Controversial Scientific Issues Research Articles

How generative artificial intelligence portrays science: Interviewing ChatGPT from the perspective of different audience segments.

Generative artificial intelligence in general and ChatGPT in particular have risen in importance. ChatGPT is widely known and used increasingly as an information source for different topics, including science. It is therefore relevant to examine how ChatGPT portrays science and science-related issues. Research on this question is lacking, however. Hence, we simulate "interviews" with ChatGPT and reconstruct how it presents science, science communication, scientific misbehavior, and controversial scientific issues. Combining qualitative and quantitative content analysis, we find that, generally, ChatGPT portrays science largely as the STEM disciplines, in a positivist-empiricist way and a positive light. When comparing ChatGPT's responses to different simulated user profiles and responses from the GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 versions, we find similarities in that the scientific consensus on questions such as climate change, COVID-19 vaccinations, or astrology is consistently conveyed across them. Beyond these similarities in substance, however, pronounced differences are found in the personalization of responses to different user profiles and between GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.

Growth of the Central Orogenic Belt, North China Craton through accretion of different Neoarchean arc terranes: Perspective from the Linshan complex

The onset of plate tectonics and crustal growth processes in the early Earth have been controversial scientific issues in the geoscience. The North China Craton (NCC) preserves widespread 3.8–2.5 Ga rocks, providing an ideal place to understand early continent formation and evolution. The Linshan complex located in the southern segment of the Central Orogenic Belt (COB) of the NCC, is mainly composed of TTG (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite)-diorite gneisses and metamorphic volcanic-sedimentary units dominated by gabbro, basalt, basaltic andesite and biotite-plagioclase gneiss. Detailed mapping on the scale of 1:100 of a structural transect shows that the Linshan complex has mainly experienced two major deformation events including top-to-the-SE thrust faults and late NE-trending high-angle normal faults. Detailed zircon U-Pb dating shows that gabbro, basaltic andesite, and TTG gneiss mainly formed at ca. 2.52–2.50 Ga. Gabbros and basalts display enrichment of LREE and negative Nb and Ta anomalies, and basaltic andesites display mixed MORB-IAT geochemical affinities. Basalts and basaltic andesites are members of the Nb-enriched basalt series with high absolute Nb contents (>6 ppm). TTG gneisses are geochemically divided into high-pressure and low-pressure TTGs. High-pressure TTGs are characterized by high ratios of La/Ybcn (26.29–45.73) and fall into the adakitic region in the La/Ybcn-Ybcn diagram. Considering the close contact with Nb-enriched basaltic series, it is proposed that high-pressure TTGs may have formed by partial melting of a subducting oceanic slab with garnet and amphibole and/or rutile as residues. Low-pressure TTGs are characterized by low ratios of La/Ybcn and Sr/Y with marked negative Eu anomalies, indicating partial melting at shallow crustal levels. Regional tectonic relations have defined the Neoarchean Dengfeng island arc-forearc accretionary complex to the east of the Linshan complex. Thus, we propose that the gabbros-basalts-basaltic andesites in the Linshan complex mostly formed in a Neoarchean suprasubduction back-arc basin by rifting of a TTG-dominated island arc terrane. The final closure of the back-arc basin resulted in their tectonic juxtaposition forming thrust-imbricated structures. There may have been several Neoarchean “forearc-island-arc-backarc” systems in the NCC that are similar to modern accretionary tectonic orogens, indicating that plate tectonics has been in operation since at least 2.55–2.50 Ga.

