POLYGRAPHS & NATIONAL LABS SWAMP MONSTERS SOCORRO UFO CASE

25 Years of Skeptical , , Published by the Committeefgr the Investigation of estigClaims a of the THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS OF THE PARANORMAL AT THE -INTERNATIONAL (ADJACENT TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFAlO| • AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION Paul Kurtz, Chairman; professor emeritus of . State University of New York at Buffalo , Executive Director Joe Nicked, Senior Fellow Lee Nisbet, Special Projects Director

FELLOWS

James E. AIcock. * psychologist. York Univ., Saul Green, PhD, biochemist editof of the James E. Oberg. science writer Toronto Scientific Review of , and Irmgard Oepen, professor of medicine , magician and inventor, Albany, president of ZOL Consultants, New York. NY (retired), Marburg, Germany Oregon Susan Haack, Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts Loren Pankratz, psychologist. Oregon Health Marcia Angell, M.D., former editor-in-chief. and , prof, of philosophy. University Sciences Univ. New England Journal of Medicine of Miami John Paulos, mathematician. Temple Univ. A. Baker, psychologist, Univ. of C. E. M. Hansel, psychologist. Univ. of Wales Steven Pinker, cognitive scientist MIT Kentucky Al Hibbs, scientist. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Massimo Polidoro, science writer, author, . M.D.. psychiatrist, author, Douglas Hofstadter, professor of human under­ executive director CICAP, Italy consumer advocate, Allentown, Pa. standing and cognitive science, Indiana Univ. Milton Rosenberg, psychologist, Univ. of Gerald Holton, Mallinckrodt Professor of , * biopsychologist. Simon Chicago Fraser Univ., Vancouver, B.C.. Canada and professor of of science. , M.D., clinical professor of Irving Biederman, psychologist, Univ. of Harvard Univ. medicine, Stanford Univ. Southern California ,* psychologist, Univ. of Oregon Amardeo Sarma, engineer, head of dept. , psychologist, Univ. of the Leon Jaroff, sciences editor emeritus, Time at T-Nova Deutsche Telekom West of England, Bristol Sergei Kapitza, editor, Russian edition. Innovationsgesellschaft mbH Headquarters, Henri Broch, physicist. Univ. of Nice, France Scientific American executive director, GWUP, Germany. Jan Harold Brunvand, folklorist, professor Philip J. Klass,* aerospace writer, engineer Evry Schatzman, president, French Physics emeritus of English, Univ. of Utah Edwin C. Krupp, , director, Griffith Association Vern Bullough, professor of history, California Observatory Eugenie Scott physical anthropologist, execu­ State Univ. at Northridge Paul Kurtz,* chairman, CSICOP tive director. National Center for Science Mario Bunge, philosopher, McGill University Lawrence Kusche, science writer Education John R. Cole, anthropologist, editor. National Leon Lederman, emeritus director. Fermilab; Thomas A. Sebeok, anthropologist, Center for Nobel laureate in physics linguist, Indiana Univ. Frederick Crews, literary and cultural critic, Scott Lilienfeld, psychologist, Emory Univ. , science writer professor emeritus of English, Univ. of Lin Zixin, former editor, Science and Elie A. Shneour, biochemist, author, California, Berkeley Daily (China) director, Biosystems Research Institute, F. H. C Crick, biophysicist, Salk Inst, for Jere Lipps, Museum of Paleontology. Univ. of La Jolla. Calif. Biological Studies. La Jolla, Calif; Nobel Prize California, Berkeley Dick Smith, film producer, publisher, Terrey laureate Elizabeth Loftus, professor of psychology, Hills. N.S.W., Australia , zoologist. Oxford Univ. Univ. of Washington Robert Steiner, magician, author. Cornells de Jager. professor of astrophysics, Paul MacCready, scientist/engineer, El Cerrito, Calif. Univ. of Utrecht, the AeroVironment, Inc., Monrovia, Calif. Jill Cornell Tarter, astronomer. SETI Institute. Bernard Dixon, science writer, , U.K. John Maddox, editor emeritus of Mountain View, Calif. Paul Edwards, philosopher, editor. David Marks, psychologist. City University, London. Carol Tavris, psychologist and author, Los Encyclopedia of Philosophy Walter C. McCrone, microscopist. McCrone Angeles, Calif. David Thomas, physicist and mathematician, Kenneth Feder, professor of , Research Institute Central Connecticut State Univ. Mario Mendez-Acosta, journalist and Peralta, , professor of philosophy, Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading Univ.. U.K. science writer, Mexico City, Mexico Univ. of Southern California Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer. Foothill College, Marvin Minsky, professor of media arts and Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and direc­ Los Altos Hills. Calif. sciences, M.I.T. tor, Hayden Planetarium, New York City Kendrick Frazier, * science writer, editor. David Morrison, space scientist, NASA Ames Marilyn vos Savant Parade magazine con­ Research Center tributing editor and CBS News correspondent Yves Galifret. vice-president. Affiliated Richard A. Muller, professor of physics, Univ. Steven Weinberg, professor of physics and Organizations: France of Calif., Berkeley , Univ. of Texas at Austin; Nobel , • author, critic H. Narasimhaiah, physicist, president. Prize laureate Murray Gell-Mann. professor of physics, Santa Bangalore Science Forum, India , psychologist. University of Fe Institute; Nobel Prize laureate Dorothy Nelkin, sociologist. New York Univ. Thomas Gilovich. psychologist, Cornell Univ. ,* senior research fellow, CSICOP Hertfordshire , magician, columnist. Toronto Lee Nisbet* philosopher, Medaille College Marvin Zelen. statistician. Harvard Univ. Stephen Jay Gould, Museum of Comparative Bill Nye, science educator and television host, * Member, CSICOP Executive Council Zoology. Harvard Univ. Nye Labs (Affiliations given for identification only.)

• • • Visit the CSICOP Web site at http://www.csicop.org • • •

The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (ISSN 0194-6730) is published bimonthly by the Committee tor the An Pile*., reports, reviews, and letters published in the SKLFLICAI INQUIRER represent the Scientific Investigation of Claims ol the Paranormal, 1310 Sweet Home Rd., Amherst. NY views and work of individual authors. Their publication docs not necessarily constitute an 14228. Printed in U.S.A. reriodiciis postage paid at Buffalo. NY. Subscription prices: one year endorsement by CSICOP or its members unless so stated. (six issues). $35; two years, $58; three years, $81; single issue. $4.95. Canadian and foreign orders: Copyright ©2001 by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of die Payment in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank must accompany orders; please add US$10 per year Paranormal. All rights reserved. The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is available on 16mm microfilm. for shipping. Canadian and foreign customers arc encouraged to use Visa or MasrerCard 35mm microfilm, and 105mm microfiche from University Microfilms International and is from the media and the public about the work of the Committee should be made indexed in the Reader's Guide to irVriodkal Literature. to Paul Kurtz. Chairman. CSICOP. Box 703. Amherst. NY 14226-0703. Td.: 716-636-1425. Subscriptions and changes of address should be addressed to: SKEPTICAI INQUIRER. BOX FAX: 716-436-1733. 703. Amherst. NY 14226-0703. Or call toll-free 1-800-634-1610 (outside U.S. call 716-636- Manuscripts, letters, books for review-, and editorial inquiries should be addressed to 1425)- Old address as well as new- arc necessary for change of subscribers address, with six Kendrick Frazier. Editor. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. 944 Deer Drive NE. Albuquerque. weeks advance notice. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER subscribers may not speak on behalf of CSICOP NM 87122. FAX 505-828-2080. For Guide for Authors, see page 64 in the September / or uSc SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. October 2000 issue, or send a fax request to the Editor. It is also available on the Web at Postmaster Send changes of address to SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. Box 703. Amherst. NY h tip: //ww^.aicop.org/si/guide-for-authors. html. 14226-0703. CSICOP'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Skeptical Inquirer 42 A Quarter Century of July /August 2001 • VOL 25, NO. 4 Skeptical Inquiry My Personal Involvement ARTICLES PAUL KURTZ

24 Confronting Veterinary 48 Thoughts on Science and in the Twenty-First Century Medical Nonsense KENDRICK FRAZIER A Report from the Trenches In veterinary medicine, as in human medicine, people now 53 Proper Criticism find themselves besieged with dubious claims for a variety RAY HYMAN of therapies. ROBERT IMRIE, DVM 56 The Lighter Side of Skepticism Skeptical Cartoons by Rob Pudim 31 Junk Science and the Law Legal systems throughout the world have often been cor­ COLUMNS rupted into suppressing unpopular scientific and into promoting , for political religious, or eco­ nomic reasons. In the new regulations regard­ EDITOR'S NOTE 4 ing "" testimony and new strategies to quiet scientific are gaining strength. Because of this it is imperative that skeptics realize the extent to which legal abuses may NEWS AND COMMENT support and advance the agenda of those opposed to ratio­ A Different Angle on the Socorro UFO of 1964 / nal thought. Update: Therapists Convicted, Therapy Outlawed in Colorado / Deal with York University Is Dead / CSICOP Elects JOHN E. DODES Six New Fellows / Pyramid Schemes: For Women Only / Rhine Research Center Plans to Build a New Home in Durham / , 35 Chevreul's Report on the Perceptions, and Full Moons at a Psychiatric Hospital / SKEPTICAL Mysterious Oscillations of the INQUIRER 25-Year Index Now Available Online / Lack of UFOs Shuts Down British Flying Saucer Bureau 5 Hand-Held Pendulum A French Chemist's 1833 NOTES OF A FRINGE-WATCHER Open Letter to Ampere A Skeptical Look at MARTIN GARDNER 13 An extraordinary paper written in 1833 by the French chemist Michel-Eugene Chevreul on his and INVESTIGATIVE FILES interpretation of the "magical pendulum" is remarkable in its prescience and astute, rational understanding of the Tracking the Swamp Monsters nature of the true source of the pendulum movement. The JOE NICKELL 15 authors here present the first complete English translation of this special document. VIBRATIONS UFOs Sink Mir Into the Ocean while the Alien Choir Sings On HERMAN H. SPITZ and ROBERT SHEAFFER 19 YVES MARCUARD COMMENTARY Polygraphs and the National Labs: REVIEWS Dangerous Ruse Undermines National Security ALAN P. ZELICOFF .21 The m the Gene: Humanity's Proud FORUM Illusion and the Laws of Nature Undecidability By Reg Morrison RALPH ESTLING 66 KEN PAREJKO 58 FOLLOW-UP Jt Ain't Necessarily So: How Media Make The Condemned Meta-Analysis on Child Sexual Abuse: and Unmake the Scientific Picture of Good Science and Long-Overdue Skepticism By David Murray, Joel Schwartz, and S. Robert Lichter P. A. LAMAL 59 BRUCE RIND. ROBERT BAUSERMAN. and PHILIP TROMOVITCH .68

Human Natures: Genes, Cultures, and the Human Prospect NEW BOOKS 63 By Paul R. Ehrlich DANIEL GRASSAM 60 SCIENCE BEST SELLERS 65

The Dish: A Film about Real Life and Real Scientists ARTICLES OF NOTE 63 EDWARD SUMMER .61 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 73 EDITOR'S NOTE Skeptical Inquirer THI MAGAZINE (OR SCIENCt AND MASON

EDITOR Kendrick Frazier Dubious Science and the National Interest EDITORIAL BOARD James £. Alcock Barry Beyerstein Unproven therapeutic claims and pseudoscientific medical practices aren't Thomas Casten restricted to medicine for people. As Seattle veterinarian Robert Imrie, DVM, Martin Gardner says in this issue, in veterinary medicine, as in human medicine, people now Ray Hyman Lawrence Jones find themselves besieged with dubious claims for a variety of therapies. Imrie Philip J. Klass heads a veterinary task force appointed by the National Council for Reliable Paul Kurtz Joe Nickell Health Information to deal with such matters, and he provides a report from Lee Nisbet the trenches, "Confronting Veterinary Medical Nonsense." While the article Amardeo Sarma Bela Scheiber was in final proofs, the efforts Imrie describes and an intense letter writing Eugenie Scott campaign led the Executive Board of the American Veterinary Medical CONSULTING EDITORS Robert A. Baker Association to revise its guidelines on alternative medical practices. The new, Susan J. Blackmore and more rational, guidelines arc included in his article. John R. Cole Kenneth L. Feder • » * C E. M. Hansel E. C Krupp He started it all, and in this issue he provides his personal reflections on why Scott O. Lilienfeld and how, and what has transpired since. I refer to Paul Kurtz, die remarkable David F. Marks James E. Oberg philosopher/scholar/organizer who in 1976 founded the Committee for the Robert Sheaffer Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). Paul also dis­ David E. Thomas Richard Wiseman cusses the challenges and surprises we all encountered. We thus continue our MANAGING EDITOR 25th anniversary celebration of CSICOP and the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER with the second of three such sections this year. Following Paul's personal essay, ART DIRECTOR Lisa A. Hutter which is a shorter version of one appearing in the forthcoming twenty-fifth PRODUCTION anniversary volume, Skeptical Odysseys (Prometheus 2001), I offer the second Paul Loynes part of my own personal reflections. One of my points is that I always strive to CARTOONIST keep us close to science and bring an imaginative scientific viewpoint to skep­ Rob Pudim WEB PAGE DESIGNER ticism. Keeping ourselves close to real science has kept us on track and guided Patrick Fitzgerald

us through otherwise difficult morasses. PUBLISHER'S REPRESENTATIVE Barry Karr CORPORATE COUNSEL Brenton N. VerPloeg When scientifically dubious ideas intersect matters of serious public interest, BUSINESS MANAGER the results can be troublesome. Such is the case with congressional require­ Sandra Lesniak ments to widen the use of polygraph examinations on employees at the U.S. FISCAL OFFICER Paul Paulin national laboratories. Alan Zelicoff, who is both a physicist and a at CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Sandia National Laboratories, has been one of the national labs' most outspo­ Arthur Urrows DEVELOPMENT OFFICER ken critics of polygraphs. In a commentary in this issue he calls diem a dan­ James Kimberly gerous ruse. The issue is difficult because the national labs' scientists and engi­ CHIEF DATA OFFICER neers are involved in advancing all related to national security, Michael Cione STAFF and they take pride in loyal citizens protective of the nation's interests. Patricia Beauchamp But the polygraph issue has been awkward and divisive, and Zelicoff shows Jodi Chapman Allison Cossitt why. (For an earlier SKEPTICAL INQUIRER contribution in this area see Elie A. Michelle Keiper Shneour, "Lying About Polygraph Tests," Spring 1990, reprinted in die 1998 Jennifer Miller Matthew Nisbet SI anthology. Encounters with the Paranormal: Science, Knowledge, and Belief) Heidi Sander * * » Ranjit Sandhu Anthony Santa Lucia Our first Science & special issue, July/August 1999, was a great suc­ John Sullivan Vance Vigrass cess with readers. We are pleased to announce that we are doing anodier one. PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR Watch for Science and Religion 2001, in our next issue, September/October. Kevin Christopher INQUIRY MEDIA PRODUCTIONS Thomas Flynn DIRECTOR OF UBRARIES Timothy S. Binga

The SKEPTICAL INQUIRE" is the official ^YJJ1~ journal of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. an international organization.

4 May/June 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NEWS AND COMMENT

A Different Angle on the Socorro UFO of 1964

DAVID E. THOMAS people at a distance of 150 to 200 yards, course. Stanford thinks it's another case and that "they appeared normal in shape of extraterrestrial visitors and govern­ The Socorro, New Mexico, UFO "land­ .. . but possibly they were small adults or ment cover-up. Phil Klass, in UFOs ing" of April 24, 1964, has long occu­ large kids." He also noted "what Explained, makes a case that the whole pied a prominent place in UFOlogical appeared to be two legs of some type thing was cooked up by the mayor to lore. The case put New Mexico on the from the object to the ground . . . the two give Socorro some publicity. (Inci­ UFO map, and was overtaken by the legs were at die bottom of the object, dentally, Klass argues that the "unidenti­ only when that legend slanted outwards to the ground." fied tourist" could not possibly have emerged from obscurity and blossomed Zamora then got closer to the object, seen bodi die craft and the police car.) in the late seventies. The case is still got out of his car, heard a loud roar, saw a Yet another is that physics highly regarded; Patrick Huyghe flame, ran, bumped his leg, lost his students with a little too much extra recently wrote about the Socorro sight­ glasses, and kept on going. He saw the time played a trick on the town, but that ing in The Anomalist, No. 8 (Spring object fly up, and move ten to fifteen feet rumor doesn't have much credible sup­ 2000), in a piece titled "The Best UFO above me ground, and then leave die area port. Major Hector Quintanilla, the Case Ever? A Review and Update of the "travelling very fast." He radioed his dis­ Blue Book investigator for the Air Force, Socorro Incident." patcher to look out his window for "an looked into the possibility that die craft The witness in the Socorro case is a object... it looks like a balloon." Nearby, was a prototype of the Lunar Landing well-respected policeman, Lonnie the bushes were still smoldering. News Module being developed for the Apollo Zamora, who claimed in the report he reports in the local paper, El Defensor Moon program, but found that no lunar filed (included in Project Blue Book, Brad Chieftain, also mentioned "an unidenti­ lander prototypes were operational in Steiger, Ed., 1976) that he saw a flame in fied tourist" who remarked about how April of 1964. Recendy, Larry Robinson the sky, "bluish and sort of orange too "aircraft flew low around here," and diat of Indiana University has suggested that . . . sort of motionless flame, slowly die strange object was a "funny-looking Zamora saw "a manned hot air balloon." descending . . . narrower at top than at helicopter, if that's what it was." (See "Psychic Vibrations" column, this bottom. . . . Sun was to west and did not Zamora's earnest nature and credibil­ issue.) That scenario does match some help vision. Had green sunglasses over ity, along widi die physical traces, brought aspects of the descriptions, such as the prescription glasses. Could not see bot­ die Socorro "landing" to national atten­ pitch changes from low to higher fre­ tom of flame because it was behind the tion. J. Allen Hynek came to town, and quencies Zamora reported hearing from hill. .. noise was a roar, not a blast. ..." was very interested in die pod-like tracks the flame, which might be a match for The policeman drove around the area and burn marks at the scene. Ray the propane burners of hot-air balloons. trying to see the flame again, and said he Stanford wrote a whole book about the Yet another possible candidate has suddenly came across "a shiny type object incident, Socorro Saucer in a Pentagon emerged in recent years, about the time ... oval in shape. It was smooth—no Pantry. Phil Klass came to investigate. of the identification of the source of the windows or doors ... seemed like O in The Socorro event has appeared in Roswell Incident to a specific program, shape and I at first glance took it to be numerous books and articles, and was New York University constant-level overturned car." He also described "two even featured on Unsolved Mysteries. But balloon launches from Alamogordo in people in white coveralls ... two per­ what really happened there? the summer of 1947 ("The Roswell sons. ..." Zamora said he saw the two There are numerous hypotheses, of Incident and Project Mogul," SI July/

FAlly Range Schedule for Frtaay, ?.» April IS** IVtpar-rf ti] Range Operation* DirettoraV D*putjr for Range Activities ATWDC, HATB, He» hexlon, 23 April 19& cope ggflgg Iff* SCWED TIME A/C SUPPORT TOT SUFFORT COHTROL M Track Slfd Test 0715T.0. -O7U5C0BX.-O8OOT- Arajr Aviation - - - O6IOC Surveyor Helicopter Fit* 07»5-U*5 •• • m Rrtc/RF-* Photo O63OTel-O900R-1100C X AD EHB Tracking 0655-1105 AS Computer 0900-1000 c- m m ••xy ROD Check RaSar O9OO-I5OO - . . An Antthmt flrnimil Cheek 1000.110A Portion of White Sands Missile Range Log for 24 April 1964 indicates a helicopter-borne test of the unmanned Surveyor lunar landing was scheduled that day.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 5 NEWS AND COMMENT

