My thesis presents three popular claims that appear scientific but are in fact instances of pseudoscience. Through traditional sociological concepts of fear culture and moral panic theory, I explore why people are prone to believing pseudoscientific claims despite evidence of their inaccuracies. My thesis also presents a new model for debunking pseudoscientific claims by building off established methods in skepticism and scientific communication. To emphasize the differences between pseudoscience and real science, I explore interactions between pseudoscientific promoters, scientists, the general public, and various forms of media. Finally, I suggest ways that we can further improve scientific communication to prevent its harmful effects on science and society as a whole.