Лингвистические особенности живого разговорного языка жителей Бардымского района Пермского края (некоторые фонетические и грамматические отличия от литературного языка)

Introduction. Northwestern Bashkir is a vernacular language spoken by Bashkirs inhabiting the northwestern parts of Bashkortostan and — the southern parts of Perm Krai in the valleys of the Tulva and the Barda (latter’s left tributary). As for Perm Bashkirs, they form communities in Bardymsky, Permsky, Osinsky, Kuyedinsky, Chernushinsky and a number of other districts. The rural inhabitants still speak the Gaina dialect (a dialect of the Bashkir clan Gaina, Bash. ғəynə) of northwestern Bashkir. Goals. The article examines some ethnolinguistic features of the living colloquial language spoken by inhabitants of Bardymsky District (Perm Krai, Russia). The study of the Gaina dialect is of historical significance, and the latter cannot be considered fully articulated to date. The former has been subject to repeated scientific discussions and is still a most controversial scientific issue that is of utmost interest to researchers. There is no unequivocal opinion in scientific discourse as to ethnic characteristics of the language spoken by the inhabitants of the delineated area. Materials and methods. Our insight into the material from the perspective of cross-cultural communication in the era of growing interest towards other cultures may prove instrumental in learning the originality of equal dialogic interaction between representatives of different linguocultures, which makes it possible to cognize a different cultural reality in comparison with one’s own. The work employs the analytical and structural-typological methods, techniques of linguistic observation, expeditionary collection and systematization. Results. The shaping of a peculiar and unique dialect of Gaina Bashkirs was facilitated by that the latter had been geographically somewhat separated from the bulk of their fellow tribesmen. The Gaina dialect spoken in Bardymsky District is rich in phonetic and grammatical features characteristic of northwestern Bashkir, including related dialects (and subdialects). At the same time, the paper’s insight into the available material reveals some certain features inherent to the region only.

Palynological data confirm the occurrence of forest on the Loess Plateau of central China during the Middle Quaternary (MIS13)

The Loess paleosol sequence S5SS1 (top layer of S5 paleosol layers; marine isotope stage (MIS) 13) has been extensively studied because it is the most developed paleosol layer among all Quaternary soils in the China loess and represents the greatest humidity since the past 2.5 Ma. The question of whether forests occurred on the Loess Plateau tablelands when these paleosols were deposited is still a controversial scientific issue. This research provides a quantitative reconstruction of the past climate and forest cover between 544 and 480 ka based on a high-resolution pollen record together with magnetic susceptibility (χfd) and L*a*b* color parameters. Results suggest that the Luochuan area (central Loess Plateau) was sparsely covered by temperate deciduous forest under warm and humid conditions with a strong East Asian summer monsoon. The precipitation and woody cover during 544 and 531 ka were similar to those today and much greater than modern from 531 to 480 ka. Our findings are supported by paleosol profile research and modern vegetation studies. This study confirms that MIS 13 was a warm and humid period and that sparse forest developed on the tablelands of the central Loess Plateau, which provides new thinking on the ecosystem restoration program of the Loess Plateau.

Proto-Tethys orogenic system in the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Resubdivision of lithotectonic units in Qilian-North Qaidam and discussion on several controversial scientific issues

Proto-Tethys orogenic system in the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Resubdivision of lithotectonic units in Qilian-North Qaidam and discussion on several controversial scientific issues

Scattered QL Surface Waves Reveal Edge-Driven Convection Mantle Flow beneath the Magma-Poor Malawi Rift Zone, East Africa

Abstract How the initial rupturing of the magma-poor rifts started remains a controversial scientific issue due to the lack of definitive studies on the lithospheric structure and mantle flow beneath the lithosphere from these rift systems. We constrain the anisotropic structure of the mantle in the magma-poor Malawi rift zone (MRZ) by observing quasi-Love (QL) waves, which are abnormal waveforms with Rayleigh wave polarization characteristics formed by the scattering of Love waves through lateral gradients in anisotropic structures. Here, we observed clear QL waves at stations in the western MRZ, indicating that there are significant lateral gradients in anisotropy beneath the western MRZ. The stations that recorded QL waves are close to the eastern edge of an unexposed Niassa craton revealed by the latest high-resolution tomographic model AF2019. Comparing the observations of QL waves with recently published shear-wave splitting measurements in the MRZ, we infer that the cratonic lithosphere of the Niassa induced edge-driven convection (EDC) of the asthenospheric mantle on its eastern boundary, resulting in lateral gradients in seismic anisotropy beneath the western MRZ. As the EDC is a small-scale, relatively weak form of mantle convection that is easily overwhelmed by strong active upwelled asthenosphere, its presence indicates the lack of large-scale mantle convection associated with asthenospheric upwelling beneath the MRZ. The magma-poor MRZ could be an example of passive rifting due to the local asthenospheric mantle flow.

