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Nerds with words: Signs from Silicon Valley March for Science

At Saturday's March for Science in San Jose, California, thousands marched to promote scientific research and urge policies based on facts, not opinions.

Stephen Shankland
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Stephen Shankland
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March for Science, Silicon Valley

The March for Science drew tens of thousands of scientists and science supporters to US and international cities on Saturday. In San Jose, California, the heart of Silicon Valley, the march began near City Hall.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"No science, no Twitter": Scientific research led to the computer technology that makes President Donald Trump's favorite social network possible.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A quote from astrophysicist and Cosmos TV show host Neil DeGrasse Tyson was popular on signs and T-shirts: "The good thing about science is that it is true whether or not you believe in it."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"This sign is flat -- the Earth is not!" said one marcher, urging people not to regress to an obsolete world view science helped overturn.

Darcy's law governs the rate liquids flow through a medium, like water through soil or oil through rock.
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March for Science, Silicon Valley

Darcy's law governs the rate liquids flow through a medium, like water through soil or oil through rock.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A marcher pays tribute to the contribution her father, Vernon Rossow, made to aerodynamics and aircraft safety.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"Tribology not tribalism," one marcher's sign read. Tribology is "the study of friction, wear, lubrication, and the design of bearings," according to Wikipedia.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A Star Wars reference to basing conclusions on data: "The empiricist strikes back."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

One recurring theme: Truth, as discerned by science, ultimately can't be denied: "Climate change exists whether you believe it or not."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"Data over dogma."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

Computer science humor deals with the tricky problem of concurrency, in which a computer manages several related tasks simultaneously: "Who are we? Computer scientists! What do we want? Now! When do we want it? Concurrency!"

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A mathematical joke: the square root of negative one is denoted as i -- the basis for imaginary numbers. In other words, "Alternative facts are imaginary."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A remark about political priorities: "Less invasions, more equations."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A jab at Donald Trump's assertion that global warming is a Chinese hoax.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"Without data, you're just another person with an opinion."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A polar bear, a victim of global warming, offers a rude gesture.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"More science, less fiction."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"God wants scientists. If we entertain the 'God hypotheses' we must examine all His evidence." The back of this sign said, "He left all those clues to find."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"Do not turn my students' favorite dystopian ficiton into coming-of-age novels."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

An objection to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who doubts the scientific consensus about climate change: "Liar liar, planet on fire!"

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"Didn't die from the plague? Thank a scientist."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A patriotic message: "Keep America great -- invest in science."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

Pussy hats from the women's march earlier this year have morphed into pussy brain hats for the March for Science.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A dog's shirt reads, "Let's paws for a moment of science."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

San Jose police were on hand to manage traffic and crowds, but people in the march shuffled along smoothly.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"I need science because I need health care, hope, a cure," said a sign calling for research on an affliction called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"Raise a glass to freedom," one sign said, showing a classic Erlenmeyer flask used in chemistry and other research.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"I'm with her. Thinkers not deniers."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A quote from famous scientist and science communicator Carl Sagan: "It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

The Monterey Bay Aquarium supported the March for Science.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"Public policy based on rigorously established objective evidence now!"

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

"Science saves lives."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A man in a lab coat and safety goggles holds a sign: "Science separates fact from fiction."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

A common sign: "Science is not a liberal conspiracy."

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

Most marchers spoke in favor of science, but some were out to protest President Donald Trump and his administration.

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March for Science, Silicon Valley

The March for Science took place during Silicon Valley Comic Con, so there was some mixing of cultures at the end. Here's a male version of comic book character Harley Quinn.

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"Climate change is real, alternative facts don't exist in science, keep your tiny hands off our data, America became great with the help of science."

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"Teach your kids about science before a politician does."

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"Evidence trumps ignorance."

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Heisenberg uncertainty principle humor: "It's impossible to locate a good quantum mechanic."

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The March for Science took place on Earth Day, so many signs had an environmental theme like "May the forest be with you."

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A crowd of people in the San Jose, California, March for Science.

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"Read a science book, you moron."

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44 of 45 Eddy Chen/Netflix

Hear what Bill Nye has to say about climate-change deniers in his interview with CNET. He stopped by to promote the launch of his new Netflix show, "Bill Nye Saves the World." (See video below.)

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"EPA is not a 4-letter word."

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