Sagan standard

The Sagan standard is a way of thinking about how to approach new ideas and claims in science. It's named after Carl Sagan, a famous scientist who believed in the importance of critical thinking and skepticism.

Imagine you're playing a game of "I Spy" with a friend. They point to something far away and say, "I spy with my little eye something that's blue!" You might look around and see a blue building in the distance, but you're not sure if that's what your friend is thinking of. You might ask questions to try to narrow it down, like "Is it in the sky?" or "Is it closer to us or farther away?"

In science, we play a similar game, but with much bigger ideas. Scientists might make a claim like, "I've discovered a new species of plant that can cure cancer!" Just like with "I Spy," we need to ask questions to figure out if this claim is true or not. We might ask questions like:

- How did you discover this plant?
- Have you tested it on humans to confirm it cures cancer?
- Have other scientists been able to replicate your results?

These are all important questions because they help us make sure that we're not just believing something that someone said without any evidence to support it. That's what the Sagan standard is all about: being skeptical and asking questions to make sure we're not just taking things at face value.

So the next time you hear a new idea or claim, remember the Sagan standard and ask questions to help you understand if it's really true or not!