Popular science

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For the film series, see Popular Science Historic Film Series. For the magazine, see Popular Science.

Popular science is interpretation of science intended for a general audience, rather than for other scientists or students. Popular science is presented in many formats, including television documentaries and magazine articles. The quality of popular science varies widely. The best popular science is produced by people skilled in both science and communication who approach the subject from a neutral point of view.

Some popular science can be very misleading. Some is produced by people with limited understanding of the subject they are interpreting. Some is produced by people who are extremely biased. Unfortunately, it can be hard for the non-expert to identify misleading popular science. In the case of medical research, results are often presented in the press without adequate context. Popular science may also blur the boundaries between formal science and pseudoscience.