Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition

Kenneth L. Feder reviews the legacy of Erich von Däniken, arguing that his popular "ancient astronaut" claims—such as aliens influencing human development, creating ancient art, or interbreeding with humans—are unfounded and rooted in misunderstandings of archaeology and human creativity. While acknowledging his cultural impact and popularity, Feder criticizes his ideas as pseudoscientific, often dismissive of non-European achievements, and lacking any credible evidence. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/erich-von-daniken-a-legacy-of-pseudoscience/ About the Author: Kenneth L. Feder is author of The Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology and Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology. He is professor of anthropology at Central Connecticut State University and a Committee for Skeptical Inquiry fellow and Skeptical Inquirer consulting editor. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Gerald Rosen and Loren Pankratz argue that Francine Shapiro's widely promoted origin story for EMDR—discovering its effects during a walk—is false, presenting photographic and historical evidence that her ideas were influenced earlier by neurolinguistic programming. By undermining this foundational narrative, they contend that the credibility and claimed effectiveness of EMDR deserve greater scientific scrutiny. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/a-photograph-exposes-emdrs-true-origins/ About the Authors: Gerald M. Rosen, PhD, is retired from his private practice and continues as a clinical professor emeritus with the Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle. He has published articles on various issues of concern to psychology, including self-help books, problems with PTSD as a diagnostic construct, vanity certification credentials, and novel therapies such as EMDR. He coedited the book Clinician's Guide to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Loren Pankratz, PhD, was a consultation psychologist at the Portland VA Medical Center and professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health Sciences University. He maintained a forensic practice after retirement but now is focused on writing and collecting books on the history of deception. He is author of the book Mysteries and Secrets Revealed: From Oracles at Delphi to Spiritualism in America and is a CSI fellow. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Stephen Hupp honors Lee Nisbet for his central role in founding and shaping the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (now Committee for Skeptical Inquiry), including organizing its early conferences and guiding its development. Nisbet was as an essential figure whose leadership, scholarship, and institutional groundwork helped establish and sustain the modern skeptical movement. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/in-memory-of-lee-nisbet-csicops-first-executive-director/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Frederick Crews devoted his career to challenging the scientific and intellectual legitimacy of Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis, ultimately arguing it lacked empirical evidence and functioned as a closed, pseudoscientific system. Through influential works like The Pooh Perplex and The Unknown Freud, he sparked major debates in academia, helping reframe Freud's legacy as culturally influential but scientifically unfounded. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/freuds-greatest-critic-the-legacy-of-frederick-crews/ About the Author: Carlos Orsi is a journalist and science writer who also writes mystery and science fiction. He's currently chief editor of Revista Questão de Ciência (Question of Science Magazine). Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Banachek reflects on his experiences with James Randi, highlighting his brilliance as a publicity generator, investigator, and educator who exposed frauds such as faith healer Peter Popoff and consistently challenged paranormal claims through demonstrations and the Million Dollar Challenge. The tribute emphasizes Randi's enduring legacy as a champion of critical thinking and skepticism, whose influence continues through organizations like the James Randi Educational Foundation and the broader skeptical movement. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/my-memories-of-the-amazing-randi-part-two/ About the Author: Banachek was born in England on November 30, 1960. He was schooled in South Africa and the United States. It was while living in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, that Banachek saw his first magician at a high school function at the age of fourteen. He was intrigued but not enough to delve much further into that secret world. In 1976, the bicentennial year of the United States, Banachek moved to the United States. It was at the end of this same year that he picked up a worn copy of James Randi's book The Truth about Uri Geller. Banachek performed Mind Games Live in Las Vegas at the prestigious Strat hotel, Casino and Skypod. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Nick Tiller argues that the United States is not uniquely prone to pseudoscience overall but is instead unusually divided into polarized subgroups, each with its own beliefs, trust levels, and susceptibility to misinformation. These divisions—combined with capitalism and the rapid spread of ideas in the attention economy—create ideal conditions for pseudoscience to thrive and spread globally, even as organized skepticism continues to push back against it. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/the-united-states-of-pseudoscience/ About the Author: Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and writer covering health, performance, and wellness misinformation. He's the author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science (Taylor & Francis, 2020) and The Health and Wellness Lie (Bloomsbury/Hopkins Press, 2026). He's been a Skeptical Inquirer columnist since 2021 and is an elected Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. www.nbtiller.com Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Massimo Pigliucci argues that skepticism is an ongoing, often difficult effort grounded in inquiry, ethical responsibility, and the recognition that pseudoscience will never fully disappear. Rather than aiming to "win," skeptics should focus on thoughtful dialogue, critical thinking, and incremental progress—lighting small "candles" of reason through persuasion, humility, and evidence-based engagement. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/the-nature-of-pseudoscience-how-to-fight-it-and-why-it-matters/ About the Author: Massimo Pigliucci is the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His books include Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (Chicago Press) and Philosophy of Pseudoscience (coedited with Maarten Boudry, Chicago Press). More by Massimo at https://massimopigliucci.org Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Fifty years after James Randi helped popularize modern skepticism, pseudoscientific beliefs remain persistent "unsinkable rubber duckies," with ideas like astrology and UFOs continuing to resurface despite decades of debunking. While organized skepticism has successfully diminished some claims, the ongoing fight shows both meaningful progress and the enduring challenge of confronting misinformation. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/unsinkable-rubber-duckies-and-four-headed-dragons/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

