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Kardecism: the fringe spiritualist doctrine which became the soul of pseudoscience in Brazil
Kardecism - an 19th century off-shoot of spiritualism - found fertile ground in Brazil, and grew to wholly undermine trust in science and medicine.The Outbrain drain: why newspaper sites have run thousands of scam ads
The news media is in an income crisis, but the solution cannot be for newspapers to lend their reputations to scams and fakersBrazilian Congress turns green – not for the environment, but for homeopathy
Brazil continues to make baffling healthcare decisions, including lighting up the Brazilian congress buildings... in honour of homeopathyBeyond COVID-19: the issues skeptical activists across Europe are facing
COVID-19 is understandably getting all the headlines, but there are plenty more fronts in the pan-European battle against pseudoscience.
- Health
Meet the conspiracy theorists who believe Covid isn’t real… because viruses don’t exist
In the world of the virus deniers, not only is the novel coronavirus fake, but viruses themselves don't actually exist.I’ll get the Covid vaccine – here’s why I’m telling you, and why you should tell everyone too
We can all play an active role in helping achieve Covid-19 vaccination coverage by limiting the spread of misplaced vaccine fear.The Outbrain drain: why newspaper sites have run thousands of scam ads
The news media is in an income crisis, but the solution cannot be for newspapers to lend their reputations to scams and fakersStart 2021 the right way: scrap those plans to go on a diet
Starting the New Year with a diet can be setting yourself up for failure - instead, ask yourself what makes you happy, and what you and your body need.
- Paranormal
Kardecism: the fringe spiritualist doctrine which became the soul of pseudoscience in Brazil
Kardecism - an 19th century off-shoot of spiritualism - found fertile ground in Brazil, and grew to wholly undermine trust in science and medicine.Have we seen the last of the vanishing phantom hitchhiker?
Familiarity and caution may have killed off the story of the phantom hitchhiker, but our draw towards creepy tales will always find an outlet.Is the US government in contact with an alien “galactic federation”?
Haim Eshed, former head of Israel’s Defense Ministry, claims aliens are working with the US government. I'd like to see some evidence.‘Fisherman and Djinn’: Illustration by A Stieren in ‘Tausend und eine Nacht’
The latest image from the Hilary Evans Paranormal Library is for all of us who are frustrated at being unable to go to a pantomime this year and shout 'BEHIND YOU' at the tops of our voices.
- Conspiracy
Meet the conspiracy theorists who believe Covid isn’t real… because viruses don’t exist
In the world of the virus deniers, not only is the novel coronavirus fake, but viruses themselves don't actually exist.Cheap talk skepticism: why we need to push back against those who are ‘just asking questions’
'Cheap talk' skepticism - coming at little cost to the doubter, but significant cost to others - is undermining genuine skeptical inquiry.Anti-vaxxers are dangerously wrong, but we should be wary of writing them off as stupid or selfish
If we want to be effective in countering anti-vaxxers, we need to understand their arguments, and why people believe them.From scam product ads to conspiracy theories, misinformation always adapts to survive
The techniques developed by affiliate marketers to spread scam products mirrors the way in which conspiracy theories nimbly adapt to spread misinformation
- Society
Kardecism: the fringe spiritualist doctrine which became the soul of pseudoscience in Brazil
Kardecism - an 19th century off-shoot of spiritualism - found fertile ground in Brazil, and grew to wholly undermine trust in science and medicine.Cheap talk skepticism: why we need to push back against those who are ‘just asking questions’
'Cheap talk' skepticism - coming at little cost to the doubter, but significant cost to others - is undermining genuine skeptical inquiry.The Outbrain drain: why newspaper sites have run thousands of scam ads
The news media is in an income crisis, but the solution cannot be for newspapers to lend their reputations to scams and fakersHow to spot medical misinformation in a pandemic: our top 10 tips
Brian Eggo, Matt Kemp - 0As medical misinformation and dubious claims continue to spread, we present our guide to help you separate fact from fiction.
- Science
We all need good hand hygiene, but antibacterial soap is a waste of time
My partner recently bought antibacterial handwash. It turns out I have unnecessarily strong feelings on antibacterial soap.If Google’s Alphafold2 really has solved the protein folding problem, they need to show their working
If Alphafold2 is as transformative as its makers claim, keeping its knowledge secret is troubling - especially when medical advances could be made if this technology is as good as they claim.Four perspectives on peer review: why it goes wrong, and why we need to fix it
The peer review process is vital, but it is riddled with errors and issues; the quality of future science depends on trying to improve itComedians can help us see the funny side of a world governed by blind chance
Scientists recognise that the world is governed by blind chance - a view embraced by comedians. Sean B. Carroll asks Eric Idle why that is.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 Cruickshank
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Expert skeptical analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal.
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