August 1995). One of the participants a visit to Surveyor 3 almost three years are also a match for the shape of the in these launches, Charles B. Moore, after it had landed on the Moon. This "landing pod imprints" found later. In Stanford's 1976 book, he mentions stayed in Socorro and taught atmos­ new angle on the old Socorro story was Phil Klass's comment that landing pheric physics at the college there, first mentioned publicly in a brief piece pads like Surveyors were among the New Mexico Institute of Mining and in the July 15, 2000, edition of James only practical shapes for that function. Technology (my alma mater). Moore, Moseley's Saucer Smear. • The spacecraft used vernier engines now retired, has had a very distin­ The timing isn't right for the UFO and attitude jets to probe and sample guished career, and received the sighting—the range log calls for morn­ soil, which could explain the flames American Institute of Aeronautics and ing tests, and the sightings occurred in the policeman saw, and the burn Astronautics (AIAA) Otto C. Winzen late afternoon—but then things don't marks many saw. The flames weren't being used for lift; that was supplied Lifetime Achievement Award for his always go "according to plan," and by the helicopter. The burn marks at scientific exploits, which included fly­ many tests that have defied completion the site did not indicate sufficient ing a balloon to the very edge of space. thrust to lift a large vehicle, according He visited the Socorro "landing" site to Hynek. in 1966, and thinks that Lonnie • The Surveyor used a mechanical Zamora is sincere, and that Zamora scoop with a shape that matches a rec­ really did see something strange on tangular trough photographed at the that day in 1964. Socorro site. In 1995, a colleague of Moore's who • Zamora described the craft as "alu­ ran the Skyhook Balloon program at minum-white," which certainly matched the bulk of the Bell heli­ in Alamo- copter. gordo, Bernard "Duke" Gildenberg, learned from Capt. James McAndrew, • The tests missions were manned by a Three years after the unmanned craft Surveyor 3 helicopter pilot and a Hughes engineer the Air Force's point man on its reinvesti­ landed on the Moon, the Apollo 12 mission touched .. . two persons, in white coveralls. gations of the Roswell case in the 1990s, down nearby. This image shows mission comman­ der Pete Conrad retrieving items from Surveyor 3. that on April 24, 1964, mere were special • Most people in Socorro, and several by morning have been known to some­ of the investigators, thought it was tests being conducted at the norm end of most likely a secret government the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) how get finished up in the afternoon. In , and some Blue Book involving a helicopter used to carry a , bombing runs scheduled for that researchers even pinned it down as a Lunar Surveyor landing craft around for part of the range might have delayed the tenant operation run by Holloman, the base for the Surveyor test flights. some tests. A portion of the WSMR tests. There are many tantalizing Range Log obtained by McAndrew bits that might support the Surveyor • Lava beds were on the Surveyor appears on the previous page. explanation for Socorro. sampling agenda, and there are indeed lava beds in and around the Surveyor was a three-legged, un­ • The Surveyor tests were done with a missile range (south of Socorro). manned spacecraft, which was used to small Bell helicopter that supported learn about the Moon before the Apollo the craft from its side. The helicopter Of course, this new evidence is far and spacecraft would have presented a program got there. bizarre profile. The Surveyor's slanted from conclusive. A lot has happened In fact, the Apollo 12 astronauts paid legs fit Zamora's description well, and since 1964, and it's difficult to recon­ struct events from that long ago, espe­ cially events with strong implications. Socorro a First Spark for Skeptical Curiosity Was it a college prank? A hoax? A bal­ loon? An alien craft from another The Socorro Landing has a special place in my heart, as it sparked my first skep­ world? Perhaps we'll never really know. tical curiosity. Back in 1964,1 was an eleven-year-old boy living just 90 miles north Gildenberg is confident that William of Socorro, and the Socorro UFO story was big news in the young boy commu­ nity. Some neighbor kids drew the outline of an alien foot in the alley, and tried of Occam, of Occam's Razor fame, to convince me it was real, but I "debunked" the assertions by pointing out the would think kindly of the Surveyor unnatural concave shape of the "feet," and the over-large distance between explanation, especially over some of the prints. other contenders. After the neighbor kids confessed, I penciled in a little UFO on a photograph of my back yard, and showed it to them. I expected them to laugh it off as yet another hoax, but was surprised when the former hoaxers bought into my doc­ Dave Thomas is a physicist, president of tored photo hook, line, and sinker. That was my first encounter with the power New Mexicans for Science and Reason, a of the paranormal; I'm sure it won't be my last.—D.E.T. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER consulting editor, and a newly elected CSICOP Fellow.

6 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NEWS AND COMMENT

Rebirthing Update: CANDACE NEWMAKER: No, but I'm defending the therapy. In it he claimed about to. ... Please, please I can't that Watkins and Ponders technique Therapists Convicted, breathe.... "bears no resemblance" to rebirthing CANDACE NEWMAKER: Can you let dierapy as he practices and teaches it: Therapy Outlawed in me have some oxygen? You mean, like Colorado you want me to die for real? "it does not involve physical contact JULIE PONDER: Uh huh. or restriction in any way." Another Two Colorado therapists, Julie Ponder CANDACE NEWMAKER: Die right now rebirther reported that the therapist and go to heaven? and Connell Watkins, were convicted "apparently knew about rebirthing, but JULIE PONDER: GO ahead and die she wasn't using that technique with the April 20 of reckless child abuse resulting right now. For real. For real. . . . child when she died." in a young girl's death during a CANDACE NEWMAKER: Get off. I'm "rebirthing" dierapy session. They each sick. Get off. Where am I supposed to Some evidence suggests that what face up to forty-eight years in prison on come out? Where? How can I get Watkins and Ponder were doing was the abuse charge, and are to be sen­ mere? in fact out of the mainstream even for CONNELL WATKINS: Just go ahead "alternative" psychotherapy. Watkins tenced in June. The verdict came almost and die. It's easier. ... It takes a lot of had been trained in that particular exactly one year to the day that ten-year- courage to be born. old Candace Newmaker died in the care CANDACE NEWMAKER: You said you technique in 1999 by California mar­ of Watkins and Ponder. During the ses­ would give me oxygen. riage and family therapist Douglas CONNELL WATKINS: You gotta fight Gosney, and cited him as an expert. sion, the girl was wrapped tightly in a for it. . . . (Candace vomits and Gosney defended his brand of "re­ flannel blanket and pushed on with pil­ defecates.) birthing" therapy and suggested that lows to simulate birth. The session was CONNELL. WATKINS: Stay in there some pre-existing condition had caused held at the home of the unlicensed and with the poop and vomit. Candace's death. Gosney that unregistered Watkins. (See Martin CANDACE NEWMAKER: Help! I can't breathe. I can't breathe. It's hot. I can't the patients he treats with his therapy Gardner's column "Primal Scream: A breathe.... act out because they were traumatized Persistent New Age Therapy" in the last CONNELL WATKINS: Getting pretty during (or before) birth. (There is, issue, and "New Age 'Rebirthing' tight in there. however, no credible evidence that Treatment Kills Girl," SI 24[5] JULIE PONDER: Yep.... less and less air either adolescent or adult brains harbor all the time.... September/October 2000.) any repressed memories of birth.) At the trial, an important piece of JULIE PONDER: She gets to be stuck in her own puke and poop. Whether Ponder and Watkins were evidence was a videotape of the session, CONNELL WATKINS: Uh huh. It's her using rebirthing therapy correctly (or at which showed Candace begging for her own life. She's a quitter. all), the fact remains that a child died life from under her heavy fabric CANDACE NEWMAKER: NO (This while undergoing an unproven and "womb." Excerpts of dialogue from the is Candace's last word.) unorthodox New Age therapy by those video were published by the Denver The womens' defense rested, in part, who claimed to know what they were Rocky Mountain News, and provide a on trying to convince the jury that the doing. This case should serve as a pow­ disturbing and chilling account of dead girl was a manipulative liar and erful response to the common question, Candace's last hour of life. Throughout was being deceptive when she said she "What harm does the New Age do?" the 70-minute tape, while Candace suf­ couldn't breathe and begged to be set free. focates and lies in her vomit and feces, Watkins sent a message to her supporters —Benjamin Radford she begs the therapists to get off of her saying diat "somehow the 10-year-old Benjamin Radford is Managing Editor of and let her breathe. At one point, in inexplicably stopped breadiing." A day the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. response to Candace's crying and pleas, after the verdict Colorado Governor Bill the four adults present pushed even Owens signed a law making rebirthing harder on the girl, putting nearly 700 therapy illegal, though nothing was done pounds on top of the seventy-pound to address the larger problem of allowing Chiropractic Deal with fourth-grader. Here are excerpts from unlicensed therapists such as Watkins to York University Is Dead the tape: practice other dubious treatments. In CANDACE NEWMAKER: I can't do it. Colorado no license is required to practice In 1994, plans were begun for the union (Screams) I'm gonna die. psychotherapy. of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic JULIE PONDER: Do you want to be A search of rebirthing Web sites College (CMCC) with York University reborn or do you want to stay in there showed them oddly silent about both the in Toronto, which would have been the and die? world's first such union of a chiropractic CANDACE NEWMAKER: Quit pushing girl's death and the verdict, though one on me, please ... I'm gonna die now. proponent of rebirthing, Peter DeLong, school with a major university. These JULIE PONDER: Do you want to die? wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Times plans were given momentum when, in

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 7 NEWS AND COMMENT

May 1998, York University's Senate affiliation with the Canadian Memorial Pyramid Schemes: granted "approval in principle" to a pro­ Chiropractic College] has been negated." posal that would allow York University With this, the project to bring chiroprac­ For Women Only to issue a "Doctor of Chiropractic" tic and the Canadian Memorial Five women were recently charged with degree. This would have provided chiro­ Chiropractic College to York University felonies in southern New Mexico for practic practitioners with the legitimacy formally died. An important battle in being involved in pyramid scams that that they have long sought. defense of science and has been have been making their way through the won. (For a full chronicling of the attempt York's Faculty of Pure and Applied state since 1999. The new women-only to bring chiropractic to York University, Science, as well as most of York's psychol­ pyramid scheme has been gathering consult www.ndir.com/chiro.) ogy faculty members, were strongly momentum across North America with opposed to such a union, but it appeared — reports coming in from across Canada that the proposal had sufficient support and the United States. Large amounts of within the administration, and indeed James Alcock is a professor in the Depart­ money are said to be changing hands within the university community at large, ment of Psychology at Glendon College, with the majority of those hands left to make it all but unstoppable. A cam­ York University Toronto, Ontario. empty when the scam ends. paign to educate the York community The latest twist on an old con makes about the many pseudoscientific and many women especially vulnerable to antiscientific aspects of chiropractic was CSICOP Elects Six being taken advantage of by other mounted by a small handful of oppo­ New Fellows women. The Albuquerque Journal nents. In support of their efforts, an recently published a front page feature international petition—sponsored by the The Executive Council of the Com­ article on the issue, "Women Scamming Council for Scientific Medicine, and mittee for the Scientific Investigation of Women." which included the names of two Nobel Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) Groups are formed with appealing laureates in Medicine, as well as several has elected six new CSICOP Fellows. names such as "The Circle of Friends," CSICOP members—was delivered to Fellows are chosen for distinguished "Women Helping Women," and "Wo­ York University's administration and the contributions to science and skepticism. men's Gifting Circle." In addition to pay­ Chair of Board of Governors in February The new Fellows: ing a joining fee of up to $5,000 and 1999. It strongly urged the university not • Saul Green, biochemist, science securing a place at the bottom tier of the to affiliate with CMCC. editor of the Scientific Review of pyramid, women are also finding other In the end, the Senate's Academic Alternative Medicine, and President of "benefits" in joining these groups. The Policy and Planning Committee main­ ZOL Consultants, New York City. common attractions found within the tained that an academic relationship • Irmgard Oepen, professor of medi­ New Age movement that have proven with the CMCC could not proceed cine (retired), Marburg, Germany. successful in their appeal to the female without the sponsorship of an academic • Massimo Polidoro, magician, writer, population have also been injected into faculty. The Faculty of Pure and Applied investigator, executive direaor of CICAP the pyramid scheme to maximize partici­ Sciences had refused such sponsorship (Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle pation among rJiis latest target audience. early on, and so the administration Affermazioni sul Paranormale), Italy. Friendship, spiritual guidance, holistic turned to the of Atkinson Faculty of • David E. Thomas, physicist and healing, and emotional therapies are Liberal and Professional Studies—which mathematician (Quasar International, included as part of the package. includes under its mandate a health sci­ Albuquerque, New Mexico), president ences orientation—for sponsorship. of New Mexicans for Science in Reason. Early indications were that this faculty • Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist was very amenable to the proposal. and director, Hayden Planetarium, New However, at a meeting held on March York City. 28, 2001, die Atkinson Faculty Council • Richard Wiseman, psychologist. narrowly voted against a resolution to University of Hertfordshire, U.K. establish an academic relationship with Thomas, Tyson, and Wiseman were the CMCC, thus effectively blocking the CSICOP scientific consultants prior to establishment of a York Doctor of being named Fellows. Chiropractic degree. At a subsequent meeting of the University Senate on April —Kendrick Frazier 26, an official announcement was made Kendrick Frazier is Editor of the that "Senate's approval in principle [for an SKEPTICAL INQUIRER.

8 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NEWS AND COMMENT

New recruits are assured that all The Rhine Research Center is the Belief, Perceptions, activity is above-board and that their nation's oldest laboratory for the scien­ involvement is perfectly legal—New tific study of psychic , telepa­ and Full Moons at a Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid thy, and ESP. The center's board of Psychiatric Hospital disagrees. Despite diat, women sign waivers directors have sold the pre-1920s house upon joining stating dicy do not expect any to Duke University and plan a new I'm known as both an artist and a returns on their money. Potential members $300,000 to $500,000 center near expert, but over die past two and a hall years 1 have worked for a hospital that are encouraged to sign up by friends and Duke's West Campus. family members who genuinely believe diey serves patients with mental health prob­ According to a feature article in the have the individual's best interests at heart. lems on an emergency basis. This facility Raleigh News & Observer (March 12), Participation is touted as a once-in-a-life- has been in operation for twenty-five center officials hope to be in the new time opportunity. Stories of philanthropy years. It opened about the same time diat building by April 2002. They say it and good deeds sweep dirough die group to a large, 6,000-bed state mental hospital have capabilities the old one never had demonstrate die and benevolence began a process of transferring patients of those involved. The temptation is not as the center expands its research in back to their home communities. The limited to poor and uneducated women what the newspaper called "a renaissance latter process reflected a new approach eidier—doctors, teachers, and women of all for psychic studies." for treating mental patients. Consistent sorts fall prey to the empty promises of this There are other labs for psi research, with new laws and taking advantage of pyramid scheme. but Stephan A. Schwartz, a spokesman new medicines, the mental health indus­ The mathematics involved is often for the Parapsychological Association, try offered a customized, per need treat­ glossed oven for all eight new members said he could think of no freestanding ment at localized "base service units," as joining die bottom tier of the pyramid to building in die United States that has opposed to die old style of "warehousing" receive their fortune, fourteen new pyra­ been constructed from the ground up large populations. Despite this more mids must be created and a total of 112 for studying , as the new humanized treatment, many patients additional members must be recruited. one will be. Schwartz said the Rhine nevertheless experienced acute episodes More often than not. before this happens, Research center is to parapsychology of relapse with increased symptoms, thus recruitment declines to nil and only the what St. Andrews is to golf. needing immediate treatment. The emer­ gency hospital emerged as an important few women in the top tiers have received There's even talk at Rhine of officially way to treat this need. dieir "gift." When all is said and done the joining forces with Duke again, through pyramid collapses, with many women los­ the Duke University Health System's My current job is as the night manager ing not only a substantial amount of Center for Integrative Medicine. in the crisis intake department, where I money but also peace of mind. "Thirty years ago, there was a huge take all emergency calls and begin pro­ —Amanda Chesworth chasm between parapsychology and cessing of incoming patients after mid­ standard biomedical research," the night until eight in die morning. I work Amanda Chesworth runs CSICOP's new newspaper quotes Martin J. Sullivan, with a wide range of staff, including psy­ Program. She lives in co-director of the Duke Center for chiatrists, nurses, and psych-technicians. I Albuquerque, New Mexico. Integrative Medicine, as saying. "The encounter many police officers who bring edges are blurring." in clients with mental symptoms for Critics of parapsychology say most involuntary treatment. Among die staff Rhine Research Center of the experiments conducted by J.B. and police officers, I regularly hear men­ Plans to Build a New Rhine and his associates in Durham tion of die full moon effect. These people believe that a full moon produces more Home in Durham starting in the late 1920s, arc, in retrospect, flawed, unreplicable, and incidents of mental crisis dian non-full moon days, as evidenced by one police inconclusive. But the article says many Parapsychology is going to get a new home. officer who recendy stated to me: "It is parapsychologists have moved past the That is, parapsychologists at the Rhine crazy out here. Tonight must be a full question of whether psi exists—they Research Center in Durham, North moon." In that case, he was about a week assume it docs—to the questions of how Carolina, named for J.B. Rhine, the so- short on his guess. called fadicr of parapsychology who con­ it works and what it can be used for. ducted his experiments in Durham, plan Said John Palmer, director of the Out of curiosity, I decided to run a to trade in the Colonial Revival-style Rhine Research Center, "We're very brief study on the full moon effect, if home they have occupied for forty years confident we're not wasting our time." any, on this hospital. I was aware that all for a new building constructed solely for serious, reputable studies done in the die study of psi phenomena. —Kendrick Frazier past show that diere is little or no

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER luly/August 2001 9 Fund Future CSICOP AT THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY Promote CSICOP

Using the Media & Telecommunications to Promote Science and Reason ^ The Fund for the Future is a capital campaign to provide CSICOP with the resources ^fc needed to more effectively influence media and public opinion. The 90s were defined bj a telecommunications revolution, along with an explosion of misinformation available to the scholar and citizen alike. The hunger for , pseudoscience, the paranormal and miraculous solutions has never been more acute. The Ten-Year Plan Contributions are needed for current priorities: • Increased media appearances by skeptical spokespersons • Press releases, opinion pieces and media alerts • Greater exposure through the Internet, including webcasting • National initiatives coordinated by the Council for Media Integrity Instructional materials introducing skepticism to elementary and secondary school students Video production How Can You Help? CSICOP has established its expertise and integrity. It's time to command more media attention and a larger audience. The Center for Inquiry Fund for the Future is about new methods of outreach and broader influence, and is driven by an ambitious ten-year strategic plan for growth. We depend on the support of readers and friends to continue leading the international . Gifts to the Fund for the Future provide the resources we need to respond to today's challenges. All gifts are gratefully accepted. The Fund for the Future welcomes gifts of encourage­ ment and major investments. Cash contributions and gifts of stock are needed for immediate growth and new initiatives. We also offer a range of planned giving opportunities, from bequests to assorted tax-advantaged trusts and pooled funds. Planned gifts support our work in the future and can provide an income stream for you and a beneficiary. You may also make a gift supporting the general , or establish a special purpose fund underwriting a long-term project that expresses your personal interests and commitment to skepticism. In today's stock market, gifts of highly appreciated securities offer particular advantages to the donor. When donating stock to a charitable organization, you avoid taxes and maximize the impact of the asset you are donating. Contact the Development Director at (716) 636-7571 to discuss accomplishing your philanthropic and financial goals and contributing to the Fund for the Future. CSICOP at the Center for Inquiry P.O. Box 703 Amherst, NY 142264)703 (716) 636-1425 ext. 311 BUI Nye "Tin Science Fax (716) 636-1733 iinii,".tin Nickell, and entertainer appear Council for Media Integrity on n radio slum: Formed just weeks after its inclusion in the Ten-Year Plan, the Council for Media Integrity monitors and challenges media programs that convey unfounded claims and mislead the public about science. Members include E. 0. Wilson, Stephen Jay Gould, and many others. CSICOP will invest in electronic infrastructure to facilitate rapid response to irresponsible programs.

