Conspiracy Theories

Predictive Programming: why conspiracists scour pop culture for sinister clues

Dave Hahn -
Predictive programming is the conspiracy theorist's belief that those in power first signal their nefarious intent via films and pop culture to normalise their schemes
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The Skeptic Podcast

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Paranormal

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Skepticism

Dr Cyriac Abby Philips wins 2025 Skeptical Activism Ockham award

Michael Marshall -
Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, an Indian doctor who exposes the harms of alternative medicine, wins the 2025 Ockham Award for Skeptical Activism.
Nutrition

Unpacking the fear and panic around ultra-processed foods

Maeve Hanan -
Scaremongering claims about ultra-processed food fill make for eye-catching media headlines - but is fear of the dreaded UPF really evidence-based?
Technology

There are serious ethical implications to sexualising AI chatbots

Aaron Rabinowitz -
As AI becomes more complex, more and more people are reporting romantic – and even sexual – relationships with chatbots
Archive

From the archives: The medium is not the message – fighting crime with psychics

Terry Sanderson -
From the archives in 1992, The Freethinker's Terry Sanderson examines claims that psychics were used to solve crimes.
UFOs

UFO claims take centre stage at National Congress of Brazil hearing

João Lucas da Silva -
The UFO hearing at Brazil's National Congress didn't reveal proof that aliens exist, but it did illustrate that the public interest in UFOs runs deep.
Superstition

Are scholars legitimising witch hunting in post-colonial Africa?

Leo Igwe -
By refusing to accept that witches are a mere superstition, academics in Africa unwittingly give cover to those who victimise in the name of witch-hunts
Superstition

The normalisation of superstition and human sacrifice in Indian society

Akshit Mishra -
Despite laws to promote a scientific mindset, superstition continues to flourish in India, with the media reluctant to call out fake gurus
Archive

From the archives: Who Invented the Loch Ness Monster?

Steuart Campbell -
From the archives in 1992, science writer and author Steuart Campbell goes in search of the origin of the Loch Ness legend.
Conspiracy Theories

The sinking of the Titanic wasn’t a crafty insurance con, it was a real tragedy

Mike Hall -
Theories that the Titanic never sank, and that it was switched for another ship as part of an insurance con, ignore irrefutable counter-evidence
Science

Stefan Lanka, virus denialism, and proving science in the courtroom

Serdar Basegmez -
Controversial German virologist Stefan Lanka challenged scientists to prove that viruses are real, which made it all the way to the German courtroom.
Cancer

Ultramarathon runners and cancer risk – results from a preliminary study

Alice Howarth -
A preliminary study suggests a correlation between ultramarathons and higher bowel cancer risk, but we should be cautious about what it means

Alternative Medicine

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Science

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Society

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Expert skeptical analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal.

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