Skeptic: Promoting Science and Critical Thinking
Skeptics Society News and Site Highlights
current issue of Skeptic magazine
Mind Myths
MIND MYTHS: Top Ten Psych Myths; Is the Mind Designed or a Kludge?; Debunking Diagnoses in the DSMV; How the Psychic Industry Works; Is Instant Language Learning Possible?; Beverly Hills Battle for Evolution; Resurrection of Margaret Mead; Dangers of First Contact with Aliens; Norm Levitt’s Last Defense of Science; PLUS: Cancer Screening; How to be a Psychic; the Coma Man Media Hoax; Cottingley Fairies …
Current subscribers should receive
this issue around mid-February.
In response to the tragedy in Haiti, several organizations representing ‘non-believers’ and others have set up a disaster relief fund called Non-Believers Giving Aid. The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS) has set up a dedicated bank account and PayPal facility to collect donations to non-religious relief organizations. This account is in new name of Non-Believers Giving Aid, with all of the money donated being distributed to disaster relief.
Donations will only be passed on to aid organizations that do not have religious affiliations. In the case of Haiti, the two organizations that have been chosen are:
Our colleagues at the Center for Inquiry are accepting Haiti earthquake relief donations through their S.H.A.R.E. program (Skeptics and Humanist Aid and Relief Effort) to support Doctors Without Borders. The CFI will not retain any operating costs — 100 percent of S.H.A.R.E.’s Haiti relief donations will go to Doctors Without Borders, which lost all three of their Port-Au-Prince hospitals in the quake.
the baloney detection kit
upcoming lecture
36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction
with Dr. Rebecca Goldstein
Sunday, Jan. 31, 2009 at 2 pm
Baxter Lecture Hall
IN THIS REVEALING TALK based on her compelling new novel, the award-winning writer and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Rebecca Goldstein (Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton and author of The Mind-Body Problem, Properties of Light, and studies of Kurt Gödel and Baruch Spinoza), shows that the tension between belief and skepticism cannot be understood through rational argument alone… When calling the Caltech ticket office for tickets please do not leave a message. Instead call between 12:00 and 5:00 Monday through Friday.
H1N1 lecture
H1N1 — The Evolution
of a Deadly Virus.
What Diseases Tell Us
About Evolution
a recent lecture with Carl Zimmer
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009
Carl Zimmer, an award-winning science writer for the New York Times, Discover magazine, Scientific American, takes readers on a frightening tour of the H1N1 flu virus, and reveals what deadly diseases tell us about how evolution works.
our podcasts
Skepticality— the official podcast of Skeptic magazine
Skepticality — the pioneering original skeptics podcast — is a top-rated audio talk show dedicated to skeptical topics and interviews.
MonsterTalk— presented by Skeptic magazine
MonsterTalk critically examines the science behind cryptozoological (and legendary) creatures, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, or werewolves.
geology tours
Led by Dr. Donald Prothero and other guest geologists and paleontologists, our often multi-day excursions tour some of the best geologic wonders in the United States. Visit some of the richest dinosaur-bearing deposits in the world, and collect amazing trilobites. Decipher the geologic story behind the amazing scenery at Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef National Parks, Death Valley, Kelso Dunes, the Great Basin, Redrock Canyon and more.
Be among the first to hear about our next geotour
Interested in participating on future Scientific Exploration Geology and Science Tours? Enter your email address here to get priority notification of future events (we will not share your address with any other parties).
current issue of
Junior Skeptic
How did one of the silliest cases in the history of cryptozoology become a lasting part of monster lore? Could there really be a humanoid fish-man in tiny Thetis Lake? And, if the creature is real — why does it look exactly like a monster from a low-budget horror movie?
free music downloads
Skeptics Mix Tape 2009
Think the best skepticism is the kind you can rock to? We’re pleased to offer you this selection of songs of science and skepticism — completely free! Download these MP3 files for non-commercial use at home or in your classroom.