Enhanced Library Resources The Center for Inquiry's skeptics' library—already the finest Co-chair of the Fund for the Future Campaign: above, of its kind in the world—needs additional funding to enlarge its author and critic Martin core collection and add electronic media. Worldwide modem access to Gardner. the library's catalog is already nearly complete.

Adult Education The Council cosponsors the Center for Inquiry Institute, which has already expanded its offerings to include a new three-year certificate program in science and skepticism. Courses are scheduled in Amherst, Los Angeles, and other cities.

Regional Outreach With the establishment of The Center for Inquiry-West (Los Angeles), The Center for Inquiry-Midwest (Kansas City) and The Center for Inquiry-Rockies (Boulder, Colorado), giant steps have been taken to enhance direct field service to skeptical activists. Additional regional centers are planned, with expanded calendars of activities.

Focusing Upon the Young To present the skeptical message more compelling!)' to the young, CSICOP will develop new materials— ranging from age-appropriate print publications to audio and video cassettes and instructional coursework. Coals include enhanced understanding of science and improved skills. NEWS AND COMMENT evidence to support a full moon effect light that Earth creatures , its Web by Kevin Christopher. on human behavior. (See I.W. Kelly, et ability to influence affairs of the heart and The table of contents of all issues of al., "The Moon Was Full and Nothing mind remains symbolic. This is not to say the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER are also avail­ Happened: A Review of Studies on die that symbols have no power to move able on the SI Web page. All back issues Moon and Human Behavior," SI 10 [2], human emotions or thoughts. Take the of SI are kept in print and any can be Winter 1985-86.) I was also aware, as I swastika, for example. The "twisted cross" ordered through a link on the index had studied extensively, that in the hands of the Nazis transformed home page, or at www.csicop.org/si many astrologers believe that the full from a symbol of well-being in ancient /back-issues.html, or by calling 1-800- moon effect carries over a three-day India or the Buddhist symbol of limitless- 634-1610. This is the same number for period that includes the days before and ness and eternity later in China to one of ordering subscriptions. after a full moon. What I chose to do fascist and racist ideology. Nazis also was examine the numbers of admissions attributed occult power to the swastika, —Kendrick Frazier over a twenty-six-month period at this not unlike astrologers attribute occult hospital, because increased admission power to the moon. I think it is this attri­ activity correlates nicely with what most bution of occult or magical power that believers in the full moon effect expect. fascinates the average believer in full Believers as well as many patients I moon effects. Though the believers swear encounter tend to think that mental they experience an increase in activity in a health consumers are particularly sensi­ mental hospital, the do not support tive to the full moon. I recorded results their perceptions. for both the full moon days as well as for the three-day sequence of alleged "moon —Joe Szimhart power," and I calculated the average Joe Szimhart is a cult expert, artist, and days admissions over that period. psychiatric hospital staff member who lives Over the study period, this hospital in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. was considered full with sixty-three patients and averaged over fifty patients per day. The average length of stay was around eight days. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER The study period was from January 25-Year Index Now Lack of UFOs Shuts 1999 through February 2001, or twenty Down British Flying six full moons and months. Full moons Available Online were recorded according to the Old Saucer Bureau A twenty-five-year index to all issues of Farmer's Almanac, eastern standard the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, volumes 1-25, "The British Flying Saucer Bureau, time. The results are: 1976—2001, is now available and on­ which has been hunting for extraterres­ Total admissions on full moon days = line. You can access it at CSICOP's trial activity for a half a century, has 158 with 6.0 as the average. Web site www.csicop.org. Go to the closed," according to an Australian Total admissions over a three-day period of full moon = 492 with 6.3 as SKEPTICAL INQUIRER home page and Associated Press report published in the the average. click on "Complete Index to Articles." Morning Herald on April 23. Average admissions per day (188 aver­ Or go straight to the index at www. The bureau, which at one time age per month divided by 30.2) = csicop.org/si/index/. It will be periodi­ boasted 1,500 members worldwide, has 6.23. (There were 4,888 admissions cally revised and updated. over the years received weekly reports during the 26-month period.) A subject index has been completed listing up to thirty UFO sightings. These Once again, statistics show that die first. You can click on any letter of the days there are rarely any such reports, full moon period over time is not extra­ alphabet to find subjects beginning with and the bureau's monthly meetings have ordinary at a psychiatric emergency hos­ that letter. Each entry gives the title, now been scrapped because of lack of pital. In fact, it is quite normal. author, volume number, issue number, participants. Denis Plunkett, who was a This brief, informal study also and inclusive pagination. Indexes for co-founder of the bureau in 1953, says demonstrates that the full moon's power authors and reviews will be following UFO sightings are in the middle of a is primarily aesthetic in human affairs, later this year. long trough. He says there are not not unlike any other common symbol. The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER'S Complete enough sightings to warrant continuing. Though the moon has power as a force in Online Index was compiled and indexed nature over tides and the amount of night by Andrew Lutes and adapted for the —Kendrick Frazier

12 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NOTES Of A FRINGE-WATCHER MARTIN GARDNER

A Skeptical Look at Karl Popper

Sir Karl Popper A familiar example of falsification was "How can induction be justified?" It Perpetrated a whopper concerns the assertion that all crows are can't be, said Popper, because there is no When he boasted to the world that he black. Every find of another black crow such thing as induction! and he alone obviously confirms the theory, but diere There are many objections to this star­ Had toppled from his tling claim. One is that falsifications are throne. much rarer in science than searches for confirming instances. look —a clerihew by Armand T. Ringer for signs of water on Mars. They do not think they are making efforts to falsify ir Karl Popper, who died in 1994, the conjecture that Mars never had water. was widely regarded as England's Falsifications can be as fuz?.y and Sgreatest philosopher of science elusive as confirmations. Einstein's first since , indeed a philoso­ cosmological model was a universe as pher of worldwide eminence. Today his static and unchanging as 's. followers among philosophers of science Unfortunately, the gravity of suns are a diminishing minority, convinced would make such a universe unstable. that Popper's vast reputation is enor­ It would collapse. To prevent this, mously inflated. Einstein, out of thin air, proposed the 1 agree. I believe that Popper's reputa­ bold conjecture that the universe, tion was based mainly on his persistent on its pre-atomic level, harbored a but misguided efforts to restate common- mysterious, undetected repulsive force sense views in a novel language that is he called the "cosmological constant." rapidly out of fashion. Karl Popper When it was discovered that the uni­ Consider Popper's best known claim: verse is expanding, Einstein considered that science does not proceed by "induc­ is always die possibility that a non-black his conjecture falsified. Indeed, he tion"—that is, by finding confirming crow will turn up. If this happens, die called it "the greatest blunder of my instances of a conjecture—but rather by conjecture is instantly discredited. The life." Today, his conjecture is back in falsifying bold, risky conjectures. more often a conjecture passes efforts to favor as a way of explaining why Confirmation, he argued, is slow and falsify it. Popper maintained, die greater the universe seems to be expanding never certain. By contrast, a falsification becomes its "corroboration," although faster than it should. Astronomers are can be sudden and definitive. Moreover, it corroboration is also uncertain and can not trying to falsify it; they arc looking lies at die heart of the . never be quantified by a degree of proba­ for confirmations. bility. Popper's critics insist that "corrob­ Falsification may be based on faulty Martin Gardner collaborated with oration" b a form of induction, and . A man who claims he saw a Carnap on a book currently available as a Popper has simply sneaked induction in white crow could be mistaken or even Dover paperback titled Introduction to through a back door by giving it a new lying. As long as of black the . name. 's famous question crows continue, it can be taken in two

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 13 ways: as confirmations of "all crows are made rafts of successful predic­ notion of what the American philoso­ black," or disconfirmations of "some tions but explained data previously un­ pher Charles Peirce called the "fallibil- crows are not black." Popper recognized, explained. The same is true of quantum ism" of science goes back to ancient but dismissed as unimportant, that mechanics. In both fields researchers Greek skeptics, and is taken for granted every falsification of a conjecture is used classical induction procedures. by almost all later thinkers. simultaneously a confirmation of an Few physicists say they are looking for In Quantum Theory and the Schism in opposite conjecture, and every confirm­ ways to falsify superstring theory. They Physics (1982) Popper defends at length ing instance of a conjecture is a falsifica­ are instead looking for confirmations. his "propensity theory" of probability. A tion of an opposite conjecture. , Columbia University's perfect die, when tossed, has die propen­ Consider the current hypothesis diat famous philosopher of science, in his sity to show each face widi equal probabil­ there is a quantum field called die Higgs Teleology Revisited and Other Essays in ity. Basic particles, when measured, have a field, with its quantized particle. If a giant the Philosophy and propensity to acquire, with specified prob­ atom smasher some day, perhaps soon, (1979), summed it up this way: abilities, such properties as position, detects a Higgs, it will confirm die con­ "[Popper's] conception of the role of fal­ momentum, spin and so on. Here again jecture that the field exists. At the same sification ... is an oversimplification Popper is introducing a new term which time it will falsify the opinion of some that is close to being a caricature of sci­ says nothing different from what can be top physicists, Oxford's Roger Penrose entific procedures." better said in conventional terminology. for one, that there is no Higgs field. For Popper, what his chief rival In my opinion Popper's most To scientists and philosophers out­ Rudolf Carnap called a "degree of con­ impressive work, certainly his best side the Popperian fold, science operates firmation"—a logical relation between a known, was his two-volume The Open mainly by induction (confirmation), conjecture and all relevant evidence—is Society and Its Enemies (1945). Its but also and less often by disconfirma- a useless concept. Instead, as I said ear­ central theme, that open democratic tion (falsification). Its language is almost lier, the more tests for falsification a the­ societies are far superior to closed total­ always one of induction. If Popper bet ory passes, the more it gains in "corrob­ itarian regimes, especially Marxist ones, on a certain horse to win a race, and the oration." It's as if someone claimed that was hardly new, but Popper defends it horse won, you would not expect him to deduction doesn't exist, but of course with powerful arguments and awesome shout, "Great! My horse failed to lose!" statements can logically imply other erudition. In later books he attacks Astronomers are now finding com­ statements. Let's invent a new term for what he calls "historicism," the belief pelling evidence that smaller and smaller deduction, such as "justified ." that there are laws of historical change planets orbit distant suns. Surely this is It's not so much that Popper disagreed that enable one to predict humanity's inductive evidence that there may be with Carnap and other inductivists as future. The future is unpredictable, Earth-sized planets out there. Why bother that he restated their views in a bizarre Popper argued, because we have free to say, as each new and smaller planet is and cumbersome terminology. wills. Like William James, Popper was discovered, that it tends to falsify the con­ To Popper's credit he was, like an indeterminist who saw history as a jecture that there are no small planets Russell, and almost all philosophers, series of unforeseeable events. In later beyond our solar system? Why scratch scientists, and ordinary people, a thor­ years he liked to distinguish between your left ear with your right hand? oughgoing realist in the sense that he what he called three "worlds"—the Astronomers are looking for small plan­ believed the universe, with all its intri­ external physical universe, the inner ets. They are not trying to refute a theory cate and beautiful mathematical struc­ world of the mind, and the world of any more than physicists are trying to tures, was "out there," independent of culture. Like Carnap and other mem­ refute the conjecture that there is no our feeble minds. In no way can the bers of the Vienna Circle, he had no use Higgs field. Scientists seldom attempt to laws of science be likened to traffic reg­ for God or an . falsify. They are inductivists who seek pos­ ulations or fashions in dress that vary Karl Raimund Popper was born in itive confirmations. with time and place. Popper would Vienna in 1902 where he was also edu­ At the moment the wildest of all have been as appalled as Russell by the cated. His parents were Jewish, his speculations in physics is superstring crazy views of today's social construc- father a wealthy attorney, his mother a theory. It conjectures that all basic tivists and postmodernists, most of pianist. For twenty years he was a pro­ particles are different vibrations of them French or American professors of fessor of and scientific method at extremely tiny loops of great tensile literature who know almost nothing the London School of . In strength. No superstring has yet been about science. 1965 he was knighted by the Crown. observed, but the theory has great Scholars unacquainted with the his­ I am convinced that Popper, a man . Gravity, for exam­ tory of philosophy often credit Popper of enormous egotism, was motivated by ple, is implied as the simplest vibration for being the first to point out that sci­ an intense jealousy of Carnap. It seems of a superstring. Like , expla­ ence, unlike math and logic, is never nation is an important aspect of induc­ absolutely certain. It is always corrigible, NOTES OF A FRINGE-WATCHER tion. Relativity, for instance, not only subject to perpetual modification. This Continued on page 72

14 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER INVESTIGATIVE FILES JOE NICKELL

Tracking the Swamp Monsters

o mysterious and presumab­ told his story on an episode of the 1970s happened—with gun and camera. He ly endangered manlike crea­ television series In Search of... . did supposedly find several, different- Dtures inhabit swamplands of According to his granddaughter, Dana sized tracks on one hunting trip. He also the southern United States? If not, Holyfield (1999a, 11): claimed to have seen the monster on one how do we explain the sightings and other occasion, during a fishing trip When the documentary was first tele­ even track impressions of creatures vised, it was monster mania around with Mills and some of their friends that thus far have eluded mainstream here. People called from everywhere. from work. One of the men reportedly science? Do they represent additional . .. The legend of the Honey Island then went searching for the creature Swamp Monster escalated across evidence of the legendary or witfr a rifle and fired two shots at it be­ Southern and quickly made something else entirely? What would its way out of state after the docu­ fore returning to tell his story to the oth­ an investigation reveal? mentary aired nationwide. ers around the campfire (Holyfield 1999a, 10-15). Monster Mania Harlan Ford continued to search for Searching for Evidence The outside world learned about the monster until his death in 1980. Louisiana's Honey Island Swamp Dana recalls how he once took a goat Intrigued by the monster reports, which Monster in 1974 when two hunters into the swamp to use as bait, hop­ I pursued on a trip to emerged from a remote area of backwa­ ing to lure the creature to a tree blind (speaking to local skeptics at the plane­ ter sloughs with plaster casts of "unusual where Ford waited—uneventfully, as it tarium in Kenner), I determined to visit tracks." The men claimed they discov­ ered the footprints near a wild boar that lay with its tiiroat gashed. They also stated dial over a decade earlier, in 1963, they had seen similar tracks after encountering an awesome creature. They described it as standing seven feet tall, being covered with grayish hair, and having large amber-colored eyes. However, the monster had promptly run away and an afternoon rainstorm had obliterated its tracks, the men said. The hunters were Harlan E. Ford and his friend Billy Mills, both of whom worked as air-traffic controllers. Ford

Joe Nickel! is CSICOP's Senior Research Fellow and author of numerous investiga­ tive books. Figure 1. Louisiana's pristine Honey Island Swamp is the alleged habitat of a manlike monster.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 15 the alleged creature's habitat. The claims is naturalist John V. Dennis. In 2). It is clearly not the track of a stereo­ Honey Island Swamp (figure 1) com­ his comprehensive book The Great typical Bigfoot (or sasquatch) whose prises nearly 70,000 acres between the Cypress Swamps (1988), he writes: footprints are "roughly human in de­ East Pearl and West Pearl rivers. I signed "Honey Island has achieved fame of sign," according to anthropologist and on with Honey Island Swamp Tours, sorts because of the real or imagined pro-Bigfoot theorist Grover Krantz which is operated out of Slidell, presence of a creature that fits the (1992, 17). Instead, Ford's monster Louisiana, by wetlands ecologist Paul description of the Big Foot of movie tracks are webbed-toe imprints that Wagner and his wife, Sue. Their "small, renown. Known as the Thing, the crea­ appear to be "a cross between a primate personalized nature tours" live up to ture is sometimes seen by fishermen." and a large alligator" (Holyfield 1999a, their billing as explorations of "the However, he says, "For my part, let me 9). The track is also surprisingly small: deeper, harder-to-reach small bayous say that in my many years of visiting only about nine and three-fourths and sloughs" of "one of the wildest and swamps, many of them as wild or wilder inches long compared to Bigfoot tracks most pristine river swamps in America" than Honey Island, I have never which average about fourteen to sixteen ("Dr. Wagner's" n.d.). obtained a glimpse of anything vaguely inches (Coleman and Clark 1999, 14), The Wagners are ambivalent about resembling Big Foot, nor have I ever with tracks of twenty inches and more the supposed swamp monster's exis­ seen suspicious-looking footprints." He reported (Coleman and Huyghe 1999).' tence. They have seen alliga­ tors, deer, otters, bobcats, and Monsterlands numerous other species but Clearly, the Honey Island not a trace of the legendary Swamp Monster is not a Big­ creature (Wagner 2000). The foot, a fact that robs Ford's and same is true of the Wagners' Mills's story of any credibility Cajun guide, Captain Robbie it might have had from that Charbonnet. Beginning at age association. Monster popular­ eight, he has had forty-five izes instead equate the Honey years' experience, eighteen as a Island reports with other guide, in the Honey Island "North American 'Creatures of Swamp. He told me he had the Black Lagoon' cases," pur­ "never seen or heard" some­ ported evidence of cryptozoo- thing he could not identify, Figure 2. This plaster cast preserves an alleged Honey Island logical entities dubbed "fresh­ certainly nothing that could Swamp Monster track. (Photos by Joe Nickel!) water Merbeings" (Coleman be attributed to a monster and Huyghe 1999, 39, 62). (Charbonnet 2000). concludes, "Honey Island, in my experi­ These are supposedly linked by tracks Suiting action to words throughout ence, does not live up to its reputation as with three toes, although Ford's casts ac­ our tour, Charbonnet repeatedly iden­ a scary place." tually exhibit four (again see figure 2). tified species after species in the remote In contrast to the lack of monster In short, the alleged monster is unique, swampland as he skillfully threaded his experiences from swamp are rare even among creatures whose exis­ boat through the cypresses and tupelos die encounters reported by Harlan Ford tence is unproven and unlikely. hung with Spanish moss. Although the and Billy Mills. Those alleged eyewit­ Footprints and other specific details cool weather had pushed 'gators to the nesses are, in investigators' parlance, "re­ aside, the Honey Island Swamp Monster depths, he heralded turtles, great blue peaters"—people who claim unusu­ seems part of a genre of mythic swamp- herons, and other wildlife. From only a al experiences on multiple occasions. dwelling "beastmen" or "manimals." glimpse of its silhouetted form he spot­ (Take Bigfoot hunter Roger Patterson They include the smelly and ted a , then carefully maneu­ for example. Before shooting his contro­ the hybrid Gatorman of die Florida vered for a closer view. He called atten­ versial film sequence of a hairy man- Everglades and other southern swamps; tion to the singing of robins, who were beast in 1967, Patterson was a longtime the Scape Ore Swamp Lizardman of gathering there for the winter, and Bigfoot buff who had "discovered" the South Carolina; Momo, the Missouri pointed to signs of other creatures, alleged creature's tracks on several occa­ Monster; and, among odiers, the Fouke including freshly cut branches pro­ sions [Bord and Bord 1982, 80].) Ford's Monster, which peeked in the window duced by beavers and, in the mud, and Mills's multiple sightings and dis­ of a home in Fouke, Arkansas, one night tracks left by a wild boar. But there was coveries seem suspiciously lucky, and in 1971 and set off a rash of monster not a trace of the swamp monster. (The suspicions are increased by other evi­ sightings (Blackman 1998, 23-25, closest I came was passing an idle boat dence, including die tracks. 30-33, 166-168; Bord and Bord 1982, at Indian Village Landing emblazoned From Dana Holyfield I obtained a 104-105; Coleman and Clark 1999, "Swamp Monster Tours.") plaster copy of one of the several track 224-226; Coleman and Huyghe 1999, Another who is skeptical of monster casts made by her grandfather (figure 39, 56).

