Conspiracy Theories

Phantom Time Hypothesis – the supposedly ‘missing’ fortnight in 1752

Mike Hall -
When the calendar skipped two weeks in 1752, the cause wasn't 'phantom time', but the incompatibility of the Julian and Gregorian calendars
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The Skeptic Podcast

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Paranormal

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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
Archive

From the archives: Brainwashing a skeptic – escaping from a frightening cult

Arthur Chappell -
From the archives in 1992, Arthur Chappell tells us how he fell into, and later escaped from, the Divine Light Mission cult.
Alternative Medicine

Are nanoparticles a turning point for homeopathy? Don’t count on it

Edzard Ernst -
A new paper posits the nanoparticle theory of homeopathy in an ongoing quest to find a mechanism of action for the pseudoscientific treatment
Skepticism

Reform UK win 2025 Rusty Razor award for worst pseudoscience of the year

Michael Marshall -
Nigel Farage's political party, Reform UK, has been named The Skeptic's 'Rusty Razor' award winner for worst pseudoscience of 2025
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

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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