I believe the most important aspect of science, which should be conveyed to the public in general and to expert witnesses in particular, is that it is virtually impossible to give a definitive answer to a scientific question. We do not live in a black and white universe, and there is always an element of uncertainty, which cannot be ignored.

This is clearly an anathema to politicians and tabloid journalists. But if the elements of basic probability were generally understood, then people would be much less in the thrall of those trying to exploit them - for the selfish ends of promoting sales, and securing votes.

Bruce Joyce is coeditor of Quantum Dots: Fundamentals, Applications and Frontiers (buy this book from Amazon (UK) or Amazon (USA)).