TROLLS be warned. You're ruining science. And science is proving it.

A study released yesterday claims that every time you write "yawn, slow news day" or "THIS IS NOT NEWS" or "we should stop wasting tax payer dollars on these so-called 'scientists' because we all know they're just pointy headed communists", you're ruining the perception of whether these concepts should be studied in the first place.

In other words, if you're an anti-science troll, you're winning.



Researchers from the University of Wisconson-Madison analysed comments on blogs about nanotechnology – manipulating matter at an atomic and molecular level.

Nanotechnology has already been used to create more than 1300 consumer products. But the study found that name-calling in otherwise balanced reporting skewed the perceptions of the risks posed by fiddling on a molecular scale.

That translates into a danger of trolls being able to alter public perception of all sciences, researchers say.

"The internet has the potential to foster discussion and deliberation among far-reaching audiences in spaces such as the comments section of news items and blog posts," the study reads.

"However, such discussions are not always rational."

The study found that people who read snarky comments on blog posts were prone to mistaking their opinion for fact.

The scientific knowledge of more than 2300 participants was first tested, including their familiarity with nanotechnology. They were also asked to reveal where they received most of their news, (i.e newspapers, internet or television).

Then they read a blog post from a Canadian newspaper that talked about the risks and benefits of nanotechnology.

Each user received a blog post with user comments manipulated to contain positive or negative sentiment, such as: "If you don't see the benefits of using nanotechnology in these products, you're an idiot."

Some comments made the opposite argument using polite language and acknowledging other users by names instead of expletives.

The test subjects then completed a survey about the blog, its comments and their opinion of the risks and benefits of nanotechnology.

Those participants exposed to the trolls were found to be less supportive of nanotechnology.

The researchers also found that people who received most of their news via the internet were, unsurprisingly, less likely to support nanotechnology research. Those who read the newspaper were found to be more supportive.

Television was not found to have an impact either way.

Age and gender were also found to be influential factors. The older the subject, the less likely they were to be supportive of nanotechnology. Women were also found to have stronger risk perceptions.

"The interaction block….showed that online incivility does indeed have a polarising effect on attitudes when considering certain predispositions," the study read.

And if you still think you're too smart to take any notice of trolls, think again.

Having a detailed knowledge of nanotechnology did not seem to have a significant effect on how your perception changed once you started reading the comments.

"It seems we don't really have a clear social norm about what is expected online," UW-Madison science communication researcher Dominique Brossard said.

"In the case of blog postings, it's the Wild West."

Internet trolls, you're ruining science for everyone.

Mission accomplished.