Science

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

Climate Change

Tree planting schemes look fantastic on paper, but they won’t save us from climate change

Sarah Hearne - 3rd March 2023

Mass tree planting schemes are a simple and obvious way to sequester carbon and fight climate change. The only problem is, they almost certainly won't work.

Philosophy

The Tao of Magical Thinking: pseudoscience in Jeremy Lent’s ‘The Web of Meaning’

Ted Lefroy - 2nd March 2023

In The Web of Meaning, Jeremy Lent favours convenient ideas over accurate, and in doing so repeatedly presents speculative and even disproven theories as facts

Psychology

When we enforce our taboo against inbreeding, we shouldn’t pretend that nature agrees

James Williams - 17th February 2023

Inbreeding is seen as a gross taboo in many parts of the world, but a new study suggests it is far more common in nature than we might be comfortable admitting.

Paranormal

Ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night…

Chris French - 6th February 2023

A new study supports the notion that poor sleep quality leads to an increase in sleep paralysis - and a rise in reports of paranormal experiences

Alternative Medicine

Institute Question of Science in Brazil: from fighting pseudoscience to advising governments

Natália Pasternak - 30th January 2023

IQC - born in response to Bolsanaro and forged in the fight against COVID-19 pseudoscience - aims to establish its permanent place in post-Bolsanaro Brazil

Psychology

After 30 years, the British False Memory Society is (not) set to close

Chris French - 11th January 2023

Since 1993, the British False Memory Society has been supporting parents accused of abuse via memories apparently 'recovered' during psychotherapy

Conspiracy Theories

AI and the Spread of Pseudoscience and Misinformation: a warning… from an AI

Chat GPT - 6th January 2023

To find out how AI might accelerate the spread of pseudoscience and misinformation, we asked something of an expert: AI chatbot Chat GPT

Technology

The fear of job loss due to artificial intelligence is unfounded

Filip Vester - 5th January 2023

It is understandable that the growth in artificial intelligence will cause serious concerns and anxieties, AI is not going to cause mass unemployment.

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First do no harm? Treatments don’t need to be harmless, as long they do good

Moroccan Argan oil is an interesting traditional product, but it’s certainly no panacea

Animals, acupuncture and alt-med: the Brazilian penguin being subjected to Enya

Wim Hof: the self-described ‘Ice man’ whose extreme health claims leave many cold

Menstrual masking: the inadvisable trend of treating acne… with period blood

First do no harm? Treatments don’t need to be harmless, as long they do good

Pacemakers don’t work when they’re switched off – we should doubt studies that say otherwise

Moroccan Argan oil is an interesting traditional product, but it’s certainly no panacea

Animals, acupuncture and alt-med: the Brazilian penguin being subjected to Enya

The evidence for pill colour impacting placebo effects gets flimsier the more you examine it

From the archive: Many Happy Returns – Are past-life regressions evidence for reincarnation?

From the archives: The Art of Fakery – Fakes and forgeries at the British Museum

From the archives: A skeptical look at astrology

When it comes to science, the standard has to be truth and accuracy – not false balance

From the archives: UFOs Over Russia

Comparing misinformation to a virus is both accurate and useful in preventing its spread

2000 mules: why many Americans are convinced Trump won the 2020 election

Welcome to the modern American Right – the world that high weirdness built

Donald Trump’s debate performance proved he has mainstreamed extreme conspiracy theories

Med Beds: the futuristic health devices promising to cure you with undefined energy

The meaning crisis, and how we rescue young men from reactionary politics

From the archive: Many Happy Returns – Are past-life regressions evidence for reincarnation?

Faking the faking of fake news, 1910 style: the ‘death’ of film star Florence Lawrence

Unborn in the USA: being honest about IUDs could help us fight the anti-abortion movement

Exploding the myth of the longevity “Blue Zones”, where people live beyond the age of 100

Scientific publication is now fully digital – so who is responsible for preserving our archives?

HADD its day: there’s no evidence for an inherited hyperactive agency detection device

Unborn in the USA: being honest about IUDs could help us fight the anti-abortion movement

The evidence for pill colour impacting placebo effects gets flimsier the more you examine it

Comparing misinformation to a virus is both accurate and useful in preventing its spread

Science

Latest news

First do no harm? Treatments don’t need to be harmless, as long they do good

Pacemakers don’t work when they’re switched off – we should doubt studies that say otherwise

The meaning crisis, and how we rescue young men from reactionary politics

Scientific publication is now fully digital – so who is responsible for preserving our archives?

From the archive: Many Happy Returns – Are past-life regressions evidence for reincarnation?

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