Why "may"? If they have insufficient data to assert a statement, then is it just as useful to state that it "may not"? So, fruit and veggie consumption may not influence early onset lung cancer.

[–] justsomeguy@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Because they have enough data to form a hypothesis that requires more research to confirm. Even if you leave the "may" out it'd be very vague because we don't know what exactly causes the cancer. Pesticides on vegetables is just their best guess and even if that's correct, which ones exactly? It might also be something else entirely that happens to correlate with a veggie heavy nutrition but has little to do with the vegetables themselves.

Uncertainty isn't a bad thing.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

let's be real, these things never get 'confirmed.'

[–] queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 days ago

A lot of times, studies have results that aren't specific or rigorous enough to be definitive, but they can still point the way to how a more conclusive study might be conducted. Just part of the scientific process.