Skeptic: Promoting Science and Critical Thinking
Skeptics Society News and Site Highlights
current issue of Skeptic magazine
(Current subscribers should receive this issue by mid-October.) TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE INCLUDE: Our Cultural Obsession with Happiness; The Happiness Industry; Workplace “Happism”; When to Avoid Optimism; The Skepdoc on Genetic Testing — Should You Have it Done?; Why Certain Groups Dominate a Sport; The Myth of Quantum Consciousness: A Review of “What Darwin Got Wrong”; Martin Gardner Tributes; Special Section — Religious Philosophers: Motorcycle Maintenance Without the Zen; Antony Flew’s Religious Conversion Explained. Plus: The Science of Changing People’s Minds; Astrologer’s Mars Claim Explained; Ghost Radios; Junior Skeptic: The Secret of the Griffin, 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
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 Bilderberg Group on Wikileaks
A semi-anonymous poster on the Skeptoid.com web site, Jo from MO, has added a valuable link to my episode a couple weeks ago on The Bilderberg Group. ...
Producers of Skeptologists Welcome New Cast Member
Things have been busy behind the scenes of the hopeful TV series, “The Skeptologists.” One of them I would like to briefly share with you ...
ADHD and Genetics
A new study published in the Lancet purports to show a potential genetic link to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). While the genetic ...
current issue of
Junior Skeptic
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
this week’s eSkeptic
Mr. Bryan’s Address to the Jury in the Scopes’ Case
The Speech Which Was
Never Delivered
William Jennings Bryan’s last speech (never delivered) for the Scopes’ Monkey Trial in 1925 was reprinted the next year as a pamphlet: a tool for believers to combat what they perceived to be a cultural threat — the theory of evolution. He deemed it “the most powerful argument against evolution ever made.” In this week’s eSkeptic, we present the speech which we also printed in Skeptic magazine volume 4, number 2 in 1996.
last week’s eSkeptic
Living within Limits
& Limits on Living
In last week’s eSkeptic, Frank Miele interviews ecologist and social activist Garrett Hardin (1915–2003) about his views on the economy, abortion, overpopulation and assisted suicide. This article appeared in Skeptic magazine volume 4, number 2 in 1996.
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
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
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!
$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!
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.
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ORDER the hardcover