The Skeptic
@TheSkepticMag
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Expert skeptical analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal, since 1987. Reason with compassion.
Liverpool, England
Joined March 2009
Is there anybody there? The fascinating history of the Ouija board | Sean Slater. Beloved by horror films and teen sleepovers, the Ouija board has roots in the spiritualist movement and opportunistic toy manufacturers.
skeptic.org.uk
Beloved by horror films and teen sleepovers, the Ouija board has roots in the spiritualist movement and opportunistic toy manufacturers
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From the archives: American irritation with irrigation | Wendy M. Grossman. From the archives in 1991, Wendy Grossman considers the various efforts to irrigate the USA's driest regions over the years.
skeptic.org.uk
From the archives in 1991, Wendy Grossman considers the various efforts to irrigate the USA’s driest regions over the years
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Genetics defies any attempt to define clear categories for race and gender | Natália Pasternak. When it comes to genetics, there is far more diversity within race or gender groups than there is between them, with only very few clear exceptions.
skeptic.org.uk
When it comes to genetics, there is far more diversity within race or gender groups than there is between them, with only very few clear exceptions
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The Skeptic Podcast: Episode #022. Featuring articles from Abi Kennedy (October 2024), Brian Eggo (April 2023), Chris French (October 2020), and Mark Horne (June 2021).
skeptic.org.uk
Featuring articles from Abi Kennedy (October 2024), Brian Eggo (April 2023), Chris French (October 2020), and Mark Horne (June 2021)
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The amateur activists trying to fight chemtrails… with warmed vinegar | Michael Marshall. Groups of conspiracy theorists concerned about chemtrails have come up with a novel 'solution': using warm vinegar to bust the clouds.
skeptic.org.uk
Groups of conspiracy theorists concerned about chemtrails have come up with a novel ‘solution’: using warm vinegar to bust the clouds
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Practising positive self-talk might sound like woo, but it may also work | Alice Howarth. Self-talk significantly impacts our mental health – we can benefit from being more constructive in how we think about ourselves.
skeptic.org.uk
Self-talk significantly impacts our mental health – we can benefit from being more constructive in how we think about ourselves
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Just one paragraph: expressing complexity in academic prose | Andrew Shail. While conventional writing rules favour short, digestible paragraphs, should academics shy away from going long with a complex subject?.
skeptic.org.uk
While conventional writing rules favour short, digestible paragraphs, should academics not shy away from going long with a complex subject?
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The Skeptic Podcast: Episode #021. Featuring articles from Thiago Vahia (January 2021), Clio Bellenis (April 2023), Tom Williamson (March 2025), and Brian Eggo (March 2023).
skeptic.org.uk
Featuring articles from Thiago Vahia (January 2021), Clio Bellenis (April 2023), Tom Williamson (March 2025), and Brian Eggo (March 2023)
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The relentless march of reiki in public universities in Brazil | Carlos Orsi. Brazilian academia has shown itself to be a receptive home - and a lucrative source of funding - for Reiki and its practitioners.
skeptic.org.uk
Brazilian academia has shown itself to be a receptive home – and a lucrative source of funding – for Reiki and its practitioners
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The Ockham Awards 2025: recognising the best in skepticism, and the worst in pseudoscience | Michael Marshall. Nominations for the 2025 Ockham Awards are now open, with our annual award for Skeptical Activism and our Rusty Razor award for pseudoscience.
skeptic.org.uk
Nominations for the 2025 Ockham Awards are now open, with our annual award for Skeptical Activism and our Rusty Razor award for pseudoscience.
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No, placebos probably aren’t getting stronger over time | Mike Hall. Placebo responses have not gotten stronger over the past 30 years – trials are just better at isolating treatment effects from noise.
skeptic.org.uk
Placebo responses have not gotten stronger over the past 30 years – trials are just better at isolating treatment effects from noise
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From the archives: ‘Brainsex’, and the folly of sex-based neuroscience | Wendy M. Grossman. From the archives in 1991, Wendy Grossman debunks 'Brainsex', which argues for biological differences between male and female brains.
skeptic.org.uk
From the archives in 1991, Wendy Grossman debunks ‘Brainsex’, which argues for biological differences between male and female brains
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What age was actually considered ‘old’ in Medieval Europe? | Mark Horne. Our assumption that life expectancy in the past was significantly lower doesn't make sense, and is based in a mathematical misunderstanding.
skeptic.org.uk
Our assumption that life expectancy in the past was significantly lower doesn’t make sense, and is based in a mathematical misunderstanding
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The Skeptic Podcast: Episode #020. Featuring articles from Michael Marshall (Dec 2020), Robyn Lowe (Sept 2023), Lydia Hemus (Feb 2021), and Brian Eggo (Nov 2022).
skeptic.org.uk
Featuring articles from Michael Marshall (December 2020), Robyn Lowe (September 2023), Lydia Hemus (February 2021), and Brian Eggo (November 2022)
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AI authoritarianism? We should be wary of outsourcing our thinking to the machine | Abigail Kennedy. If we outsource our decision making to AI, we unwittingly train ourselves to accept its natural bias towards the status quo, and conservatism.
skeptic.org.uk
If we outsource our decision making to AI, we unwittingly train ourselves to accept its natural bias towards the status quo, and conservatism
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Dear people of TikTok: I, the editor of The Skeptic, am obviously not a flat earther | Michael Marshall. Millions of TikTokers viewed claims that all pilots know the earth is flat. except, I'm the person in the videos, and that's not what I said.
skeptic.org.uk
Millions of TikTokers viewed claims that all pilots know the earth is flat… except, I’m the person in the videos, and that’s not what I said
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The UK has some of the safest tap water in the world – despite what Water2 claim | Michael Marshall. Water2 sells pricey water filters to rid your tap water of harmful contaminants – the problem is, UK tap water is already incredibly safe.
skeptic.org.uk
Water2 sells pricey water filters to rid your tap water of harmful contaminants – the problem is, UK tap water is already incredibly safe
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From the archives: Spirits at Large – a skeptical visit to a spiritualist church | Lucy Fisher. From the archives in 1991, Lucy Fisher visits her local spiritualist church and is underwhelmed by the shows of clairvoyance.
skeptic.org.uk
From the archives in 1991, Lucy Fisher visits her local spiritualist church and is underwhelmed by the shows of clairvoyance
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Teaching Nigerian primary school children the importance of asking questions | Leo Igwe. Instead of traditional rote learning and memorising, the questionstorm project encourages children to explore by asking questions.
skeptic.org.uk
Instead of traditional rote learning and memorising, the questionstorm project encourages children to explore by asking questions
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The Skeptic Podcast: Episode #019. Featuring articles from Mark Williams (July 2007), Thiago Vahia (November 2020), Brian Eggo (June 2021), and Abi Kennedy (June 2024).
skeptic.org.uk
Featuring articles from Mark Williams (July 2007), Thiago Vahia (November 2020), Brian Eggo (June 2021), and Abi Kennedy (June 2024)
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