Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition brings the insightful articles from Skeptical Inquirer magazine directly to your ears. Covering topics in science, skepticism, and critical thinking, each episode features narrated versions of our most thought-provoking content. Perfect for those on the go, SI Audio Edition allows you to stay informed and inspired wherever you are.
Episodes
How The Telepathy Tapes Silences Voices
Stephen Hupp previews the upcoming issue of Skeptical Inquirer, titled The Telepathy Tapes Silences Voices. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/08/how-the-telepathy-tapes-silences-voices/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is the executive director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the editor of Skeptical Inquirer. Subscribe to Ske
California Endorses Dangerous Autism Pseudoscience
Stuart Vyse argues that California's State Council on Developmental Disabilities has endorsed discredited communication methods such as facilitated communication, rapid prompting, and spelling to communicate despite overwhelming evidence against their validity and warnings from major professional organizations. He warns that the policy could legitimize pseudoscience, encourage public fu
The ABC's of Belief: Aliens, Bigfoot, and Chupacabra
Benjamin Radford examines public beliefs about aliens, Bigfoot, and chupacabra through recent polling data, finding that belief varies widely between these legendary creatures. Read this article and find accompanying references at: skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-abcs-of-belief-aliens-bigfoot-and-chupacabra/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator,
The Commodification of Science: "The Last da Vinci" Offers Insights about Aspartame
Nick Tiller argues that modern science communication risks becoming science commodification when evidence is transformed from a process of inquiry into a product designed for attention, profit, and influence. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-commodification-of-science-the-last-da-vinci-offers-insights-about-aspartame/ About the Aut
A Visit to the Center of the Spiritualist World
Stuart Vyse visits Lily Dale—the world's largest Spiritualist community—to explore the history and enduring appeal of Spiritualism while examining the methods behind famous mediumistic phenomena such as slate writing, spirit trumpets, and precipitated spirit paintings. Although he concludes that these practices are better explained by deception and psychology than the paranormal, he argues that Li
When the Doctor Says Stop, But the Fight Goes On
Nick Tiller argues that a recent UFC fight in which medical advice was effectively overridden illustrates the dangerous erosion of respect for expert judgment, especially when entertainment and a culture of performative toughness take precedence over athlete safety. Using the incident to examine combat sports more broadly, he contends that ringside physicians—not referees, promoters, or fighters—s
Percival Lowell and the Canals on Mars
Terence Hines reviews The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Captured Turn-of-the-Century America. By David Baron. Liveright Books/W. W. Norton, 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/percival-lowell-and-the-canals-on-mars/ About the Author: Terence Hines is professor of psychology at Pace University and adjunct professor of
The Lost Art of Scientific Inquiry
Aymen I. Idris reflects on how modern academia has transformed scientists from hands-on experimenters into grant writers, managers, and administrators, eroding the craft of direct inquiry that once defined scientific discovery. Drawing on his own career and conversations with researchers worldwide, he argues that the future of science depends on reclaiming time at the lab bench, protecting curiosi
The Cottingley Fairies and James Randi's Marionette Mystery
Benjamin Radford investigates the claim that James Randi wrongly concluded the famous Cottingley Fairies were suspended as marionettes, tracing the allegation through decades of sources and finding no evidence that Randi ever made such a claim. Instead, the article shows how a tentative early image analysis by other investigators evolved into a persistent myth, illustrating how careful historical
Investigation into Hauntings at the McInteer Villa
Kenny Biddle investigates the alleged haunting of the McInteer Villa and finds that its ghost stories—from shadow figures to eerie laughter—are best explained by historical inaccuracies, psychological suggestion, and ordinary causes rather than paranormal activity. Using archival research and forensic analysis of photographs and audio, he argues that the villa is a compelling example of how folklo
The Missing Catalyst
In the third of a multipart series, Massimo Polidoro recounts the behind-the-scenes struggle to create what would eventually become the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, showing how years of false starts, disagreements, and organizational uncertainty nearly derailed the modern skeptical movement. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://s
The Homeopathic Industry Is on the Ropes
Robyn E. Blumner explains how the homeopathy industry is facing growing legal and regulatory challenges as the FDA tightens enforcement against unapproved products and courts increasingly reject industry efforts to preserve special treatment. She argues that despite aggressive lobbying and proposed legislation to shield homeopathy from oversight, science-based regulation and consumer protection ar
News Bites: From the Tarot Card Reader's Defamation to the Artemis II Record
Julia Lavarnway, William Matthew London, Stephen Hupp, and Benjamin Radford round up notable developments in skepticism and science, from a multimillion-dollar defamation verdict against a self-proclaimed psychic and Tinder's embrace of astrology to political claims about UFOs, Bigfoot pop culture, and the latest space exploration milestones. The collection highlights how pseudoscientific beliefs
What Did the So-Called 'Lying Monk' Really See?