Shermer on YouTube
upcoming lecture
JARED DIAMOND
at Caltech
Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 2 pm
Don’t miss this lecture by one of the greatest minds of our generation, Jared Diamond! Author of the Pulitzer-prize winning Guns, Germs, and Steel and the bestselling work in environmental history Collapse, here reveals for the first time his methodology in the applied use of natural experiments and the comparative method. In this lecture based on his new edited volume, Natural Experiments of History, Diamond presents eight comparative studies drawn from history, archaeology, economics, economic history, geography, and political science.
this week’s eSkeptic
Why Women Have Sex
In this week’s eSkeptic, Victoria Bekiempis reviews Why Women Have Sex: Understanding Sexual Motivations from Adventure to Revenge (and Everything in Between) by Cindy M. Meston and David M. Buss.
last week’s eSkeptic
The View from Nowhere
or Somewhere?
In last week’s eSkeptic, Maia Caron reviews 36 Arguments for the Existence of God, by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein (Pantheon Books, 2010).
Fix Wikipedia
Make the People’s Encyclopedia
a Science-Based Resource
Daniel Loxton, Editor of Junior Skeptic (and the organizer behind What Do I Do Next? 105 Practical Ways to Promote Skepticism and Advance Science) addresses the importance of Wikipedia. Find out how grassroots skeptics can help ensure that Wikipedia is a science-based public resource.
latest additions to
the reading room
2012 and Counting
Dr. David Morrison, Director of the NASA Lunar Science Institute and Senior Scientist in the NASA Astrobiology Institute, answers the top 20 questions about 2012.
The View from Nowhere or Somewhere?
Maia Caron reviews 36 Arguments for the Existence of God, by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein (Pantheon Books, 2010).
Rebel with a Cause
In your criticism of Freud you say that no theory should have to live itself out through its own tenets: “Only psychoanalysis demands that its founder’s life, his childhood, and even his self-analysis that led to this discovery follow his theory.” Yet in many ways hasn’t your life embodied your own theory?
skepticism 101
The Power of Belief
In this 14-minute introduction to skepticism, Dr. Michael Shermer (Executive Director of the Skeptics Society) discusses why people believe weird things and elaborates on the power of belief systems. This lecture was delivered at the 2006 TED conference (Technology, Entertainment, Design) in Monterey, California.
latest additions
to SkepticBlog
SkepticBlog is a collaboration between eight of the most recognized names in the promotion of science, critical thinking & skepticism. It features the cast & producers of The Skeptologists, a pilot skeptical reality show.
Climate Skepticism
Climate science has turned from an obscure and forgotten discipline to the center of a raging world-wide controversy – something I don’t ...
Whack-A-Medium
How sad that yet another medium has been given press approval. I could write a post on a different medium or phony psychic every week and never run ...
More on Ancient Jews, Pyramids, Pharaohs, and the Exodus
Don’t think for a minute that I didn’t know it would be controversial. When I recorded this week’s Skeptoid episode Did Jewish ...
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FREE PDF Download
Learn to be a Psychic in 10
Easy Lessons
Psychic readings and fortunetelling are an ancient art — a combination of acting and psychological manipulation. While some psychics are known to cheat and acquire information ahead of time, these ten tips focus on what is known as “cold reading” — reading someone “cold” without any prior knowledge about them.
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Super Deal!
$8.95 autographed!
The Mind of the Market
by Michael Shermer
In this eye-opening exploration, Shermer uncovers the evolutionary roots of our economic behavior and explains how evolution shaped the modern economy.
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Super Deal!
50% off the cover price!
now only $7.98 paperback
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The Bible
Against Itself
by Randel Helms
The Bible frequently seems to contradict itself. Randel Helms discusses these contradictions by looking at the cultural and historical factors that produced them.
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$5 VHS clearance
$5 SALE on VHS
All Caltech lectures on VHS are now reduced to $5 each (no minimum purchase) while supplies last!
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