Ben Goldacre: Predictions are fine, but there are better ways to protect a population - Italy has always been a bit odd (I mean, they have a press clown as president and this strange Catholic mini-state with a ruler who claims absolute authority). And this mini-state has a long tradition of suing (and convicting) scientists. It probably shouldn't surprise anyone if seismologists are now being put on trial for manslaughter because they didn't predict an earthquake. And this is part of the EU ...