The Artemis II mission's detailed images of the Moon found no evidence of the alien structures and "skyfish" phenomena long claimed by UFO enthusiasts like Jose Escamilla, reinforcing scientific explanations over extraordinary claims. Benjamin Radford uses this case to illustrate how pareidolia and misinterpreted visual data can fuel conspiracy theories, underscoring the importance of skepticism and media literacy in evaluating sensational claims. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/artemis-ii-fails-to-find-moon-cities/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author, co-author, contributor, or editor of twenty books and over a thousand articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is America the Fearful. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has generated widespread attention, but the failure of psychics to provide actionable help—despite their claims—highlights a critical gap between asserted abilities and real-world results. Benjamin Radford argues that this silence exposes both the lack of evidence for psychic powers and an ethical inconsistency, suggesting that verifiable, testable predictions are the only meaningful way to evaluate such claims. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/nancy-guthrie-disappearance-highlights-psychic-failure/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author, co-author, contributor, or editor of twenty books and over a thousand articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is America the Fearful. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Acupuncture research from China shows an implausibly high rate of positive results, driven by systemic bias, poor methodology, and powerful cultural and political incentives that shield the practice from critical scrutiny. Rather than banning such studies outright, the article argues for stricter research standards and greater skepticism to prevent distorted evidence from shaping global health policy. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/is-it-time-we-stop-publishing-acupuncture-research-from-china/ About the Author: Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and writer covering health, performance, and wellness misinformation. He's the author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science (Taylor & Francis, 2020) and The Health and Wellness Lie (Bloomsbury/Hopkins Press, 2026). He's been a Skeptical Inquirer columnist since 2021 and is an elected Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. www.nbtiller.com Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Stuart Vyse reports that Penn & Teller have filed an amicus brief urging the United States Supreme Court to review the conviction of death row inmate Charles Don Flores, arguing it relied on unreliable "junk science" in the form of investigative hypnosis.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/magicians-penn-teller-file-brief-in-junk-science-death-row-case/ About the Author: Stuart Vyse is a psychologist and author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, which won the William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. He is also author of Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold on to Their Money. As an expert on irrational behavior, he is frequently quoted in the press and has made appearances on CNN International, the PBS NewsHour, and NPR's Science Friday. He can be found on Twitter at @stuartvyse. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/  

