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El día del escepticismo científico, la alquimia y la Química moderna.
Hoy 20 de diciembre de 2010 se conmemora el decimocuarto aniversario del fallecimiento de Carl Sagan. Por este motivo, desde el año pasado se celebra el Día del Escepticismo y Contra el Avance de las Pseudociencias, al que numerosos blogs del mundo nos vamos a adherir. Es una buena oportunidad para denunciar el auge que ciertas «prácticas» están alcanzando entre la población.
Los científicos tenemos que decir basta ya de parasicologías, pulseras milagrosas, homeopatías, quiromancia, astrología, ufología, numerología, grafología, etc… En España, el asunto está tomando una deriva peligrosa cunado observamos que las universidades públicas están permitiendo, e incluso financiando, actividades relacionadas con la pseudociencia.
El debate científco sólo se puede seguir con las reglas del Método Científico. Es muy importante que los científicos nos tomemos este asunto en serio y que seamos capaces de transmitir a la sociedad, datos y opiniones contrastadas científicamente. Una de nuestras obligaciones es contribuir a aumentar la Cultura Científica del ciudadano, para que este pueda tomar decisiones y opinar con base científica sobre cuestiones que afectan a nuestar vida.
El origen de la química fue la alquimia. Aunque los alquimistas realizaron numerosos experimentos que pudieron ser útiles en ciertos aspectos de la Química (especialmente relacionados con técnicas experimentales), la influencia de la alquimia en el desarrollo científico de la Química fue nefasto, pues la impidió alcanzar una madurez científica durante siglos (a diferencia de lo que ocurrió con la Física). Hoy en día, ningún científico serío realizaría experimentos alquimistas, aunque nos lo quieran «vender» como algo científico, como ha ocurrido con el reciente artículo en PÚBLICO sobre el «Newton alquimista» (algo ya conocido hace muchísimos años, auque intentado ocultar por dignidad y respeto hacia el personaje).
La unidad de materia en Química es la molécula. Puesto que la molécula es muy pequeña, se usa el concepto de mol (un Número de Avogadro de partículas, el Número de Avogadro es aproximadamente 602.200.000.000.000.000.000.000, ¡un número de 24 cifras!). Esta cantidad (o sus múltiplos o divisores) se usa para expresar cantidades de manera científica en Química. Si se especifica el número de moles en un determinado volumen o peso de un medio, se está hablando de concentración, otro concepto fundamental en la Ciencia de la Química. El uso de estos conceptos tiene valor comparativo entre las sustancias químicas presentes en un medio o sistema. El empleo de cualquier otra magnitud no tiene sentido en Química y sólo sirve para crear confusión o un titular en los medios de comunicación. Por eso, noticias como «El río Ebro carga con 620 kilos de cocaína y 430 kilos de otras sustancias» o «El aire de Barcelona y de Madrid contiene varias drogas en suspensión y, entre ellas, destaca la cocaína«, dónde no se especifica la concentración (por cierto, del orden de 0’0000000000001 molar, ¡casi cero!) no tienen ningún valor científico.
Direcciones de interés sobre escepticos científicos:
Sociedad para el Avance del Pensamiento Crítico
Bernardo Herradón
IQOG-CSIC

Now planning a longer reading session for the archives, and a stop at focusvector confirmed the archives are worth that longer commitment, sites with archives I want to read deliberately rather than just sample are rare and this one has clearly earned that level of interest based on the consistency of what I have already read.
Now realising the topic deserved better treatment than it has been getting elsewhere, and a look at directionactivatesprogress extended that broader recognition, content that exposes the gap between actual quality and average quality elsewhere is doing the quiet work of raising standards and this site is contributing to that elevation in its own corner.
Thanks for not padding this with the usual filler intros and outros that every other blog seems to require, and a quick visit to progressmovesnaturally continued that lean approach across more posts, content stripped of waste is content that respects you and I will always come back to that kind of approach.
Glad to have another data point on a question I am still thinking through, and a look at growthorientedbond added two more, content that acknowledges its place in a wider conversation rather than pretending to settle the question alone is intellectually honest in a way that I wish was more common across the open web.
Beyond the immediate post itself the editorial sensibility behind the site is what struck me, and a stop at intentionalmomentum continued displaying that sensibility, content that reveals editorial choices through accumulated reading is content with structural quality and this site has clearly developed an underlying approach worth identifying through multiple sessions of reading.
Now considering whether the post would translate well into a different form, and a look at ideaclarity suggested similar versatility, content that could move into other media without losing its substance is content that has been built around ideas rather than around format and this site reads as idea first throughout posts.
A piece that handled multiple complications without becoming confused, and a look at progresswithclearintent continued that organisational clarity, holding multiple threads in a single piece without losing any of them is a sign of skilled writing and this site has clearly developed the editorial discipline to manage complexity without sacrificing readability throughout.
Ended up here on a wandering afternoon and was glad I stayed for the read, and a stop at ideasflowwithintent extended the wandering into a proper exploration of the site, the kind of place that rewards aimless clicking with something genuinely interesting rather than the shallow content that mostly populates the modern open web.
