RE: History of X-Rays

["Busby, Bruce" <bab1303@doh.wa.gov>]

Hi,

On the topic of radiation safety research literature (remembering the 
mailing list...)

 >I would be very hesitant to suggest that the Internet be used by 
students to 
 >research science (or medical) issues.  There is an incredible amount of 
junk 
 >out there, some of it on very slick sites.  I don't think that most 
students 
 >have learned how to distinguish real science from pseudoscience.

And this differs from a library how? Let suppose a student goes in to 
find information on radiation, and the first three books they find to use 
are by the authors Sternglass, Goffman and Caldicott, each one with a Dr. 
or phD by their name... (not even pseudo initials). Its the problem with 
not being able to distinguish real science from pseudoscience that is the 
problem, not the media.

I do agree though, that for research,  peer review articles from 
respected journals or authoritative books/persons are required (though 
you can find some of those on the Internet too). Peer review is not a 
perfect process, nothing is, but at least the work has been reviewed.  I 
do  feel that  people (students, news media and the public) have not been 
taught well how to distinguish between Good information sources and Bad 
information sources. This goes for Internet, paper copy and personal 
interviews (recalling the Montel BNL show as an example). I think it 
would be worth it for information web sites to carry some "Seal of 
Approval", showing that their information presented has been reviewed. 

Anyway (getting of the soap box)  we have some Internet info on History 
at: 

 http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/hist.htm


--------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce A. Busby    -     Radiation Health Physicist
W- bab1303@doh.wa.gov      H-babusby@aol.com
Rad Prot. Div. - Dept. of Health - Washington State
7171 Cleanwater Lane, Bldg. 5   Olympia, WA  98504

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