Why Belief Is So Powerful

For scientists and scientific skeptics, the most powerful word is

THE GOD ENGINE

Belief in the supernatural develops as a natural consequence of the way our brains work, so it should be no surprise that religion is both pervasive and enduring

From the Spectral to the Spectrum Radiation in the Crosshairs

Public attitudes about radiation, shaped by a rich history of mythology from biblical times to the modern events of Chernobyl and Fukushima, impact personal lives and decisions, but they also have global existential implications

Multi-Level Menace

Multi-level marketing companies use subtle influence techniques to capture and influence recruits—and you are at risk

I’ve Got Algorithm. Who Could Ask for Anything More?

The news has been filled with discussions of the so-called algorithms of Facebook and other software giants. Originally, the word algorithm had a precise meaning, but more recently it has been used to elicit undeserved respect—and perhaps to avoid deeper scrutiny

Biological Reasons Young-Earth Creationists’ Worldwide Flood Never Happened

Like the geological evidence, biological evidence demonstrates that a worldwide flood never happened 4,350 years ago, as young-Earth creationists believe

On the Set of Cosmos’s Season Two

A top a small hill south of Santa Fe, New

Ghostly ‘Black Monk’ or Random Tourist?

Several British tabloids and paranormal-themed websites reported that a ghostly

We Need a Paradigm Shift in Science Advocacy

Considering the Human Concerns of Trust and Tribe

Homeopathy Challenge: German Skeptics Offer 50,000 Euros If Test Is Passed

As most scientists and skeptics know, homeopathy is a sham

Crucifixion Evidence Debunks Turin ‘Shroud’

As if there were not already enough evidence debunking the

Small Town Virgin Mary ‘Miracle’: Olive Oil

On Sunday May 20, 2018, a statue of Mary allegedly

Outside the Box: Solving Diverse Mysteries

Joe Nickell, PhD, is CSI’s senior research fellow. He is

A Telepathy Investigation

Massimo Polidoro is an investigator of the paranormal, lecturer, and

Why Are Millennials Turning to Astrology?

Stuart Vyse is a psychologist and author of Believing in

The Care and Feeding of the Vagina

Harriet Hall, MD, also known as “The SkepDoc,” is a

Caught Between the Possible and the Paranormal

Benjamin Radford is a research fellow at the Committee for

NEW AND NOTABLE

Listing does not preclude future review

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

While Steven Pinker is right in asserting that things are

CRYPTOZOOLOGY 101: THE ACADEMICS HAVE A POINT, AND YET ONCE AGAIN THEY MISS A MUCH LARGER ONE

that have largely succeeded in ducking us for thousands of

Future Shock

An Early ‘Monster’ with an Older History

In cryptozoological terms, the Jersey Devil doesn’t have the cachet

The Case That CAM Is Unethical

Edzard Ernst is arguably the world’s foremost expert on the

Climate Fundamentals: NOVA ’s ‘Decoding the Weather Machine’

NOVA, PBS, “Decoding the Weather Machine,” broadcast April 18, 2018,

This Is Your Brain on Social Media

The use of social media has risen dramatically in recent