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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 adjusting my expectations upward for the topic based on this post, and a stop at ashleywoods continued that bar raising effect, content that resets what I think is possible on a subject is doing real work in shaping my standards and this site is providing those bar raising experiences at a notable rate during sessions.
Салют, земляки. Беда в семье. Дети испуганы. В диспансер тащить — позор. Короче, спасла эта бригада — выведение из запоя на дому анонимно. Через пару часов человек пришёл в себя. В общем, не потеряйте — вывод из запоя на дому недорого вывод из запоя на дому недорого Не ждите. Вдруг это спасёт чью-то жизнь.
Strong recommendation, anyone interested in this topic owes themselves a visit, and a stop at forwardmotionclarity extends that recommendation across more of the site, this is the kind of resource that makes me more optimistic about the state of the open web than I usually am these days actually for once which is genuinely refreshing.
Closed the post with a small satisfied sigh, and a stop at forwardgrowthengine produced the same gentle exhale, content that ends well is content that respects the rhythm of reading and the writers here have clearly thought about how their pieces close rather than just trailing off when they run out of things to say.
A satisfying piece in the way that good meals are satisfying rather than just filling, and a look at ideasbecomeresults extended that satisfaction, the metaphor between content and meals is one I find useful and this site reads as a satisfying meal rather than the empty calories that most content provides for casual readers.
A particular pleasure to read this with a fresh coffee, and a look at claritydrivenmotion extended the pleasure across more pages, content that pairs well with quiet morning rituals is something I have come to value highly and this site has the kind of energy that fits naturally into a calm reading routine.
Reading this triggered a small change in how I think about the topic going forward, and a stop at ideascreatepathways 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.
The examples really helped me grasp the points faster than abstract descriptions would have, and a stop at clarityguidesdirection added a few more practical illustrations that drove the message home, the kind of writing that knows its readers learn better through concrete situations rather than vague generalities is rare and worth recognising clearly.
Found a couple of useful angles in here I had not considered before reading carefully, and a quick stop at actionpowersgrowth added more, this is one of those sites where the value compounds the more you read rather than peaking at one viral post and then offering nothing else of substance afterwards which is common.
Came across this and immediately thought of a friend who would enjoy it, and a stop at directionpowersaction also reminded me of someone, content that triggers the urge to share is content that has earned my recommendation and this site has earned multiple from me already across different conversations during the week.
A piece that brought a sense of order to a topic I had been finding chaotic, and a look at ideasmovewithpurpose continued that organising effect, content that imposes useful structure on messy subjects is doing genuine intellectual work and this site is providing that organisational function across multiple posts I have read recently here.
Reading this with a fresh mind in the morning brought out details I might have missed in the afternoon, and a stop at ideascreatealignment earned the same fresh attention, content that rewards being read at full attention rather than at energy lows is content with real density and this site has that density consistently.
Now noticing the post fit a particular gap in my reading without my having articulated the gap before, and a look at focuschannelsenergy extended that gap filling effect, content that meets needs I had not consciously formulated is content with reader insight and this site has clearly developed that anticipatory editorial sense across many pieces.
Quiet confidence runs through the whole post, no need to shout to make the points stick, and a stop at directionactivatesgrowth carried that same restrained voice forward, content that respects the reader by trusting its own substance rather than dressing it up in theatrical language is what I look for online and rarely actually find these days.
Will be back, that is the simplest way to say it, and a quick visit to directionclarifiesmotion reinforced the decision, this site has earned a spot in my regular rotation alongside a few other reliable places I check when I want something genuinely informative without all the usual modern web noise getting in the way.
Quietly building a case in my head for why this site deserves more attention than it currently seems to receive, and a look at forwardtractionengine reinforced the case, the gap between quality and recognition is a recurring frustration in independent online content and this site is one of the cases that seems particularly egregious to me today.
Worth recognising the specific care that went into how this post ended, and a look at blog44us 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.
The clarity here is something I really appreciate, especially compared to sites that pile on jargon for no reason, and a look at blog44full was the same, simple direct sentences that actually deliver information instead of dancing around the point for paragraphs at a time which wastes reader patience.
Всем привет из Питера Близкий человек уже 10 дней в запое Жена рыдает Платная клиника просит бешеные деньги Короче, врачи стационара реально вытащили — быстрый вывод из запоя в стационаре за 3-5 дней Провели полную детоксикацию В общем, жмите чтобы сохранить — вывод из запоя в стационаре санкт петербург https://vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-staczionare-sankt-peterburg-gtb.ru Не ждите пока станет хуже Перешлите тем кто в беде
This stands out compared to similar posts I have read recently, less noise and more substance, and a look at directionbuildsflow kept that gap going, you can really feel the difference between content made by someone who cares versus content made to fill a publishing schedule for an algorithm trying to keep growing somehow.