Alejandro Borgo traces the history of parapsychology, from its origins with the Fox sisters and the spiritualist movement to the formalization of research by Joseph Banks Rhine, who attempted to study telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and psychokinesis using experimental protocols and statistical analysis. Despite decades of experimentation worldwide, including rigorous attempts at replication, no repeatable evidence for psi phenomena has been found, leaving parapsychology in decline and its claims unproven, with most supposed effects now explained by psychology or chance rather than a new form of energy or ability. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-rise-and-fall-of-parapsychology/ About the Author: Alejandro Borgo is director of the Center for Inquiry Argentina and a journalist, writer and musician. He has written two books about pseudoscience and critical thinking. He is editor of Pensar magazine (pensar.org) and has been a speaker at several skeptics congresses and conferences. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

In this article, Anthony G. Wheeler examines a surge of Reiki studies published in Turkey, arguing that they promote a scientifically implausible form of "energy medicine" without addressing its lack of evidential basis or considering alternative explanations such as placebo effects and patient attention. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/responding-to-a-burst-of-reiki-from-turkey/ About the Author: Thomas J. Wheeler was a biochemistry professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine for twenty-five years, followed by a second career as a high school science teacher. While at Louisville he developed an elective course on alternative medicine, a subject he continues to pursue, posting his writings on the Kentucky Council Against Health Fraud site (https://sites.google.com/site/kycahf/kentucky-council-against-health-fraud). He has been a Skeptical Inquirer subscriber since 1982. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

In this review of The Saucerian: UFOs, Men in Black, and the Unbelievable Life of Gray Barker, Terence Hines explores Barker's complex role in shaping UFO mythology from the 1950s through the 1980s. Barker is credited with popularizing the Men in Black, the Philadelphia Experiment, and Mothman, blending fact, fiction, and mischief in a career that influenced UFO culture more than scientific understanding. Hines highlights McKee's meticulous research, showing how Barker's writings, publishing, and personal antics left a lasting impact on popular perceptions of the paranormal. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/gray-barkers-legacy-men-in-black-the-philadelphia-experiment-and-mothman/ About the Author: Terence Hines is professor of psychology at Pace University and author of Pseudoscience and the Paranormal. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