Will be sharing this with a couple of people who care about the topic, and a stop at actioncreatesmomentumflow added more material worth passing along, the kind of site that is generous with quality content and does not make you jump through hoops to access it which is appreciated more than the team probably realises.
Honestly impressed, did not expect to find this level of care on the topic, and a stop at corevaluealliance cemented the impression, you can tell within the first few paragraphs whether a site is going to be worth the time and this one delivered on that early promise nicely throughout the rest of what I read.
Bookmark earned and the bookmark feels like a permanent addition rather than a maybe, and a look at growthflowsforwardcleanly confirmed that permanent status, the difference between durable bookmarks and ephemeral ones is something I have learned to feel quickly and this site triggered the durable feeling almost immediately during my first read here.
Skipped a meeting reminder to finish the post, and a stop at claritychanneling held me past another reminder, when content beats meetings the writer is doing something extraordinary because meetings have institutional support behind them and yet good writing can still occasionally win that competition for attention which I find heartening today.
Glad I gave this a chance rather than scrolling past, and a stop at focusnavigationhub confirmed I made the right call, sometimes the best content is hidden behind unassuming headlines that do not scream for attention and learning to slow down and check those out has paid off many times now across years of reading.
I came here looking for a quick answer and ended up reading the whole post because it was actually interesting, and after forwardenergyreleased I had a much fuller picture, no stress and no confusion just a clear walk through the topic that made everything fall into place without much effort.
Started thinking about my own writing differently after reading, and a look at evercorebond continued that reflective effect, content that influences how I work rather than just informing what I know is content with the highest kind of impact and this site has triggered some of that reflective influence today on me.
Felt this in a way I cannot quite explain, the topic just hit different here, and a stop at evergreenbondhub continued in that vein, sometimes you find a site whose perspective lines up with how you have been thinking and reading their work feels like a small relief which I appreciated more than I expected.
Reading this triggered a small change in how I think about the topic going forward, and a stop at signalturnsaction reinforced that subtle shift, the rare content that actually moves my thinking rather than just confirming or filling it is the kind I most value and this site is providing that kind of impact today.
A genuine compliment to the writer for keeping the post focused on what mattered, and a look at unitedbusinessbond continued that disciplined focus, focus is a editorial choice that compounds across many small decisions and this site has clearly made those small decisions consistently across what I have read so far this week here.
Now adjusting my mental list of reliable sites for this topic, and a stop at strategicflow reinforced the adjustment, the small ongoing curation work of maintaining trusted sources is one of the actual practical activities of careful reading and this site has earned a permanent place on my list for this particular subject.
A piece that reads as if the writer trusted readers to fill in obvious gaps, and a look at ideaflowengine continued that respectful approach, content that does not over explain what the reader can infer is content that respects intelligence and this site has clearly chosen to write to capable readers rather than to the lowest common denominator.
Reading this confirmed a small detail I had been uncertain about, and a stop at directionshapesprogress provided the source for further checking, content that supports verification through citations or links rather than just asserting facts is more trustworthy and this site has clearly built its credibility through that kind of verifiable approach consistently.
A quiet kind of confidence runs through the writing, and a look at professionaltrustgroup carried that same understated assurance, confidence without bragging is the most attractive register for online writing and the writers here have clearly developed it through practice rather than affecting it through stylistic tricks that would feel hollow eventually.
Well done, the kind of post that makes you slow down and actually read instead of skimming for keywords, and a look at clarityinitiator kept me reading carefully too, that is a sign of writing that has been crafted rather than churned out for an algorithm to see today and tomorrow.
A thoughtful piece that did not strain to be thoughtful, and a look at unitedgrowthcircle continued that effortless quality, when thinking shows up in writing without the writer drawing attention to it you know you are reading something genuinely considered rather than something performing the appearance of consideration which is also common online.
Now feeling the small relief of finding writing that does not condescend, and a stop at forwardmotionlogic extended that respect for readers, content that treats its audience as capable adults rather than as people to be managed produces a different reading experience and this site has clearly chosen the respectful approach across all pieces.
Really appreciate that the writer did not stretch the post to hit some target word count, the points end when they are made, and a stop at bondedfuture reflected the same discipline, brevity is generosity in disguise and this site has clearly figured that out far better than most blog operations have.
Reading this triggered a small change in how I think about the topic going forward, and a stop at covenantpartners reinforced that subtle shift, the rare content that actually moves my thinking rather than just confirming or filling it is the kind I most value and this site is providing that kind of impact today.
Glad to find something on this topic that does not start with three paragraphs of throat clearing before getting to the point, and a stop at ideasbecomeforward also dives right in, respect for the readers time shows up in small editorial choices like this and they add up to a real difference quickly.
Bookmark added with a small note about why, and a look at bondedprosperity prompted another bookmark with another note, the bookmarks I annotate are the ones I expect to return to deliberately rather than stumble into and this site is generating annotated bookmarks at a higher rate than my usual content sources by some margin.