Knowledge overconfidence is associated with anti-consensus views on controversial scientific issues.

Public attitudes that are in opposition to scientific consensus can be disastrous and include rejection of vaccines and opposition to climate change mitigation policies. Five studies examine the interrelationships between opposition to expert consensus on controversial scientific issues, how much people actually know about these issues, and how much they think they know. Across seven critical issues that enjoy substantial scientific consensus, as well as attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and mitigation measures like mask wearing and social distancing, results indicate that those with the highest levels of opposition have the lowest levels of objective knowledge but the highest levels of subjective knowledge. Implications for scientists, policymakers, and science communicators are discussed.

Should high-school biology teachers relate to students’ religious faith when teaching evolution? The perspective of Jewish teachers

ABSTRACT Evolution is one of the most controversial scientific issues worldwide, mainly because of the presumed conflict with religion, which also arises in school biology classes. Here, we surveyed biology teachers from different Jewish sectors in Israel about their experiences teaching evolution and their perspective on relating to students’ religious faith. Information was collected using an online questionnaire that was answered by 97 teachers, and three focus groups of 9 teachers. Half of the teachers reported encountering student religious-based opposition, in traditional/religious schools more than in secular ones. The teachers indicated that students’ religious faith may hinder their understanding of evolution, while teachers’ own perception of the conflict influenced their attitude. Most of the teachers indicated their willingness to relate to their students’ religious faith in class, mainly because of the importance of relating to students’ inner world. Our research adds to the global interest in evolution education by shedding light on this topic in a Jewish population, which has been little studied. In addition, the study emphasises the importance of relating to teachers’ experiences and perspective in the discussion on whether to relate to students’ religious faith during science class, because teachers are the mediators of science to future citizens.

Detrital Zircon Provenance in the Sediments in the Southern Okinawa Trough

The provenance of sediments in the Southern Okinawa Trough since the late Holocene has been a controversial scientific issue during the past 20 years. Previous studies based on isotope proxies generally indicated Taiwanese rivers as the primary source in the Southern Okinawa Trough since the late Holocene. Based on the zircon U-Pb geochronology, this study identified how sediments from the Yangtze River/East China Sea shelf had contributed significantly to the Southern Okinawa Trough in the past 624 a BP. Notably, this study found two Paleoarchean zircon grains, which indicated they originated from older orogenic belts. These data shed new light on the provenance of sediments, and a partial supply from the mainland of China cannot be excluded.

Current prospects of metabolically healthy obesity

Obesity is a heterogeneous disorder posing a great risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) is a phenotype claimed to be protected against these risks, but its mechanisms remain unclear. Overview of current evidence indicating MHO and its metabolic characteristics, highlighting possible factors underlying MHO. PubMed, Medline, Clinical trials.gov, Science Direct, ADI, and WHO databases were searched through to June 2021 . Recent evidence shows MHO phenotype with a prevalence of 6–75% and claims protection from cardiometabolic complications, though its precise definition and diagnosis are not yet established. Although MHO individuals are not healthy and may represent a subclinical state of obesity, they are closer to normal than those with other obesity phenotypes concerning adipocyte size and distribution, immune cell infiltration, adipokine secretion, cardiorespiratory fitness, proinflammatory biomarkers, insulin sensitivity, and dietary response. Notably, 36–52% of MHO individuals may become unhealthy later in life, though the evidence is inconclusive. MHO phenotype remains a controversial scientific issue, especially for its definition. MHO individuals are classified to have fewer or milder metabolic risks than those with unhealthy phenotypes; some maintain a healthy lifestyle and fat and fit. Thus, in-depth research is warranted. • Metabolic healthy obesity (MHO) shows reduced cardiometabolic risks. • There is no precise definition and diagnosis of MHO yet. • Although not healthy, MHO individuals are closer to normal than other phenotypes. • Evidence that MHO individuals may become unhealthy later in life is inconclusive. • The MHO phenotype remains a controversial scientific issue.