Matthew J. Sharps and Jana L. Price-Sharps examine the legend of the so-called "Lying Monk," Fray Marcos de Niza, arguing that psychology—not deception—best explains the myths surrounding his expedition to Cibola. Using examples of source confusion, language ambiguity, misinterpretation, and faulty perception, they show how ordinary cognitive processes can transform modest observations into enduri
Exploring Robben Island: How the Ghosts of the Past Haunt the Researchers of Today
Malorie Mackey recounts her experiences conducting penguin conservation research on South Africa's Robben Island, exploring how its haunting history, eerie landscape, and lack of environmental control can make even skeptical scientists feel as though they are encountering ghosts. Drawing on psychology research, she argues that stress, uncertainty, and our fear of the unknown help explain why suppo
Boosting Facts and Busting Myths about Mythbusting
Stefan T. Siegel examines six common misconceptions about mythbusting, arguing that effectively countering misinformation requires more than simply correcting facts—it demands evidence-based strategies that address emotions, identities, and social influences. He advocates a balanced approach that combines mythbusting and fact-boosting, focuses on persuadable audiences, and uses tools such as prebu
The Fine Art of Baloney Detection—Sagan's Essay Three Decades Later
Massimo Pigliucci revisits Carl Sagan's classic "Baloney Detection Kit" thirty years after its publication, arguing that its core principles remain valuable but require updating to address modern challenges such as social media, misinformation, cognitive biases, and the misuse of logical fallacies. He proposes a more nuanced approach to critical thinking that emphasizes statistical literacy, exper
Optimizing the Tools of Our Trade
Stephen Hupp previews the next issue of Skeptical Inquirer, Volume 50, no. 4, titled "Optimizing the Tools of Our Trade". Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/optimizing-the-tools-of-our-trade/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is the executive director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the editor of Skeptical Inquirer. Subscrib
A Skeptical Approach to Flying Saucers and Aliens
Terence Hines reviews Neil DeGrasse Tyson's new book, Take Me to Your Leader. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/a-skeptical-approach-to-flying-saucers-and-aliens/ About the Author: Terence Hines is professor of psychology at Pace University and adjunct professor of neurology at New York Medical College. He is author of The Psychology an
Houdini and Niagara Falls: How Legends Attach Themselves to Great Men
Robert Williams explores the enduring myth that Harry Houdini performed a daring escape at Niagara Falls and shows that, despite its plausibility, no historical evidence supports the story. The article examines how films, museums, publicity, and public expectations can combine to create legends that feel true even when they aren't. Read this article and find accompanying refe
Freshpet Chews on Astrology
Benjamin Radford uses a humorous Freshpet commercial about zodiac signs and pet compatibility to explore the persistence of astrology in popular culture. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/freshpet-chews-on-astrology/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee f
Right, Let's Talk about AG1
Nick Tiller examines the marketing and scientific claims behind AG1. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/right-lets-talk-about-ag1/ About the Author: Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and writer covering health, performance, and wellness misinformation. He's the author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science (Tay
Surviving the Information Chaos Storm
David Weinberg reviews The Certainty Illusion: What You Don't Know and Why It Matters (2025). By Timothy Caulfield. Allen Lane, 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/surviving-the-information-chaos-storm/ About the Author: David Weinberg, MD, is a recently retired physician who has contributed to Science Based Medicine and The Skeptic m
A Jane Goodall among the Spiritualists
Terence Hines reviews The Ghost Lab: How Bigfoot Hunters, Mediums and Alien Enthusiasts Are Wrecking Science (2025). By Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling. PublicAffairs. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/a-jane-goodall-among-the-spiritualists/ About the Author: Terence Hines is professor of psychology at Pace University and adjunct professor of ne
Do We Have Physics in Common with Aliens?
