A man fainted while holding his breath as he drove through a tunnel near Portland, Oregon, causing a head-on collision that sent four people to the hospital, possibly highlighting the ill effects of even common, and seemingly silly, superstitions. You can read more...
Magic and witchcraft
Slenderman Urban Legend Character Cited in Girls’ Stabbing Assault
My new article on a creepy Slenderman-inspired attempted murder by two 12-year-old girls is now up on Discovery News, you can read it HERE.
Facebook Post Leads to Witch Hunt, Tragedy in Brazil
My article on a modern-day witch hunt that killed a woman in Brazil lats month is on Yahoo News; you can read it HERE. A woman suspected of being a witch was beaten by a mob and died last week in Guarujá, Brazil, near the country's largest city, São Paulo. The attack...
Demonology: A Study of What Is Not
An interesting article in Skeptical Inquirer magazine about demonology... I've met several self-described demonologists, and this rings pretty true to me. You can read it HERE.
Do You Need an Exorcism? Take the Quiz!
Many religions claim that humans can be possessed by demonic spirits, and offer remedies to address this inconvenience. The Bible recounts six instances of Jesus casting out demons, while voodoo and Catholicism proscribe elaborate rituals and cleansings to remove...
Why Are People Affected by the Moon?
I'm quoted in a recent piece on AmericanLiveWire discussing moon myths and superstitions: Benjamin Radford, Bad Science columnist, elaborates: “If police and doctors are expecting that full moon nights will be more hectic, they may interpret an ordinary night’s...
Can Thieves Rob People Using Hypnosis?
A woman in Germany claims she was hypnotized outside of a supermarket, put into a trance, and later woke up at home having been robbed. There’s a certain creepy Gothic allure to the idea that a mesmerizing stranger can ask you to stare deeply into his eyes, or ask you...
Should Organ Sales Be Legal?
In some countries selling one's organs is perfectly legal. In the United States, it is against the law, although many people have suggested that legalizing the trade would save lives and offer real social benefits. Others find it an ethically dubious proposition. You...
Elves (Yes, Elves) Part of Road-Building Protest in Iceland
Over the past few months, dozens of environmentalists in Iceland have staged a high-profile protest against a road scheduled to cut through an area of volcanic rock on the Álftanes peninsula, not far from the capital of Reykjavik. It is only one of countless...
What is Stigmata? A Closer Look
People who have stigmata exhibit wounds that duplicate or represent those that Jesus is said to have endured during his crucifixion. The wounds typically appear on the stigmatic's hands and feet (as from crucifixion spikes) and also sometimes on the side (as from a...