Ideas worth spreading

The danger of science denial

2,351,372 views |

Michael Specter |

TED2010

• February 2010

Vaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.

Vaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Michael Specter

Michael Specter

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Michael Specter is a staff writer for the New Yorker. His new book, Denialism, asks why we have increasingly begun to fear scientific advances instead of embracing them.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.