This article was published on May 26, 2015

Why is Google giving a creationist answer to a question about dinosaurs? [Updated]


Why is Google giving a creationist answer to a question about dinosaurs? [Updated]

Another Google property has come under scrutiny for returning questionable results. Fresh off the Google Maps fiasco, it seems Search is having troubles of its own.

A recent Google search for “what happened to the dinosaurs” brought up an interesting card at the top of the results page. Rather than a primer on scientific findings or theory regarding the extinction of dinosaurs, the card suggests the Bible has the answers we’re looking for.

The info comes courtesy of Answers in Genesis, a “non-profit, fundamentalist, creationist apologetics ministry with a particular focus on supporting young Earth creationism.” The card says — in part — “the Bible gives us a framework for explaining dinosaurs in terms of thousands of years of history, including the mystery of when they lived and what happened to them.”

The card and first listed result on the search results link to the same page, while the third option is “Evolution: Extinction: What Killed the Dinosaurs?” via PBS.

It’s not clear if this is a Search algorithm error, or if someone has hijacked this particular query. We’ve reached out to Google, and will update this article when we hear back.

Update: This card is no longer showing for some people, indicating that the issue may be on the way to being resolved. We’re getting reports from some that they can still see it though. We’ve not heard any word from Google as to what caused it in the first place.

Update 6/10/15: We’re hearing that this card is still showing for many. Google has not yet responded.

Read next: Google is fixing Maps to deal with lcoations pegged to offensive search queries

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