This Physicist Has $10,000 for Anyone Who Can Prove Climate Change Isn’t Real
Thu, 26 Jun 2014 06:24:33 PDT
Earlier this month Neil DeGrasse Tyson gave climate change deniers an incredible two-minute smackdown, adding his authoritative views to a broad chorus of scientists who say our world is changing for the worse and we need to do something about it.
Despite mountains of evidence, there are still politicians and pundits who claim the polar vortex and California’s extreme drought are totally normal and not at all caused by humans.
Fed up, Texas-based physicist and author Christopher Keating is ponying up $10,000 of his own money to anyone who can prove that man-made global warming isn’t happening.
Last week Keating launched “The $10,000 Global Warming Skeptic Challenge!” To win the cash, entrants only need be over the age of 18 and able to provide scientific method–verified proof that climate change is a hoax.
“I have heard global warming skeptics make all sorts of statements about how the science doesn’t support claims of man-made climate change,” wrote Keating on his blog. “I have found all of those statements to be empty and without any kind of supporting evidence. I have, in turn, stated that it is not possible for the skeptics to prove their claims. And I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is.
“This is no joke. If someone can provide a proof that I can’t refute, using scientific evidence, then I will write them a check,” wrote Keating.
However, because 97 percent of scientists agree that climate change is happening, the physicist is pretty confident he’s keeping his cash. “I am sure I will never have to, because it can’t be proven. The scientific evidence for global warming is overwhelming, and no one can prove otherwise.”
Keating has spent 30 years researching climate change and has taught at both the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. If you go down the wormhole of the comments section of his post (there are more than 200 of them as of this writing), it’s clear that Keating enjoys a healthy debate on the topic.
A commenter named Scottishsceptic wrote, “It is impossible to disprove something when it hasn’t first been proven. So to show what a numpty ‘prize’ this was I’m now offering my own ‘prize’ for someone to prove by the scientific method that we are currently experiencing man-made global warming.”
Keating’s reply is pretty awesome: “That is an entertaining response and I applaud you for standing up for what you believe in. I believe, very strongly, that it has not only been proved, but that I did it myself in my book. Can I submit my book to your challenge? I would love to win the money.”
Related stories on TakePart:
• Don’t Believe in Climate Change? See What Your House Will Look Like Submerged
• 7 Landmarks to Visit Before Climate Change Ruins Them
• Here’s Something You Can Do About Climate Change: Don’t Eat
Original article from TakePart
