näennäistieteestä

Pseudoscientific claims or practices are those that are presented as scientific but lack adherence to the scientific method. This often involves a lack of empirical evidence, testable hypotheses, or peer review. Pseudoscientific ideas may also rely on anecdotal evidence, appeals to authority that are not within the relevant field, or cherry-picked data. They frequently resist falsification, meaning that no evidence would be accepted as disproving the claim.

The term "näennäistiede" translates to "pseudoscience" in English. It is important to distinguish pseudoscience from genuine scientific inquiry. While science progresses through a process of questioning, testing, and revising, pseudoscience tends to remain static, often clinging to established beliefs despite contradictory evidence. Examples of areas often labeled as pseudoscience include astrology, certain forms of alternative medicine lacking rigorous scientific backing, and claims of paranormal phenomena without verifiable proof. The prevalence of pseudoscience can be a concern as it may lead individuals to make decisions based on misinformation, potentially impacting health, finances, or societal understanding.