Earlier this month an infographic circulated on social media comparing the number of people killed by different animals. By far the highest of the group was mosquitoes, and that's not only misleading, it's simply wrong. I've traveled extensively in South America and...
Science
Near-Death Experiences Linked to Oxygen Deprivation
My new article on the link between oxygen deprivation and near-death experiences is now up at Discovery News, you can read it HERE!
Teen Forced Into Chemotherapy Now In Remission
A Connecticut teenager forced by the Supreme Court to accept cancer treatments is in remission.... You can read more HERE.
Herbal Supplement Safety Crackdown Underway
The Attorneys General of several states recently announced a crackdown on unsafe herbal supplements.... you can read more HERE.
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...
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,...
New Skeptical Inquiree column: “The Skepticism of Clara Peller”
In the next issue of Skeptical Inquirer I name one of the most under-appreciated or unrecognized skeptics of the past few decades... There were many I could go with, but I thought I'd choose a woman who popularized one of the best-known skeptical quotes in history:...
Mysterious ‘Human Finger’ Found on Aussie Beach
Last month what looked like a human finger was found on a beach in northern Australia; police were called but in the end scientists solved the mystery... you can read my article about this displaced digit HERE.
Dr. Oz-Promoted “Magic Bean” Weight Loss Producer Fined $9 Million for Deception
Following consumer complaints and a June 2014 congressional hearing, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against the manufacturer of a green coffee bean extract heavily promoted by Dr. Oz on his popular television show. You can read more HERE.
Little Lies in Service of Big Truths
My recent CFI blog: In early November 2014 a map of Africa went viral, spread widely through social media at time when Ebola fears dominated the news. The map showed an outline of Africa, the bulk of it in light brown and labeled "NO EBOLA," with the West African...