16 July/AugusI 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Considering this genre, we must ask: Monster and similar entities. He O'Lantcrn, a malevolent spirit who lures Why swamps and why monsters? thought that frightening stories might humans into dangerous swampland with Swamps represent remote, unexplored have been concocted on occasion to his mesmerizing lantern, as well as the regions, which have traditionally been keep outsiders away—perhaps to pro­ Loup Garou (a ) and the zom­ the domain of legendary creatures. As tect prime hunting areas or even help bies (not the relatively harmless "Voodoo the noted Smithsonian Institution biol­ safeguard moonshine stills. He also Zombies" but the horrific "Flesh Eaters") ogist John Napier (1973, 23) sagely ob­ theorized that such tales might have (Blackman 1998, 171-209). served, monsters "hail from uncharted served in a sort of bogeyman fashion By extension, swamp creatures are territory: inaccessible mountains, im­ to frighten children from wandering also ideal subjects for horror fiction. penetrable forests, remote Pacific is­ into remote, dangerous areas. (Indeed The Fouke monster sightings, for exam­ lands, the depths of loch or ocean. . .. The essential element of the monster myth is remoteness." Many alleged paranormal entities appear to stem Echoing Napier in discussing one reported Honey Island Swamp either from mankind's hopes or fears—thus are encounter, John V. Dennis (1988) envisioned and demons—and some entities states: "In many cases, sightings such as this one are inspired by traditions that may evoke a range of responses. go back as far as Indian days. If a region is wild and inaccessible and has a history of encounters with strange forms of life, he mentioned how when he was a ple, inspired the horror movie The chances are that similar encounters will youngster in the 1950s an uncle Legend of Boggy Creek. That 1972 occur again—or at least be reported." would tell him about a frightening fig­ thriller became a box-office hit, spawn­ And while the major purported domain ure—a sort of horror-movie type with ing a sequel and many imitations. of Bigfoot is the Pacific northwest, one leg, a mutilated face, etc.—that About the same time (1972) there Krantz (1992, 199) observes: "Many of would "get" him if he strayed into the emerged a popular comic book series the more persistent eastern reports come swampy wilderness.) titled Swamp Thing, featuring a meta­ from low-lying and/or swampy lands of Like any such bogeyman, the Honey morphosing man-monster from a Loui­ the lower Mississippi and other major Island Swamp Monster is also good for siana swamp. Interestingly, these popu­ river basins." gratuitous campfire chills. "A group of larized monsters predated the 1974 claims of Ford and Mills. (Recall that But why does belief in monsters per­ men were sitting around the campfire their alleged earlier encounter of 1963 sist? According to one source, monsters along the edge of the Pearl River," had not been reported.) appear in every culture and are "born ins one narrative, "telling stories out of the unknown and nurtured by about that thing in the swamp . , ." the unexplained" (Guenette and (Holyfield 1999b). A song, "The Honey The Track Makers Guenette 1975). Many alleged paranor­ Island Swamp Monster" (written by While swamp monsters and other man- mal entities appear to stem either from Perry Ford, n.d.), is in a similar vein: beasts are not proven to exist, hoaxers mankind's hopes or fears—thus are en­ "Late at night by a dim fire light, / You certainly are. Take, for example, Bigfoot visioned angels and demons—and some people best beware. / He's standing in tracks reported by berry pickers near entities may evoke a range of responses. the shadows, / Lurking around out Mount St. Helens, Washington, in 1930. Monsters, for example, may intrigue us there. . . ." The monster has even been Nearly half a century later, a retired log­ with their unknown aspect as well as referred to specifically as "The boogie ger came forward to pose with a set of provoke terror. We may be especially man" and "that booger" (Holyfield "bigfeet" that he had carved and that a interested in man-beasts, given what 1992a, 14). "Booger" is a dialect form of friend had worn to produce the fake psychologist Robert A. Baker (1995) monster tracks (Dennett 1982). Among observes is our strong tendency to bogey, and deliberately scary stories are many similar hoaxes were at least seven endow tilings with human characteris­ sometimes known as "'booger' tales" tics. Hence, angels are basically our bet­ (Cassidy 1985). perpetrated in the early 1970s by one ter selves with wings; extraterrestrials are Suitable subjects for booger tales are Ray Pickens of Chehalis, Washington. humanoids from futuristic worlds; and numerous Louisiana swamp and bayou He carved primitive seven-by-eighteen- Bigfoot and his ilk seem linked to our terrors, many of diem die products of inch feet and attached them to hiking evolutionary past. Cajun folklore. One is the Letiche, a boots. Pickens (1975) said he was moti­ ghoulish creature that was supposedly an vated "not to fool the scientists, but to Monsters may play various roles in abandoned, illegitimate child who was fool the monster-hunters" who he felt re­ our lives. My Cajun guide, Robbie reared by alligators, and now has scaly garded people like him as "hicks." Other Charbonnet, offered some interesting skin, webbed hands and feet, and lumi­ motivation, according to monster hunter ideas about the Honey Island Swamp nous green eyes. Then there is Jack Peter Byrne (1975), stems from the

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 17 "extraordinary psychology of people and Carl Dubois, reported sighting a from the Center for Inquiry, Director of wanting to get their names in the paper, hairy man-beast in a cypress swamp Libraries Tim Binga, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER people wanting a little publicity, wanting called Boggy Bayou in the central part Managing Editor Ben Radford, and—for conceiving of and arranging the multi-state to be noticed." of die state. Giant four-toed tracks and "southern tour" lecture series that took me to Were Harlan Ford's and Billy Mills's hair samples were discovered at the site, Louisiana—CSICOP Executive Director monster claims similarly motivated? and soon others came forward to say Barry Karr. Thanks again also to Ranjit Dana Holyfield (1999a, 5-6) says of her they too had seen a similar creature. Sandhu for manuscript assistance. Note 1. Ahhough Harlan Ford obtained tracks of various sizes, a photo of his mounted casts (Holyfield 1999a, 10) makes it possible to com­ Giant four-toed tracks and hair samples pare them with his open hand which touches the display and thus gives an approximate scale, rhis were discovered at the site, and soon shows all arc relatively small. The one I obtained from Holyfield is consistent with the larger ones. others came forward to say they too had seen a similar creature. References Baker, Robert A. 1995. Afterword to Nickell 1995. 275-285. Blackman, W. Haden. 1998. The Field Guide to North American Monsters. New York: Three Rivers Press. grandfather: "Harlan wasn't a man to However, there were grounds for suspi­ Blanchard, Kevin. 2000. Bigfoot sighting in La.? make up something like that. He was cion: twenty-five years earlier (i.e., not Baton Rouge, La., The Advocate. August 29. Bord, Janet, and Colin Bord. 1982. The Bigfoot down to earth and honest and told it die long after the 1974 Honey Island Casebook. Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpolc Books. way it was and didn't care if people be­ Swamp Monster reports), Whitstines Burdeau, Cain. 2000. Many in central La. fear lieved him or not." But even a basically father and some friends had sawed giant Bigfoot. Baton Rouge, la.. The Advocate. Sep­ tember 15. honest person, who would not do some­ foot shapes from plywood and produced Byrne. Peter. 1975. Quoted in Guenette and thing overtly dastardly or criminal, might fake monster tracks in the woods of a Guenette 1975.81. engage in something that he considered nearby parish. Cassidy, Frederick G., cd. 1985. Dictionary of relatively harmless and that would add American Regional English. Cambridge. Mass.: On September 13, 2000, laboratory Belknap Press, 1: 333-334. zest to life. I believe the evidence strong­ tests of the hair from the Boggy Bayou Charbonnet, Robbie. 2000. Interview by Joe ly indicates that Ford and Mills did just creature revealed that it was not Nickell, December 4. that. To sum up, diere are the men's sus­ Coleman. Loren, and Jerome Clark. 1999. Gigantopithecus blacki (a scientific name A to Z New York: Fireside piciously repeated sighting reports and for sasquatch proposed by Krantz (Simon & Schuster). alleged track discoveries, together with (1992, 1931), but much closer to Booger Coleman, Loren, and Patrick Huyghe. 1999. The the incongruent mixing of a Bigfoot-type Field Guide to Bigfoot. . and Other Mystery louisiani (my term for the legendary Primates Worldwide. New York: Avon. 14-19. creature with most un-Bigfoodike feet, swamp bogeyman). It proved actually to Dennett. Michael. 1982. Bigfoot jokester reveals plus die fact diat the proffered evidence is be from Equus caballus (a horse), where­ punchline—finally. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER 7.1 not only of a type that could easily be (Fall): 8-9. upon the local sheriff's department Dennis, John V. 1988. The Great Cypress Swamps. faked but often has been. In addition, the promptly ended its investigation Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. men's claims exist in a context of swamp- (Blanchard 2000; Burdeau 2000). 27, 108-109. manimal mythology diat has numerous "Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours, Inc." Reportedly, Harlan Ford believed the N.d. Advertising flier, Slidell, La. antecedent elements in folklore and fic­ swamp monsters "were probably on the Ford, Perry. N.d. "The Honey Island Swamp tion. Taken together, die evidence sug­ verge of extinction" (Holyfield 1999a, Monster." Song text in Holyfield 1999b. 13. gests a common hoax. Guenette, Robert, and Frances Guenette. 1975. 10). Certainly he did much to further The Mysterious Monsters. Los Angeles, Calif: Certainly, in die wake of the monster their cause. It seems likely that—as long Sun Classic Pictures. mania Ford helped inspire, much hoax­ as there are suitably remote habitats and Holyfield, Dana. 1999a. Encounters with the Honey Island Swamp Monster. Pearl River. La.: ing resulted. States Holyfield (1999a, other essentials (such as campfires Honey Island Swamp Books. 11): "Then diere were the monster im­ around which to tell tales, and good or . 1999b. More Swamp Cookin with the River personators who made fake bigfoot boys looking for their fifteen-minutes of People. Pearl River, La.: Honey Island Swamp Books. shoes and tromped through the swamp. fame)—the legendary creatures will Krantz. Grovcr. 1992. Big Footprints: A Scientific This went on for years. Harlan didn't continue to proliferate. Inquiry into the Reality of Sasquatch. Boulder. worry about the jokers because he Colorado: Johnson Books. Acknowledgments Nickell. Joe. 1995. Entities: Angels. Spirits. knew the ." Be that as it may, Demons, and Other Alien . Amherst, In addition to those mentioned in the text, I swamp-monster hoaxes—and apparent N.Y.: . am grateful to several people for their assis­ hoaxes—con ti n ue. Pickens, Ray. 1975. Quoted in Guenette and tance: From Louisiana, William Sierichs Jr., Guenette 1975, 80. A few months before I arrived in James F. Cherry M.D., and Kenner Wagner. Sue. 2000. Interview by Joe Nickell. Louisiana, two loggers. Earl Whitstine Planetarium Director Michael Sandras; and December 4. D

IS July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS ROBERT SHEAFFER

UFOs Sink Mir into the Ocean while the Alien Choir Sings On

inally someone has figured out the world as if they were singing Christmas and address of [the] photographer are real reason that the Russians have carols. According to Alien Abduction being withheld." Fditched space station Mir into the Experience and Research, "This photo­ Joseph Trainor's UFO Roundup relays ocean: to help keep the lid on the Great graph shows a group of six aliens stand­ a Reptoid sighting from a Mexican UFO Cover-up. UFOlogist Andy Lloyd ing on a garage roof in Alabama. The UFO group. Two policemen were explains that "NASA and the U.S. aliens are facing in one direction reportedly on patrol near the thermo­ Government want to steer clear of space towards a hovering ball of light, from electric plant in Rosarito, Baja tourism in a very, very big way" which another alien appears to be California, at 3:17 one morning when (www.ufos-aliens.co.uk/cosmic "they saw what appeared to be mir.html). Therefore, the U.S. a reptilian creature walking on government pressured the Russ­ the beach with a black suit on ians into sinking Mir because and with glaring red eyes." That "Space tourists are for more likely would bring the creature quite to honestly describe what they're close to the U.S. border, and seeing and experiencing in orbit. it will be interesting to see if In other words, their presence in the glowing creatures being orbit would bring unauthorized sighted throughout the Baja can and uncontrolled civilians into pass through U.S. Customs. direct contact with what many of Unfortunately, the incident is reported to have taken place on us believe is happening up there. Russian Space Station Mir. before it burned up return- The February 29, 2001, which causes They will tell the world about the mtj to Earth. anomalous activity that routinely us to have some doubts about it. seems to 'buzz' our space platforms in descending (see www.abduct.com/pho- Trainor also tells us of some strange orbit. Perhaps they will return with tos/pn007.htm). This September 29, goings-on at Concordia College in rural photos and camcorder images. Such 2000, photograph was taken after the Moorehead, Minnesota: "Hoyum Hall, access to the events fleeting glimpsed on witness saw a movement and heard a one of the girls' dorms at Concordia, secret NASA transmissions would sound like 'humming electric lines." appears to be home to a colony of become a major tourist attraction, and Having seen and heard UFOs before, Reptoids." Supposedly it has been nick­ blow the lid off the whole UFO phe­ the witness knew to take a picture," named "Reptoid Hall" because of the nomenon." Aha, now we understand! which is very fortunate—had the pho­ many creatures allegedly reported there, As if this were not exciting enough, a tographer not had such keen UFO dating back to the 1980s, although the photographer has captured on film an knowledge, he might have concluded name "Hokum Hall" might seem more entire "alien choir," looking for all the that alien choirs were an everyday occur­ appropriate. Unlike the Mexican ETs, rence. The "choir" looks like a blurry these creatures apparently do not glow, Robert Sheaffer's World Wide Web page for photo of someone's lighted outdoor but they have reptilian skin, only three UFOs and other skeptical subjects is at display of Christmas carolers. fingers, and like to play pranks on www. . com. Unfortunately for science, "the name women in varying states of undress.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 19 Back on Mars, die most recent "anom­ apiece for the privilege of gawking at cir­ ship's walls seem to fade away, and found aly" to be reported in the Mars Online cles trampled out by hoaxers the night himself apparently sitting out in the mid­ Gazette is a supposed "Mama-Wing before. If this year the British economy dle of space. In Heinlein's description, a Aircraft" that seems to have gotten itself suffers the loss of income not only from "spherical room" contained chairs with snared in a Martian sand dune. See raising cattle, but from tourism "high supporting sides, or arms" having www.electricwarrior.com/moI/Mars as well, it will be a serious blow indeed. controls built into them. When the pro­ OnlineGazett.htm for more information. In Scotland, the town of Bonnybridge tagonist sat in them, "die mirrored stars But on Earth, Malin Space Science is a local UFO hotspot, claiming more looked down on him ... he hung alone in Systems, which operates the cameras on the UFO sightings than anywhere else in the the center of the stellar universe." Pflock Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, has world (a claim that many other localities lists quite a number of parallels between released a new set of high-resolution images would no doubt contest). Local council­ the two accounts, which seems to quite of the Cydonia region, which represent all man Billy Buchanan knows a good thing definitely show that Walton "borrowed" images taken thus far (see www.msss. when he sees it, and the BBC has at least pan of his spaceship narrative com/mars_images/moc/01 _31 _0 l_release reported on his plans to set up from Heinlein. The primary difference in s/cydonia/index.html). The "Face on Mars" Bonnybridge as a sister city to Roswell, diese two accounts would seem to be that doesn't look anything like a face in the lat­ New Mexico (see http://news.bbc.CO. Heinlein freely admitted that his story est images, but that won't stop anyone from uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_ 1022 was fiction. Pflock corresponded with trotting out the same tired old claims. 000/1022712.stm). "We in Bonnybridge Wilton on a number of issues, and found In San Leandro, California (near have an affinity with Roswell, and the him more than willing to answer ques­ Oakland), the Wizard Brewery has come common denominator is UFOs," he said. tions about other aspects of his supposed up with an out-of-this-world brew— "The cultural, tourist, social and eco­ "abduction," but Walton refused all com­ Crop Sector Ale, "the highly unusual beer nomic advantages would be tremendous ment on the Heinlein similarities. for the area." He also said that an Anglo- made from crop circle barley." It is har­ • * * vested from the fields of Alton Barnes, American company was planning to visit East Field, England, where allegedly the area to present plans for a £20 million UFOIogists have long cited Officer extraterrestrial crop circles are said to turn UFO-related theme park. Apparent­ Lonnie Zamora's report of a landed vehi­ up all the time. According to the adver­ ly dear old Nessie hasn't been bringing cle and occupants in Socorro, New tising flyer, the brewer found that this in enough tourists of late, and Mr. Mexico, on April 24, 1964, as among the malted barley possessed some remarkable Buchanan has great hopes that UFOs very strongest pieces of UFO evidence. properties, so he sent it off for analysis to may reverse Scotland's tourist decline: The local police officer was chasing a the Malting Science Division at the "There has been a lot of discussion lately speeder when he reports that he heard a University of California-Davis. Sup­ about the tourism situation in Scotland loud roar, then saw a flame in the sky, posedly they found it was high in sele­ and how it is diminishing with the estab­ which was difficult to see because he was nium, which when mixed with the lished tourist sights that we have. We looking toward the Sun. Catching a chromium in brewer's yeast created a mix have got to move forward and regenerate glimpse of the landed object in the gaps that was too strong to ferment correctly. and I think this could be the way forward between some small hills, Zamora claims The proportions of the mix have now for a theme scenario in the central belt to have seen two beings in garb resem­ been adjusted correctly to account for of Scotland." bling white coveralls who presumably extraterrestrial influences, and the result Meanwhile, UFOIogist Karl Pflock scampered back into their vehicle, which is said to be that "with all the from has an article in the January 2001 Fortean he observed taking off. The object the beginning of the grain through the Times noting how certain descriptive ele­ reportedly left behind some irregularly- brewing process, we know this new style ments in Travis Walton's "classic" UFO spaced indentations in the ground, and ale is sure to please even the most skepti­ abduction story from 1975 (made famous scorched shrubbery. Skeptics have long cal amongst us!" I'll drink to diat. by the movie Fire in the Sky) appear to suggested that the incident was a hoax, Unfortunately, knowledgeable sources have been borrowed heavily from Robert intended to bring tourists into town, are now warning that this year's tourist Heinlein's equally "classic" science fiction a suggestion bolstered by the way that season for crop circle watchers may be novelette Universe, first published in the New Mexican towns of Roswell hampered, if not eliminated, by the farm­ 1941 and widely reprinted since then. In and Aztec are today successfully milk­ ers' very legitimate concerns over foot- The Travis Walton Experience, the cele­ ing dubious UFO tales. Now UFO and-mouth disease. With this highly brated abductee tells of breaking free from skeptic Larry Robinson, Systems/Applica­ communicable livestock virus, capable of his captors after his examination and tions Programmer at Indiana University, being carried on die shoes or clothing of exploring the saucer. Walton claims to has suggested the intriguing possibility unsuspecting persons, many farmers are have found "a round room" that appeared that what Zamora saw, and reported understandably unwilling to have hordes to be die ship's control room, in svhich he of strangers tramping through their fields, sat down at a high-backed chair with con­ PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS even if diey do pay a couple pounds trols built into its arms. Then he saw the Continued on page 62