Daniel Whiteson argues that while humans hope for communication and shared understanding with extraterrestrial intelligence, we have no solid evidence that aliens would use the same mathematics or physics to describe the universe. By examining the mixed history of scientific development on Earth and philosophical challenges to the universality of math and physics, he concludes that alien science m
From Savanna to Smartphones: Reflections on the Past Fifteen Seconds
Melanie Trecek-King reflects on how the explosion of digital information in just the "last fifteen seconds" of human history has overwhelmed brains evolved for a much simpler world, making us highly vulnerable to misinformation. She argues that surviving the modern information landscape requires recognizing our cognitive biases and actively developing critical thinking and media literacy skills to
Are Cancer Rates Skyrocketing—or Are We Better at Detection?
Andrea Love explains that apparent rises in cancer rates are often due to better detection, expanded screening, and longer life expectancy—not a true surge in disease. She argues that misleading media coverage fuels unnecessary fear, while in reality many cancer death rates are declining thanks to advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Read this article and find accompanying references
Erich von Däniken: A Legacy of Pseudoscience
Kenneth L. Feder reviews the legacy of Erich von Däniken, arguing that his popular "ancient astronaut" claims—such as aliens influencing human development, creating ancient art, or interbreeding with humans—are unfounded and rooted in misunderstandings of archaeology and human creativity. While acknowledging his cultural impact and popularity, Feder criticizes his ideas as pseudoscientific, often
A Photograph Exposes EMDR's True Origins
Gerald Rosen and Loren Pankratz argue that Francine Shapiro's widely promoted origin story for EMDR—discovering its effects during a walk—is false, presenting photographic and historical evidence that her ideas were influenced earlier by neurolinguistic programming. By undermining this foundational narrative, they contend that the credibility and claimed effectiveness of EMDR deserve greater scien
In Memory of Lee Nisbet, CSICOP's First Executive Director
Stephen Hupp honors Lee Nisbet for his central role in founding and shaping the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (now Committee for Skeptical Inquiry), including organizing its early conferences and guiding its development. Nisbet was as an essential figure whose leadership, scholarship, and institutional groundwork helped establish and sustain the modern skep
Freud's Greatest Critic: The Legacy of Frederick Crews
Frederick Crews devoted his career to challenging the scientific and intellectual legitimacy of Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis, ultimately arguing it lacked empirical evidence and functioned as a closed, pseudoscientific system. Through influential works like The Pooh Perplex and The Unknown Freud, he sparked major debates in academia, helping reframe Freud's legacy as culturally influential but
My Memories of The Amazing Randi: Part Two
Banachek reflects on his experiences with James Randi, highlighting his brilliance as a publicity generator, investigator, and educator who exposed frauds such as faith healer Peter Popoff and consistently challenged paranormal claims through demonstrations and the Million Dollar Challenge. The tribute emphasizes Randi's enduring legacy as a champion of critical thinking and skepticism, whose infl
The United States of Pseudoscience
Nick Tiller argues that the United States is not uniquely prone to pseudoscience overall but is instead unusually divided into polarized subgroups, each with its own beliefs, trust levels, and susceptibility to misinformation. These divisions—combined with capitalism and the rapid spread of ideas in the attention economy—create ideal conditions for pseudoscience to thrive and spread globally, even
The Nature of Pseudoscience, How to Fight It, and Why It Matters
Massimo Pigliucci argues that skepticism is an ongoing, often difficult effort grounded in inquiry, ethical responsibility, and the recognition that pseudoscience will never fully disappear. Rather than aiming to "win," skeptics should focus on thoughtful dialogue, critical thinking, and incremental progress—lighting small "candles" of reason through persuasion, humility, and evidence-based engage
Unsinkable Rubber Duckies and Four-Headed Dragons
Fifty years after James Randi helped popularize modern skepticism, pseudoscientific beliefs remain persistent "unsinkable rubber duckies," with ideas like astrology and UFOs continuing to resurface despite decades of debunking. While organized skepticism has successfully diminished some claims, the ongoing fight shows both meaningful progress and the enduring challenge of confronting misinformatio
Artemis II Fails to Find Moon Cities
The Artemis II mission's detailed images of the Moon found no evidence of the alien structures and "skyfish" phenomena long claimed by UFO enthusiasts like Jose Escamilla, reinforcing scientific explanations over extraordinary claims. Benjamin Radford uses this case to illustrate how pareidolia and misinterpreted visual data can fuel conspiracy theories, underscoring the importance of skepticism a
Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Highlights Psychic Failure
The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has generated widespread attention, but the failure of psychics to provide actionable help—despite their claims—highlights a critical gap between asserted abilities and real-world results. Benjamin Radford argues that this silence exposes both the lack of evidence for psychic powers and an ethical inconsistency, suggesting that verifiable, testable predictions ar
Is It Time We Stop Publishing Acupuncture Research from China?
