Honey, Yes; UFOs, No - Teacher's Guide

Honey—Yes, UFOs—No

This reading is ostensibly about the early use of honey as a topical antibiotic by doctors in ancient Egypt. However, in getting around to this topic the text explores some examples of scientific thought and methods at work in the field of Egyptology. The reading begins by introducing the concept of pseudoscience, specifically the half-baked theories concerning space aliens and the construction of the pyramids of Egypt. The students are then introduced to Occam's Razor and shown how this principle can be used to dispense with pseudoscience. However, you should stress that Occam's Razor can be helpful in evaluating real scientific theories as well.

The reading also touches on the dangers of pseudoscience. As Zahi Hawass has pointed out, there can often be sinister and ulterior motives behind pseudoscience. In this case, the ulterior motive is racism, according to Hawass. While racism may be subconscious in this instance, this is not always so. For example, a good deal of pseudoscientific theories were put forth by anthropologists working for the Nazis to bolster the party's racist dogmas.

The concept of evidence is important to this reading, too. In science, evidence is the final authority, and that is the authority to which Hawass appealed in making his case that the pyramids were built by the ancestors of the people who live in Egypt today. Rather than wasting too much time attacking the space alien theorists personally, he has carried out extensive excavations of the pyramid site at Giza, unearthing irrefutable evidence that Egyptians built the pyramids. The students should be aware that Hawass was employing the scientific method in building his case. For a closer look at Hawass' investigations at Giza, please see the article "The Pyramid Builders" in National Geographic, vol. 200, no. 5, November 2001.

The reading goes on the describe the therapeutic properties of honey and suggests that hydrogen peroxide in honey may be partly responsible. The text also stresses the importance of scientifically investigating honey's value as a drug and briefly describes some of the preliminary results. For teachers who are interested in exploring this science more fully with their students, some actual data are provided in the CNN story linked at the end of the reading. This reading also reinforces the relationship between science and technology, since the medical use of honey is an ancient and apparently effective technology, which is not well understood scientifically at this point.

The reading ends with a look at our attitudes toward people of other times and other cultures, and the practical effects of our mindsets on science. While arrogance can lead to bad science and crackpot theories, an open mind and respect for people different from ourselves can lead to better understanding in fields diverse as archaeology and medicine.
Relevant National Science Education Standards

Unifying Concepts and Processes — The reading deals with theories, experiments, evidence, and drawing conclusions from evidence.
Science as Inquiry — The reading deals with Zahi Hawass' scientific inquiry into the origin of the pyramids and the medical inquiry into the specific therapeutic capabilities of honey.
Physical Science — The chemical composition of honey is evoked to explain its healing properties and the reading gives the formula and structure of hydrogen peroxide.
Science and Technology — The reading touches on the relationship between science and technology in noting that the medical use of honey is an ancient technology which is still not yet scientifically understood.
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives — The reading deals with science in health as science tries to understand how honey works and just what its therapeutic capabilities are.
History and Nature of Science — The reading gives a historical perspective on medical technology and illustrates science as a human endeavor through the work of Zahi Hawass.

Relevant New Jersey State Science Education Standards

5.1 The reading deals with theories, experiments, evidence, and drawing conclusions from evidence.

5.2 The reading discusses the historical accomplishments of ancient Egyptians in medical technology and the scientific work of modern Egyptian archeologist Zahi Hawass.

5.4 The reading touches on the relationship between science and technology in noting that the medical use of honey is an ancient technology that is still not yet scientifically understood.

5.6 The chemical composition of honey is evoked to explain its healing properties and the reading gives the formula and structure of hydrogen peroxide.

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5.1	The reading deals with theories, experiments, evidence, and drawing conclusions from evidence.
5.2	The reading discusses the historical accomplishments of ancient Egyptians in medical technology and the scientific work of modern Egyptian archeologist Zahi Hawass.
5.4	The reading touches on the relationship between science and technology in noting that the medical use of honey is an ancient technology that is still not yet scientifically understood.
5.6	The chemical composition of honey is evoked to explain its healing properties and the reading gives the formula and structure of hydrogen peroxide.