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Skeptics Society News and Site Highlights

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current issue of Skeptic magazine

Climate Skeptics v.
Climate Deniers

Climate Skeptics: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; Dowsing Rod Bomb Detectors; Sex & Astrology; What is Truth?; Stigma of Being an Atheist; Health Hype: Are We Really Living Longer? Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer? Do Environmental Chemicals Destroy Male Fertility? Boosting Your Immune System; Teaching Strategies: Magic in the Classroom; The Grinnell Experiment, and more…

the baloney detection kit

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.

H1N1 lecture

Carl Zimmer photo by Ben Stechschulte

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.

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.

The Mystery Lights at Sea… Solved

I’ll admit it was a pretty long time ago, like a year and a half, but a while ago I did a blog post about some mystery lights that often appear ...

Was Jesus a Conservative or a Liberal?

The ancient art of cherry picking passages from the Bible to support this or that argument has found new life in recent decades as conservatives ...

Banning Wi-Fi from Schools

In the town just north of where I live the middle school was completely torn down and an entirely new middle school was built. The reason for this ...

current issue of
Junior Skeptic

Junior Skeptic issue 37 (detail of cover)

Top 10 busted Myths

Hold onto your hats for Junior Skeptic’s whirlwind tour of the “Top 10 Busted Myths.” From Roswell to homeopathy, dowsing to ghost orb photography, this issue explores some of the worst paranormal cases of all time!

geology tours

Led by various 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).



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

Shermer exposes frauds and debunks paranormal quackery from acupuncture to out-of-body experiences, and more on his YouTube Channel!

this week’s eSkeptic

A Cornucopia of
Darwinian Gems

In this week’s eSkeptic, Dr. Donald. R Prothero reviews Darwin’s Universe: Evolution from A to Z by Richard Milner.

last week’s eSkeptic

Broadcasting from the Great Beyond

In last week’s eSkeptic, Donna Harris reviews Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience, by Pim van Lommel. Donna Harris is a skeptic and the editor of the Manitoba Humanist newsletter.

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 Le risposte della NASA

Dr. David Morrison, direttore della NASA Lunar Science Institute e Senior Scientist della NASA Astrobiology Institute, risponde alle prime 20 domande su 2012. (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.)

2012 y contando

El Dr David Morrison, Director de el Instituto de Ciencia Lunar de la NASA y cientifico principal de el Instituto de Astrobiologia de la misma, responde las 20 preguntas mas importantes acerca del 2012. (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 Great Afterlife

This debate between Deepak Chopra and Michael Shermer came about after the widely read and referenced debate the two had last year on the virtues and value of skepticism. Deepak and Michael thought it would be stimulating to have a debate on the topic. Michael read Deepak’s book and goes first in the debate, offering his assessment of the “proofs” presented in ...

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.

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FREE PDF Download

Top 10 Things You Should Know About Alternative Medicine

Top 10 Things You Should Know About Alternative Medicine

Harriet Hall, MD (aka the SkepDoc), shares her wit and wisdom about alternative medicine including: chiropractic, the placebo effect, homeopathy, acupuncture, and the questionable benefits of organic food, detoxification, and ‘natural’ remedies.

FREE PDF Download

Learn to be a Psychic in 10 Easy Lessons

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.

Super Deal!

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$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.
ORDER the hardcover

Super Deal!

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50% off the cover price!
now only $7.98 paperback
now only $10.98 hardback

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.
ORDER the paperback
ORDER the hardcover