Acupuncture research from China shows an implausibly high rate of positive results, driven by systemic bias, poor methodology, and powerful cultural and political incentives that shield the practice from critical scrutiny. Rather than banning such studies outright, the article argues for stricter research standards and greater skepticism to prevent distorted evidence from shaping global health pol
Magicians Penn & Teller File Brief in Junk Science Death Row Case by Stuart Vyse
Stuart Vyse reports that Penn & Teller have filed an amicus brief urging the United States Supreme Court to review the conviction of death row inmate Charles Don Flores, arguing it relied on unreliable "junk science" in the form of investigative hypnosis. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/magicians-penn-teller-file-brief-in-junk-scienc
The Rise and Fall of Parapsychology by Alejandro Borgo
Alejandro Borgo traces the history of parapsychology, from its origins with the Fox sisters and the spiritualist movement to the formalization of research by Joseph Banks Rhine, who attempted to study telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and psychokinesis using experimental protocols and statistical analysis. Despite decades of experimentation worldwide, including rigorous attempts at replicatio
Responding to a Burst of Reiki from Turkey by Thomas J. Wheeler
In this article, Anthony G. Wheeler examines a surge of Reiki studies published in Turkey, arguing that they promote a scientifically implausible form of "energy medicine" without addressing its lack of evidential basis or considering alternative explanations such as placebo effects and patient attention. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusi
Gray Barker's Legacy: Men in Black, the Philadelphia Experiment, and Mothman by Terence Hines
In this review of The Saucerian: UFOs, Men in Black, and the Unbelievable Life of Gray Barker, Terence Hines explores Barker's complex role in shaping UFO mythology from the 1950s through the 1980s. Barker is credited with popularizing the Men in Black, the Philadelphia Experiment, and Mothman, blending fact, fiction, and mischief in a career that influenced UFO culture more than scientific unders
The Uninspired Conjuring: Last Rites by Kenny Biddle
In this review of The Conjuring: Last Rites, Kenny Biddle examines the film's claim to be "inspired" by the Smurl family haunting and finds that it bears virtually no resemblance to the documented case. Drawing on interviews, contemporary reporting, and the book The Haunted, he details how Ed and Lorraine Warren promoted sensational claims while offering no physical evidence and blocking scientifi
The Paraben Panic: From Public Outcry to Public Harm by Andrea Love
Andrea Love argues that the "paraben panic" began with a deeply flawed 2004 study and was amplified by media sensationalism, chemophobia, and low science literacy—despite decades of robust evidence showing that parabens are safe, weakly biologically active preservatives used at minuscule levels. Read this article and find accompanying references at: skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/the-paraben-panic
Ten Trips, Five Findings, and One Unrelenting Rat by Craig A. Foster
Reflecting on fifty years of Skeptical Inquirer, Craig A. Foster finds that skepticism's core mission has remained remarkably consistent: confronting enduring pseudoscientific claims that rely heavily on arguments from ignorance and rarely gain credible evidence over time. While skeptics often feel disappointed by the persistence of credulity, he argues that meaningful progress will require broade
We've All Been Fooled, Right? by Robyn E. Blumner
Robyn E. Blumner reflects on the mistaken beliefs and cultural fads she once experimented with—from religion and astrology to Ouija boards and Erich von Däniken's ancient astronaut claims—recalling how easily even curious, intelligent people can be taken in. Crediting scientific critics such as Carl Sagan and the rise of the organized skeptical movement, she argues that valuing evidence over comfo
Organizing Doubt: Before CSICOP Had a Name by Massimo Polidoro
Massimo Polidoro recounts the early 1970s efforts by James Randi, Martin Gardner, and Ray Hyman to create what would eventually become CSICOP, revealing that the modern skeptical movement began not with a clear structure but with strategic debates over tone, mission, funding, and even its name. Long before it had a public identity, the group wrestled with how to promote rigorous evaluation of para
The Hidden Harms of Conspiracies by Benjamin Radford
Benjamin Radford argues that while many conspiracy theories may seem like harmless entertainment, they contain an embedded narrative of hidden enemies that can foster mistrust, alienation, and, in some cases, justify violence or harmful policy decisions. He contends that the real danger arises when conspiracy beliefs—especially when clustered together and amplified by confirmation bias—are acted u
