What Is Science?

Some time ago I was visiting a college in Pakistan.  I thought I was just there as an observer.  My mistake.  I was introduced to a physics class with final words that filled my soul with dread:
" ... from England who is going to give a talk on the topic What is science? ".

Now, when you are put on the spot like that, what do you do?  Well - it's science, so you can't just make stuff up.  You have to tell it like it is.  Fortunately, my bottom line for what constitutes science is all a matter of questions and answers.  Purely from memory, here is my little talk.

What is science?

Don't Say Cheese



Following a thorough scientific assessment of the risks involved in an experiment in the effects of gravity on round cheeses, a 200 year long experiment has been brought to a premature close.

Said a spokesmouthpiece for Tewkesbury Borough Council:

"We did some sums on the back of an envelope and it looks like all those cheeses rolling down the hill are creating a local gravitational anomaly.  It's sucking in people from the other side of the world."

The council claims that the following picture in their press release shows architectural distortions due to local gravitational anomalies.