There’s a natural—almost Pavlovian—tendency to follow the news closely, especially during times of emergency such as wars, terrorism, and natural disasters. People are understandably desperate for information to keep their friends and family safe, and part of that is...
Investigation
COVID-19 Fears: Overreaction, Underreaction, And Unity
There have been many pandemics throughout history, but none have taken place during such a connected time—both geographically and via social media. There’s a tendency to follow the news closely during times of emergency; especially when separated during isolation and...
Data Divisions: Projections, Uncertainty, And Unknowns, Part 2
My article examines uncertainties in covid-19 data, from infection to death rates. While some complain that pandemic predictions have been exaggerated for social or political gain, that's not necessarily true; journalism always exaggerates dangers, highlighting dire...
Data Divisions: Projections, Uncertainty, And Unknowns, Part 1
My new article examines uncertainties in covid-19 data, from infection to death rates. While some complain that pandemic predictions have been exaggerated for social or political gain, that's not necessarily true; journalism always exaggerates dangers, highlighting...
Squaring the Strange #115: The Bermuda Triangle Mystery
For those who didn't see it: A recent episode of Squaring the Strange revisited a classic mystery: The Bermuda Triangle! The Bermuda Triangle is a perennial favorite for seekers of the strange; Ben still gets calls regularly from students eager to ask him...
Sylvia Browne’s Bogus Coronavirus Prophecies
In recent weeks there’s been many rumors, myths, and misinformation about the current coronavirus pandemic, Covid-19. One of the most curious is the recent resurrection of a posthumous prediction by psychic Sylvia Browne. In her 2008 book End of Days,...
Squaring the Strange #117: Testing Psychic Detectives in Real Time (Part 2)
The new episode of Squaring the Strange is now out, for those who want a break from virus bad news. Celestia, Kenny Biddle, and I tracked psychic detectives's involvement in current cases. In this part 2 of the show, I talk about my examination of a 14-year-old Ohio...
Fear Itself: Covid-19, Media Literacy, And Social Media Distancing
There’s a natural—almost Pavlovian—tendency to follow the news closely, especially during times of emergency such as wars, terrorism, and natural disasters. People are understandably desperate for information to keep their friends and family safe, and part of that is...
Squaring the Strange # 116: Testing Psychic Detectives in Real Time (Part 1)
The new episode of Squaring the Strange is out! The first of a two-parter, in this episode Celestia and Kenny Biddle each examined recent (then-current) missing person cases and closely examined how psychic detectives "helped" (or interfered) with...
Squaring the Strange # 112: Literary Hoaxes!
Our recent episode of Squaring the Strange is about literary hoaxes! I discuss some "misery memoirs," stories of victims triumphing over incredible hardships (Spoiler: "Go Ask Alice" was fiction). Celestia discusses newspaper reports of horny bat-people on the moon,...