Appearing scientific is persuasive, even when unmerited. Including simple elements such as graphs (studies 1-2) or a chemical formula (study 3) increased belief in a medication's efficacy. This appears to be due to the association of such elements with science, rather than increased...

We empirically examine the reporting on biotechnology in Kenyan and international newspapers between 2010 and early 2014. We identify news articles that reported on biotechnology and analyze their use of words to determine if there is a balance in the reporting of perceived risks and benefits....