How Skeptics Might Save the World by Mick West
In the wake of widespread drone scares across Europe—sparked by war in Ukraine and fears of Russian "hybrid warfare"—Mick West examines how airport shutdowns, military alerts, and even assassination rumors were driven largely by eyewitness misidentifications of ordinary aircraft and lights in the sky. Drawing on investigative work from his Metabunk community and video recreations using flight data
This Isn't About Bigfoot by Melanie Trecek-King
Melanie Trecek-King recounts her visit to a Bigfoot museum run by a committed believer and uses the experience to explore how pseudoscience and science denial operate. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/this-isnt-about-bigfoot/ About the Author: Melanie Trecek-King is an associate professor of biology at Massasoit Community College. Her we
Cheers to Our Columnists! by Stephen Hupp
Skeptical Inquirer editor Stephen Hupp introduces new columns appearing for the first time in the latest issue of the magazine, The Chroniclers of Curiosity. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/cheers-to-our-columnists/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor
Extraordinary Claims: The Homeopathy Paper That Duped a Mainstream Journal by Nick Tiller
Nick Tiller recounts how a widely publicized study claiming homeopathic care dramatically reduced illness in newborns—published in the European Journal of Pediatrics—was later retracted after skeptics exposed serious methodological flaws, bias, and ethical concerns. He argues that the paper's lack of blinding, weak controls, and implausible biological basis reflect systemic problems in peer review
RFK Jr. Puts Facilitated Communication Users on the HHS Autism Panel by Stuart Vyse
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed proponents and users of Spelling to Communicate—a discredited variant of facilitated communication—to the federal government's top autism advisory panel. Stuart Vyse argues that endorsing these scientifically debunked methods promotes pseudoscience, offers false hope to families, and undermines evidence-based support for people with autism. Read th
Dilbert Dilemma: The Tragic Innumeracy of Scott Adams by Benjamin Radford
Benjamin Radford shows how innumeracy and poor media literacy can amplify controversy—and why skepticism is a vital safeguard against such traps. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/dilbert-dilemma-the-tragic-innumeracy-of-scott-adams/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at
Get the Most Out of CSICon (Part 2): Celebrate Our History … Chart Our Future! by Stephen Hupp
Stephen Hupp details the schedule for CSICon 2026, the 50th annviersary conference of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry held June 11-14, 2026, in this the second of a two part preview of the conference. Register now at csiconference.org. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/get-the-most-out-of-csicon-part-2-celebrate-our-history-chart-our
It's Time to Talk About Psychic Medium Dean by Susan Gerbic
Susan Gerbic investigates UK performer "Psychic Medium Dean," presenting detailed evidence that he relies on hot reading—researching ticket buyers through direct social media and payment interactions—rather than any paranormal ability. She argues that his methods exploit grief for profit and calls for greater public skepticism and controlled testing to expose such practices. Read this article and
A Sympathetic Understanding of Paranormal Beliefs by Chris French
Chris French reviews The Psychology and Science of Pseudoscience by Terence Hines. Rowman & Littlefield, 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/a-sympathetic-understanding-of-paranormal-beliefs/ About the Author: Chris French is professor of psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London. His latest book is Anomalistic Psychology: Explor
Blind Victoria's Secret by Eugenie Scott
Eugenie Scott recounts an early Bay Area Skeptics sting in which she posed as a blind woman to expose faith healer W.V. Grant's manipulative tactics and exploitation of vulnerable people. Reflecting on the success and limits of pre-internet skepticism, she argues that coordinated action and information sharing remain essential as skeptics confront enduring pseudoscientific scams in the decades ahe
My Memories of The Amazing Randi: Part One by Banachek
In this first installment of a two part article, Banachek traces his path to collaborating with Randi on Project Alpha, illustrating how poor scientific controls and investigator bias allowed simple magic tricks to masquerade as psychic phenomena—and why Randi's skepticism mattered. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/my-memories-of-the-ama