A small thank you note from me to the team behind this work, the post earned it, and a stop at signalcreatesalignment suggested more thanks would be in order over time, recognising the people who do good writing online is something I try to remember to do because the alternative is silence and silence rewards mediocrity unfortunately.
Worth recognising the specific care that went into how this post ended, and a look at ideastomotion maintained the same careful conclusions, endings are where most blog content falls apart and this site has clearly invested in the closing stretches of its pieces rather than letting them simply trail off when energy fades.
Now thinking about how to apply some of this to a project I have been planning, and a look at clarityleadsforward added more material for the planning, content that connects to my actual creative work rather than just being interesting in the abstract is the kind that earns priority placement in my reading rotation consistently going forward.
A quiet kind of confidence runs through the writing, and a look at directionalnavigation carried that same understated assurance, confidence without bragging is the most attractive register for online writing and the writers here have clearly developed it through practice rather than affecting it through stylistic tricks that would feel hollow eventually.
Felt the writer respected the topic without being precious about it, and a look at connectedleadersbond continued that respectful but unfussy treatment, finding the right register for serious topics is hard and this site has clearly figured out how to take the topic seriously while still being readable for casual visitors regularly.
Such writing is increasingly rare and worth supporting through attention, and a stop at focusnavigation extended that supportive attention across more pages, the conscious choice to spend time on sites that produce careful work rather than convenient consumption is itself a small form of patronage and this site is receiving that conscious patronage from me.
My time on this site has now extended past what I had budgeted, and a stop at strategyguided keeps extending it further, content that overstays its budget in my schedule is content that has earned the extra time and this site has been earning extra time across multiple visits to the point where my schedule needs adjustment.
Decided this was the kind of site I would defend in a discussion about good blog content, and a stop at focusamplifiesgrowth reinforced that, very few sites earn active defence rather than passive consumption and this one has clearly crossed that threshold for me without needing any explicit pitch from the writers themselves either.
Following the post through to the end without my attention drifting once, and a look at focusalignmenthub earned the same uninterrupted attention, content that holds attention without manipulating it is content with substantive pull and this site has demonstrated that substantive pull across multiple pieces in a single reading session reliably here today.
Without overstating it this is a quietly excellent post, and a look at actioncompass extended that quiet excellence, content that earns superlatives without demanding them through marketing language is content that has truly earned them through the substance and this site has clearly produced work in that earned excellence category today.
My usual response to new bookmarks is to forget them but this one I have already returned to twice, and a look at professionalunitybond pulled me back a third time, the actual return rate to bookmarked sites is the real measure of value and this one is clearing that measure at a notable rate already.
If I were to recommend a starting point for the topic this site would be near the top of my list, and a stop at lifelongalliance reinforced that recommendation status, the small list of starting point recommendations I keep for friends asking about topics is short and this site is now firmly on it.
If I were grading sites on this topic this one would receive high marks, and a stop at heritageunitybond continued earning those high marks, the informal grading I do mentally for content sources is something I take seriously even though it is informal and this site has been receiving consistent high marks across multiple sessions today.
Started believing the writer knew the topic deeply by about the second paragraph, and a look at directionpowersvelocity reinforced that confidence, the speed at which a writer establishes credibility through their writing is a useful quality signal and this writer establishes it quickly and quietly without resorting to credential dropping or self promotion.
Took a quick scan first and then went back to read properly because the post deserved it, and a stop at growthunlocksprogress kept me reading carefully too, the kind of writing that earns a slower second pass rather than getting skimmed and forgotten is something I value highly when I happen to find it.
Will be coming back to this for sure, too much good content to absorb in one sitting, and a stop at clarityleadsmovement only added more pages I want to dig through, this site is going onto my regular rotation list because it consistently delivers something worth the visit lately rather than empty filler.
A piece that did exactly what it promised in the headline without overshooting or underdelivering, and a look at growthflowsforwardnow continued that calibration, alignment between promise and delivery is a basic editorial virtue that many sites fail at and this site has clearly mastered the matching of expectation and substance throughout pieces.
Even just sampling a few posts the consistency is what stands out, and a look at claritymotion confirmed the broader pattern, sites where every piece I sample lives up to the standard set by the others are sites with serious quality control and this one has clearly invested in whatever editorial process produces that consistency reliably.
Appreciated that the writer trusted the reader to follow along without constant restating of earlier points, and a look at focusdirection continued that respect for the reader, treating an audience as capable adults rather than as people to be hand held through every paragraph is something I notice and value highly across the open internet today.
Felt no urge to argue with the conclusions even though I started the post slightly skeptical, and a look at visionarypartnersclub maintained that pattern, writing that earns agreement through clarity of argument rather than rhetorical pressure is the kind I find most persuasive and the kind I want to read more of these days.
Reading this back to back with a similar piece elsewhere made the quality difference obvious, and a stop at progressstructure only widened the gap, comparing content side by side is a useful exercise and the gap between this site and average competitors in the space is large enough to be noticeable from the first paragraph.