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> 1. Some unknown phenomenon is defying everything we know about physics. You have entirely missed the point if you are arguing about physics when discussing t

by ericb 13y ago

> 1. Some unknown phenomenon is defying everything we know about physics. You have entirely missed the point if you are arguing about physics when discussing this. It is like stating tornadoes occur because the wind moves faster. When one has data a theory doesn't explain, you hypothesize, and re-test. That's science. Regardless of whether you have convenient correlations like your 1 and 2, you don't assume those correlations are causation and stop researching. What you don't do is dismiss the outlying data and call it a day.

jacques_chester 13y ago
But that's the point: when people or animals are placed under controlled conditions specifically to measure changes in mass vs caloric balance, it all averages out as expected. The samples in this study come from a mix of uncontrolled wild populations living in contact with humans and from captive populations who were not subject to a long term control. In science you don't get to declare any old thing you like and then everyone else has to immediately agree to test it. Everyone else is free to propose other hypotheses that fit the facts and it is generally accepted that the simplest hypothesis consistent with the evidence is more likely to be correct. The concept of a viral or epigenetic effect on either the efficiency of digestion or the efficiency of metabolism is worth investigating. However it would require a complicated mechanism to explain how and why it happened simultaneously across a mix of populations. Another explanation, given that all these populations are in contact with the human food supply, is that the human food supply has changed to be more calorifically dense. And, of course, it may be some combination of the above. A simple way to examine the mystery would be to look at animal populations in other countries. If the wild animal populations of places where people are starving to death are becoming obese, there might be something to it.
- ericb 13y ago
  > But that's the point: when people or animals are placed under controlled conditions specifically to measure changes in mass vs caloric balance, it all averages out as expected. No, that's not the point at all. Whether something is causing a greater appetite is the point.

by ericb 13y ago

jacques_chester 13y ago

But that's the point: when people or animals are placed under controlled conditions specifically to measure changes in mass vs caloric balance, it all averages out as expected. The samples in this study come from a mix of uncontrolled wild populations living in contact with humans and from captive populations who were not subject to a long term control. In science you don't get to declare any old thing you like and then everyone else has to immediately agree to test it. Everyone else is free to propose other hypotheses that fit the facts and it is generally accepted that the simplest hypothesis consistent with the evidence is more likely to be correct. The concept of a viral or epigenetic effect on either the efficiency of digestion or the efficiency of metabolism is worth investigating. However it would require a complicated mechanism to explain how and why it happened simultaneously across a mix of populations. Another explanation, given that all these populations are in contact with the human food supply, is that the human food supply has changed to be more calorifically dense. And, of course, it may be some combination of the above. A simple way to examine the mystery would be to look at animal populations in other countries. If the wild animal populations of places where people are starving to death are becoming obese, there might be something to it.

ericb 13y ago
> But that's the point: when people or animals are placed under controlled conditions specifically to measure changes in mass vs caloric balance, it all averages out as expected. No, that's not the point at all. Whether something is causing a greater appetite is the point.