Changing Social Representations and Agenda Interactions of Gene Editing After Crises: A Network Agenda-Setting Study on Chinese Social Media

By incorporating social representation theory with science communication and by using a critical milestone scientific crisis (i.e., the scandal of Chinese gene-edited human babies in 2018) as a dividing point, this study adopted a network agenda-setting approach to explore how various actors (i.e., scientists, the media, laypeople, and the government) engaged in the construction of social representations of the controversial issue of gene editing on Chinese social media (i.e., Sina Weibo). Based on large-scale social media data, supervised machine learning was employed to identify attribute categories, and semantic network analysis was used to construct attribute networks. Results reveal that after the 2018 crisis, gene editing received increasing social attention on Chinese social media. Further, two trends emerged in social representations of gene editing on social media: de-scientization and medialization. The following dynamic agenda interactions among various actors were found: On the one hand, the media and laypeople’s attribute network agendas converged while scientists and the media’s diverged after the scandal. This indicates a scientific crisis can serve as a trigger for agenda convergence and divergence among different actors online. On the other hand, there were constant agenda interactions, such as between the Chinese government and the media. This reveals a feature of Chinese science communication—the media not only mediates between scientists and the public, it also observes the government’s agenda closely when representing controversial scientific issues such as gene editing.

Upwelling mantle plume and lithospheric delamination beneath the North China Craton

Various models have been proposed for the destruction of the Eastern North China Craton (NCC); however, it is still a highly controversial scientific issue. In this study, abundant teleseismic data recorded by permanent and temporary stations in the NCC were collected, and P-wave tomography and common conversion point (CCP) stacking of receiver functions were performed. The results from this study reveal an upwelling mantle plume and a shallow Lehmann discontinuity (or the lower boundary of a low-velocity zone) beneath the Eastern NCC. Additionally, a large-scale, plate-like high-velocity anomaly is defined under the Eastern NCC that might be related to the delamination of a lithospheric keel. Based on the above results and assessment, NCC destruction might include two causes: lithospheric keel removal or delamination and mantle plume upwelling.

Dziedzictwo prawne Leona Petrażyckiego w nowoczesnej doktrynie prawnej Ukrainy

The paper aims to study the work of Leon Petrazycki and analyze modern Ukrainian scholars’ opinions on Petrazycki’s scientific achievements. This study focuses on Petrazycki’s work, his psychological theory, in particular, in view of our own perspective on the law and within the framework of our theological and sociological theory, which considers the law as a social life phenomenon and regards moral imperative of the Almighty God as the basis of law. Every civilization communicates moral imperative through sacred writings (the Ten Commandments in Christian Bible, six hundred and seven rules in Jewish Torah, seventy-two rules in Muslim Quran). It is within the framework of this moral imperative that the society and the state develop the law. The paper addresses the modern absurdity and at the same time antinomy of law, lying in the fact that there is more and more law in the society but less and less law in life of an individual due to the fact that states rapidly upscale rulemaking, but laws are becoming less accessible to an individual. This study draws on conceptual issues of Petrazycki’s theoretical heritage, fundamental principles of his psychological theory, as well as connection between law and morality, described by Petrazycki, which are the spiritual heritage of society. The most important issues of Petrazycki’s work, in our opinion, are studying the nature of law, balance of emotion and intellect, official and intuitive, desirable and actual components in law, as well as subjective and objective law, law policy and power. The paper reveals that assessment of Petrazycki’s work in modern Ukrainian legal studies is ambivalent: from sharply critical (Prof. P. Rabinovich), compliant with Russian (O. Timoshina (St. Petersburg)) approach and critical yet positive perception of Petrazycki’s psychological theory (S. Maksymov, O. Merezhko, M. Kuz, O. Stovba) to admiration for Petrazycki’s genius, whose work was ahead of his time (I. Bezklubyi, N. Huralenko, V. Dudchenko, O. Rohach, M. Savchyn, V. Tymoshenko). Thus, the research findings suggest that Petrazycki’s work belongs not only to the past, but also to the present and future of jurisprudence, sociology, psychology, economics. Further in-depth analysis of Petrazycki’s heritage will contribute to more accurate diagnosis of urgent legal issues in social development of modern Ukraine, real assertion of personocentrism as a postulate of contemporary theoretical jurisprudence and guidelines for public authorities, as well as practical solution to many controversial scientific and legal issues.