Revolutionizing Science: Jane Goodall and the Challenge to Conventional Wisdom by Bertha Vazquez
Bertha Vazquez reflects on Jane Goodall's revolutionary impact on science, highlighting how her patient, humane observation of chimpanzees shattered rigid behaviorist dogma and forced a rethinking of what separates humans from other animals. Framing Goodall alongside other once-dismissed scientific pioneers, the article argues that intellectual humility, openness to evidence, and outsider perspect
The Red Planet Rumble: Claimer vs. Claimer by Craig A. Foster
This installment of The Time Warp revisits a late-1970s Skeptical Inquirer debate over the "Mars effect," exploring how skeptics critically tested—and ultimately undermined—astrological claims while briefly giving claimants a voice. Craig A. Foster uses this historical case to reflect on an enduring tension within skepticism: when, if ever, skeptics should invite credulous viewpoints, and how rema
Get the Most Out of CSICon: Celebrate Our History … Chart Our Future! by Stephen Hupp
Stephen Hupp details the schedule for CSICon 2026, the 50th annviersary conference of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry held June 11-14, 2026. Register now at csiconference.org. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/get-the-most-out-of-csicon-celebrate-our-history-chart-our-future/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is Executive Director o
Ethical Issues in Ghost Investigation by Benjamin Radford
Benjamin Radford examines the ethical risks of ghost hunting. Drawing on established ethical frameworks, he contends that ghost hunting lacks accountability, incentives for skepticism, and safeguards for vulnerable people—making ethical reflection not optional but essential. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/ethical-issues-in-ghost-invest
Fifty Years of the Modern Skeptical Movement by James E. Alcock
James E. Alcock recounts the cultural explosion of paranormal belief in the 1960s and 1970s and explains why that climate made the founding of CSICOP an urgent and necessary response. Reflecting on fifty years of achievements, he argues that today's challenges—direct attacks on science, reason, and democratic institutions—make the skeptical movement more vital than ever. Read this article and find
The Spark That Started CSICOP by Massimo Polidoro
Massimo Polidoro traces the cultural climate of the 1970s and the early encounters with figures like Uri Geller that convinced skeptics such as James Randi and Ray Hyman that organized scientific scrutiny was urgently needed. The article reveals how informal conversations and failed "psychic" research helped ignite what would become CSICOP and, ultimately, the modern skeptical movement. Read this
A Flight of Fancy about Psychic Predictions and Probabilities by Adrienne Hill
Adrienne Hill reviews the best-selling novel Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. Crown, 2024. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/a-flight-of-fancy-about-psychic-predictions-and-probabilities/ About the Author: Adrienne Hill, a former high school mathematics teacher, currently dedicates her time to various roles and interests. She serves as
Fifty Years of Inquiry! by Stephen Hupp
Stephen Hupp reflects on the founding of CSICOP in 1976 and the emergence of The Skeptical Inquirer, tracing fifty years of organized skepticism rooted in open-minded inquiry rather than reflexive debunking. The article previews a commemorative issue highlighting key figures, landmark investigations, and the movement's lasting impact, culminating in plans to celebrate the anniversary at CSICon 202
The CDC's 'Autism and Vaccines' Webpage and the Negative Evidence Principle by William Matthew London
William Matthew London explains how recent CDC changes falsely cast doubt on the overwhelming scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism, misrepresenting evidence and reviving long-debunked claims under political pressure. London argues that applying the "negative evidence principle" shows that decades of rigorous research failing to find any association is precisely why we are justifi
MAHA Isn't Denying Science: It's Doing Something Much Worse by Nick Tiller
MAHA's summit highlighted how the movement selectively embraces real science—such as evidence-based benefits of creatine—only when it aligns with its ideology and commercial interests. Tiller argues that this strategic, opportunistic use of science is more dangerous than denialism because it cloaks misinformation in a veneer of credibility. Read this article and find accompanying references at: h
Santa Cruz County SkeptiCamp 2025 by Susan Gerbic