In this review of The Conjuring: Last Rites, Kenny Biddle examines the film's claim to be "inspired" by the Smurl family haunting and finds that it bears virtually no resemblance to the documented case. Drawing on interviews, contemporary reporting, and the book The Haunted, he details how Ed and Lorraine Warren promoted sensational claims while offering no physical evidence and blocking scientific scrutiny. Biddle argues that the film abandons the historical record in favor of fictional mythology, turning a dubious real-life case into a self-serving supernatural spectacle. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/the-uninspired-conjuring-last-rites/ About the Author: Kenny Biddle is the Chief Investigator of Paranormal Claims for CSI. A former ghost hunter turned skeptic, he now examines various extraordinary claims, photographic & video anomalies, and "ghost hunting" gadgets to uncover the real-world explanations behind them. He is a CSI Fellow, columnist, producer, speaker, host of the CFI video series "Ghosts in the Machine," and host of The Skeptical Help Bar livestream. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Andrea Love argues that the "paraben panic" began with a deeply flawed 2004 study and was amplified by media sensationalism, chemophobia, and low science literacy—despite decades of robust evidence showing that parabens are safe, weakly biologically active preservatives used at minuscule levels. Read this article and find accompanying references at: skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/the-paraben-panic-from-public-outcry-to-public-harm/ About the Author: Dr. Andrea Love is an immunologist and microbiologist with over a decade of experience in basic sciences, translational medicine, and clinical research. She is a subject-matter expert in infectious disease immunology, cancer immunology, and autoimmunity and is adept at translating complex scientific data and topics for the public and healthcare providers. She works full-time in life science biotechnology in the fields of vaccinology, immunology, immunotherapy, cancer, cell and gene therapy, and other related fields. While she will always be a biomedical scientist, she has a passion for helping the public understand complex science topics in order to navigate the world better. She is also the author of Immunologic, a newsletter and science information hub that communicates evidence-based information on science and health topics. Andrea is also the Executive Director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, and was the 2023 American Medical Writers Association McGovern Award Recipient. She is passionate about scientific literacy starting from an early age and encouraging children toward a career in STEM. Outside of her career in science and efforts in science communication, she lives near Philly with her partner and their 7 rescue cats. She is a marathoner and ultramarathoner, a yogi, a black belt in judo, and an amateur wildlife photographer.  Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Reflecting on fifty years of Skeptical Inquirer, Craig A. Foster finds that skepticism's core mission has remained remarkably consistent: confronting enduring pseudoscientific claims that rely heavily on arguments from ignorance and rarely gain credible evidence over time. While skeptics often feel disappointed by the persistence of credulity, he argues that meaningful progress will require broader public engagement and better education in intellectual humility, critical thinking, and recognizing misleading arguments—because, like the proverbial rat, people will keep believing as they always have unless the conditions change. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/ten-trips-five-findings-and-one-unrelenting-rat/ About the Author: Craig A. Foster is a CSI fellow and the director of research and evaluation at Northshore School District in Bothell, Washington. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Robyn E. Blumner reflects on the mistaken beliefs and cultural fads she once experimented with—from religion and astrology to Ouija boards and Erich von Däniken's ancient astronaut claims—recalling how easily even curious, intelligent people can be taken in. Crediting scientific critics such as Carl Sagan and the rise of the organized skeptical movement, she argues that valuing evidence over comforting or entertaining falsehoods is a lifelong commitment—and one still worth defending today. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/weve-all-been-fooled-right/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry and executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science. She is a lawyer who previously held posts as a syndicated columnist and editorial writer at the Tampa Bay Times and as executive director of the ACLU of Florida and ACLU of Utah. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Massimo Polidoro recounts the early 1970s efforts by James Randi, Martin Gardner, and Ray Hyman to create what would eventually become CSICOP, revealing that the modern skeptical movement began not with a clear structure but with strategic debates over tone, mission, funding, and even its name. Long before it had a public identity, the group wrestled with how to promote rigorous evaluation of paranormal claims without appearing merely "debunking," gradually shaping a vision centered on education, evidence, and responsible criticism. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/organizing-doubt-before-csicop-had-a-name/ About the Author: Massimo Polidoro is an investigator of the paranormal, author, lecturer, and co-founder and head of CICAP, the Italian skeptics group. His website is at www.massimopolidoro.com. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Benjamin Radford argues that while many conspiracy theories may seem like harmless entertainment, they contain an embedded narrative of hidden enemies that can foster mistrust, alienation, and, in some cases, justify violence or harmful policy decisions. He contends that the real danger arises when conspiracy beliefs—especially when clustered together and amplified by confirmation bias—are acted upon by individuals with the will or power to influence others, making skepticism a necessary safeguard rather than mere cynicism. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/the-hidden-harms-of-conspiracies/ About the Author: BIO Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

In the wake of widespread drone scares across Europe—sparked by war in Ukraine and fears of Russian "hybrid warfare"—Mick West examines how airport shutdowns, military alerts, and even assassination rumors were driven largely by eyewitness misidentifications of ordinary aircraft and lights in the sky. Drawing on investigative work from his Metabunk community and video recreations using flight data, he argues that scientific skepticism is essential for separating real threats from panic-fueled error—especially when geopolitical tensions make overreaction both tempting and dangerous. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/how-skeptics-might-save-the-world/ About the Author: Mick West is a writer, investigator, and debunker who enjoys looking into the evidence behind conspiracy theories and strange phenomena and then explaining what is actually going on. He runs the Metabunk forum, tweets @mickwest, and is the author of the book "Escaping the Rabbit Hole". Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/  

