The scientific method is a toolkit that provides the only reliable way to learn how things work in the real world. But some people have come to distrust it because science keeps changing its mind. It’s supposed to tell us “The Truth” in black and white and capital letters, but… read more "“New Study Shows…” – Why We Can’t Trust Science Reporting"
Multiple Personality Delusions
The “News of the Weird” recently reported that a man had turned himself in to the police for a crime he thought he must have committed because he didn’t remember doing it! He claimed to have a split personality. He remembered becoming angry at a waiter in a Chinese restaurant… read more "Multiple Personality Delusions"
Energy Medicine and Fantasy Physics: How Real Physics Has Been Kidnapped by Alternative Medicine Practitioners
Words from physics, such as “energy,” “frequency,” “fields,” and “quantum,” used to be respectable, well-defined concepts used in the clear light of science by real physicists to study how the world works. In recent years they have been kidnapped, disguised, and forced into prostitution in the dim back alleys of… read more "Energy Medicine and Fantasy Physics: How Real Physics Has Been Kidnapped by Alternative Medicine Practitioners"
The Living Matrix: A Movie Promoting Energy Medicine Beliefs
It’s boring to try to ferret out reliable health information from dry medical journals. It’s easier and more fun to watch a movie. A new movie promises to change the way you think about your health. To bring you breakthroughs that will transform your understanding of how to get well… read more "The Living Matrix: A Movie Promoting Energy Medicine Beliefs"
What Is Naturopathy?
When people ask me “What is naturopathy?” I have never been able to give a good concise answer. I can confidently explain what acupuncture, chiropractic and homeopathy are all about, but naturopathy has eluded me. I have finally realized that it’s not my fault. The whole concept is so ill-conceived… read more "What Is Naturopathy?"
Aspartame: Safe Sweetener or Perilous Poison?
Aspartame is a low calorie sugar substitute marketed under brand names like Equal and Nutrasweet. It is a combination of two amino acids: L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. It is available as individual packets for adding to foods and it is a component of many diet soft drinks and other reduced-calorie… read more "Aspartame: Safe Sweetener or Perilous Poison?"
Genomic Testing – Are We There Yet?
Ten years ago the Human Genome Project reported the complete sequencing of human DNA, one of the greatest accomplishments of modern science. Having a map of our genome opens the door to exciting new possibilities for medical research and personalized medicine. Futurist Ray Kurzweil predicted “Genomics testing may soon be… read more "Genomic Testing – Are We There Yet?"
Boost My Immune System? No Thanks!
Do our immune systems need help? Walk into any health foods store. Browse the Internet. You will find a multitude of diet supplements advertised to “boost your immune system,” or “support immune function.” Do they work? Will they keep you healthier or reduce your chances of catching infectious diseases? A… read more "Boost My Immune System? No Thanks!"
Science in the Spirit of Mythbusters
We skeptics spend a lot of time critiquing non-science and too little time promoting science itself. Science is awe-inspiring and fun, and any effort to communicate that to our children is worthwhile. A new book by Sean Connolly, The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science: 50 Experiments for Daring Young Scientists,… read more "Science in the Spirit of Mythbusters"
The Living Matrix: A Pseudoscientific Infomercial for Energy Medicine
The Living Matrix: A Film on the New Science of Healing is an atrociously bad movie that falls squarely in the tradition of What the Bleep Do We Know? In his book Nonsense on Stilts, Massimo Pigliucci characterized the “Bleep” movie as “one of the most spectacular examples of a… read more "The Living Matrix: A Pseudoscientific Infomercial for Energy Medicine"