Pseudoscience is any belief or process that attempts to look scientific but is not. Appearing to be scientific can make a product, belief or process seem more legitimate and convincing. That’s why it’s important to know how to tell pseudoscience from real science.

Unlike science, pseudoscience often lacks carefully controlled experimentation. It might claim to have evidence or results, but those results might not have been found through the steps of the scientific method. With pseudoscience, empirical evidence might not matter as much as faith or an authority—like a celebrity spokesperson. With science, the empirical evidence matters most.

Which of the following is a clue that something is pseudoscience?

A
the presence of empirical evidence

B
the use of a famous athlete for support

C
the support of a respected scientist

D
the use of the scientific method