Science in a cultural key

Abstract

Nowadays, science is in fashion. It pervades society, the media and even domestic spaces. However, being in fashion has its price, which, in the case of science, is manifested by the excess of science articles and reports in the media but also by the absence of both standard criteria and control of content. Everybody seems willing to give his or her scientific opinion in order to justify a position. Widely distributed magazines tend to use and misuse science. Advertising agencies employ it in order to guarantee and certify the excellence of many products, to back up claims regarding the benefits that some habits or products can provide to the population and to warn of the dangers of others. In short, science serves as a measure of everything.