Chapter 22 Summary and Analysis

Sagan takes a broad look at popular culture in search of opportunities to bring science to the level of mass consciousness. He sees ways to use sports to teach mathematics and laws of probability, for example, instead of the superstitions of winning streaks. In the various twists and turns of televised basketball, there's an opportunity to discuss converting fractions into decimals, Newton's laws of motion, parabolic arcs and the physics of gravity.

If sports and financial junkies willingly plow through sheets of statistics in the newspaper each day, why can't they be induced to devour scientific information with similar gusto? Isn't it just as interesting to know that so-called winning or losing streaks don't really exist, that successful shots by NBA basketball players are no more likely to cluster than could be expected by chance? Those who need to see significance...