Now appreciating that I did not feel exhausted after reading, and a stop at progresswithintention extended that energising quality, content that leaves me with more attention than it consumed is rare and the gap between draining and energising content is real over the course of a typical day spent reading widely online.
Liked that the post acknowledged complications rather than pretending they did not exist, and a stop at clarityguidesmoves continued that honest framing, sites that handle complexity with care rather than papering it over with simplifying claims are doing real intellectual work and this one is clearly in that category based on what I have read.
Loved the writing voice here, friendly without being fake and confident without being arrogant, and a stop at clarityguidesvelocity carried the same tone forward, the kind of personality that makes a reader feel welcome rather than lectured at which is a balance plenty of writers struggle to find no matter how long they have been at it.
Now setting up a small reminder to revisit the site on a slow day, and a stop at momentumfindsclarity confirmed the reminder was a good idea, planning return visits is a small organisational act that signals trust in ongoing quality and this site has earned that planned return through consistent performance across the pieces I have read so far.
Thanks for taking the time to write this, it is clear that some thought went into how each point would land, and after I went through growthflowsforward I had a better grip on the topic, real value without the usual marketing noise people have to put up with online when searching for answers.
During a quiet evening reading session this provided just the right depth without being heavy, and a stop at actionguidesmovement maintained the same evening appropriate weight, content with depth that does not exhaust the reader is content with editorial calibration and this site has clearly figured out how to be substantial without being demanding all the time.
Generally I do not leave comments but this post merits a small note, and a stop at focusbuildspathways extended that comment worthy quality, the urge to actively contribute to a sites community rather than passively consume from it is something specific content provokes and this site has provoked that engagement urge from me today.
Now recognising that this site has earned a place in the small group of resources I treat as authoritative, and a stop at progressmoveswithintent confirmed that placement, the difference between resources I trust and resources I just consume is real and this site has clearly moved into the trusted category through consistent quality over time.
Appreciated that the writer trusted the reader to follow along without constant restating of earlier points, and a look at tactrunway 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.
Good clean post, no errors and no awkward phrasing that breaks the reading flow, and a stop at directionclarifiesaction kept the same standard, definitely the kind of editorial care that earns a return visit because it tells me the writer is paying attention to details that matter to readers rather than just rushing publication.
Pleasant surprise, the post delivered more than the headline promised, and a stop at progresswithintentionnow continued that pattern of under promising and over delivering, the rarest combination on the modern web where most content does the opposite by promising the world and delivering thin recycled summaries instead each time you click on something interesting.
Now recognising the editorial wisdom of letting some questions remain open at the end, and a look at riseperk continued that intellectual honesty, content that does not force closure on contested questions is content that respects the limits of knowledge and this site has clearly developed the maturity to know when to leave space.
Easily one of the better explanations I have read on the topic, and a stop at growthmovesstrategically pushed it even higher in my mental ranking of useful resources, the kind of site that beats the average not by trying harder but by simply caring more about what it puts out daily which always shows.
One of the more thoughtful posts I have read recently on this topic, and a stop at actionanchorsprogress added even more weight to that impression, this is genuinely good content that holds its own against far better known sites in the same space without trying to imitate any of them at all which I appreciate.
Once I trust a site this much I tend to read everything they publish and that is the trajectory I am on with this one, and a stop at growthmovesclearly confirmed the trajectory, the rare progression from interested reader to comprehensive reader is something only certain sites earn and this one is earning that progression rapidly.
Comfortable in tone and substantive in content, that is a hard combination to land, and a look at clarityanchorsaction kept that pairing alive across more material, this is what good editorial direction looks like in practice and the team here clearly has someone keeping a steady hand on the wheel across what they decide to publish.
Decided to set a calendar reminder to revisit, and a stop at riverunway extended that revisit list, calendar entries for content are a level of commitment I rarely make but when I do they signal a higher regard than a simple bookmark and this site has earned that calendar tier of relationship from me today.
Good post, the kind that respects the reader by getting to the point quickly without skipping the details that matter, and a short look at claritybuildsmomentum confirmed that approach is consistent across the site which is rare to find online these days, definitely a place I will return to soon.
Reading this between two meetings turned out to be the highlight of the morning, and a stop at ideasfinddirection continued that highlight quality, content that outshines the structured parts of a working day is doing something well beyond ordinary and this site has produced multiple such highlights for me already this week alone.
Honest assessment after reading this twice is that it holds up under careful attention, and a look at actioncreatesresultsnow extended that durability across more pages, content that survives a second read without revealing weak spots is rarer than the average reader probably realises and this site clearly cleared that bar.