Skeptic: Promoting Science and Critical Thinking

2008 January–June

June 25th: Socratic Skepticism

Priscilla Sakezles discusses the famous words most often attributed to Socrates, “All I know is that I know nothing.” claiming that it is indeed a misquote.

June 18th: Mostly Dead or All Dead?

Infectious Disease doctor Mark Crislip dissects some medical research on near death experiences.

June 11th: Does Science Make Belief in God Obsolete?

We present a link to a free, beautifully produced booklet on the question “Does science make belief in God obsolete?” published by the Templeton Foundation and edited by Michael Shermer.

June 4th: How Skeptics Confronted 9/11 Denialism

John Ray celebrates the triumph of skepticism over 9/11 conspiracy theorists.

May 28th: Grassroots protest turns out to be “astroturf”

Daniel Loxton digs into a protest campaign that is fighting to block enforcement of Canada’s purity, safety, and labeling laws for natural health products — and discovers a shadowy business interest behind the faux consumer watchdog site organizing those protests.

May 21st: The Phoenix Lights Explained (Again)

Tony Ortega debunks the Phoenix Lights: the mysterious “vee” configuration that people reported seeing flying over the state of Arizona in March 1997.

May 14th: Gimme that Old-Time Irreligion

Norman Levitt reviews John Alan Paulos’ book entitled Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don’t Add Up; we ask eSkeptic readers to take our reader survey.

May 7th: How We Know Global Warming is Real

We present two free articles from the current issue of Skeptic magazine on global warming: Patrick Frank’s A Climate of Belief and the other by Tapio Schneider’s How We Know Global Warming is Real.

April 30th: new issue of Skeptic magazine

The Skeptic Society announces the new issue of Skeptic magazine, Volume 14, Number 1 on Global Warming.

April 23rd: Expelled Exposed, Part 2

We present the third and fourth of four articles debunking claims made in Ben Stein’s new documentary film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The first article is by Carrie Sager and Andrea Bottaro. The second article is by Lauri Lebo.

April 17th: Expelled Exposed, Part 1

We present the first two of four articles debunking claims made in Ben Stein’s new documentary film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The first article is by Michael Shermer and the second article is by Ed Brayton.

April 9th: Fundamental Truths

Tim Callahan reviews R. D. Gold’s book entitled Bondage of the Mind: How Old Testament Fundamentalism Shackles the Mind and Enslaves the Spirit.

April 2nd: The Doping Dilemma

Michael Shermer presents extensive research on doping in sports and discusses how game theory helps to explain the pervasive abuse of drugs in cycling, baseball and other sports.

March 27th: Faith Healing

Michael Shermer reviews Pope Brock’s Charlatan. America’s Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam.

March 19th: Snake Oil Science

Harriet Hall, M.D, a.k.a. “the SkepDoc”, reviews R. Barker Bausell’s book entitled Snake Oil Science: The Truth About Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

March 12th: The Hydrogen Economy

Alice Friedemann examines the science and pseudoscience behind a hydrogen economy. Is it worth the energy?

March 5th: A Leap Beyond Faith

We present Michael Shermer’s Los Angeles Times opinion editorial on Scientology, followed by several Letters to the Editor that ran in response. And then, we present, in part, Jean E. Rosenfeld’s Los Angeles Times op-ed rebuttal to Michael’s piece.

February 27th: Consciousness is Nothing but a Word

We present Henry D. Schlinger’s revised version of an invited talk presented at our annual conference, “Brain, Mind and Consciousness,” at Caltech in May 2005. This article is also available in Skeptic magazine Volume 13, Number 4.

February 20th: Ultrasound Screening, Fish Oil & Ear Candles

Harriet Hall, M.D. applies her usual skeptical lens to ultrasound screening, fish oil, and ear candles. Surprisingly there is something positive to be found in one of the subjects that may actually be good for you.

February 13th: How Broadcast Journalism is Flawed

Steve Salerno discusses the fundamental flaws of broadcast journalism as a tool for informing viewers.

February 6th: The Myth of the Mozart Effect

Will Dowd takes a look at what science really says about The Mozart Effect.

January 30th: What Have You Changed Your Mind About?

Michael Shermer answers the Annual Edge.org Question “What Have You Changed Your Mind About?”.

January 23rd: Markets, Monkeys & Medicine

Michael Shermer explains Why People Believe Weird Things About Money in an LA Times op-ed; Norman Levitt responds to Steve Fuller’s response to Norman Levitt’s review of Science vs. Religion?: Intelligent Design and the Problem of Evolution; and Skeptic magazine’s resident medical expert, Dr. Harriet Hall starts blogging.

January 16th: Science versus Religion

Steve Fuller Responds to Norman Levitt’s review of his book entitled Science vs. Religion?: Intelligent Design and the Problem of Evolution.

January 8th: The Mind of the Market

Michael Shermer announces his new website (www.MichaelShermer.com), his new book, The Mind of the Market, and his touring schedule for the book.