Homeopathy is bogus, harmful: Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishna
Calling homeopathy and astrology useless and harmful practices, Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan came down heavily on the two, saying real science is far more interesting than “bogus” fields.
Pointing out that India is the only country where a constitution asks for promoting scientific temper, the chemistry scientist said India needs a more rational outlook on such practices.
Explaining that astrology evolved from the human tendency to look for “patterns, generalise and believe”, Ramakrishnan said, “There is no scientific basis for how movement of planets and stars can influence our fate. There is no reason for time of birth to influence events years later. The predictions made are either obvious or shown to be random.”
“Once beliefs take root, they are hard to eradicate,” he commented, adding, “A culture based on superstitions will do worse than one based on scientific knowledge and rational thoughts.”
Contrary to the general notion that homeopathy originated in India, the scientist also clarified that it was a practice started by a German.
“They (homoeopaths) take arsenic compounds and dilute it to such an extent that just a molecule is left. It will not make any effect on you. Your tap water has more arsenic. No one in chemistry believes in homoeopathy. It works because of placebo effect.”
Ramakrishna was however appreciative of modern day astrology considering the more specific scientific advancements made.
“Alchemy is based on beliefs but accumulated huge amount of data about properties of substances and led to modern chemistry. Astrology was struck in past but modern astronomy has made huge exciting discoveries like the black hole, pulsars etc.”
The onus ultimately lies on humans, for science to be accurate. “Scientists are humans. We have egos, superstitions etc. What is required is to test our ideas by experiments which protect us from false beliefs.”
To elaborate, he cited the cold fusion theory. Initially claimed by Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons, the much-hyped theory was later proved to be unfounded. “In 2011, it was claimed from CERN experiments that neutrinos travel faster than light. Later, it came out that it was a measurement error,” Ramakrishnan said and added that sometimes scientists propose ideas well outside their area of expertise and make mistakes.
So did planes really exist in ancient India, as claimed at the Indian Science Congress in Mumbai last year?
“It was surprising for me that Indian science academies did not condemn it. Science has to be based on data. You have to show that you did it and others should be able to verify it. It is impossible that India had plane technology 2000 years ago.”
Science in India has nevertheless become more exact over time. “In the last century alone, life expectancy has doubled. It is because medicine has become scientific and evidence based. There is better understanding of physiology and biochemistry and many diseases have been eradicated.”
Ramakrishnan, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2009, was speaking at the Panjab University at Chandigarh to deliver the Har Gobind Khorana lecture on ‘On Nobody’s Word: Evidence and Modern Science’
Source :Hindustantimes.com
NOBEL LAUREATE VENKATARAMANNA RAMAKRISHNAN HAS COMPLETELY NO KNOWLEDGE AND IDEA ABOUT HOMOEOPATHIC SCIENCE .
That respected Nobel winning person is a expert in chemistry no doubt so he should speak about his subject only
He has no idea how homoeopathy works.
This types of comments are to be condemned with very strong words.
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Science is present in this universe since the big bang. Humans are evolved now, which means science don’t need certificate from Humans. It’s the limitation of ones knowledge to prove the process. Results are overflowing in favour of Homoeopathy. So a genuine scientist should try to find out the process rather than reproaching saying its bogus. Logical skepticism is equal to superstition and denying results is like drama of sleeping.
The doubts must be clear..we should briefly open discussion on this point …and come to a valuable answer….
As an nobel laureate his thoughts must b nobel too.; but it feels so much pain to say dat Sir, u hv mistaken homoeopathy …U hv not known its depth.We make best out of most harmful elements nd convert it into a medicines which saves life☆★.Homoeopathy is miraculous ..it doesn’t suppress the symptoms rather it eradicates disease from its root.Every field of medical science is a miracle and it will never cease to b miraculous
Its not expected a person who is an achiever himself speak about subjects he has no knowledge about…Sir if u really wanna give some ‘Gyaan’ please verify your facts first…Getting a noble prize does’nt give you opportunity to defame Homeopathy or any other Subjects…Get a lyf and stop boasting like old folks…..
He has referred about Arsenic molecule and stated that how can a molecule of Arsenic cure a disease is ridicule because he is forgetting nano theory of modern times . Also Dr Hanimann had started his research from Arsenic Alb. for the treatment of cholera. . A single dose of Arsenic can save the life of a person in severe case of gestroenteritis . There are many diseases which can be cured by only homoeopathy and the other remedies are faileur .