Melanie Trecek-King recounts her visit to a Bigfoot museum run by a committed believer and uses the experience to explore how pseudoscience and science denial operate.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/this-isnt-about-bigfoot/ About the Author: Melanie Trecek-King is an associate professor of biology at Massasoit Community College. Her website is www.ThinkingIsPower.com. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Skeptical Inquirer editor Stephen Hupp introduces new columns appearing for the first time in the latest issue of the magazine, The Chroniclers of Curiosity. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/cheers-to-our-columnists/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Nick Tiller recounts how a widely publicized study claiming homeopathic care dramatically reduced illness in newborns—published in the European Journal of Pediatrics—was later retracted after skeptics exposed serious methodological flaws, bias, and ethical concerns. He argues that the paper's lack of blinding, weak controls, and implausible biological basis reflect systemic problems in peer review and the institutional support of pseudoscience, while the eventual retraction highlights both the self-correcting power—and troubling slowness—of the scientific process. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/extraordinary-claims-the-homeopathy-paper-that-duped-a-mainstream-journal/ About the Author: Dr Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science, named one of Book Authority's "Best Sports Science Books of All Time." He's a columnist at Skeptical Inquirer and an elected Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. www.nbtiller.com Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed proponents and users of Spelling to Communicate—a discredited variant of facilitated communication—to the federal government's top autism advisory panel. Stuart Vyse argues that endorsing these scientifically debunked methods promotes pseudoscience, offers false hope to families, and undermines evidence-based support for people with autism. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/rfk-jr-puts-facilitated-communication-users-on-the-hhs-autism-panel/ About the Author: Stuart Vyse is a psychologist and author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, which won the William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. He is also author of Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold on to Their Money. As an expert on irrational behavior, he is frequently quoted in the press and has made appearances on CNN International, the PBS NewsHour, and NPR's Science Friday. He can be found on Twitter at @stuartvyse. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Benjamin Radford shows how innumeracy and poor media literacy can amplify controversy—and why skepticism is a vital safeguard against such traps. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/dilbert-dilemma-the-tragic-innumeracy-of-scott-adams/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author, co-author, contributor, or editor of twenty books and over a thousand articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is America the Fearful. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Stephen Hupp details the schedule for CSICon 2026, the 50th annviersary conference of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry held June 11-14, 2026, in this the second of a two part preview of the conference. Register now at csiconference.org. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/get-the-most-out-of-csicon-part-2-celebrate-our-history-chart-our-future/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is Executive Director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Susan Gerbic investigates UK performer "Psychic Medium Dean," presenting detailed evidence that he relies on hot reading—researching ticket buyers through direct social media and payment interactions—rather than any paranormal ability. She argues that his methods exploit grief for profit and calls for greater public skepticism and controlled testing to expose such practices. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/authors/susan-gerbic/ About the Author:  Affectionately called the Wikipediatrician, Susan Gerbic is the cofounder of Monterey County Skeptics and a self-proclaimed skeptical junkie. Susan is also founder of the Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW) project. She is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and writes for her column, Guerilla Skepticism, often. You can contact her through her website. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Chris French reviews The Psychology and Science of Pseudoscience by Terence Hines. Rowman & Littlefield, 2025.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/a-sympathetic-understanding-of-paranormal-beliefs/ About the Author:  Chris French is professor of psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London. His latest book is Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Beliefs & Experience. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquir

Eugenie Scott recounts an early Bay Area Skeptics sting in which she posed as a blind woman to expose faith healer W.V. Grant's manipulative tactics and exploitation of vulnerable people. Reflecting on the success and limits of pre-internet skepticism, she argues that coordinated action and information sharing remain essential as skeptics confront enduring pseudoscientific scams in the decades ahead. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/blind-victorias-secret/ About the Author:  Eugenie Scott, a physical anthropologist, is founding executive director of the National Center for Science Education. She is a fellow and member of the Executive Council of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry

