SHAM Scam
The Self-Help and Actualization Movement has become an $8.5-billion-a-year business. Does it work?
Stories by Michael Shermer
As Luck Would Have It
Are some people really luckier than others, or is it all in their heads? Both
Cures and Cons
Natural scams "he" doesn't want you to know about
It's Dogged as Does It
Retracing Darwin's footsteps in the Gal¿pagos shatters a myth but reveals how revolutions in science actually evolve
Murdercide
Science unravels the myth of suicide bombers
Mr. Skeptic Goes to Esalen
Science and spirituality on the California coast
Rupert's Resonance
The theory of "morphic resonance" posits that people have a sense of when they are being stared at. What does the research show?
Unweaving the Heart
Science only adds to our appreciation for poetic beauty and experiences of emotional depth
Rumsfeld's Wisdom
Where the known meets the unknown is where science begins
Full of Holes
The curious case of acupuncture
The Woodstock of Evolution
The World Summit on Evolution, held in the Galapagos Islands, revealed a science rich in history and tradition, data and theory, as well as controversy and debate
Hope Springs Eternal
Can nutritional supplements, biotechnology and nanotechnology help us live forever?
Fahrenheit 2777
9/11 has generated the mother of all conspiracy theories
Turn Me On, Dead Man
What do the Beatles, the Virgin Mary, Jesus, Patricia Arquette and Michael Keaton all have in common?
The Feynman-Tufte Principle
A visual display of data should be simple enough to fit on the side of a van
The Fossil Fallacy
Creationists' demand for fossils that represent "missing links" reveals a deep misunderstanding of science
Abducted!
Imaginary traumas are as terrifying as the real thing
Quantum Quackery
A surprise-hit film has renewed interest in applying quantum mechanics to consciousness, spirituality and human potential
Common Sense
Surprising new research shows that crowds are often smarter than individuals
Flying Carpets and Scientific Prayers
Scientific experiments claiming that distant intercessory prayer produces salubrious effects are deeply flawed
