Why people fall for pseudoscience (and how academics can fight back)

Ingrained cognitive biases play a role, as does inverted snobbery about educational privilege. But we must battle on, says this scientist

Pseudoscience is everywhere - on the back of your shampoo bottle, on the ads that pop up in your Facebook feed, and most of all in the Daily Mail. Bold statements in multi-syllabic scientific jargon give the false impression that they're supported by laboratory research and hard facts.

Magnetic wristbands improve your sporting performance, carbs make you fat, and just about everything gives you cancer.