In this first installment of a two part article, Banachek traces his path to collaborating with Randi on Project Alpha, illustrating how poor scientific controls and investigator bias allowed simple magic tricks to masquerade as psychic phenomena—and why Randi's skepticism mattered. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/my-memories-of-the-amazing-randi-part-one/ About the Author:  Banachek was born in England on November 30, 1960. He was schooled in South Africa and the United States. It was while living in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, that Banachek saw his first magician at a high school function at the age of fourteen. He was intrigued but not enough to delve much further into that secret world. In 1976, the bicentennial year of the United States, Banachek moved to the United States. It was at the end of this same year that he picked up a worn copy of James Randi's book The Truth about Uri Geller. Banachek performed Mind Games Live in Las Vegas at the prestigious Strat hotel, Casino and Skypod. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Bertha Vazquez reflects on Jane Goodall's revolutionary impact on science, highlighting how her patient, humane observation of chimpanzees shattered rigid behaviorist dogma and forced a rethinking of what separates humans from other animals. Framing Goodall alongside other once-dismissed scientific pioneers, the article argues that intellectual humility, openness to evidence, and outsider perspectives are essential drivers of scientific progress. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/revolutionizing-science-jane-goodall-and-the-challenge-to-conventional-wisdom/ About the Author:  Bertha Vazquez has been teaching middle school science in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 24 years. She has BA in Biology from the University of Miami and a Master's in Science Education from Florida International University. A seasoned traveler who has visited all seven continents, she enjoys introducing the world of nature and science to young, eager minds. An educator with National Board Certification, she is the recipient of several national and local honors, including the 2014 Samsung's $150,000 Solve For Tomorrow Contest and The Charles C. Bartlett National Excellence in Environmental Award in 2009. She was Miami-Dade Science Teacher of the Year in 1997 and 2008 and was one of Florida's 2015 finalists for the most prestigious science award in the country, The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

This installment of The Time Warp revisits a late-1970s Skeptical Inquirer debate over the "Mars effect," exploring how skeptics critically tested—and ultimately undermined—astrological claims while briefly giving claimants a voice. Craig A. Foster uses this historical case to reflect on an enduring tension within skepticism: when, if ever, skeptics should invite credulous viewpoints, and how remaining skeptical of skepticism itself helps keep the movement intellectually honest. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/the-red-planet-rumble-claimer-vs-claimer/ About the Author:  Craig A. Foster is a CSI fellow and the director of research and evaluation at Northshore School District in Bothell, Washington. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Stephen Hupp details the schedule for CSICon 2026, the 50th annviersary conference of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry held June 11-14, 2026. Register now at csiconference.org. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/get-the-most-out-of-csicon-celebrate-our-history-chart-our-future/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is Executive Director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Benjamin Radford examines the ethical risks of ghost hunting. Drawing on established ethical frameworks, he contends that ghost hunting lacks accountability, incentives for skepticism, and safeguards for vulnerable people—making ethical reflection not optional but essential. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/ethical-issues-in-ghost-investigation/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author, co-author, contributor, or editor of twenty books and over a thousand articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is America the Fearful. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

