In my line of work, I routinely encounter events said to be inexplicable. They’re not merely amazing or incredible but downright unexplained. At times the topics I research are even said to be “beyond science” (whatever that would mean)....
Folklore
Quoted in a Vox article: ‘Conspiracies Explained’
It seems I'm quoted in a new article on conspiracy theories, including Covid-19 and QAnon. (Or at least that's what I *want* you to think...) You can check it out HERE!
Signed and numbered limited edition of Big—If True!
As I did with previous books I’m offering the first 50 copies of my new book Big—If True for pre-sale. Big—If True is a collection of my Skeptical Inquirer magazine columns, guiding readers on a science-based (yet open-minded) examination of 70 fascinating and...
Santa Fe Library Talk: Contacting the Dead: Seances from the Victorian Era to Modern Times
I'm giving a talk soon: Contacting the Dead: Seances from the Victorian Era to Modern Times. Though TV shows like Ghost Hunters have raised the profile of ghost hunting, there’s nothing new about seeking out spirits of the dead. For millennia people...
The Bad Clowns Return… Because It’s 2020
According to a Newsweek article: "Two YouTubers in Belgium have been fined for dressing up as scary clowns and carrying a fake AK-47 assault rifle while trying to film a prank video back in January 2020. Following their arrest, the 24-year-old men from the...
10/22 Talk for the Santa Fe Public Library: The Haunted KiMo Theater!
The KiMo Theater in Albuquerque is one of New Mexico’s best-known ghost stories, and has been the subject of many articles, blogs, and TV shows. After a tragic accident in the 1950s claimed the life of a young boy, it is said that his spirit returned to the theater...
Guest Appearance on ‘The Next Truth’ Show
I'm a guest on the new The Next Truth show, talking about skeptical and scientific approaches to ghost investigation. You can listen to it HERE! You can find more on me and my work with a search for "Benjamin Radford" (not "Ben Radford") on Vimeo,...
Squaring the Strange # 130: The Bangladesh Toilet Ghost: A Study in Mass Hysteria
If you want a break from bad news: The new episode of Squaring the Strange is now out. This week we discuss the Bangladesh Toilet Ghost. Or, rather ONE OF several Bangladeshi toilet ghosts. I bring cultural and social context and a surprising history about factory...
George Cherrie And The Venezuelan Dancing Devil
One of the most celebrated American naturalist/explorers was George K. Cherrie (1865–1948), who in his 1930 book Dark Trails: Adventures of a Naturalist (G.P. Putnam’s Sons) wrote about his adventures, primarily in Central and South America. G.K. Cherrie...
My Appearance Talking Dragon Folklore on ‘Cheddar Reveals’
In case you missed my appearance on the TV show "Cheddar Reveals" talking about dragons and other monster folklore, you can watch it HERE!