From the archives in 1991, the great Martin Gardner reports on a historic psychic hoax, and the importance of consulting magicians when testing psychics
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The virus metaphor for misinformation is flawed, and can distract us from solutions

The 'misinformation virus' metaphor may be useful in modelling, but doesn't help us understand susceptibility, or the motivations of spreaders

Older Men Wanted… Are ‘age-gap’ relationships really on the rise?

Articles across the media talked of a rise in so-called 'age-gap relationships' – but we should be wary of narratives that appeal to our biases

Journalism relies on expert voices – AI is only going to make that harder

Our media demands quotes from experts to add context and authenticity to a story - it isn't ready for a world where expertise is instant... and fake

Navel glazing: the beauty fad of applying castor oil to the belly button

Beauty influencers rave about 'shedding' their overnight treatments – including removing castor oil packs from their navels

From the archive: The Freethinker, 1881-1991 – bastion of free thought

From the archives in 1991, William Mcllroy discusses the history of The Freethinker magazine across its first 110 years

Studying the genetics of mediumship is the new Tooth Fairy science

A study into the genetic basis for mediumship attempts to put a scientific and biological sheen on a wholly pseudoscientific claim

Old Money, Quiet Luxury: fashion trends as soft-power for conservatism

Social media trends toward 'old money' aesthetics are often thinly veiled conservative nostalgia, idealising traditional hierarchies of race, class and gender

The AllatRa Creative Society: from global peace promises to a real security threat

The AllatRa spiritual movement has become a globally influential lobby group, promising utopia while pushing far-right ideologies
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