Society

When skepticism collides with human experience. The societal implications of scientific skepticism.

From the archives: Smith and Blackburn – the story of a great hoax

Martin Gardner - 24th June 2025

From the archives in 1991, the great Martin Gardner reports on a historic psychic hoax, and the importance of consulting magicians when testing psychics

Environmentalism

Thrifting isn’t the solution to the climate crisis – we need to change our behaviours

Ananya Anand - 19th June 2025

Thrifting, once seen as the solution to fast fashion, has become a trend in its own right - as well as yet another form of over-consumption

Media

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

Dave Hahn - 16th June 2025

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

Bad PR

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

Michael Marshall - 13th June 2025

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

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

William McIlroy - 10th June 2025

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

Politics

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

Abigail Kennedy - 6th June 2025

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

Cults