Skeptic: Extraordinary Claims, Revolutionary Ideas, and the Promotion of Science

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Skeptics Society News and site highlights

current issue of Skeptic magazine

Skeptic magazine Volume 15 Number 1 (cover)

Christian Conspiracy Theory

Everything I Needed to Know about Skepticism I Learned from Scooby-Doo; “The Greatest Story Ever Garbled”—a Christian Origins Conspiracy Theory; SkepDoc on Homeopathy; Placebos; Stage a UFO Hoax; Atheism a Stealth Religion?; Criminal Injustice; Testing Orgone Energy; Matt Ridley on Evolutionary Economics; Ape Language Controversy; Science of Love…

the baloney detection kit

free music downloads

Rock Alien illustration by Daniel Loxton

Skeptics Mix Tape 2009

Think the best skepticism is the kind you can rock to? We’re pleased to offer you this selection of songs of science and skepticism — completely free! Download these MP3 files for non-commercial use at home or in your classroom.

current issue of
Junior Skeptic

Junior Skeptic issue 34 (detail of cover)

How did one of history’s purest skeptical TV shows become one of the most beloved fictional creations of all time? And, what important lessons does this kids’ cartoon hold for skeptics today? Celebrate 40 years of Scooby-Doo!

geology tours

petrified sand dunes, Zion
Stay informed about
our next geo tour!

Interested in participating on future Scientific Exploration Geology and Science Tours? Enter your email address here to get priority notification of future events (we will not share your address with any other parties).



PAST GEOLOGY TOURS

Utah or Bust!

Dinosaurs, Trilobites
& Geology Galore
June 8–13, 2009

Participants toured the geologic wonders of southern Utah, including Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef National Parks, with on site lectures by renowned geologist and paleontologist Dr. Donald Prothero. Participants dug trilobite fossils at a quarry famous for quantity and quality specimens, and visited some of the richest dinosaur-bearing deposits in the world!

It’s Our Fault!

One-Day San Andreas Fault Tours
January 31, 2009
February 1, 2009

Led by Dr. Donald Prothero, these day trips explored the San Andreas fault from Palmdale to the Devil’s Punchbowl, including Vasquez Rocks. Participants examined the evidence of their origin and evolution over 1.7 billion years at the San Gabriel Mountains. We saw remnants of giant billion-year-old magma chambers, and the products of rapid erosion of one of the fastest-rising mountain ranges in the world. WATCH video clips from our San Andreas Fault tour:

our official podcast

Skepticality — the official podcast of Skeptic magazine.

Skepticality— the official podcast of Skeptic magazine

Skepticality — the pioneering original skeptics podcast — is a top-rated audio talk show dedicated to skeptical topics and interviews.

SkepticBlog.org

SkepticBlog logo

SkepticBlog is a collaboration between eight of the most recognized names in the promotion of science, critical thinking & skepticism. It features the cast & producers of The Skeptologists, a pilot skeptical reality show.

Latest additions…

Debunking Expelled

Debunking Expelled

Anti-science propaganda: how Ben Stein’s new ‘documentary’ film entitled Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed equates evolution with Nazism. Was anyone really fired for their belief in Intelligent Design? Read these four articles and listen to the Skepticality podcast to find out!

Listen to the following Skepticality episodes that deal with the subject.

this week’s eSkeptic

book cover detail

Robert Richard responds
to Daniel Gasman

In this week’s eSkeptic, Robert Richard responds to Daniel Gasman’s review of The Tragic Sense of Life which ran in eSkeptic (June 10th, 2009). Robert J. Richards is a Morris Fishbein Professor of the History of Science at the University of Chicago.

last week’s eSkeptic

alien at computer (by Daniel Loxton and Jim WW Smith)

Help Skeptic
at No Cost to You

Do you shop at Amazon.com? What if there were a way for the Skeptics Society to make a commission off every Amazon purchase you make — all without costing you a penny?

There is, and it’s easy. Just right-click (or ctrl-click) to bookmark this handy SKEPTIC AMAZON LINK. Be sure to check out our affiliate links page where you’ll also find links for Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, and iTunes as well!

our 2008 conference

Origins and the Big Questions conference banner

Origins &
the Big Questions

The 2008 conference is now available at Shop Skeptic on DVD. The lectures (which took place at Caltech on Saturday, Oct 4th) are sold individually, or as a 5 part set at an incredible discount!

Dawkins’ DVDs

Richard Dawkins (photo by Lalla Ward)
Break the Science Barrier
DVD cover

Dawkins communicates both the power and the beauty of science through a series of stories and vignettes dealing with a wide variety of topics, including the discovery of the Big Bang, junk science in the courtroom, magic and deception, and how science is the best tool ever devised for understanding how the world works…

The Root of All Evil?
DVD cover

In this two-part documentary, Oxford Professor Richard Dawkins examines how religious faith is gaining ground in the face of rational, scientific truth. The program takes you to some of the world’s religious hot-spots, both in America and the Middle East…

Growing Up in the Universe
DVD cover

Dawkins presents a series of lectures on life, the universe, and our place in it. With brilliance and clarity, Dawkins unravels an educational gem that will mesmerize young and old alike…

skepticism 101

Michael Shermer on TEDTalks

The Power of Belief

In this 14-minute introduction to skepticism, Dr. Michael Shermer (Executive Director of the Skeptics Society) discusses why people believe weird things and elaborates on the power of belief systems. This lecture was delivered at the 2006 TED conference (Technology, Entertainment, Design) in Monterey, California. For additional TED talks go to www.ted.com/tedtalks

Shermer on YouTube

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Shermer exposes frauds and debunks paranormal quackery from acupuncture to out-of-body experiences, and more! Check out his page on YouTube for all the videos.

debate

Deepak Chopra

Deepak Chopra
v. Michael Shermer:
The Afterlife

Deepak and Shermer debate the question of life after death.

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MichaelShermer.com

Dr. Michael Shermer

Check out Michael Shermer’s website for an ever-expanding array of his books, essays, Scientific American columns, reviews, and multimedia clips. Read visitor comments and leave comments of your own!

Latest additions…
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new additions
to Shop Skeptic

Letting Go of God (DVD cover detail)

VHS clearance

composite of Caltech speaker photos

Blow Out Sale on Skeptic VHS Lecture Tapes

All Caltech lectures on VHS, now reduced to $7.99 each (or $5 each when you buy 10 or more*) while supplies last! Order lecture recordings of your favorite scientists and skeptics, including: James Randi, Stephen Jay Gould, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Steven Pinker, Carol Tavris, Philip Zimbardo and dozens more.

Browse by category

We’ve prepared a PDF, organized by category, so you can read about ALL our audio-video lectures. Categories include: top picks, pseudoscience, psychics and magic; environment and global warming, religion, the cosmos, space exploration, extremism, cults, math, stats, satire, songs and more…