Skepticism
IQ tests continue to flourish, in spite of inherent biases, because we so badly want to feel special
From the archives in 1989, Wendy Grossman looks at a recent stunt by Mensa to identify Britain's brightest children, and why intelligence tests favour the demographic of their authors
From the archives: The many traditions of Christmas that are now lost to history
From the archives in 1989, Toby Howard reminds us of long-forgotten Christmas traditions - like burning the Yule log, wearing animal disguises, and "The Devil's Knell".
Folklore and rituals say so much about society, even if the superstition behind them isn’t true
From the archives in 1989, Toby Howard looks at the role of ritual and folklore in society, and asks whether we should separate them from superstition
From the archives: Perpetuum mobile – the fruitless search for perpetual motion
From the archives in 1989, Anthony Garrett looks at the popular quests to uncover perpetual motion - and why they always came up empty
From the archive: Pyramids, pyramyths and pyramidiots
From the archive in 1989, former president of Australian Skeptics Barry Williams examines the mystical claims for pyramid power
From the archives: Hear our prayers – the Northern Irish prayer efficacy study
From the archives in 1989, Wendy Grossman tracks down Francis Galton's 1872 study on the supposed power of prayer in Northern Ireland
From the archives: In the eye of the beholder – Keeping an eye on iridology
From the archives in 1989, The Skeptic's roving correspondent takes a look at the alternative diagnostic practice of iridology
From the archives: Twitching sticks – the (pseudo)science of dowsing
From the archives in 1989, Anthony Garrett takes a look at the science - or otherwise - of dowsing and water divination