For Independence Day, a Look at Thomas Jefferson's Egregious Hypocrisy
Even judged by his era’s standards, the actions of the slave-owning founding father fell too far short of his professed ideals.
Stories by John Horgan
When Simulations Replace Reality: A Q&A with Robin Hanson, Big Ideas Guy
Economist envisions a world run by digital “emulations” of humans
Psychology's Credibility Crisis: the Bad, the Good and the Ugly
As more studies are called into question and researchers bicker over methodology, the field is showing a healthy willingness to face its problems
Orlando Massacre Exposes Need for More Gun Control, Not More Counterterrorism
The easy availability of guns poses a much greater threat to Americans than terrorism does
Do Voters Adore Trump Because They Dread Death?
“Terror Management” Theorist Sheldon Solomon Explains How Subliminal Fear of Death Can Affect Us on a Personal and Political Level.
Has a Bogus Theory of War Kept Obama from Being a Peace President?
Once again, Barack Obama, the world’s most powerful military leader, has propagated an erroneous claim about the origins of war
War Is Our Most Urgent Problem--Let’s Solve It
Is there a more urgent problem in the world today than war? And when I say “war” in this post, I mean also militarism, the culture of war, the armies, arms, industries, policies, plans, propaganda, prejudices, rationalizations that make lethal group conflict not only possible but also likely...
Silicon Valley and "Disruptive" War Research
The Pentagon hopes to generate more "disruptive" weapons technologies by pursuing closer ties with researchers in Silicon Valley and elsewhere
Obama and Putin to Seek End of War
Book by science blogger inspires U.S. president to pursue peace plan with Russian leader
Meta-Post: Horgan Posts on War and Peace
Cross-Check columns on war and related topics
Skeptic Debunks Spoon-Bending and Fosters World Peace
Michael Shermer generously explains to occasional sparring partner how to bend spoons non-paranormally.
Meta-Skepticism: Update on the Skepticism Debate
Debate over the goals and methods of capital-S Skepticism rages on
My Response to Responses to My Critique of "Skepticism"
Skeptics react with hostility and gratitude to a critique of their movement
Dear "Skeptics," Bash Homeopathy and Bigfoot Less, Mammograms and War More
A science journalist takes a skeptical look at capital-S Skepticism
Dispatch from the Desert of Consciousness Research, Part 4
On his last day at a consciousness conference, a reporter spots a white rabbit and discovers the solution to the mind – body problem...
Dispatch from the Desert of Consciousness Research, Part 3
A reporter struggles with derealization and paranormal claims at a consciousness conference in Tucson
Dispatch from the Desert of Consciousness Research, Part 1
A reporter travels to a legendary conference in Tucson, Ariz., seeking insights into the deepest of all mysteries
Dispatch from the Desert of Consciousness Research, Part 2
A reporter ponders free will and struggles with quantum incoherence at a consciousness conference in Tucson
Psychedelic Therapy and Bad Trips
Researchers take steps to maximize benefits and minimize risks of psychedelic therapy for cancer patients
Flashback: My Report on First Consciousness Powwow in Tucson. How Far Has Science Come Since Then?
Legendary 1994 meeting featured neural, quantum, chaotic and information-based theories of consciousness, and so does 2016 meeting.
