want to see anyone wasting their time, money, or resources, and risking their safety, because someone wants to sell snake oil. But I digress. People will always try to come up with easy (not real) solutions. That's not a battle I want to engage in. Where I can help, is de-mystifying my world.

Academia, science, research this is my home, my wheelhouse. It is another pesky paradox! It is both a wonderful place driving innovation to change the world for the better and it has much to improve upon. I can name one or a hundred things off the top, but just to mention a few, how about low compensation for work, pressured results driving unsafe working conditions, and competitiveness over collaboration?

We can't expect perfection from any human endeavour, but we can certainly expect better from some of the world's brightest minds.

The only way to change? We face it head on, together, with openness and skepticism (cue Don't Stop Believing).

Until next time, dream big, love fiercely, laugh often, and sparkle.

References:

1. Perel, Esther. Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic. HarperCollins, 2006.

2. "Pseudoscience, n." https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseudoscience. Accessed 12 Jan 2026.

3. Kang, Lydia, and Nate Pedersen. Pseudoscience: An Amusing History of Crackpot Ideas and Why We Love Them. Workman Publishing Company, 2025.

4. "Science, n." https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/science. Accessed 12 Jan 2026.