Science

News, commentary, critique, reviews, research and more from the world of science.

Archive

From the archives: The Weight of Evidence – Gyroscopes can’t levitate UFOs

Dave Love -
From the archives in 1990, Dave Love explains the physics of gyroscopes after a scientific paper claimed the devices could generate lift
Psychology

The Sullivanians, psychoanalysis, and the worst therapy in the world

Carlos Orsi -
Based on the now-discredited teachings of Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis quickly took on all the trappings of a cult, complete with infallible, abusive leaders
Alternative Medicine

Could AI help fix the issues of ineffective alternative medicine regulation?

Michael Marshall -
A new study uses AI to identify misleading health claims, showing that with the right motivation and technology, proper regulation of alternative medicine is possible
Placebo Effect

Does the colour of a pill really influence what kind of placebo effect you’ll experience?

Mike Hall -
It's said that pill colour influences what placebo effect people experience, but the primary source for this claim is flimsy at best
Psychology

Comparing misinformation to a virus is neither accurate nor useful in preventing its spread

Ariana Modirrousta-Galian, Phil Higham, Tina Seabrooke -
Portraying misinformation as a virus assumes we're all equally susceptible, and risks distracting us from solutions to the problem it poses
Health

Beware of commercial microbiome tests: how at-home testing can mislead consumers

Cesar Baima -
Despite the marketing claims, research has found no evidence to suggest at-home microbiome tests offer reliable health insights
Society

Are ‘gacha’ games and loot boxes merely gambling in disguise?

Shao Zihang -
Gacha video games - where players pay real money for a chance at winning digital items - are a poorly regulated space that can become as exploitative as gambling
Placebo Effect

Overly simplistic headlines muddy the water around placebo effects and mislead the public

Mike Hall -
Recent headlines claim we 'finally know' how placebos work, thanks to a trial that is little more than Pavlovian conditioning. No wonder the public is confused
1234...23Page 3 of 23
- Advertisement -spot_img

The Skeptic Podcast

Latest news

Expert skeptical analysis of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory and claims of the paranormal.

editor@skeptic.org.uk

About

Categories

Shop