20 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER COMMENTARY

Polygraphs and the National Labs Dangerous Ruse Undermines National Security

ALAN P. ZELICOFF

n ancient Rome, emperors would die intestines of chickens and men. It was measurements of blood pressure. A few divine trudi by reading the entrails of a brutal approach, and not at all effective. other bells and whisdes were added over Ianimals or vanquished foes. The In the end, we all know what happened time, but for all intents and purposes twists and turns of the digestive guts held to die Roman Empire. the polygraph has remained unchanged secrets that only "experts" could see. No Today, under the mandate of the over die past eighty-five years. Marston self-respecting general would take his Congress and in the name of "national went on to gain fame not as the inven­ legions into batde before seeking die wis­ security," the U.S. Department of tor of die polygraph, but from die car­ dom of die shamans who predicted the Energy (DOE) is using much the same toon character he created: Wonder battle's outcome from die appearance of technique with a little box wired to Woman, who snapped a lasso that unwary subjects: the polygraph. The corralled evildoers and forced them to polygraph has its own colorful history, tell the truth. not unlike its Roman predecessor. In Perhaps polygraphers would do better 1915, a Harvard professor named widi Wonder Woman's lasso than diey William Moulton Marston developed have been doing widi their box. The what he termed a "lie detector" based on secret of the polygraph—the polygra­ phers' own shameless deception—is that dieir machine is no more capable of assessing truth telling than were the priests of ancient Rome standing knee- deep in chicken parts. Nonetheless, die polygrapher tries to persuade the unwitting subject that their mea­ surements indicate when a lie is being told. The subject, ner­ vously strapped in a chair, is often convinced by die sur­ rounding this cheap parlor trick, and is dicn putty in die hands of the polygrapher, who launches into an intrusive, illegal, and wide-ranging inquisition. The subject is told, from time to time, diat the machine is indi­ cating "deception" (it isn't, of course), and he is continu­ ously urged to "clarify" his answers, by providing more and more personal information.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER luly/AugusI 2001 21 At some point (it's completely arbitrary veteran suspected of selling classified staff at the Labs was universal and and up to die judgment of the polygra- informadon, was held in prison for 500 united: polygraphs should be avoided at pher), the test is stopped and die polyg- days and subjected to multiple poly- all costs because rJiey undermine rapher renders a subjective assessment of graphs, many lasting as long as nineteen national security. The scientists reasoned "deceptive response." Even J. Edgar hours. A military judge dismissed all evi­ as follows: first, polygraphs create a false Hoover knew this was senseless. He dence against him. Mark Mullah, a sense of security. As the Aldrich Ames banned the polygraph test from within career FBI agent, was the subject of a scandal showed so clearly, even when the ranks of the FBI as a waste of time. massive, nighttime surprise search of his repeated many times, polygraphs are Every first-year medical student home, followed by a review of every incapable of ferreting out spies. Second, knows dial the four parameters mea­ financial record, appointment book, per­ polygraphs would drain enormous sured during a polygraph—blood pres­ sonal calendar, daily "to-do" list, per­ resources from sensible security mea­ sure, pulse, sweat production, and sonal diary, and piece of correspon­ sures and replace them widi a feckless breathing rate—are affected by an dence—all as a result of a "positive" deterrent. And finally, polygraphs would uncountable myriad of emotions: joy, polygraph test. He was then placed demoralize staff, and threaten the vital hate, elation, sadness, anxiety, depres­ under surveillance around die clock, and work of guaranteeing the safety and reli­ sion, and so forth. But, there is not one was followed by aircraft as he moved ability of nuclear weapons. chapter—not one—in any medical text about during die day. Nodiing was ever After days of official hearings before that associates these quantities in any proved, and his FBI badge was restored, polygraphs became official policy, neither way with an individual's intent to widiout apologies. But his career was the DOE nor the Congress paid any deceive. More important, dozens of destroyed, and he was never again above attention to the scientists' concerns. Each studies over the past twenty years con­ suspicion, all because a polygrapher— of the has come to pass. Wen ducted in psychology departments and with eighty hours of "training"— Ho Lee passed, dien failed, dicn again medical schools all over the world have asserted that he had lied. Even barbers passed a polygraph, and his polygraphers shown that the polygraph cannot distin­ must have 1,000 hours of schooling (both of whom are still working for the guish between truth-telling and lying. before earning a license to cut hair. DOE) disagree to diis day on his veracity. Despite testimonials from polygraphers, And yet the polygraph is one of die The DOE polygraph program has wasted no evidence exists that they can find major tools in the new DOE program to millions of dollars during the past six spies with their mystical box. Indeed, bolster security at the nation's nuclear mondis, and will squander $10 million their track record is miserable: Aldrich weapons labs: Sandia, Los Alamos, and more before die first phase of testing is Ames and the Walker brothers, unques­ Lawrence Livermore. In the wake of the finished. And, most disturbing of all, die tionably among die most damaging of Wen Ho Lee debacle in 1999, bureau­ majority of Sandia engineers and scien­ moles widiin the intelligence commu­ cratic Washington, in search of a "quick tists who service nuclear weapons in the nity, all passed their polygraphs— fix," made the classic bureaucratic mis­ field have refused to take the test, and the repeatedly—every five years. take: doing something first, and think­ DOE is suddenly without authorized The truth is this: The polygraph is a ing later. It was the high point of the staff to deal with a nuclear weapons ruse, carefully constructed as a tool of election cycle, and then-Energy Secre­ emergency. Recruitment of new scientists intimidation, and used as an excuse to tary Bill Richardson was hoping to be to this program and to the Labs in gen­ conduct an illegal inquisition under psy­ nominated as the Democratic vice-pres­ eral has become nearly impossible. The chologically and physically unpleasant idential candidate. But Richardson, reel­ Laboratories' leaders are learning that no circumstances. Spies know how to beat ing from massive cost-overruns on a one feels valued if diey are presumed it, and no court in the land permits sub­ gigantic laser project in Livermore, cal­ guilty until "proven" innocent by a dis­ mission of polygraphs, even to exonerate culated diat he needed to show tough­ reputable test. the accused. ness rather than intelligence. Instead But the damage and foolishness Many innocent people have had dieir of doing the difficult but correct doesn't stop there. The DOE has run lives and careers ruined by thoughdess thing—reinstating guards at entry roughshod over the sensibilities of scien­ interrogadon initiated during polygra- points into the Labs that had been elim­ tists through a continuous series of dis­ phy. David King, a twenty-year Navy inated by his predecessor Hazel tortions over implementation of poly­ O'Leary—Richardson elected to recom­ graphs. For example, DOE polygraphers Alan P. Zelicoff, a physician and physicist, mend a widespread, screening polygraph claim that diere are but four questions is Senior Scientist in the Center for program throughout the DOE. Con­ to the examination, all directly related to National Security and Arms Control at gress went along, and real security was national security. This is a lie. In each Sandia National Laboratories, Albu­ sacrificed on die altar of politics. and every polygraph exam, the subject querque, NM 87185-1203. The response among the scientific will invariably be told something like

22 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER this: "You've done pretty well, but there is of the magical polygraph: "We need to avoided by polygraphers—which could a problem here with question number 3. know about medications," said David finally reveal the truth about the poly­ Is there something you were thinking or Renzelman, chief of the DOE poly­ graphs grave effects on national security. worried about that you would like to get graph program, "so we can adjust our Protecting secrets is a challenging off your chest before we continue?" This machine and our readings." Really? I task. Spies, particularly those operating isn't directed questioning; it is a fishing must have slept through that lecture in within the national security establish­ expedition, and has no place among loyal medical school. ment, are very difficult to find. But cer­ scientists nor in civil society. But things are changing. At the rec­ tainly we should not make their task eas­ Further, during the public hearings, ommendation of Sandia National ier with measures like the polygraph that polygraphers admitted that there was no laboratories' chief medical officer, who are, in the end, self-defeating. The scien­ tists at the national laboratories are will­ that medical condi­ has determined that polygraphs arc a ing to sacrifice some of their constitu­ tions (such as diabetes, high blood pres­ risk to the health and safety of employ­ tional protections for meaningful bene­ sure, or heart disease) affected the out­ ees, President C. Paul Robinson has fits to security, but they are unwilling to come of the polygraph. Yet, they still informed the DOE that intrusive med­ do so for nonsense. It is time to relegate insist that each subject provide a list of ical questions will stop, or he will the polygraph—the fanciful creation of a all prescription medications and a com­ instruct Sandians not to take the poly­ comic book writer—to the ash heap of plete history of medical conditions. The graph. This principled action may pre­ bad ideas and misplaced belief. reason they do so is to maintain the aura cipitate Congressional hearings—long

International Scientific Congress Science, , and the Paranormal October 3-7, 2001 • Moscow, Russia

"2 The Russian Academy of Sciences Q The Russian Humanist Society J The Committee for the Scientific 2 The Philosophy Department of the Investigation of Claims of the Moscow State University ita Paranormal (CSICOP) i GENERAL AGENDA THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4 - Concurrent Sessions 1. The Social Value and Status of Science • The Social Value and Status of Contemporary Science • Science and Antiscience: The New Lines of Confrontation 2. Science and Antiscience: • Paranormal Beliefs: the Growing Threat to Reason and The New Lines of Confrontation Human Dignity • ftounaraoie 3. Paranormal Beliefs: • Science. Education, and Religion The Threat to Science and Human Dignity 4. Science, Education, and Religion FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 Closing Plenary Sessions • The Religious Situation in Russia Today WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3 Opening Plenary Session • Roswell. UFOs. and Space-Age Antiscience • Why Is Antiscience Dangerous? • Astronomy and Astrology: The Unexpected Reversal • Science and the New Skepticism in the Confrontation • The Incompatibility of Science and Religion • The New Atheist Movement in Russia • Science and : The Life-Affirmation Tandem • Organized Humanism versus Charlatanism • The Appeal of the Paranotmal and the Psychology of Belief • The Expansion of Irrationalism in Russia CONTACT: Fax (095) 939 2208, e-mail [email protected] • The Sources of Pseudoscience in Biology and Medicine The conference will be held at the • Parapsychology: Science. Antiscience. Pseudoscience. or Non-Science? New Building of the Russian Academy of Sciences. • Organized Pseudoscience as a Form of the 117334 Moscow, Leninskii prospekt, 32a. Disintegration of Society Special accommodation rates for conference attendees • The Age of Scientific Misinformation: The Sources of Mass-Media Bias ore available from the Hotel Oftyonok. Leninskii prospect. • Parapsychology under Russian-market Conditions

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 23 Confronting Veterinary Medical Nonsense A Report from the Trenches

In veterinary medicine, as in human medicine, people now find themselves besieged with dubious claims for a variety of therapies.

ROBERT IMRIE, DVM

n October of 1997, William Jarvis, president of the National Council for Reliable Health Information I(NCRHI), asked me to establish a veterinary task force to deal with the issues of unproven therapeutic claims, criti­ cal thinking, and pseudoscience in veterinary medicine. He was responding to an obvious need. In veterinary medicine, as in human medicine, people now find themselves besieged with dubious claims for a variety of therapies. Its the goal of the NCRHI Veterinary Task Force to help animal owners and veterinarians understand what they are being told, and to help keep them from drowning in a vast sea of medical misinformation. From the outset the Task Force has had its hands full.

24 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER In order to try to reach as many people as efficiently as possi­ information regarding unproven "alternative" therapies at ble, our first goal was to start a Web site titled the "Alt Med major veterinary conferences across the United States. Advisory Page." Later we added the "Entirely On-Line Alt Med Primer" and then the "Alt Med Book Review Page." This The American College of Veterinary Internal Web site has been successful beyond all expectation, even win­ Medicine Conference ning acclaim from USA Today Weekend Edition. Our first target was the May 2000 annual conference of the But our efforts haven't stopped there. We've also lobbied American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in vigorously and successfully to have the notoriously uncritical Seattle, Washington. Dave Ramey and I were allowed to set up 1996 American Veterinary Medical Association's Alternative a small "educational display table" near the registration area. Medicine Guidelines re-cvaluated. Various members and sup­ Though our table was far from the main exhibitor's area, we porters have published critical letters to the editors of U.S. and attracted a great deal of positive attention and support from Canadian veterinary journals, often in response to featured attending veterinarians, academicians, and veterinary internists. articles by proponents of unproven therapies that have extolled Our material proved more popular than anticipated and keep­ the of such at-best-unprovcn modalities as veterinary ing up with the demand for additional copies of the various handouts we were distributing became a welcome problem. , chiropractic, , "energy therapy," and herbalism. Others have broken new ground by writing and The ACVIM is the organization that repre­ publishing articles and books critically evaluating "alternative" sents what one would hope to be among veterinary medical claims. Task Force equine advisor Dave the "best and the brightest" among Ramey, DVM, has lectured on these subjects at veterinary practitioners of veterinary schools across the country. internal medicine (i.e., vet­ Yet another Task Force goal erinary "internists"). has been to provide sound One might reasonably information to veterinary ^^^ expect that medical practitioners and acade- ^Br micians. This past year ^^ our organization (with ^P' financial support from CSICOP, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, and other concerned parties) has begun to offer scientifi­ cally accurate, fact-based

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 25 pseudoscience would be afforded short shrift at a convention just $41.35, NaturalHealingDoctor will sell you their remedy of board cenified specialists in veterinary internal medicine. for the "ailment of aggression." This consists of 6.7 oz. of Unfortunately, while the quality and scientific rigor of die for­ extract of German chamomile, valerian, scullcap, and passion mal presentations seems to have been generally high, the infor­ flower in water, alcohol, and glycerine. The company offers no mation presented by some commercial exhibitors at the con­ warning about giving this remedy to pregnant animals, even ference was less impressive. though scullcap has been shown to cause birth defects when For example, a company called NaturalHcalingDoctor op­ administered orally to pregnant rats (Kim 1993). When it erated a commercial exhibit at the conference. A visit to comes to alternative medicine, "caveat emptor" seems to be the NaturalHealingDoctor's Web site at www.naturalhealingdoc- order of the day. tor.com/cgi-bin/nhd.storefront sheds light on the nature of As is the case with most "alternative" approaches (and in the company and the "therapies" they sell to veterinarians contrast to the claims that "alternative" medicine treats the and the pet-owning public. Their promotional material ex­ "whole" patient), treatment seems to be directed primarily plains that "NaturalHealingDoctor at symptoms, rather than disease. sells suggested remedies for over This oversight can have serious con­ 100 human and thirty pet ailments. sequences. For example, Natural­ Naturopathic or Ayurvedic Doctors HealingDoctor advises that dogs and Veterinarians have developed presenting with "liquid bowel move­ these suggested remedies." ments, stools with mucous or One of die "ailments" Natural catarrh, blood in stools, electrolyte HealingDoctor claims to treat is and fluid loss, and dehydration" be "aggression." They claim that "Pets treated with extract of "barberry, can become aggressive towards their mullein, bayberry, myrrh, thyme, owners, strangers, and other ani­ German chamomile, peony root, mals. [...] At times, this aggression is ginger, Oregon grape, in glycerin." bred into the animal. Other factors What the company fails to mention can be physiological, such as nega­ is that bloody liquid diarrhea in tive reaction to vaccinations, blood dogs, accompanied by dehydration sugar level, virus, and inflamed ner­ and depression, are the hallmarks of vous system. No matter the cause, the common and often lethal disease many of diese can be helped by canine parvoviral enteritis. The first ." thing the owner of a dog so afflicted

The claims may sound persuasive, Task Force equine advisor Dave Ramsey. DVM. discusses alterna­ urgently needs is not an unproven tive therapeutic claims with a concerned veterinary academician but they fall apart under scrutiny. at a veterinary conference. "herbal remedy," but an accurate "Inflamed nervous system"? "No diagnosis and immediate interven­ matter the cause"? This sounds like the pitch for a nineteenth- tion by a competent veterinarian followed by round-the-clock century patent medical nostrum. In fact, that's essentially what it intensive care, including intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and is. It's also alarming to see phrases like "negative reactions to vac­ nutrient support. The sooner such supportive therapy is insti­ cination" pop up in the veterinary field. Naturopaths, home­ tuted, the higher the survival rate—and, with early diagnosis opaths, some chiropractors, and various other nonscicntific med­ and intensive care, the survival rate for parvoviral enteritis is ical practitioners sometimes claim that vaccines cause a wide generally quite high. range of maladies and refer to the "problem" as "vaccinosis." NaturalHealingDoctor fails to even mention the possibility However, while serious adverse reactions to vaccination do occa­ that such clinical signs might suggest parvoviral enteritis. Nor do sionally occur, there is no scientific data supporting the they even suggest that a dog with such signs should be examined of widespread vaccine-related disease entities. The fact is that vac­ by a veterinarian. Telling consumers that some herbal nostrum cination and the provision of clean drinking water are the two should be given in the face of such clinical signs will almost cer­ most effective enhancements to public health (human and ani­ tainly delay accurate diagnosis and implementation of appropri­ mal) of all time. Vaccination over the last century has, without a ate life-saving therapy, and dierefore cost patient lives. doubt, saved many hundreds of millions of animal and human Fortunately, most of the presentations at the ACVIM con­ lives. The same cannot be said of any herbal therapy. ference were based on sound science and good medicine. Herbal remedies, when effective, are merely crude drugs. However, in a presentation titled "Alternative approaches to Drugs, of course, may have side effects, and pharmaceutical die treatment of epilepsy," internist Karen R. Munana. DVM, companies generally take great pains to list them. Such caution MS, told her audience, "The first report of epilepsy in tradi­ is not evident in the veterinary herbal field. For example, for tional Chinese medicine appeared in a publication written by a group of between 770 and 221 B.C. Since then, Robert Imrie, DVM, is Coordinator of the National Council for the use of acupuncture to treat epileptic seizures has been Reliable Health Information. described in borh humans and in animals."

