Scientists confirm that parts of earliest genetic material may have come from the stars(thinkgene.com)
thinkgene.com
Scientists confirm that parts of earliest genetic material may have come from the stars
http://www.thinkgene.com/scientists-confirm-that-parts-of-earliest-genetic-material-may-have-come-from-the-stars/
6 comments
Is anyone else bothered by the use of "confirm" and "may" in the same sentence? If it's confirmed, it is, not may be, right?
Personally, yes. But this is standard scientific nomenclature.
Not at all.
If I am trying to reverse engineer a bread recipe, and find CO2, I will have confirmed yeast may have been used.
It's logically equivalent to "Scientists confirmed yeast could not be ruled out." That happens all the time. There is absolutely nothing to be bothered by. Running an experiment and getting a maybe is important and valid scientific information.
If I am trying to reverse engineer a bread recipe, and find CO2, I will have confirmed yeast may have been used.
It's logically equivalent to "Scientists confirmed yeast could not be ruled out." That happens all the time. There is absolutely nothing to be bothered by. Running an experiment and getting a maybe is important and valid scientific information.
We are aliens?
Usually HN filters out repeats, but not this time. Very strange and interesting.