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If you’re looking for an affordable and accessible way to live longer, skip the pricey wellness retreats and quirky biohacks—just bike to work.

  • spujb@lemmy.cafeEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    sounds like confirmation to me, an apt popular science headline. maybe you think “confirms” means “proves”?

    • Classy Hatter@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Well, english is not my first language, but according to Google (they get their word meanings from Oxford) “confirm” means “establish the truth or correctness of (something previously believed or suspected to be the case).” Perhaps in this specific situation “confirm” has different meaning?

      Also, there is a lot wrong how science is communicated in popular media. Taking singular study, coming up with sensational (and incorrect) title and making statements that aren’t in line with the study is not the way how science should be communicated. Even if there are multiple news outlets writing numerous such articles doesn’t make it right, correct or even acceptable.

      • spujb@lemmy.cafeEnglish
        4·
        2 days ago

        definitely not trying to speak well of all popular science titles, just saying that this one seems perfectly acceptable :)

        and yeah, that Oxford dictionary isn’t giving you the definition used in the scientific sense, so that’s your problem:

        The term “confirmation” is used in epistemology and the philosophy of science whenever observational data and evidence “speak in favor of” or support scientific theories and everyday hypotheses. utm.edu

        i checked Oxford Learner’s, and the meaning used in this context is number 2 just below what you found.

        to make a position, an agreement, etc. more definite or official; to establish somebody/something clearly

        language is confusing but this is definitely the scientific one the article means.

        • FartsWithAnAccent@fedia.ioOPM
          1·
          1 day ago

          Sorry, maybe it’s just been a long day but I don’t quite see how that means that confirmation does not mean anything other than it is either proven or at least very likely to be the case.

          The first sentence is

          The term “confirmation” is used in epistemology and the philosophy of science whenever observational data and evidence “speak in favor of” or support scientific theories and everyday hypotheses. "

          I haven’t exhaustively read every bit of the webpage but so far I am not seeing anything that contradicts the above. What am I missing here?

          • spujb@lemmy.cafeEnglish
            2·
            19 hours ago

            proven or at least very likely to be the case.

            two very different things :) scientific folks try to be very specific with their language