26 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Unfortunately, such comments, though common, appear "acupuncture points" in dogs concurrently receiving anticon­ to be made with little concern for either their historical or clin­ vulsant drugs (this was not acupuncture). One of these stud­ ical accuracy. In the first place, epilepsy is not a traditional ies involved only five subjects, eliminating the possibility of Chinese medical diagnosis. Second, the Huangdi neijing, the a statistically significant result. However, while all five dogs collection of ancient Chinese documents to which Munana apparently experienced an initial decrease in seizure fre­ refers, can't be reliably dated to earlier than the fifth century quency, two subsequently experienced an increase in seizure A.D. More important, there is no evidence that the ancient frequency. The other uncontrolled canine study involved Chinese medically treated dogs or cats at all (Despeux 1981). forty dogs and concluded that "50% of dogs were able to be Finally, neither acupuncture points nor meridians have been taken off all anticonvulsant medication ... without the risk shown to exist. of further seizure episodes unless the dog was stressed." (That In spite of such inaccuracies, one might still hold the pos­ is, when these dogs that "no longer needed anticonvulsants" sibility that needling is an effective therapy for epilepsy. continued to have seizures, it was apparently not viewed as Unfortunately, even that assertion can't be supported. While evidence that the "gold beads" didn't work, but that stress Munana also stated that "the mechanism by which acupunc­ was to blame for the seizures.) An apparent optimist, ture controls seizures is not completely understood," the only Munana concluded: "Nonetheless, the positive response randomized controlled study ever undertaken to establish the reported in these studies suggests that this form of therapy efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of epilepsy in humans may be of use in patients for which satisfactory results can­ was "unable to document a beneficial effect" (Kloster et al. not be obtained with anticonvulsants alone." That's a pretty 1999). No such controlled study involving animals has ever big "may." been conducted. Examining the "data" that was provided is perhaps even American Veterinary Medical Association more illustrative. Support for acupuncture in the treatment In July 2000, Dave Ramey and I traveled to Salt Lake City, of epilepsy came in the form of two small and uncontrolled Utah, to offer educational material at the annual conference of studies wherein gold beads were surgically implanted at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The

The Fallacy of 'Traditional Chinese' Veterinary Acupuncture

Over the last thirty years, veterinary acupuncture propo­ from Guo Huaixi, Xinke zhushi ma niu tojing da quanji. (Newly nents have repeatedly claimed or implied that the ancient printed annotated great collection of horse, OK and camel Chinese applied acupuncture to various animal species, classics, Beijing: Nongye chuban she, 1988 [orig. 1785], 40): (including dogs and cats), and that the practice is described Dongxi said: "[...] The needling depressions for hotses are not in the ancient Chinese veterinary literature. On the other the same as those of humans. Why?" Qu Chuan said: "The hand, they never directly cite any of the ancient Chinese vet­ human is the divine element among the myriad things. Humans avail of the great movement of Yin and Yang. They receive the erinary literature to support such claims. choicest aspects of Heaven and Earth. Their bodies are the Recently, Veterinary Task Force members commissioned proper way of the Five Elements. They receive the primeval what appears to be the first-time-ever translation into influences and become replete and fertile. (...] Now. as for ani­ English of key selections from the various ancient Chinese mals, they are things. They avail of the partial movement of Yin and Yang. They receive the excess essence of Heaven and Earth veterinary texts in question, including the seventeenth- and receive the insufficiency of the Five Elements." century Yuan Heng liaoma ji (Yuan and Heng's Recipe for Treating Horses), the fourteenth-century Simu anji ji (The So, in the eyes of traditional Chinese medicine, animals Herdman's Pacification of Horses Collections for the are mere "things," and are fundamentally different from Pacification of Stallions), and the sections covering large ani­ human beings. According to these ancient texts, the mal veterinary medicine from the sixth-century agricultural "depressions"—which modern proponents have interpreted manual Quimin Yaoushu (Essential Arts for Assisting the as acupuncture points—are quite different from the People), the earliest recipes of their kind. acupuncture points found in people. None of the early Chinese veterinary texts deal with the It's important to note that, in these ancient texts, the treatment of dogs or cats at all. Animals covered include horses, word zhen, which is usually translated as "needling," applies donkeys, asses, cattle, camels, pigs, goats, and sheep, with the to an extremely wide variety of interventions involving sharp most extensive tradition covering the larger species. The manu­ and/or heated instruments. The word certainly does not nec­ als covering the horse are typical of the tradition and none of essarily imply the insertion and manipulation of fine nee­ them refer to anything that might reasonably be construed as dles. To the contrary, it's clear from a careful reading of the acupuncture in the modern sense. The Yuan Heng liaoma ji texts that the "depressions" described are sites where thera­ even quotes the earlier Simu Anji ji to explain not only why peutic phlebotomy (bloodletting), scarification, cautery, and horses don't have acupuncture points equivalent to those in even minor surgical procedures are to be undertaken. These texts, in fact, make no clear reference to the insertion and humans, but why human medical practices, including acupunc­ manipulation of fine needles at all. ture, may not be appropriate to the treatment of animals (cited

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 27 conference was attended by some 7,000 veterinarians, making acupuncture as a cure for cholera (Soulie' de Morant [1939] it one of the largest annual veterinary conferences in the world. 1994). Soulie de Morant was also the first person to describe In contrast to the ACVIM conference, the AVMA as energy. (The ancient Chinese referred to "conduits" or "con­ "exhibitor's area" was a veritable hotbed of "alternative" medical duit vessels," and the earliest such references are clearly to blood promotion and sales. ANTECH Diagnostics, one of die nation's vessels. The classical Chinese characters for ry/describe "vapor ris­ largest veterinary diagnostic laboratories, was promoting some­ ing from food" rather than "energy," a definition remarkably sim­ thing called BioNutritional ilar to ideas proposed by the Analysis, whereby veterinari­ ancient Greeks.) Of course, ans are enticed to submit there is no compelling scien­ blood samples from perfectly tific evidence that either normal animals with entirely acupuncture points or meridi­ normal blood chemistry pro­ ans exist in humans or any files, along with a filled-out other species. "questionnaire," in order to To her credit, Schwartz determine the "exact blend of never claimed that acupunc­ homeopadiics, nutriceuticals, ture has been proven effective and supplements" required to in the treatment of canine hip engender optimum health and dysplasia (CHD), only that it performance in said normal "may be used" to treat the animals. Thome Research, a condition and that needling nutritional supplement manu­ certain points has personally facturer, was handing out lit­ Veterinarian Dave Ramsey discusses the toxicological implications of "herbal offered her "good results" erature advocating the extrac­ therapies for animals" with concerned veterinary pathologist Sharon Gwaltney. DVM, PhD. over the last twenty years. tion of all amalgam fillings While there are no controlled from peoples mouths. At the Friskies/Alpo booth they were clinical trials investigating the efficacy of acupuncture in dogs pitching dog food containing "whole natural chickory root" as with CHD, there are many well-designed, controlled studies an aid to digestion. Various publishers throughout the hall were showing that acupuncture is ineffective in the treatment of selling books dealing with everything from veterinary acupunc­ osteoarthritic conditions in humans (see www.seanct. ture to herbal therapies for pets. com/-vcttf/Medline2.htm). There is no reason to expect it to Perhaps because its emphasis is on general information, be more effective in other species. unlike the ACVIM conference, the AVMA convention fea­ Unfortunately, veterinary pseudoscience at the AVMA con­ tured an entire program section devoted to unproven and dis­ ference was not limited to anecdotal assertions about putative proved alternative veterinary therapies. These lectures con­ Chinese therapies. Schwartz offered yet another presentation, sisted entirely of "how to" information, and were devoid of this one tided "Introduction and clinical indications for any critical assessment of the therapies in question. homeopathy." She began her presentation with the assertion (Nonetheless, attending these sessions did qualify veterinarians that homeopathy is a "natural pharmaceutical science." The for "continuing medical education" in the eyes of state veteri­ fact is that it's neither natural (since homeopathic solutions nary licensing boards across the country.) don't occur in nature), nor pharmaceutical (since homeopathic For example, Sheryl Schwartz, DVM, author of Four Paws, remedies contain nothing other than water, and perhaps a lit­ Five Directions, a text promoting the application of acupuncture tle alcohol or lactose, none of which have documented thera­ and traditional Chinese medicine to dogs and cats, offered a lec­ peutic qualities pertinent to the conditions for which home­ ture titled "A traditional Chinese medical approach to hip dys­ opaths prescribe them). Neither is homeopathy a science, since plasia" (Schwartz 2000). Her presentation, in essence, dealt with it violates several well-established scientific principles and is a "traditional Chinese medical approach" to a disease tradition­ supported by none. ally unrecognized by Chinese medicine in a species that, tradi­ Nor is there any good evidence that homeopathy is effec­ tionally, the Chinese did not treat. Most of the Chinese medical tive for the treatment of anything. In recent decades, a num­ "theory" she presented was apparendy taken direcdy from the ber of controlled clinical trials have been conducted to study human Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) literature—a the efficacy of homeopathy in humans. A recent meta-analysis process the ancient Chinese specifically advised against (Guo). of these studies (conducted by homeopathy proponents) con­ Schwartz described acupuncture meridians as "energy path­ cluded that "we found insufficient evidence from these studies ways that travel close to the surface and in the muscle layers and that homeopathy is clearly efficacious for any single clinical include aspects of the nervous and circulatory systems, as well as condition" (Linde 1997). There are, in fact, no controlled clin­ an individual's vitality or ai." This sort of historical endorsement, ical trials of homeopathy in animals. though common, is simply nonsense. In fact, the term "acupunc­ Schwartz went on to make the following self-contradicting ture meridian" was coined in the late 1930s by Georges Soulie dc statements: "It [homeopathy] is based on a set of symptoms Morant, a French diplomat in China who was fascinated by that a particular patient expresses, rather than the name of a

28 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER disease. In treatment, homeopathy seeks to cure the patient, involving veterinary chiropractic have ever been conducted. In not the disease." humans, investigators have concluded that "we don't know While there's no evidence that homeopathic water has ever whether it [chiropractic] does more good than harm" (Ernst successfully cured any disease, it seems absurd to claim that a 1998). Haussler does concede, however, that chiropractic is therapy stricdy devoted to tlie suppression of symptoms "seeks to not a "cure-all." Of course, the real issue is whether or not chi­ cure the patient." Incredibly, the homeopaths who make such ropractic, human or veterinary, is a "cure-anything." claims seem to believe that diseases are norhing more The Continuing Effort than collections of symptoms. While proponents of unproven In explaining to her audi­ and disproved "alternative and ence how homeopathic reme­ complementary" veterinary dies are manufactured, therapies have done little to Schwartz mentioned that scientifically investigate or vali­ they contain only "minute date their claims over the years, doses" of the substances on they've worked tirelessly to the label. In fact, many if not promote them by whatever most homeopathic remedies nonscientific means available. contain not a single molecule This process has been going on of the ingredient on the label. now for almost three decades. While no known physical Some U.S. veterinary schools process seems remotely likely currently offer "elective" to account for such a process, courses dealing with acupunc­ homeopadis claim that the Herbs lor Pets, a best seller at a veterinary medical convention. ture, homeopathy, chiroprac­ water has somehow been induced to "remember" the former tic, herbalism, "energy therapy," and other "alternative" modal­ presence of now absent solute molecules. Schwartz explained ities. While the NCRHI Veterinary Task Force strongly supports that, as the remedy is repeatedly diluted either one part solute to the critical examination of "alternative" therapeutic claims in nine parts of solvent or one part solute to ninety-nine parts of veterinary classrooms, the courses in question appear to univer­ solvent, it is "dynamatized" by means of "succussion"—i.e., by sally involve only uncritical "how-to" instruction presented by shaking the container against a table top or palm, or by means proponents of such therapies and based on highly inaccurate of a shaking machine. In her lecture notes, she states: advocate literature.

The succussion manipulates and releases energy molecules [sic] The Veterinary Task Force intends to continue to offer "a into solution, thereby activating the medicine. [...] The vital candle in the alternative medicine dark" at major veterinary energy liberated during the process is what appears to be conferences across the country. We need your help. Those responsible for its actions and interactions with the individual. interested in learning more about our organization, or con­ The single remedy where the patient's individual history is tributing to our effort, should visit our Web site at assessed to determine her essence and then is matched with the essence of a particular natural substance [sic]. The single rem­ www.seanet.com/-vcttf/. edy includes the totality of the patient's symptoms and is extremely individualized. The single remedy is what is known References as the simillimum. Despeux. C. 1981. Apcrcu historique dc I'art vetc>inairc en Chine. Revue d'acuponcture veWrinaire 9:21-22 If SKEPTICAL INQUIRER readers find this prose impenetrable, Ernst, E.. and W.J. Assendclft. 1998. Chiropractic for low back pain. We don't I'm afraid I can't offer any help. know whether it does more good than harm. British Medical Journal Not only are some veterinarians asserting claims for exper­ 317(7152):160. Guo, Huaixi: Xinke zhushi ma niu to jing da quan ji ("Newly Printed and tise in ancient Chinese traditions and discredited eighteenth- Annotated Horse, Ox, and Camel Classics"), 40. century whimsy, they're claiming to be chiropractors, too. In Haussler, K.K 2000. Introduction to and clinical indications for animal chi­ that regard, veterinarian and chiropractor Kevin Haussler (of ropractic. Convention Notes, 137th AVMA Annual Convention, American Veterinary Medical Association, pp. 490-491. the Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Kim S.H.. Y.H. Kim. S.S. Han, and J.K. Roh. 1993. Teratogenicity study of Medicine, Cornell University) offered two lectures on "veteri­ Scutellariae Radix in rats. Reprod Toxieol7 (I): 73-79. nary chiropractic." In the published notes for his lectures Kloster. R., P.G. Larsson, R. Lossius, K.O. Nakken, R. Dahl. X Xiu-Ling, Z. Wen-Xin. E. Kinge, and Edna Rossberg. 1999. The effect of acupuncture (Haussler 2000), Haussler assures readers that "chiropractic is in chronic intractable epilepsy. Seizure Hi): 170-4. a complementary modality that can be used in veterinary med­ Unde. K.. N. Clausius, G. Ramirez, D. Melchart. F. Eitd. LV. Hedges, and icine for the diagnosis and treatment of select musculoskeletal WB. Jonas. 1997, Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. Lancet 350 (9081): 834-43. disorders." Unfortunately, not once in either presentation does Schwartz, C. 2000. A traditional Chinese medical approach to hip displaysia. he note exacdy which musculoskeletal disorders in animals he Introduction and clinical indications for homeopathy, Convention Notes. feels may be effectively diagnosed and/or treated by means of 137th AVMA Annual Convention, American Veterinary Medical Association, pp. 485-489. chiropractic manipulation. Also, it's unclear how he might Soulie dc Morant, G. 11939] 1994. Chinese Acupuncture. English edition edited have decided this issue, since no controlled clinical trials by Paul Zmiewski. Brookline, Mass.: Publications.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 29 AVMA Revises Guidelines Toward Greater Rationality

The National Council for Reliable Health Information Veterinary Task Force has, from its inception, taken a very proactive stance with regard to having the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) re-evaluate the egregiously "promo­ tional" 1996 AVMA Guidelines for Alternative and Complementary Veterinary Medicine. An intensive letter-writing cam­ paign to this end was mounted early in 1998, and Task Force member and equine advisor Dave Ramey, DVM, was eventually able to win a seat on the nine-practitioner AVMA committee seated in 1999 to re-evaluate same. The result was accepted by the Executive Board of the AVMA April 9, 2001. The original and highly "alt med promotional" 1996 alternative veterinar­ ian medical guidelines are available online at www.seanet.com/~vettf/Guidelines.htm. The new, and vastly more rational, 2001 guidelines appear, verbatim, below. —Robert Imrie

Guidelines for Complementary and Recommendations for Patient Care Alternative Veterinary Medicine The foremost objective in veterinary medicine is patient welfare. Ideally, sound veterinary medicine is effective, safe, Introduction proven, and holistic in that it considers all aspects of the ani­ mal patient in the context of its environment. These guidelines are intended to help veterinarians make Diagnosis should be based on sound, accepted principles informed and judicious decisions regarding medical of veterinary medicine. Proven treatment methods should approaches known by several terms including "complemen­ be discussed with the owner or authorized agent when pre­ tary," "alternative," and "integrative." Collectively, these senting the treatment options available. Informed consent approaches have been described as Complementary and should be obtained prior to initiating any treatment, includ­ Alternative Veterinary Medicine (CAVM). The AVMA recog­ ing CAVM. nizes the interest in and use of these modalities and is open Clients usually choose a medical course of action on the to their consideration. advice of their veterinarian. Recommendations for effective The AVMA believes that all veterinary medicine, includ­ and safe care should be based on available scientific knowl­ ing CAVM, should be held to the same standards. Claims for edge and the medical judgment of the veterinarian. safety and effectiveness ultimately should be proven by the scientific method. Circumstances commonly require that Responsibilities veterinarians extrapolate information when formulating a State statutes define and regulate the practice of veterinary course of therapy. Veterinarians should exercise caution in medicine including many aspects of CAVM. These guidelines such circumstances. Practices and that are inef­ support the requisite interaction described in the definition fective or unsafe should be discarded. of the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.' Accordingly, a veterinarian should examine an animal and establish a Terminology preliminary diagnosis before any treatment is initiated. The identification of standard and broadly accepted defini­ The quality of studies and reports pertaining to CAVM tions applicable to CAVM, including the definition of CAVM varies; therefore, it is incumbent on a veterinarian to criti­ itself, is challenging. These guidelines identify CAVM as a het­ cally evaluate the literature and other sources of informa­ erogeneous group of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic tion. Veterinarians and organizations providing or promot­ philosophies and practices. The theoretical bases and tech­ ing CAVM are encouraged to join with the AVMA in advo­ niques of CAVM may diverge from veterinary medicine rou­ cating sound research necessary to establish proof of safety tinely taught in North American veterinary medical schools or and efficacy. may differ from current scientific knowledge, or both. It is Medical records should meet statutory requirements. not the intent of these guidelines to determine or describe Information should be clear and complete. Records should the relative value of the individual modalities. The evidence contain documentation of client communications and pertaining to, and the practice of, individual CAVM modali­ informed consent. ties differ. Current examples of CAVM include, but are not limited to, ; Bach flower remedy therapy; In general, veterinarians should not use treatments that energy therapy; low-energy photon therapy; magnetic field conflict with state or federal regulations. Veterinarians therapy; orthomolecular therapy; veterinary acupuncture, should be aware that animal nutritional supplements and acutherapy, and ; veterinary homeopathy; veteri­ botanicals typically are not subject to premarketing evalua­ nary manual or manipulative therapy (similar to , tion by the FDA for purity, safety, or efficacy and may con­ chiropractic or physical medicine and therapy); veterinary tain active pharmacologic agents or unknown substances. nutraceutical therapy; and veterinary phytotherapy. Manufacturers of veterinary devices may not be required to obtain premarketing approval by the FDA for assurance of safety or efficacy. Data establishing the efficacy and safety Education, Training, and Certification of such products and devices should ultimately be demon­ strated. To assure the safety of the food supply, veterinari­ The AVMA believes veterinarians should ensure that they ans should be judicious in the use of products or devices for have the requisite skills and knowledge for any treatment the treatment of food-producing animals. modality they may consider using. The AVMA does not offi­ cially recognize diplomate-status or certificates other than If a human health hazard is anticipated in the course of those awarded by veterinary specialty organizations that a disease or as a result of therapy, it should be made known are members of the AVMA American Board of Veterinary to the client. Specialties (ABVS), nor has it evaluated the training or edu­ cation programs of other entities that provide such certifi­ cates. Recognition of a veterinary specialty organization by Note the AVMA requires demonstration of a substantial body of scientific knowledge. The AVMA encourages CAVM organi­ I. Model Veterinary Practice Act. In: 2001 AVMA membership zations to demonstrate such a body of knowledge. directory and resource manual. Schaumburg, III: American Veterinary Medical Association, 2001; 319.