Scientific risk communication about controversial issues influences public perceptions of scientists' political orientations and credibility.

Many scientists communicate with the public about risks associated with scientific issues, but such communication may have unintended consequences for how the public views the political orientations and the credibility of the communicating scientist. We explore this possibility using an experiment with a nationally representative sample of Americans in the fall of 2015. We find that risk communication on controversial scientific issues sometimes influences perceptions of the political orientations and credibility of the communicating scientist when the scientist addresses the risks of issues associated with conservative or liberal groups. This relationship is moderated by participant political ideology, with liberals adjusting their perceptions of the scientists' political beliefs more substantially when the scientist addressed the risks of marijuana use when compared with other issues. Conservatives' political perceptions were less impacted by the issue context of the scientific risk communication but indirectly influenced credibility perceptions. Our results support a contextual model of audience interpretation of scientific risk communication. Scientists should be cognizant that audience members may make inferences about the communicating scientist's political orientations and credibility when they engage in risk communication efforts about controversial issues.

Practices and views of neurologists regarding the use of whole-genome sequencing in clinical settings: a web-based survey.

The use of Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) in clinical settings has brought up a number of controversial scientific and ethical issues. The application of WGS is of particular relevance in neurology, as many conditions are difficult to diagnose. We conducted a worldwide, web-based survey to explore neurologists' views on the benefits of, and concerns regarding, the clinical use of WGS, as well as the resources necessary to implement it. Almost half of the 204 neurologists in the study treated mostly adult patients (48%), while the rest mainly children (37.3%), or both (14.7%). Epilepsy (73%) and headaches (57.8%) were the predominant conditions treated. Factor analysis brought out two profiles: neurologists who would offer WGS to their patients, and those who would not, or were not sure in which circumstances it should be offered. Neurologists considering the use of WGS as bringing more benefits than drawbacks currently used targeted genetic testing (P<0.05) or treated mainly children (P<0.05). WGS' benefits were directed towards the patients, while its risks were of a financial and legal nature. Furthermore, there was a correlation between respondents' current use of genetic tests and an anticipation of increased use in the future (P<0.001). However, over half of respondents did not feel sufficiently informed to use WGS in their practice (53.5%). Our results highlight gaps in education, organization, and funding to support the use of WGS in neurology, and draw attention to the need for resources that could strongly contribute to more straightforward diagnoses and possibly better treatment of neurological conditions.

Engaging the Public at a Science Festival

Theoretically and methodologically sound research on the reach and impact of public engagement practices continues to lag behind. Using the 2015 Wisconsin Science Festival as context, we empirically investigate the impacts of a public engagement activity about a nascent and controversial scientific issue, human gene editing. Overall, we find the panel increased participants’ understanding of the complexities of human gene editing, as demonstrated by increases in knowledge and the moral acceptability of the technology among respondents, as well as the associated risk and benefit perceptions. Practical and theoretical implications for science festivals and public engagement with science activities are discussed.