James E. Alcock recounts the cultural explosion of paranormal belief in the 1960s and 1970s and explains why that climate made the founding of CSICOP an urgent and necessary response. Reflecting on fifty years of achievements, he argues that today's challenges—direct attacks on science, reason, and democratic institutions—make the skeptical movement more vital than ever. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/fifty-years-of-the-modern-skeptical-movement/ About the Author: James E. Alcock is professor of psychology at York University, Toronto, Canada. He is author of Parapsychology: Science or Magic? and co-editor of Psi Wars: Getting to Grips with the Paranor- mal. He is a member of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry's executive council and of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER editorial board. He may be reached via e-mail at [email protected]. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Massimo Polidoro traces the cultural climate of the 1970s and the early encounters with figures like Uri Geller that convinced skeptics such as James Randi and Ray Hyman that organized scientific scrutiny was urgently needed. The article reveals how informal conversations and failed "psychic" research helped ignite what would become CSICOP and, ultimately, the modern skeptical movement. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/the-spark-that-started-csicop/ About the Author: Massimo Polidoro is an investigator of the paranormal, author, lecturer, and co-founder and head of CICAP, the Italian skeptics group. His website is at www.massimopolidoro.com. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Adrienne Hill reviews the best-selling novel Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. Crown, 2024. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/a-flight-of-fancy-about-psychic-predictions-and-probabilities/ About the Author: Adrienne Hill, a former high school mathematics teacher, currently dedicates her time to various roles and interests. She serves as a board member for the nonprofit organization About Time, founded by Susan Gerbic. Additionally, she holds positions as a board member, presenter, and educational consultant for the Tourette OCD Alberta Network. Hill actively contributes as an editor for Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia, reports for The Skeptic Zone podcast, and cochairs the Western Canadian Reason Conference (WeCanReason), which is held in Calgary, Canada, at the beginning of May each year. Her website is https://www.zonegiggler.ca/. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Stephen Hupp reflects on the founding of CSICOP in 1976 and the emergence of The Skeptical Inquirer, tracing fifty years of organized skepticism rooted in open-minded inquiry rather than reflexive debunking. The article previews a commemorative issue highlighting key figures, landmark investigations, and the movement's lasting impact, culminating in plans to celebrate the anniversary at CSICon 2026 in Buffalo. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/fifty-years-of-inquiry/ About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is Executive Director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

William Matthew London explains how recent CDC changes falsely cast doubt on the overwhelming scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism, misrepresenting evidence and reviving long-debunked claims under political pressure. London argues that applying the "negative evidence principle" shows that decades of rigorous research failing to find any association is precisely why we are justified in saying vaccines do not cause autism. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-cdcs-autism-and-vaccines-webpage-and-the-negative-evidence-principle/ About the Author: William Matthew London is a professor of public health at Cal State LA and the editor of the free weekly email newsletter Consumer Health Digest. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