30 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Junk Science and the Law

Legal systems throughout the world have often been corrupted into suppressing unpopular scientific knowledge and into promoting pseudoscience, for political, religious, or economic reasons. In the United States new regulations regarding "expert" testimony and new strategies to quiet scientific truth are gaining strength. Because of this it is imperative that skeptics realize the extent to which legal abuses may support and advance the agenda of those opposed to rational thought. JOHN E. DODES

"Let the jury consider their verdict," the King said, for about the twentieth time that day. "No, no!" said the Queen. "Sentence first—verdict afterwards." "Stuff and nonsense!" said Alice loudly.

—Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

lice's indictment of the Queen's may be a pre­ scient observation of what is occurring in parts of Athe U.S. legal system as it applies to scientific issues. "Junk science" refers to the use of the language of science but not the methods of science. A pragmatic definition might be: Junk science results when conclusions are drawn using low-quality data such as testimonials, anecdotes, and case reports rather than from randomized, controlled clinical

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/AugusI 2001 31 experiments. These conclusions are often in support of a polit­ comes of malpractice lawsuits. The researchers reviewed fifty- ical or legislative agenda. one malpractice cases over a ten-year period and obtained detailed summaries of the cases. The authors concluded: Medicine and the Law "Among the malpractice claims we studied, the severity of the The very idea of licensing of healthcare providers was deemed patient's disability, not the occurrence of an adverse event or unnecessary during die era of Jacksonian Democracy. An early an adverse event due to negligence, was predictive of payment report on public health in Massachusetts had these comments: to the plaintiff" (Brennan 1996). "Any one, male or female, learned or ignorant, an honest man It is therefore evident that our malpractice laws do not help or a knave, can assume the name of physician, and 'practice' either patients or doctors—perhaps only lawyers. upon any one, to cure or to kill, as either may happen, with­ out accountability. It's a free country!" (Shattuck 1948). Scientific Evidence in the Courtroom In 1923 the federal court of appeals created the Frye Rule. The case was a criminal one Since judges are often scientifically naive, the in which the defendant wanted to prevent doors have been opened for the introduction of evidence from a rudimentary polygraph (lie detector) from being used by the prosecu­ pseudoscientific "experts" who employ unscientific. tion. The court excluded the polygraph biased, and discredited research methods. results and declared: Just when a scientific principle or discovery crosses the line between the experimental and From die founding of America until 1906 there were no laws demonstrable stages is difficult to define. Somewhere in this governing the manufacture and promotion of real or alleged twilight zone the evidential force of the principle must be rec­ ognized, and while courts will go a long way in admitting medicines, medical devices, or treatments. The first Federal expert testimony deduced from a well-recognized scientific Food and Drug Law, in 1906, required accurate labeling but no principle or discovery, the thing from which the deduction is testing for safety or efficacy. The Congress responded to a spate made must be sufficiently established to have gained general of deaths due to unsafe medicines with the 1938 Food and Drug acceptance in the particular field in which it belongs. {United Law, which required proof that a drug was safe and did what the States v. Frye, 293 F. 1013 D.C. Cir. 1923) manufacturer said it did before it could be marketed. In 1994, under pressure from "health food" proponents, Congress passed Thus the Frye Rule, also referred to as die "general-acceptance ill-informed legislation which seriously weakened these con­ rule," became the law of the land. But the Supreme Court ruled sumer protections. We are now seeing die marketplace flooded on the last day of me 1992-1993 term mat the Federal Rules of widi advertising for unproven remedies being marketed under Evidence, which were first drafted in 1942, should supersede the the guise of "food supplements." Frye Rule. The effect of this ruling is that federal judges can now admit all scientific testimony and evidence diat is "relevant" and Malpractice and the Law "reliable" (Annas 1994). And because of the vagueness of the Supreme Court's ruling, judges will play a much more important The fairness and accuracy of America's malpractice litigation role in evaluating die relevance and reliability of scientific evi­ system is often criticized and debated. Many physicians state dence. Since judges are often scientifically naive, the doors have that our system is haphazard and that lawsuits bear little been opened for die introduction of pseudoscientific "experts" relation to the quality of care diat the plaintiff received. On who employ unscientific, biased, and discredited research meth­ the odier hand, many patient and consumer advocates argue ods. Justice Blackmun, who wrote diis Supreme Court opinion, that so-called "tort-reform" legislation has led to such difficult recognized that widiout the Frye Rule juries and judges could be legal hurdles that lawsuits with merit often bring little or no confused by "irrational pseudoscientific assertions" (Daubert v. compensation (Rosenfeld 1994). Epidemiological research on Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 113 S. Ct. 2786 1993). It was malpractice claims has shown that many injuries caused by hoped diat Justice Blackmun's considerations would encourage negligence do not result in claims. Interestingly, similar stud­ die training of judges in scientific method (Annas 1994). ies have also concluded that a substantial number of claims Science and die law are very different. In science, "facts" are have been brought in cases where the plaintiff was not a vic­ established by "incremental adjustments and carefully bounded tim of negligence and where there was no medical injury negotiations among communities who share a commitment to (Brennan 1996). closure." In law every fact is treated as "equally contingent" and The most recent major study, published in the New every party has "every incentive to overstate die weakness in die England Journal of Medicine, actually investigated the out- odier's case" (Jasanoff 1992). "The difference between these two approaches can make it difficult to evaluate scientific opin­ John £. Dodes, DDS, is president of the New York Chapter of the ion in the courtroom. Proposed solutions to diis problem have National Council Against Health Fraud. His book. Healthy included the establishment of a separate 'science court' to hear Teedi: A User's Manual, written with Dr. Marvin J. SchisseL disputes over scientific fact, die use of blue-ribbon juries to hear was published by St. Martin's Griffin in 1999. complex cases, the appointment of experts by judges, and the

32 luly/Augusl 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER resolution of conflicts by mediation or arbitration outside the credentials (for example, pathologists may be permitted to courtroom" (Annas 1994). testify about epidemiologic questions), and they needn't Peter Huber, in his 1991 book Galileo's Revenge, discusses produce evidence from the literature to buttress their opin­ the implications of junk science in the courtroom. "The art of ions, even when there are relevant studies in peer-reviewed junk science is to brush away just enough detail to reach journals. In the courtroom their opinions are the evidence." desired conclusions while preserving enough to maintain an This is exactly opposite of the scientific method, which aura of authoritative science," Huber says. He discusses the declares the value of all opinions, even from experts, to be history of junk science, from the torture and "expert testi­ worthless without sufficient credible evidence. mony" employed during the Inquisition to more modern dis­ The results of die silicone breast-implant litigation are far- astrous verdicts. He cites cases where products and medicines, reaching. Silicone is found in numerous medical devices, many such as the anti-nausea drug Bendectin (the repeal of the Frye Rule was due to a lawsuit against the company that manufactured Bendectin) were forced off the market Clever witnesses and lawyers are often able to because of junk science litigation. And the Audi car company was almost bankrupted fool scientifically illiterate judges and juries. by successful lawsuits that falsely claimed Charlatans prefer the courts of law to science. that Audis would accelerate widiout the pressure of the driver's foot on the gas pedal. Nor are sound public health methods exempt: many children are denied the benefits of fluoridation due to the junk science of them vital. As of today manufacturers of penile implants and decisions of their local judges. the Norplant contraceptive device, both of which contain sili­ cone, are being sued. There is also an implied threat to the sup­ Clever witnesses and lawyers are often able to fool scientif­ pliers of the raw materials and they may stop selling to makers ically illiterate judges and juries. Charlatans prefer the courts of medical devices for fear of product liability lawsuits. of law to the courts of science, as dieir chances are much bet­ Equally dangerous is the covert encroachment of litigation ter with the law. Recently quacks, charlatans, and greedy entre­ into the medical-research community. Scientists may well preneurs have joined forces with some creative lawyers and avoid research into controversial areas in order to avoid pro­ have developed new and dangerous ways to use Americas tracted and expensive litigation. courtrooms to further their political and economic goals. Novel Courtroom Techniques Breast Implants and the Law SLAPP suits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public In a recent lecture and book (Science on Trial- The Clash Participation) have a long history of use by people with pri­ Between Medical Science and the Law in the Breast Implant Case) vate financial interests that might be jeopardized by activists the past editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. with opposing points of view (Canan 1992 and Pring 1992). Marcia Angell, describes the controversy over the safety of SLAPP suits are usually without merit, but they discourage silicone-gel-filled breast implants. "The breast-implant story honest criticism and activities such as circulating petitions or illustrates better than almost any other event in recent times testifying at public hearings, or publishing articles. CSICOP, how litigation, fear, bias, and greed can interfere with scientific the publisher of SKEPTICAL INQUIRER was subject to just such efforts to answer an important public healdi question. Perhaps a suit, brought by . The intent of such suits is to most troubling of all, it clearly shows that in deciding about "turn the tables on the claimants," force them from a politi­ health risks, our courts and a substantial segment of the cal to a judicial forum, and "cast them as defendants." This American public seem comfortable with methods that can only strategy masks the original issue, transforms a legitimate be described as antiscientific and irrational" (Angell 1996). public dispute into a matter for legal adjudication, and Despite compelling scientific evidence that silicone-gel undermines the resources, commitment, and vocabulary of implants are safe, massive successful lawsuits have been opponents. Even though most such lawsuits are dismissed, mounted. Dow Corning, the manufacturer of the majority "the financial cost, lost time, and emotional burdens of the silicone breast implants, was forced into bankruptcy. imposed on their targets often achieve the goal of 'chilling' The parent company, Dow Chemical, which simply sup­ public discussion" (Deyo 1997). plied the silicone, was successfully sued for an award of A new and particularly noxious use of the law is being $14.1 million to a single plaintiff and faces immense future employed by some alternative medical care advocates; harass­ litigation. Angell blames the use of expert witnesses. She ment and legal attacks on researchers whose findings do not states that despite the Supreme Court ruling (in the support the advocate's position. For example Simon et al. (1993) Bendectin case) that judges apply criteria to allow only conducted a controlled evaluation of the, neuropsychological, evidence that is reliable and relevant, these guidelines have psychological, and immunologic function of patients with a been loosely applied. Indeed, Angell reports that "witnesses diagnosis of multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. This disor­ are considered experts on the basis of very broadly defined der is treated by licensed physicians (who call themselves

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 33 clinical ecologists) as well as avant-garde health practitioners, yet sions are subject to perpetual revision. Law, on the other hand, the consensus of scientific opinion is that this diagnosis and its must resolve disputes finally and quickly. ..." The Federal Rules treatments have no scientific validity (Barrett 1997). Simons of Evidence were designed to promote "a quick, final, and bind­ study, not surprisingly, discounted the value of the costly diag­ ing legal judgment.. . about a particular set of events in the past nostic tests that clinical ecologists use to support disability and . .. not for the exhaustive search for cosmic understanding" liability claims for chemical sensitivity. The researchers were (Daubert v. Merrell 1993). Unfortunately many jurists have not then attacked by plaintiffs' attorneys, advocacy organizations for taken Justice Blackmun's advice to become knowledgeable about people who thought they suffered from chemical sensitivity, rep­ science. Today, on the Supreme Court, Justice Scalia denigrates resentatives from immunologic-testing laboratories, and promi­ the truth of evolution and supports the teaching of . nent "expert" witnesses. All these participants had financial Fortunately other courts, as in the recendy decided Kansas interests in maintaining the legitimacy of multiple chemical sen­ creationism case, have heeded Justice Blackmun's warnings and sitivity. The attacks included "multiple complaints of scientific have made the effort to abide by his recommendations. misconduct to the sponsoring institutions and the federal Office Harassment of scientists, health-care professionals, con­ of Research Integrity, requests to the medical disciplinary board sumer groups, and the media can be a substantial impediment of Washington State that investigators' licenses be revoked, and to pursuing and publishing valid research on certain contro­ distribution of materials at scientific meetings that accused versial topics. Withholding or entirely avoiding peer-reviewed investigators of fraud and conspiracy. Laboratory records were funding would "slow the production of objective knowledge, sequestered by the University of Washington under the rules of force investigators to seek funding that may not be free of con­ the National Institutes of Health and the Office of Research flict of interest, and leave patients, physicians, and insurers Integrity. Individual patients at Group Health Cooperative, without essential scientific information" (Deyo 1997). where Simon worked, were contacted and encouraged to attack Skeptics are involved in many aspects of solving society's his credibility" (Deyo 1997). problems from a rational perspective. Yet few realize the insidi­ Due to the success of these legal attacks, now there are even ous and negative effect our legal system can have on the estab­ courses offered by trial lawyers that teach the use of allegations lishment and propagation of logic and science. From the Scopes of as a method for disputing unwelcome trial to silicone breast implant litigation, some courts have research findings. demeaned science and promoted junk science. The system must be changed. By incorporating a standardized policy with adher­ Healing ence to stringent rules regarding the admission of scientific evi­ Faith healers have found a convenient crack in the law that dence most of these disastrous results can be avoided. allows them to be protected by the first amendment while "practicing medicine without a license" and charging for their References services. The Church in particular enjoys a Angell, M. 1996. Shattuck lecture: Evaluating the health risks of breast- implants: The interplay of medical science, the law, and public opinion. host of secular benefits such as reimbursement from private New England Journal of Medicine 334:1513-18. health insurance companies, federal funding from Medicare, Annas, G.J. 1994. Scientific evidence in the courtroom: The death of the Frye and recognition as a health care provider from the Internal Rule. New England Journal of Medicine 330:1018-1021- Revenue Service. The IRS actually authorizes deductions for Barrett S.. W.T. Jarvis, M. Kroger, and WM. London. 1997. Consumer Health A Guide to Intelligent Decisions. Brown and Benchmark Pub. 6th Ed. fees paid to church practitioners (who pray for the "patient") Brennan. T.A., B-A. Sox, and M.D. Burstin. 1996. Relation between negligent and for sanatoria (where "patients" go to be prayed for) as med­ events and the outcomes of medical-malpractice litigation. New England ical expenses. Just this year the United States Supreme Court Journal of Medicine 335:1963-67. Canan, P., M. Kretzmann, M. Henessy, and M. Pring. 1992. Using law ideo­ rejected a constitutional challenge to the federal law that allows logically: the conflict between economic and political liberty. Journal of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for the nonmedical ser­ Law & Politics 8:539-58. vices that are provided in clinics run by the Christian Science Deyo. R A, B.M. Psary. G. Simon, E.H. Wagner, and G.S. Omenn. 1997. The messenger under attack: Intimidation of by special- Church (Children's Health Care Is a Legal Duty v. McMullan, interest groups. New England Journal of Medicine 336; 16:1176-79. No. 00-914). A number of legal scholars have concluded that Dodes, I.B. 1987. Suffer the little children ...: Toward a judicial recognition tort (civil lawsuit) liability for negligent conduct in the faith of a duty of reasonable care owed children by religious faith healers. Hofstra Law Review 16:1:165-190. healing treatment of children is the least restrictive means Huber, P. 1991. Galileo's Revenge: Junk Science in the Courtroom. Basic Books. toward fulfilling the state's compelling interest of safeguarding Jasanoff, S. 1992. What judges should know about the of science. the health and welfare of its youth" (Dodes 1987). Yet, at this Jurimetrics 32:345-59. Pring, G.W, and R Canan. 1992. SLAPPs: An introduction for the bench, bar time, most states have specific laws preventing such lawsuits, and bystanders. Bridgeport Law Review 12: 937-62. thus allowing and encouraging this type of . Rosenfeld. H. 1994. Silent Violence, Silent Death: The Hidden Epidemic of Medical Malpractice: A Consumer Guide to the Medical Ma/practice Conclusions Epidemic. Washington, D.C.: Essential Books. Shattuck, L 1948. Report of the sanitary commission of Massachusetts. 1850. Justice Blackmun concluded his opinion that repealed the Frye Cambridge, p.58. Rule by noting that science and law both attempt to find truth Simon G.E., W Daniel!. H. Stockbridge, K. Claypoole, and L Rosenstock. but that there are important differences in their methods and 1993. Immunologic, psychological, and neuropsychological factors in multiple chemical sensitivity: A controlled study. Annals of Internal goals (Annas 1994). Justice Blackmun stated: "Scientific conclu­ Medicine 119:97-103. •

34 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Chevreul's Report on the Mysterious Oscillations of the Hand-Held Pendulum A French Chemist's 1833 Open Letter to Ampere

An extraordinary paper written in 1833 by the French chemist Michel-Eugene Chevreul on his experiments and interpretation of the "magical pendulum" is remarkable in its prescience and astute, rational understanding of the nature of the true source of the pendulum movement. The authors here present the first complete English translation of this special document.

HERMAN H. SPITZ and YVES MARCUARD

he mysterious movement of a small pendulum held by an "unmoving" hand is a venerable example of Tthe erroneous assignment of unusual properties to inanimate objects. The pendulum swings back and forth or in a circular path depending on what the holder is thinking, even though the holder is convinced that he or she is hold­ ing the pendulum perfectly still. The direction of the move­ ment is said to provide yes or no answers that relieve hold­ ers from personal responsibility for decisions and choices. The pendulum allegedly reacts to the presence of certain objects or liquids, and even provides information, such as the sex of a fetus. Its actions are sometimes attributed to mystical forces or mysterious energies (e.g., ), but all

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 35 these magical effects occur only when the pendulum is turning but also such related phenomena as the pendulum hand-held. and divining rod ( stick) to a single principle: Throughout history many learned men proposed weighty nonconscious (involuntary) muscle movements initiated by theories to account for the pendulum's movements and for autosuggestion. The book included a historical survey and a many related phenomena. In 1808 Professor Gerboin of discussion of the scientific method. Meanwhile, in 1852 in Strasbourg and a group of physicists published a book in England, the eminent physiologist William Carpenter labeled which such phenomena were attributed to a new force that these phenomena "ideo-motor" (now ideomotor), which inaugurated a new chapter in physics, a belief supported by a nicely encapsulates the fact that an involuntary motor number of his colleagues but not by, among others, response can be produced by a dominant idea. the chemist Michel-Eugene Chevreul To the best of our knowledge Chevreul's (1786-1889) (note that his name is not 1833 paper was the first published descrip­ always hyphenated). The theories tion of controlled observations into Gerboin and his followers, and n e true source of the pendulum's doubt other such dubious theories, mysterious oscillations. In recogni­ apparently prompted young tion of those seminal studies the Chevreul to perform experimen­ hand-held pendulum is now tal studies of the pendulum's customarily referred to as the astonishing properties in 1812. Chevreul pendulum. The first However, he did not publish author became interested in his observations until 1833, Chevreul's observations while and only after the urging of examining claims being made his friend, the eminent physi­ for facilitated communication cist Andre1 M. Ampere, to (Spitz 1997), said to reach the whom the publication was competent inner person hid­ addressed as an open letter den behind the outer facade of (and after whom the practical incompetence presented by unit of electric current and the people with autism and/or ammeter are named). severe mental retardation. In In 1853 the French Academy facilitated communication a of Sciences appointed Chevreul "facilitator" holds the hand of an chairman of a three-man committee autistic partner who types messages charged with providing the public with I a keyboard. It turns out, however, a scientific explanation of the apparen the facilitators are unwittingly con- spontaneous movements of the div ; their partners' typing. (For more on rod, the pendulum and— facilitated communication, see iii > M. E. Chevreul, 1887. Archives & Special Collections, Columbia University particularly during seances— Health Services Division. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER 25[l] small tables. For many people, January/February 2001.) These table turning (or table rapping) was evidence of spirits, or even movements of the facilitators place this phenomenon in the of Satan himself. Chevreul authored the committee's report, same family of automatisms as the board (Dillon 1993), published as a book, De la baguette divinatoire, du pendule dit automatic handwriting, mind-reading (muscle reading), table explorateur et des tables tournantes, au point de vue de I'histoire, turning, dowsing, the Chevreul pendulum, and the Clever de la critique et de la methode experimental^ (Of the Divining Hans phenomenon (in which superior intelligence is attrib­ Rod, the 'Explorer' Pendulum and Turning Tables, From the uted to an animal whose responses are unwittingly cued by its Point of View of History, Critique, and the Experimental Method, human master or by observers), all of which are generated by Paris: Mallet-Bachelier, 1854). It attributed not only table nonconscious movements (Spitz 1997). Chevreul is far better known in his native France than in Herman H. Spitz, a research psychologist, retired as Director of the United States. It is difficult to understand why he is not Research at the E. R. Johnstone Training & Research Center in more universally appreciated not only for the importance of 1989. In 1997 he published Nonconscious Movements: From his contributions to organic chemistry, color theory, and the Mystical Messages to Facilitated Communication (Erlbaum). history of chemistry, but also because of the breadth of his He can be reached at 389 Terhune Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540; interests, evidenced by publications in natural history, photog­ e-mail [email protected]. Yves Marcuard is a native of Geneva, raphy, psychology, philosophy, archaeology, philosophy of sci­ Switzerland, where he studied French and English literature and ence, and much more. According to Costa, when the still- linguistics. Since 1989 he has resided in New Jersey where he active Chevreul turned 100 on August 31, 1886, it was a great teaches French at Princeton Day School. He can be reached at 69 national occasion. Numerous papers were presented and he Leigh Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542; [email protected]. was given many honors for his contributions to science and

