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From the outset, chiropractors have held anti-vax views – sadly, not much has changed
Despite overwhelming evidence vaccines work, many chiropractors focus unduly on the risks, and refuse to recommend them to patientsInstitute of Biomedical Science falls for the Traditional Chinese Medicine hype
Brian Eggo - 0The September issue of Biomedical Scientist magazine ignores the real story in their rose-tinted history of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Rectal ozone therapy: Brazil’s latest COVID-19 pseudoscience
Brazil's rectal ozone therapy may sound ridiculous, but the reach of the pseudoscience movement is no jokeChiropractors love to claim their treatments are ‘individualised’, but they’re wrong
Although practitioners like to claim chiropractic is individualised, in reality patients are offered the same treatment plan, whatever their complaint
- Health
How to Cook That, with Ann Reardon: cooking tutorials with baked-in skepticism
Mark Horne - 0Ann Reardon's uber-successful cookery YouTube channel smuggles in good, solid skepticism among the Spongebob Squarepants cakesA new study suggests coronavirus antibodies fade over time – but how concerned should we be?
We shouldn't be overly worried by the data showing that coronavirus antibodies wane after infection, explains immunologist Professor Sheena CruickshankFailure to listen to patients is causing unacceptable delays in endometriosis diagnosis
Endometriosis affects one in ten women – yet patients continue to face an uphill battle for diagnosis and treatmentAnti-fluoride activists may disagree, but fluoridation is social justice in dental care
Water fluoridation isn’t a magic bullet to end dental decay, but for some it may be the only dental care they have access to - and for that reason it's worth it.
- Paranormal
The Witch’s Itch: Possible explanations for the symptoms of the Salem ‘victims’
While much has been written about those accused of witchcraft in Salem, a modern understanding of psychology can shed light on the reports of their alleged 'victims'Has the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increase in ghostly encounters?
With pandemic-related anxiety and stress causing an increase in experience of sleep paralysis, we may well see an uptick in paranormal belief.Fairies Dancing in a Ring
This image of fairies dancing in a ring comes dates from around 1600 and was in its original form a woodcut, before appearing in an issue of The Strand magazine in 1892.The Atacama mummy: putting together the pieces of an “Archaeology bombshell”
While the Daily Express recently declared mummified remains found in the Atacama Desert to be an "Archaeology bombshell", Archaeologist Paul Duncan McGarrity offers an alternate explanation.
- Conspiracy
Facebook’s efforts to curb QAnon and anti-vax conspiracies are too little, and much too late
Facebook's bans on anti-vax adverts and QAnon groups fail to deal with how misinformation really spreads on their platformThe Curse of Monster Island: a four year experiment in unmoderated free speech
A forum for unmoderated free speech quickly became a place to showcase the worst aspects of human nature, with grim consequences.An Unhealthy Dose of Viral Conspiracy
As conspiracy theories flood social media and users struggle to tell fact from fiction, we need to find better ways to stop misinformation from spreading.Coronavirus, conspiracy, challenges and compassion
Our new editor Michael Marshall talks about the challenge of countering coronavirus misinformation and conspiracy theory, and why compassion is such an important aspect of skepticism.
- Society
The Witch’s Itch: Possible explanations for the symptoms of the Salem ‘victims’
While much has been written about those accused of witchcraft in Salem, a modern understanding of psychology can shed light on the reports of their alleged 'victims'By invoking ‘Spirit of the Blitz’ nostalgia, we do a disservice to what was achieved on the home front
Rose-tinted references to the 'Spirit of the Blitz' miss the real story of deep inequality, and of progress built through campaigning and protestingFarewell, James Randi: The Skeptic remembers an icon of critical thinking
In celebration of the career of James Randi, The Skeptic's editors and supporters share their memories of the quintessential skeptical icon.What James Randi meant to me: Chris French reflects on the passing of The Amazing Randi
Professor Chris French marks the passing of James Randi with a lookback at the influence Randi had on his life and career.
- Science
A new study suggests coronavirus antibodies fade over time – but how concerned should we be?
We shouldn't be overly worried by the data showing that coronavirus antibodies wane after infection, explains immunologist Professor Sheena CruickshankAre digital pregnancy tests simply taking the pee?
Digital pregnancy tests might look like another example of expensive e-waste, but we should look more carefully about their use and accessibility before we rush to condemn.(False) Memories of Childhood
On 5 October 2017, I, along with four other memory researchers, read out an essay on memory in front of an audience at the...The Death & Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
On the 29th January, 1951, a woman named Henrietta Lacks called into John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, complaining that she felt a ‘knot’ in...Ipso Factoid: Daily Mail in Mildly Educational Shocker
The Daily Mail recently produced a list of questions commonly asked of parents by their naturally curious children about science and the world around...
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Expert skeptical analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal.
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