Skeptic: Promoting Science and Critical Thinking

Mysterious ‘Monster’ Discovered by Amateur Paleontologist For 70 years, academic paleontologists have been assisted by a dedicated corps of amateurs known as the Dry Dredgers. Recently, one amateur found a very large and very mysterious fossil that has the professionals puzzled. Around 450 million years ago, shallow seas covered the Cincinnati region and harbored one… more

Last week, the website Grist got themselves into a sticky mess with the publication of this article: Paper asks: Does high-fructose corn syrup contribute to a rise in autism? The blaring headline version of the new study’s conclusion would read: “High-Fructose Corn Syrup Causes Autism.” And while that may be a bit of an overstatement,… more

New film on science and creationism in schools explores how we find meaning in life. Were There Dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark? These and other questions are explored by the Texas School Board of Education in Scott Thurman’s riveting documentary The Revisionaries. The Revisionaries is a story about a small town dentist who chairs the Texas… more

Wake County science teacher told to stop teaching about creationism – Education – NewsObserver.com. The Wake County school system has told a middle school science teacher to stop giving assignments about creationism as part of the study of the theory of evolution. School officials say the assignment, in which the teacher gave his students the… more

Ban exorcisms, science advocacy group urges An Ontario science advocacy group says it wants medical authorities to ban exorcisms in Canada, following a recent Saskatoon incident involving a man who carved “hell” on his chest. Alleged demon-expelling rituals can be physically stressful to the subject and are sometimes dangerous, according to the Toronto-based Centre for… more

Death Penalty Research Flawed, Expert Panel Says “Proponents of the death penalty often argue that the threat of being executed acts as a deterrent that prevents people from committing murder. But those who oppose capital punishment challenge that claim. And some researchers argue that state-sanctioned execution might actually increase homicide rates. Now, a panel of… more

Math paper retracted because it “contains no scientific content” According to a retraction notice for “Computer application in mathematics,” published in Computers & Mathematics with Applications: “This article has been retracted at the request of the Publisher, as the article contains no scientific content and was accepted because of an administrative error. Apologies are offered… more

Another HUGE black eye for herbal meds. A widely distributed news story about how TCM products contain potentially harmful and banned substances: Traditional Chinese medicines under scrutiny DNA analysis can identify illegal or unsafe ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines, according to new research. An Australian-led group of scientists found traces of endangered species, as well… more

Viking robots found life on Mars in 1976, scientists say New analysis of 36-year-old data, resuscitated from printouts, shows that NASA found life on Mars, an international team of mathematicians and scientists conclude in a paper published this week. Further, NASA doesn’t need a human expedition to Mars to nail down the claim, neuropharmacologist and… more

Baboons can learn reading skills Findings may indicate pre-existing capacity in brain Dan the baboon sits in front of a computer screen. The letters BRRU pop up. With a quick and almost dismissive tap, the monkey signals it’s not a word. Correct. Next comes, ITCS. Again, not a word. Finally KITE comes up. He pauses… more