Applying the Gateway Belief Model to Genetically Modified Food Perceptions: New Insights and Additional Questions

The Gateway Belief Model (GBM) suggests that highlighting a scientific consensus is the key to improving beliefs about important scientific issues. However, questions have been raised on how one's perception of a scientific consensus affects his or her personal scientific beliefs. Reporting on 2 online experiments, findings suggest that consensus messages designed to impact beliefs on a controversial scientific issue—genetically modified (GM) foods—affect audience segments in different ways. People with low prior support for GM foods are less affected by a message emphasizing a scientific consensus about GM food safety. Including visual exemplars of a scientific consensus in these messages might make them more salient. However, questions remain on how best to apply the GBM to persuasive science communication.

Effects of text-belief consistency and reading task on the strategic validation of multiple texts

In the comprehension of multiple controversial scientific texts, readers with strong prior beliefs tend to construct a one-sided mental representation that is biased towards belief-consistent information. In the present study, we examined whether an argument in contrast to a summary task instruction can increase the resource allocation to and strategic validation of belief-inconsistent information which should be positively related to comprehension. Undergraduate students read one belief-consistent and one belief-inconsistent text about a controversial scientific issue either with an argument or a summary task instruction. The use of strategic validation and memorization strategies was assessed with think-aloud protocols, and a verification task was used to investigate comprehension outcomes. As predicted, readers following a summary task read belief-consistent information longer and used more memorization strategies for such information. Readers following an argument task spent similar time reading both text types and used more validation strategies when reading the belief-inconsistent text. In addition, the use of strategic validation during reading the belief-inconsistent text improved comprehension for this text type but hindered the comprehension of the belief-consistent text.

The Unscientific Determinants of Voting on a Controversial Scientific Issue: An Evaluation of Biofuels Policy in the U.S. Congress

AbstractWhether allegiance to party or the preferences of constituents are most important in an elected representative's voting decision has been a long‐running question in political science. This study contributes to this debate through an evaluation of biofuels policy in the U.S. Congress. Results indicate that in this policy area the House and Senate balance these influences differently, with partisanship playing a significant role in the House but not in the Senate. Analysis of voting on this issue indicates that there are important distinctions between how a legislator views the overall partisan preferences of constituents in their district or state versus how they view the interests of particular groups of constituents; when the concentration of agricultural interests in a legislator's district or state is great enough, it can override the effects of party for this issue, which suggests that legislators are especially concerned with specific constituency groups in their district or state that would stand to gain or lose from a policy. The proposition that a legislator is most likely to do that which benefits him or her most regardless of the available science relevant to a policy is a useful starting point for understanding what has been found in this research project.

Reviews examining sugar-sweetened beverages and body weight: correlates of their quality and conclusions

The role of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in increasing obesity is of great scientific, clinical, and public health interest. Many reviews have been published on this topic in recent years with very different conclusions. We sought to assess the scientific quality and other characteristics that may be associated with the conclusions of reviews regarding the causal relation between SSB consumption and body weight. A systematic search of reviews in English language-published peer-reviewed journals in 2006-2013 was performed. Their methodologic quality was assessed by 2 judges using 2 scoring systems: the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews and the American Dietetic Association Quality Criteria Checklist. The conclusions were blindly assessed by 11 independent readers using a Likert scale ranging from a position score of 0 = no evidence of a causal relation to 5 = strong evidence of a causal relation. Twenty reviews were identified: 5 meta-analyses, 3 qualitative systematic reviews, and 12 qualitative nonsystematic reviews. Four received funding from the food industry. Quality scores were neither correlated with the readers' perception of conclusions nor with the source of funding. However, industry-funded reviews were more likely to suggest that evidence supporting a causal relation between SSB consumption and weight gain was weak (mean position score = 1.78), whereas evidence was generally considered well-founded in other reviews (mean position score = 3.39; P ≤ 0.01). For a complex and controversial scientific issue, it is important to minimize perceived or actual threats to scientific objectivity and methodologic quality. More refined tools are needed to better assess their scientific quality and to identify factors and mechanisms that may influence authors' conclusions.