I was asked by MSNBC to investigate a video taken in British Columbia, said to be of the Ogopogo lake monster. Ogopogo and I are old friends; I wrote about it a few years ago in my book Lake Monster Mysteries. You can read my analysis of the video HERE.
Research
New Phoenix Lights UFO Mystery Solved
On Friday night Oct. 28, four bright lights were seen and videotaped during a high school football game in Scottsdale, Ariz., near Phoenix. The strange lights, which were seen by hundreds of people and videotaped by at least two of them, seemed to move slowly in the...
Sexual Harassment in Schools Survey: Analysis of Alarmism
I recently heard about a new report claiming that half of students in grades 7 through 12 reported being sexually harassed in school. Having analyzed many media claims before (and written a book titled Media Mythmakers: How Journalists, Activists, and Advertisers...
My Ogopogo Lake Monster Investigation Quoted in ‘Daily Mail’
A recent video taken at British Columbia's Lake Okanagan, said to be of the Ogopogo monster, recently surfaced. I wrote up an analysis of the video for MSNBC, and the Daily Mail newspaper (U.K.) quoted my research on the beastie. You can read it HERE.
‘Best Case’ For Psychic Detectives- Audio Interviews Available
I investigated the best case for psychic detectives, offered by Skeptiko podcast host Alex Tsakiris, in 2008. It was claimed to be one of the strongest cases in history, due in part to the fact that (according to a TV show Alex watched) two police detectives support...
Demonstrating the “Power Bands” Fraud
At the CSICON conference recently, my colleague Richard Saunders gave a presentation on his investigation of the "Power Bands" scam. He asked my assistance on the stage to demonstrate how the supposed methods by which the bands show their efficacy are merely simple...
My New Book ‘The Martians Have Landed!’ Now Released
I'm pleased to announce that my sixth book, The Martians Have Landed! A History of Media-Driven Panics and Hoaxes, is now available. The book is co-authored with sociologist Robert Bartholomew (who also co-authored my first book back in 2003, Hoaxes Myths, and Manias:...
European ‘Wild Child’ Mystery Grows
Last month a teenager walked into the City Hall in Berlin, Germany, and told office workers, "I'm all alone in the world, I don't know who I am. Please help me.” Those words launched an international investigation and mystery that continues to this day.... Read the...
Catch My “Folklore of the Chupacabra” Presentation Online 10/14
In case people are interested, my presentation at the American Folklore Society on Friday Oct. 14 will be available to the public. A number of sessions, including all the plenary addresses and my presentation “Folklore of the Chupacabra,” part of the “Fairy Animals,...
Did UFOs Visit the Mayans?
According to film producer Raul Julia-Levy, extraterrestrials contacted the Mayan civilization in Mexico thousands of years ago — and he claims he'll prove it in an upcoming film, "Revelations of the Mayans 2012 and Beyond." Unproven claims of ancient astronauts in...