Science has taught us many things about the world, but some still reject certain facts. Even when there are loads of evidence, some people stick to outdated beliefs or fall for misinformation. This can make it difficult to handle important issues like climate change, public health or the future of our planet.
In this list, we’re looking at 12 scientific facts people reject despite the evidence. Understanding these things is very important if we have any hope of moving on and solving some of the largest issues that we are facing now.
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Climate Change is Real
For decades, scientists have sounded the alarm about global warming. With human activities like burning fossil fuels and cutting down trees, large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, keeping heat in. This traps heat and increases the global temperature. We are witnessing the result – more wildfires, floods, hurricanes, etc. Some people like to deny it is happening. They claim it is a part of a natural cycle.
Vaccines Work
Vaccines help us build immunity by protecting us from harmful diseases. Because of vaccines, diseases like smallpox no longer exist and others like measles are infrequent. But some people continue to buy into debunked falsehoods like vaccines causing autism — even though they have been scientifically proven not to. The spread of false information has led to outbreaks of diseases that could have been prevented.
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Evolution is a Fact
Darwin’s theory of evolution, published more than 150 years ago, describes how living beings change and develop through natural selection. The conclusive evidence from fossils, genetics, and biological science supports this theory. And yet some people reject evolution based on their religious beliefs. They would rather imagine that life was created and has not changed (often by God or a supernatural being!).
The Earth is Round
We have known for more than 2000 years that Earth is round. Scientists like Galileo and Copernicus showed it to be a fact centuries ago. And now with images from space we can all see that the Earth is round. Nonetheless, a loud group of people — “flat-earthers” — say the Earth is flat. They believe it’s part of a giant conspiracy.
Humans Have Landed on the Moon
The 1969 Apollo 11 mission of taking astronauts to the Moon was one of our largest human accomplishments. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first to walk on moon. However, there are conspiracy theorists who maintain it was a hoax and that the landing never actually happened and was staged in a movie studio. Despite this having been debunked by NASA, skeptics still refuse to believe.
GMOs are Safe
GMOs (or genetically modified organisms) are plants or animals that have been changed in a lab to improve things like resistance to pests or nutritional content. Many scientists have studied GMOs and demonstrated their safety for human consumption. But most people fear them because they think they are unnatural or harmful. In reality, GMOs can help to prevent food shortages, increase crop yield and lessen the use of pesticides.
The Theory of Gravity
Gravity is the force that pulls objects toward the Earth and keeps planets in orbit around the sun. It also happens to be one of the basic forces of nature and is well understood by scientists. However, there are those who deny gravity, promoting fringe theories with no evidence to back them up. These theories disregard the hundreds of years of experiments and observations that demonstrate how gravity operates.
The Big Bang Happened
The Big Bang is the cosmological model that describes the origin and evolution of the universe about 13.8 billion years ago. According to scientists, the universe began from a small point and has been getting larger and bigger. We also know this, because we can literally watch the universe stretch and expand, with everything moving away from each other as cosmic distances increase. Despite the mountain of evidence, many people refuse to believe this idea, either because it contradicts their religious teachings or because they find it hard to imagine such a massive event.
COVID-19 is Real
COVID-19 is a virus that spread throughout the entire world, infecting millions of people and causing so many deaths. It passed easily between people, so vaccines were created to keep it in check. Yet many still remain convinced that COVID-19 is either a hoax or an overblown ploy to strip them of their freedom — despite clear evidence that the illness exists and has proven to be a killer in all corners of the world. The virus was even harder to fight because of the conspiracy about it.
We’re in the Middle of a Mass Extinction Event
Right now, Earth is losing species at an alarming rate, and scientists call this a mass extinction. The main reason behind this is human activity — deforestation, ocean pollution, and climate change. In fact, the extinction rate of animals and plants exceeds its natural level. Many argue that nature will heal itself regardless of what humans do.
Mental Illness is Real
Mental conditions like depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder are real diseases. They influence the way people feel, think and behave. And they can be just as disabling as physical diseases. However, mental health issues are still often seen as things that can be “shaken off,” or the fault of patients for just not trying hard enough. The stigma only makes it more difficult for people to seek help.
Renewable Energy Matters
Renewable energy – like solar and wind power – is essential for reducing pollution & fighting climate change. These energy sources don’t run out and don’t produce harmful emissions like fossil fuels do. However, some people still believe we should stick with coal, oil and natural gas – even though these energy sources are causing serious environmental damage. The shift to renewable energy is essential for a cleaner and healthier future.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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