https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094
A study has been done, and the surprising result is that parachutes are no more effective than a backpack in preventing injuries when jumping out of an airplane.
It's "common sense" that parachutes work, so it has been a neglected field of science. This surprising and counter-intuitive result is an excellent example of the importance of doing science.
... or maybe it's a perfect example of how top-line study headlines can be mis-representative, especially when portrayed by the mass-media, and how understanding study scope and methodology is important.
(Score: 5, Funny) by canopic jug on Sunday December 23 2018, @05:07PM (1 child)
There's an old joke about the bravest of the brave [historyextra.com] and their view on parachutes. That link is from BBC History but it had earlier been on RHF on Usenet back in the day.
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Sunday December 23 2018, @08:37PM
That one reminds me of the joke about a Polack. He cut more wood in a day than any of his mates, until some of those mates started getting newfangled "chain saws". So, he went and bought himself a chain saw. The store salesman guaranteed that he would cut 2 to 3 times more wood in a day. Polack brought the saw back next day, and said he only cut a little more wood than cutting normally - something must be wrong with his saw. Salesman asked to see the saw, pulled the rope, and started it up. Polack steps back, and asks, "What's that noise?"