One of the most difficult aspects of being a skeptical ghost investigator is trying to help people who sincerely believe they're experiencing a haunting; it's the subject of my new article "Playing Witch Doctor: Hidden Ethics in Skeptical Ghost Investigation." You can...
Investigation
Did ‘Mother’s Intuition’ Prevent a Kidnapping?
One of my better investigations from last year: On Nov. 7 a Utah woman awoke suddenly with the sense that something was wrong in the house, and she and her husband were able to stop a man who’d just abducted their 5-year-old daughter Lainey. Was it mother's intuition?...
Toronto Star Retracts Flawed Anti-Vaccine Story
Last month I wrote an article for Discovery News about how the Toronto Star had published a prominent article scaremongering about the HPV vaccine Gardasil, promoting scary anecdotes over sound science. Well, last week the newspaper finally and formally removed the...
Special Guest on ‘The Mile High Sanity Project’ Discussing Paranormal Investigation
The Mile High Sanity Project podcast welcomes special guest Ben Radford (me!) for a discussion on paranormal investigation. What qualifies as paranormal? Have any of us ever had a paranormal experience? Ever had ghost sex? Check it out HERE!
Montel Williams-Promoted Payday Loan Company Busted for Illegal Trade
Perpetual fraud promoter and talk show shill Montel Williams in trouble as celebrity endorser of MoneyMutual after the company was found guilty of providing illegal sky-high payday loans that exploited poor New Yorkers. Too bad his psychic friend and convicted felon...
Did a Guardian Angel Help Save a ‘Miracle Baby’?
Utah police who rescued a "miracle baby" from a car in a river last weekend claim that a mysterious voice called to them. Many are suggesting it was a guardian angel, but in my new piece for Discovery News I offer another explanation, you can read it HERE.
Brian Williams and the Psychology of False Memory
Last month NBC News anchor Brian Williams was suspended for six months for fabricating or exaggerating an event that happened during the Iraq war. Was it all a lie, or an honest mistake? HERE's a look at the issue of false memories.
The Toronto Star Lambasted for Anti-Vaccination Article
Last month the respected Toronto Star published a prominent and alarmist piece questioning the safety of the HPV vaccine Gardasil, which can help prevent cancer in girls. It didn't sit well with scientists, as my article for Discovery News notes; you can read it...
Special Guest on ‘Cryptologic Radio’ Show
I was recently a guest on the Cryptologic Radio show, talking about monsters, Bigfoot, chupacabras, and skepticism. You can listen to it HERE.
Eating Disorder Misinformation in the PBS series ‘Nova’
The respected PBS television series "Nova" has won multiple Peabody and Emmy awards. So how did it manage to so badly bungle an episode on anorexia, spreading myths and misinformation about the dangerous disease? Here's a piece of investigative journalism I did,...