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Mount Rainier: ‘Saucer Magnet’
Mount Rainier isn’t just where seminal UFO figure Kenneth Arnold saw “flying saucers” in 1947; the majestic mountain actually plays a more direct role in saucerology. Majestic Mount Rainier in...
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The Lure of Mysterious Paintings, Part 2
In continuing our discussion on “mystery” paintings from the past: a special place is held by paintings that are said to hold hidden meanings—especially when they do. Hidden Symbols The Ambassadors by...
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No Health Risks from GMOs
Food safety is an important and emotionally charged issue. We all want our food to be safe. For most of us, however, the safety of our food is largely out of our hands. Other people grow, pick, clean,...
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The ‘Miracles’ of Father Baker
The late Western New York priest, the revered Father Nelson Baker (1841–1936), devoted himself to Catholic works, including replacing a fire-damaged church with an impressive basilica and creating a...
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The British Humanist Association: Which Witch is Which?
The promotion of science and reason is not without its challenges. The British Humanist Association (BHA) and Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN) are being sued by the wealthy...
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Scientific Methodology and Its Religious Parallels
If religious believers had a better understanding of scientific methodology and nonbelievers had a better understanding of its parallels with religion, they could have more meaningful discussions with...
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In Celebration of Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner was born one hundred years ago, on October 21, 1914. To commemorate the centennial of the birth of one of the greatest figures in modern scientific skepticism, we have decided to...
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In memoriam Jean DOMMANGET
Jean Dommanget died on October 1, 2014 at the age of 90. He was an astronomer and head of the Département “Astrométrie et Dynamique des corps célestes” at the Royal Observatory of Belgium. He was an...
View ArticleYou Should Have Seen This One Coming – Protesting With Good Thinking At UK...
In March of this year, the UK charity Good Thinking was contacted by Mark Tilbrook. Mark is a skeptical activist who had been planning to hand out leaflets to people on their way to attend a range of...
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Modern Witch Hunting and Superstitious Murder in India
The modern practice of witch hunting in India includes violence and beliefs that have led to the torture and murder of alleged witches. State governments and rationalist groups are trying to address...
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Behind the Magic – Interview With James Randi
James Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Formerly a professional stage magician, he began to use his considerable experience in illusions and deceptions when...
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CSI Announces Paul Offit As Winner of the 2013 Balles Prize
Dr. Paul Offit is a lifesaver in the literal sense. His work in vaccinology and immunology, notably the invention of the rotavirus vaccine, has saved innumerable lives. But it is for a literary...
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Faith Healing: Religious Freedom vs. Child Protection
The medical ethics principle of autonomy justifies letting competent adults reject lifesaving medical care for themselves because of their religious beliefs, but it does not extend to rejecting...
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Would the World Be Better Off Without Religion? A Skeptic’s Guide to the Debate
The widespread assertion that the world would be better off without religion is a reasonable hypothesis. Yet data suggest that skeptics should attach no more than a modest level of probability to it....
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Skeptical Activism Online
I am tremendously proud to be an Australian Skeptic, because if you ask anyone you will most likely be told that as Australians we like to get things done. And we have had some successes, especially...
View ArticleSong of a Siren: A Study in Fakelore
During an investigative tour of Germany in 2002 (Nickell 2003), I explored along the beautiful Rhine Valley guided by my Center for Inquiry–Germany colleague Martin Mahner. There, we tracked a...
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The Lake Monster That Predates Nessie
The Untold Story of Champ: A Social History of America’s Loch Ness Monster. Robert E. Bartholomew. Excelsior Editions, State University of New York Press, Albany, NY, 2012. ISBN 978-1-4384-4484-0. XIV...
View ArticleSoul Theft through Photography
A core function of skepticism is the analysis of concepts. It works alongside traditional scientific skepticism, which investigates claims in a direct, hands-on way. One advantage that analysis has...
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Susan Gerbic Reports on the 2014 Skeptics Toolbox
Each August at the University of Oregon, Eugene, you will find a devoted group of conference attendees learning a critical thinking skill to bring back for use in their everyday lives. The Skeptic’s...
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Crop Circles: A Not-So-Convincing Case
Q: I wrote a letter to CSI asking them to investigate crop circles to determine if they are a hoax. I looked up crop circles on the web and they state that humans made all crop circles. However, based...
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