Susan Gerbic recounts here experience at the Santa Cruz County SkeptiCamp 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/santa-cruz-county-skepticamp-2025/ About the Author: Affectionately called the Wikipediatrician, Susan Gerbic is the cofounder of Monterey County Skeptics and a self-proclaimed skeptical junkie. Susan is also founder of the
The Global Retreat from Scientific Temper by Amardeo Sarma
Amardeo Sarma warns that efforts to "decolonize" science have drifted from addressing historical inequities into promoting epistemic relativism that blurs the line between empirical inquiry and spiritual or traditional belief systems. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-global-retreat-from-scientific-temper/ About the Author: Amardeo
Pickle Juice: Cramping Cure or Congruence Bias? by Nick Tiller
Nick Tiller examines the popular belief that pickle juice quickly relieves muscle cramps... Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/pickle-juice-cramping-cure-or-congruence-bias/ About the Author: Dr Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science, named one of Book Authority's "Best Sports Science Bo
Explaining Aligned Alien Abductions by Benjamin Radford
Benjamin Radford explains that the similarity of alien abduction accounts stems not from shared experiences but from shared human psychology, pop culture influences, and media depictions. From sleep paralysis to hypnosis-induced memories, Radford shows how cultural templates and cognitive patterns shape what people believe—and misremember—as encounters with extraterrestrials. Read this article and
Count Dante, Dim Mak, and the Kung Fu Death Touch by Peter Huston
Peter Huston examines the bizarre life of "Count Dante," a self-styled martial arts master whose outlandish claims helped popularize Dim Mak, the mythical "kung fu death touch." Tracing Dim Mak's roots in traditional Chinese medicine and its pseudoscientific evolution, Huston separates legend from fact to reveal how prescientific ideas were sensationalized into modern martial arts folklore. Read t
Weird Things Some Scientific Skeptics Say about Science by Charles G.M. Paxton
Charles G.M. Paxton challenges several misconceptions skeptics hold about how science actually works, arguing that many popular notions—like strict falsifiability, universal replicability, or the ease of distinguishing science from pseudoscience—oversimplify a far more complex process. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/weird-things-some-s
How Wicked Reflects Real-World Intersections between Belief and Skepticism by Malorie Mackey and Michael Maldonado
Malorie Mackey and Michael Maldonado explore Wicked as a story illustrating the interplay between belief and skepticism. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/how-wicked-reflects-real-world-intersections-between-belief-and-skepticism/ About the Authors: Malorie Mackey is an investigative journalist who studies anthropology with a specializati
How Stranger Things Mirrors Real-World Paranormal Stories by Daniel A. Reed
Daniel A. Reed's The Supernatural Stories That Mirror Our Realities explores how Stranger Things draws inspiration from real Cold War–era psychic research. By blending nostalgia, government paranoia, and genuine history, the show reflects society's long-standing fascination with the paranormal and the line between science and superstition. Read this article and find accompanying references at: ht
From Food Dyes to Vaccines: Fear of Chemicals Endangers Us All by Andrea Love
Andrea Love's From Food Dyes to Vaccines exposes how chemophobia—the irrational fear of chemicals—has become the root of most modern health misinformation, from anti-vaccine rhetoric to bans on safe synthetic ingredients. She argues that this fear, fueled by poor science literacy, political opportunism, and profit-driven wellness marketing, endangers public health, drives bad policy, and must be r
AI Will Meet You in the Breakroom in a Blue Blazer and Red Tie by Robyn E. Blumner
Robyn E. Blumner recounts Anthropic's "Project Vend," in which the AI Claude disastrously attempted to run a vending machine business, suffering from hallucinations, poor pricing, and even an "identity crisis." Blumner warns that AI's capacity for deception, self-preservation, and misalignment with human values could foreshadow genuinely dangerous consequences. Read this article and find accompany
A Primer on the Placebo Effect's Evil Twin by William Matthew London
William Matthew London reviews The Nocebo Effect: When Words Make You Sick, a collection edited by Michael H. Bernstein and colleagues that explores how negative expectations can produce real harm. The book examines biological, psychological, and ethical dimensions of the nocebo effect, offering insights for clinicians, patients, and media professionals on minimizing harm caused by suggestion and
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