Medical News
From the speed of global warming to the likelihood of developing cancer, we must grasp uncertainty to understand the world. Here’s how to know your unknowns
Mind
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3 July 2019
Josie FordBy Anne Marthe van der Bles
TAKE a look at the headlines, and it seems we are pretty certain about the state of the world. “UK unemployment falls to 1.44 million”, “India’s tiger population bounces to 2,226”, “Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction”.
Yet all these statements come with uncertainty attached. People often shy away from admitting this, be they politicians, experts or journalists expounding in the media, or doctors talking to patients. Perhaps they assume it will undermine people’s trust or make decisions harder. Yet making informed decisions also depends on knowing the unknowns.
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