Exposé on pseudoscience publication secretly funded by Peter Thiel
January 30, 2019 10:21 PM Subscribe
Exposé on pseudoscience publication secretly funded by Peter Thiel
Inference is an online publication that claims to be an "independent quarterly review of the sciences." However, they have a long-standing habit of publishing junk science (e.g. articles attacking evolution and global warming) alongside articles covering genuine scientific subjects, with no differentiation between the two. I found this disturbing, so I did some digging, and discovered that Inference is secretly (and solely) funded by Peter Thiel, who has given them at least $1.7 million since 2014.
I fell down this rabbithole because Inference asked me to write for them. I'd never heard of them, so I researched them a bit, and then a bit more, and a bit more, and it became increasingly weird and disturbing along the way. At this point. I've been working on this for months (since early September) and it's really good to finally see it out in the world.
Inference is an online publication that claims to be an "independent quarterly review of the sciences." However, they have a long-standing habit of publishing junk science (e.g. articles attacking evolution and global warming) alongside articles covering genuine scientific subjects, with no differentiation between the two. I found this disturbing, so I did some digging, and discovered that Inference is secretly (and solely) funded by Peter Thiel, who has given them at least $1.7 million since 2014.
I fell down this rabbithole because Inference asked me to write for them. I'd never heard of them, so I researched them a bit, and then a bit more, and a bit more, and it became increasingly weird and disturbing along the way. At this point. I've been working on this for months (since early September) and it's really good to finally see it out in the world.
Role: Investigative journalist
This project was posted to MetaFilter by ellieBOA on February 1, 2019: Junk Science or the Real Thing? ‘Inference’ Publishes Both.
The world needs fewer billionaires
posted by rockindata at 6:30 PM on January 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by rockindata at 6:30 PM on January 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Great article, I love Undark. And fuck Peter Thiel!
posted by ellieBOA at 5:14 AM on February 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 5:14 AM on February 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Cheers to you! Thanks for getting this info out.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 10:37 PM on February 3, 2019
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 10:37 PM on February 3, 2019
« Older Laser cut peacock mandala... | Endarkenment: Dark Ambient Mus... Newer »
posted by COD at 4:56 AM on January 31, 2019