How the L'Aquila earthquake trial should have gone down...

Earlier today, six Italian scientists and one government official were convicted of manslaughter for failing to accurately predict a deadly earthquake in L’Aquila, Italy. It’s a scientific travesty of the highest proportions, and in addition to making me quite angry, it points out a harsh truth of modern science: We have very little ability to accurately predict the time and magnitude of earthquakes.

Scientists are trying to get better at it, but it’s like trying to decipher a conversation in the next room with your ear up against the wall, only the wall is two miles thick and it’s taking place in sign language.

How should the trial have gone down? Colin has it exactly right:

clnschltz:

Prosecutor: “We’re not upset that the accused failed to predict the earthquake of April 6, 2009. As we all know, accurately predicting an earthquake is a scientific impossibility  What we’re upset about is that they failed to properly communicate the risk.”

Defense: “The risk of what?”

Prosecutor: “The earthquake.”

Judge: “The earthquake that they didn’t know was going to happen?”

Prosecutor: “Right.”

Defense: “Right…” 

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109 Notes/ Hide

  1. youknowwhatitis34 reblogged this from clnschltz
  2. vexedstressedboredtodeath reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  3. evelark reblogged this from monsieurbombardier
  4. utopiamatter reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  5. yak3x reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  6. lyneek reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  7. alfiejlim reblogged this from jtotheizzoe and added:
    Fucking bullshit.
  8. elemental-bookbee reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  9. evillordzog reblogged this from namosays
  10. armchairsoapbox reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  11. luckyspikes reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  12. namosays reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  13. newyorketc reblogged this from jtotheizzoe and added:
    travesty. I hate that we live...world that at once demonizes
  14. tetrisplayingcat reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  15. ixchelnaom reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  16. smallsoapdish reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  17. phazonfarmer reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  18. unoetrino reblogged this from thec8h10n4o2
  19. truthhoneyandashes reblogged this from jtotheizzoe and added:
    I don’t understand this at all. Can you sue...doctor if you get cancer? I
  20. myownpalebluedot reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  21. lessrice reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  22. syverce reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  23. loveisafieldofwildflowers reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  24. thec8h10n4o2 reblogged this from jtotheizzoe and added:
    Come se le figure di merda che (noi italiani) abbiamo accumulato fino ad ora non fossero abbastanza. Maledizione.
  25. theinternetzombie reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  26. cadetdday reblogged this from jtotheizzoe and added:
    What the actual hell?
  27. heabuh reblogged this from jtotheizzoe

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