John Oliver Rants About Science Gossip: ‘Last Week Tonight’ Host Complains About Unreliable Scientific Studies

Are there too many unreliable scientific studies being used as headlines by media organizations? John Oliver certainly thinks so. The "Last Week Tonight" host used his program to rant about scientific studies that seem to be unreliable because of their exaggerated findings, questionable funding sources and small sample size.

John Oliver suggests that these studies also lack peer reviews from scientific communities and its results are usually biased. "In science, you don't just get to cherry-pick the parts that justify what you were going to do anyway. That's religion," the "Last Week Tonight" host said via National Post.

One example given by John Oliver is a study that says driving while dehydrated is as bad as driving while intoxicated. The talk show host complained that this study involved only 12 participants and was funded by an obscure organization called European Hydration Institute.

The "Last Week Tonight" host also noted how media organizations are turning scientific studies into morning gossip show, Vox reports. "Science is by its nature imperfect, but it is hugely important," Oliver said. He added that scientific studies should be treated with more gravity and seriousness.

John Oliver noted that media organizations and journals exaggerate study findings to have a more interesting and exciting headline. This can lead to misinformation and confusion among the public who read these study results.