MAHA's summit highlighted how the movement selectively embraces real science—such as evidence-based benefits of creatine—only when it aligns with its ideology and commercial interests. Tiller argues that this strategic, opportunistic use of science is more dangerous than denialism because it cloaks misinformation in a veneer of credibility. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/maha-isnt-denying-science-its-doing-something-much-worse/ About the Author:  Dr Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science, named one of Book Authority's "Best Sports Science Books of All Time." He's a columnist at Skeptical Inquirer and an elected Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. www.nbtiller.com Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Susan Gerbic recounts here experience at the Santa Cruz County SkeptiCamp 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/santa-cruz-county-skepticamp-2025/ About the Author: Affectionately called the Wikipediatrician, Susan Gerbic is the cofounder of Monterey County Skeptics and a self-proclaimed skeptical junkie. Susan is also founder of the Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW) project. She is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and writes for her column, Guerilla Skepticism, often. You can contact her through her website. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Amardeo Sarma warns that efforts to "decolonize" science have drifted from addressing historical inequities into promoting epistemic relativism that blurs the line between empirical inquiry and spiritual or traditional belief systems. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-global-retreat-from-scientific-temper/ About the Author:  Amardeo Sarma is a fellow and member of the Executive Council of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He is founder and past chairman of the German skeptics organization GWUP. He has been involved in industrial research for more than thirty-five years and is currently general manager at NEC Research Laboratories Europe in Germany. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Nick Tiller examines the popular belief that pickle juice quickly relieves muscle cramps... Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/pickle-juice-cramping-cure-or-congruence-bias/ About the Author:  Dr Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science, named one of Book Authority's "Best Sports Science Books of All Time." He's a columnist at Skeptical Inquirer and an elected Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. www.nbtiller.com Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Benjamin Radford explains that the similarity of alien abduction accounts stems not from shared experiences but from shared human psychology, pop culture influences, and media depictions. From sleep paralysis to hypnosis-induced memories, Radford shows how cultural templates and cognitive patterns shape what people believe—and misremember—as encounters with extraterrestrials. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/explaining-aligned-alien-abductions/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author, co-author, contributor, or editor of twenty books and over a thousand articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is America the Fearful. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Peter Huston examines the bizarre life of "Count Dante," a self-styled martial arts master whose outlandish claims helped popularize Dim Mak, the mythical "kung fu death touch." Tracing Dim Mak's roots in traditional Chinese medicine and its pseudoscientific evolution, Huston separates legend from fact to reveal how prescientific ideas were sensationalized into modern martial arts folklore. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/count-dante-dim-mak-and-the-kung-fu-death-touch/ About the Author:Peter Huston is a longtime contributor to Skeptical Inquirer. He earned an MA in East Asian studies with a focus in Chinese history and language from Cornell University and has a strong interest in the history of Chinese science, proto-scientific thinking, and intellectual thought. He also has an MS in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Education from the University at Albany and is an experienced teacher of English as a Second or Additional language to adults with experience living and teaching in Taiwan and two years as a member of the faculty at the highly ranked Fudan University in Shanghai, as well as working with refugees in the United States. He is a National Registry and New York State Certified Advanced EMT and a regular contributor to www.jems.com. His hobbies include studying martial arts, cooking (including Chinese cooking), and visiting historical sites. He is the author Scams from the Great Beyond, its sequel More Scams from the Great Beyond, and several other books, including a book on Trump called Scams from the Great Beyond—The Presidential Edition. He has been publishing and writing the email substack newsletter Mostly Asian History, which can be found at peterhuston.substack.com; it occasionally features skeptical examinations of topics in that field. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Charles G.M. Paxton challenges several misconceptions skeptics hold about how science actually works, arguing that many popular notions—like strict falsifiability, universal replicability, or the ease of distinguishing science from pseudoscience—oversimplify a far more complex process. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/weird-things-some-scientific-skeptics-say-about-science/ About the Author: Charles Paxton is a statistical ecologist at the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St. Andrew, Scotland, with an interest in the history and science behind reports of aquatic monsters (www.sea-monster.info). He tweets @charlespaxton4. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.

Malorie Mackey and Michael Maldonado explore Wicked as a story illustrating the interplay between belief and skepticism. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/how-wicked-reflects-real-world-intersections-between-belief-and-skepticism/ About the Authors: Malorie Mackey is an investigative journalist who studies anthropology with a specialization in mythology, occult studies, and folklore. As a member of the Explorers Club, host of the show and podcast Weird World Adventures, and creator of MaloriesAdventures.com, she is always excited to investigate the unknown. Michael Maldonado, MD, is a physician subspecializing in neuroradiology with over sixteen years of experience in medicine. Regularly publishing in academic medical literature and presenting at multiple international medical conferences, he is no stranger to delving deeply into a topic and conveying a specialized knowledge to a wider audience. He is an expert in advanced neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/

Daniel A. Reed's The Supernatural Stories That Mirror Our Realities explores how Stranger Things draws inspiration from real Cold War–era psychic research. By blending nostalgia, government paranoia, and genuine history, the show reflects society's long-standing fascination with the paranormal and the line between science and superstition. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/how-emstranger-things-em-mirrors-real-world-paranormal-stories/ About the Author: Daniel A. Reed is the founder of the West Virginia Skeptics Society and a frequent contributor to Skeptical Inquirer magazine and website. He works as a counselor during the day, but in his free time investigates the strange and unusual. He also regularly gives lectures and presentations on the importance of critical thinking and skepticism. You can reach him through his website or by emailing him at [email protected]. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.