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Sham Study Tricks Climate Skeptics

Warming blamed on bacteria; pundits trumpeted the news

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 12, 2007 7:45 PM CST

(Newser) – Turns out undersea bacteria don’t cause global warming after all. But they were on trial for 70 minutes last week after a British prof's email chain linked to a sham study. Climate skeptics and conservatives—Rush Limbaugh included—trumpeted the study until a University of Colorado prof smelled something rotten. “Call me a skeptic skeptic—I smell a hoax,” he posted.

Blogs kicked into reverse when an email update revealed the prank. A Reason magazine blog quickly apologized, and green site DeSmogBlog ran a list of those duped. Who's behind the hoax? A UK writer is claiming responsibility. “What the hoax showed is that there are many people willing to jump on anything that supports their argument, whether it’s true or not," he blogged.

Environmental activists abseil down the side of a smokestack after painting Stop CO2 on the side of the chimney of the coal-fired power plant in Belchatow, Poland, Tuesday, July 3, 2007. The activists, from the Greenpeace group, called on the Polish government to encourage the development of renewable energy sources...
Environmental activists abseil down the side of a smokestack after painting "Stop CO2" on the side of the chimney of the coal-fired power plant in Belchatow, Poland, Tuesday, July 3, 2007. The activists,...   (Associated Press)
Graphic shows CO2 emissions for the U.S. and China; 1c x 3 1/8 inches; 46.5 mm x 79.4 mm
Graphic shows CO2 emissions for the U.S. and China; 1c x 3 1/8 inches; 46.5 mm x 79.4 mm   (Associated Press)
Study Shows Southern California Beach Bacteria Sickens 1.5 Million A Year
Study Shows Southern California Beach Bacteria Sickens 1.5 Million A Year   (Getty Images)
Smoke billows from waste treatment plant in Ivry, just outside Paris, Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007. France's government have begun national talks aimed at changing the way the French treat the environment. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
Smoke billows from waste treatment plant in Ivry, just outside Paris, Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007. France's government have begun national talks aimed at changing the way the French treat the environment....   (Associated Press)
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