36 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER industry. There was an evening banquet, a torchlight parade References through Paris, and special theater performances. When Binet. Alfred. 1896. Alterations of Personality (Helen Green Baldwin. Trans.). Chevreul died on March 27, 1889, at the age of 102, "His New York: Appleton. funeral at the Cathedral of Notre Dame attracted thousands of Chevreul. E. 1833. Lettre a M. Ampere, sur une classc particulicre dc mouvc- mens musculaires. Revue aes Deux Mondes, 2, 2nd Ed., 249-257. people who massed near the church despite heavy rains" Costa, Albert B. 1962. Michd Eugene Chevrrub Pioneer of Organic Chemistry. (Costa 1962, 19). Madison, Wis.: Departmem of History, University of Wisconsin. A sizable excerpt from Chevreul's 1833 pendulum paper Dillon. Kathleen. 1993. Facilitated communication, autism, and Ouija. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER 17(3): 281-287. was quoted by the French psychologist Alfred Binet in his Jastrow, Joseph. 1937. Chevreul as psychologist. Scientific Monthly June. book Alterations of Personality, originally published in French 487-496. in 1891 and translated into English by Helen Green Baldwin Spitz, Herman H. 1997. Nonconscious Movements: From Mystical Messages to Facilitate// Communication. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum. in 1896. Binet omitted a paragraph from pages 252-253 of Chevreul's paper, two paragraphs from the top of page 254 Note through the second line of page 255, and the final two and a For details of Chevreul's life and work we have drawn from two sources. The half pages, all of which were of course also omitted in first is the initial chapter of a book by Albert B. Costa on Chevreul as a pio­ Baldwin's translation. neer in organic chemistry (Costa 1962). The second is Joseph Jastrow's article on Chevreul as a psychologist (Jastrow 1937), which, incidentally, includes A translation by Yves Marcuard of the complete paper is five photographs of Chevreul in 1886, one in which he is working alone and given here. He tried to retain as much of Chevreul's writing four in which he is interacting with others. A portrait of Chevreul as a young style as possible. man can be found in Costa (1962).

LETTER TO MR. AMPERE ON A PARTICULAR CLASS OF MUSCULAR MOVEMENTS

MY DEAR FRIEND, movement in my arm, as had been asserted to me in the most posi­ tive manner. That prompted me to lean my right arm, which was You are requesting from me a description of the experiments 1 per­ holding rhe pendulum, on a wooden support that I was able to slide formed in 1812 in order to know if it was true, as several people had forward from my shoulder to my hand, and bring back from my hand assured me, that a pendulum consisting of a heavy body and a flexible to my shoulder I soon noticed that, in the first case, the pendulum's thread oscillates, when one holds it in one's hand above certain bodies, movement decreased progressively as the support was coming closer even though the arm be immobile. You think that these experiments are to my hand, and thar ir ceased when the fingers that were holding the of some importance; as I yield to the reasons you gave me to publish thread were themselves braced, whereas, in the second case the reverse them, allow me to say that all of the faith I have in your genius was effect took place; meanwhile, for the same distance from the support necessary to induce me to place under the eyes of the public facts of to the thread, the movement was slower than previously. That caused a nature so different from those I have discussed until now. Be that as me to think that quite probably a muscular movement that was tak­ it may, I shall, according to your request, reveal my observations; I am ing place unbeknownst to me was determining the phenomenon, and going to present them in the order in which I made them. I had to give even more consideration to this opinion, because I remembered, albeit vaguely, having been in quite a peculiar state, The pendulum I used was an iron ring hanging from a hemp while my eyes were following the oscillations described by the pen­ thread; it had been put together by someone who keenly wished that dulum I was holding in my hand. I would verify for myself the phenomenon which took place when that person held it above water, a piece of metal or a live being: I was 1 performed the experiment once again, with my arm totally free, made witness of the phenomenon. It was not, I confess, without sur­ and I was convinced that the memory mentioned above was not a prise diat I saw it reproduced when, after having in my turn grasped delusion, because I was feeling very clearly that at the same time as the pendulum's thread with my right hand, I brought the pendulum my eyes were following the oscillating pendulum, there was in myself over die mercury of my pneumatic cistern, an anvil, several animals, a disposition or tendency toward movement, which, as involuntary as it etc. I concluded from my experiments that if, as I had been assured seemed to mc, was proportionately more satisfied as the pendulum was the case, there were only a number of different bodies able to went into larger arcs: thus I thought that if I were to repeat the exper­ induce die pendulum's oscillations, it might be that by interpolating iment with a blindfold on, the results might be quite different from other bodies between these and the moving pendulum, it would those I had observed. That is precisely whar happened. While the come to a halt. In spite of my presumption, I was quite amazed when pendulum was oscillating above the mercury, a blindfold was placed after having taken with my left hand a glass pane, a cake of resin, etc.. over my eyes: the movement soon diminished; but even though the and having placed one of these bodies between some mercury and the oscillations were weak, rhey were not noticeably reduced by the inter­ pendulum oscillating above it, I saw the oscillations diminish in position of those bodies which had seemed to stop them during my amplitude and disappear entirely. They resumed once the intermedi­ first experiment. Finally, as of the moment the pendulum came to a ary body had been removed, and disappeared again at the interposi­ halt, I held it above the mercury for another quarter of an hour with­ tion of the same body. This succession of phenomena repeated itself out it resuming movement, while during that time, and still without many times with truly remarkable consistency, whether the intcr- my knowledge, either the glass pane or the cake of rosin had been posed body was held by myself or by someone else. The more extra­ interposed and withdrawn several rimes. ordinary those effects seemed to me, the more I felt the need to ver­ ify whether they were truly independent from any type of muscular Here is my interpretation of these phenomena. While I was holding the pendulum in my hand, a muscular move-

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 37 mcnt in my arm, though unfelt by me, made the pendulum leave its was oscillating rapidly until his eyes ceased to see it. resting state, and the oscillations, once begun, were soon augmented The preceding facts and the interpretation I made of them led me by the influence which sight exerted to put me into that peculiar state to link them with others that we can observe every day. By that con­ of disposition or tendency toward movement. Now it must be admitted catenation, the analysis of the latter becomes at once simpler and that this muscular movement, albeit increased by this very same dis­ more precise than it was, at the same time they form an ensemble of position, is yet weak enough to come to a stop, not even under one's facts whose general interpretation is susceptible to a wider extension. deliberate will, but as soon as one merely has the thought of trying to But before going any further, let us recall that my observations pre­ sent two main components: 1. To think that a hand held pendulum may Now one can easily understand how very move, and that it may move without the holder having any consciousness of the muscular organs trustworthy men, and enlightened men at that, are giving any impulse whatsoever; that is the first fact. 2. To see the pendulum oscillate, and that at times wont to make use of chimerical ideas in these oscillations become more extended through the influence of sight upon the muscu­ order to explain phenomena which do not really lar organs, still without any consciousness of the exceed the physical world as we know it. process; that is the second fact. The tendency toward movement, determined in us by the sight of a moving body, is to be found determine whether some given thing will stop it. Hence there is an inti­ in several other cases, for example: mate relationship established between the execution of certain move­ 1. When attention is entirely directed toward a bird in flight, a ments and the action of the thought relative to diem, though that stone thrown slicing rhrough the air, running water, the body of a thought is not yet a deliberate will commanding the muscular organs. spectator directs itself in a more or less marked manner toward the It is in this respect that the phenomena I line of movement; described seem to me to be of some interest 2. When a player of bowling or billiards to psychology, and even to the history of sci­ follows with his eyes the body he has set in ences; they prove how easy it is to take illu­ motion, he moves his own body in the direc­ sions for , whenever we venture into tion he wants that moving body to follow, as phenomena where our organs arc somehow if he were still able to direct it toward the involved, and under circumstances that have goal at which he had aimed. not been sufficiently analyzed. Indeed, if I When we walk on a slippery surface, had limited myself to making die pendulum everyone knows how quickly we throw our­ oscillate above certain bodies, and to the selves to die side opposite from that where experiments where the oscillations were our body is impelled by a loss of balance; but stopped, when one interposes glass, resin, an occurrence less generally known is that a etc., between the pendulum and the bodies tendency toward movement manifests itself that appeared to be determining its move­ even when it is impossible for us to move in ment, then I certainly would not have had the direction of that tendency; for example, any reason not to believe in the divining rod in a carriage, fear of overturning makes you and other such things. Now one can easily stiffen in a direction opposite to the threat, understand how very trustworthy men, and and as a result your efforts grow more enlightened men at that, arc at times wont exhausting and anxiety and irritability to make use of chimerical ideas in order to increase. I believe that in ordinary falls, let­ explain phenomena which do not really ting fall causes less inconvenience than the exceed the physical world as we know it.1 effort made to prevent the fall. It is in that Once I was convinced that nothing really sense that I understand the truth of the extraordinary existed in the effects that had proverb: There is a god for children and for so surprised me, I found myself in such a drunkards. different disposition from that which was mine the first time I observed diem, that The instance I just cited leads naturally much later, and at different times, I tried to to the case where, being placed on a moun­ reproduce them, but to no avail. tain ledge whose width offers a much broader path than would be strictly necessary By invoking your testimony on the facts The medals minted to celebrate Chevreul's centenary if one were walking on a highway, one sud­ in 1886. from Oeuvres scientifiques de Michel-Eugene denly comes to realize the depth of the drop which took place under your very eyes more Chevreul (Paris. 1886). than twelve years ago. I shall prove to my below. At die same instant, so to speak, one readers that I am not the only person whom irresistibly throws oneself to the side oppo­ sight has influenced into determining the oscillations of a hand held site the abyss, pushed by die survival instinct that struggles against the pendulum. Surely you remember that while I was your guest, tendency to movement in the opposite direction, determined by the together with General P""* and several other people, my experi­ ments became one of the topics of conversation; thai die General 1.1 readily admit that an honest man, whose entire attention is focused on the manifested his desire to know die details, and that after I had movement which a rod he holds in his hands may acquire from an unknown explained them, he clearly expressed how contrary to all his ideas the cause, may very well receive from the smallest of circumstances the tendency influence of sight on the pendulum's movement was. You will also to movement necessary to bring about a manifestation of the phenomenon recall that, upon my suggestion to perform the experiment himself, with which he is occupied: for instance, if this man is looking for a spring, if he was dumbfounded when, after having placed his left hand over his he is not blindfolded, the sight of green, lush grass, whereon he is treading, may determine in him, unbeknownst to himself, die muscular movement eyes for a few minutes, then withdrawn it, he saw the pendulum he required to stir the rod, because of the link he established between the idea of was holding in his right hand absolutely immobile, even though it vegetation and that of water.

38 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER sight of the sheer drop. That tendency is also noted when one is on a state ourselves, that we do not constantly have the same impression of bridge with no railing, set above a deep gorge; the gorge, looked at one identical thing: thus someone else's yawning docs not always from one side, makes you throw yourself to the opposite side, thus make us yawn; laughter does not always communicate itself from the subjecting you to the same anxious state as the one you were just person laughing to his neighbor, etc. The great orator who wants the attempting to elude- Thus successively stressed in two opposite ways, listening crowd to share the passion that stirs him does not arrive at you are transfixed and reduced to immobility unless die excessive fear his goal right away, he begins by predisposing his audience to it, and of falling on the side where you arc makes you run the risk of throw­ it is only after having captivated them diat he launches his final argu­ ing yourself off the opposite side. Such is, in the case we are dis­ ment, his last stroke. The great poet, the great writer, make constant cussing, the case of a man who has not been trained to walk on nar­ use ol the same artifice; they prepare their reader to receive a final row paths overlooking vertical drops, whereas the man who is accus­ impression. There is nothing more curious in the study of die causes tomed to it walks in such places with as sure a foot as on a wide road, which determine man's actions, than the knowledge of die means because, free of fear, he does not think of the danger that rattles the used by the salesman to at first attract and then fix the buyer's atten­ inexperienced man. Lastly, the lattcr's position could become even tion on the qualities of the object which he wants him to purchase, more critical, if he were to discover the depth of the abyss in a situa­ nothing more curious than the knowledge of the means used by the tion where, because he was following the flight of bird or a thrown conjurer in order to make you pick one card rather than another from stone, etc., he had already followed up to a certain point that ten­ the deck, or to bring the spectator's attention toward one certain dency drawing us toward any moving body.1 thing, in order to distract him from another, distraction without which the prestidigitator could not cause the surprise which is the The tendency to movement in a specific direction, resulting from final object of his art. The outcome of these considerations is diat the attention given to a certain object, seems to me the primary cause completely different trades use quite similar means, though extremely of several phenomena usually attributed to imitation; thus, in die case varied, in order to reach one same goal, that of securing man's atten­ where sight or even hearing directs our thoughts toward someone tion, in order to later exert a specific effect on him. who is yawning, the muscular movement of yawning is the usual con­ sequence. I might say just as much about the communicability of 1 believe my observations connect with the history of the faculties laughter, and that example actually exhibits, more than any similar of animals; that there are such and such of their acts that have been instance, an occurrence that seems to me to strongly support the attributed to instinct, which actually belong to the class of those I interpretation I make of these phenomena: it is ili.it laughter, weak at described. It is mainly widi animals who live in groups that I believe first, may, if it persists, accelerate itself, so to speak (as we saw the oscillations of the hand held pen­ dulum increase in amplitude under the influence of sight), and the accelerating laughter can reach the point of convulsion. As long as I believed the movement of the There is no doubt in my mind that the sight of certain specific actions strongly influ­ pendulum I was holding to be possible, movement ence our frail machinery, that a narrative of such actions animated through voice and ges­ was taking place; but after I discovered its cause, ture, or, even, the knowledge one acquires of it was no longer possible for me to reproduce it. them through mere reading, incline certain individuals toward those same actions, thus following a tendency to movement that mechanically determines in this way an action that they never would have thought of without an event distinct it would be interesting to study, in this light, the influence of the lead­ from their will, an action to which they would never have been dri­ ers over the subordinate individuals. Finally, do not the cited facts ven by what one must call instinct in animals. shed some light on the cause of the fascination exerted by one animal The consummate actor is one whose gestures and facial move­ on another? ment correspond to the movement which the feelings he translates I believe it is in the nature of my observations to attract die atten­ onto the stage must have aroused in the character he represents. tion of physiologists who, like Mr. Flourens, have examined very The historical painter [painter of historical subjects] who studied closely the movements taking place in animals after selective ablation nature knows how to grasp the position that the originals of the char­ of parts of their nervous system; it would seem to me important to acters he is painting must have held, when they were contributing to gauge the influence that could be exerted by the ablation of some of the action that the canvas aims at reproducing. those pans on the manifestation of the phenomena diat were the sub­ A great poet is one whose verse arouses in the listener movements ject of this letter. corresponding to the events he sings of: such is the narrative in a sec­ Such are, my dear friend, the matters which in your estimate were tion of the Iliad in which Alexander lunges for his weapons. likely to be of interest to those people who think along with ourselves In closing now the account of those facts that appear connected to that the procedure to be followed in psychology is the one outlined my observations, I believe I must add a remark, indeed implicit in by the men to whom the natural sciences owe their advances, and what I wrote, but that might have escaped some readers: it is that this who share our conviction that there is no such thing as positive meta­ tendency to movement to which I attribute the primary cause of a physics for those who ignore the essential of the physical and large number of our actions, takes effect only insofar as we are in a mathematical sciences. The study of man's faculties is invariably certain state, which is precisely what the magnctizers call die faith. linked not only to the knowledge of the means he put to use in The existence of that state is conclusively demonstrated by the founding each of the special branches of those same sciences, but it is account of my experiments: indeed, as long as I believed the move­ also linked to the knowledge of animals' faculties. Before attempting ment of the pendulum i was holding to be possible, movement was to compose a general system of philosophy, it is necessary to have col­ taking place: but after I discovered its cause, it was no longer possible lected as vast a number as possible of groups of analogous facts, and for me to reproduce it. It is because we are not always in die same moreover the facts in each group must have been previously investi­ gated in depth by specific studies.

1. It is not impossible (hat. in seasickness, something similar to what 1 just described happens in us. E. CHEVREUL •

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 200! 39 and hear thought-provoking talks critiquing (or, in some cases, defending):

• Near-Death Experiences • The Medical Effects of Prayer at a Distance • : Creation/Evolution and Darwinism • New Cosmologies and Religion • and Science • The Existence of

We'll also feature meetings of local groups; a concurrent ses­ sion on Science, Religion, and African Americans; and a ses­ sion on Science and Islam. We'll have the pleasure of enter­ tainment and education at the hands of nationally known physicist and showman David G. Willey, and—

Imagine getting to hear all these superb speakers in one meeting:

> Jim Alcock • Hector Avalos 1 Michael Behe • Susan Blackmore > Patricia Churchland • Daniel C Dennett 1 Jerome W. Elbert • Antony Flew i Owen Gingerich • Adolf Grunbaum i Ray Hyman • Karl Jansen > Paul Kurtz • Raymond Moody 1 Joe Nickell • Steven Pinker 1 • Gary Posner i Gary E. Schwartz • Eugenie Scott Quentin Smith • Wole Soyinka i Vic Stenger • Matt Young

•The registration fee will be only $79 for students who are currently enrolled in classes (copy of current student identification required). Be Part of the First Make plans now to be in Atlanta, at the Atlanta Airport CENTER FOR INQUIRY Marriott (just $89 a room per night, single or double, with free airport shuttle service, free parking, and first class ser­ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE! vice), on Friday through Sunday. November 9-11.

YOU're invited to what may just be the finest conference you've ever had a chance to attend—the Center Center for Inquiry's first International Conference. For only $149* _for. CSICOP (we're holding the line on costs), you can come to Atlanta Inquiry THI cOMMirni rot IMI SCIINTIMC INVUIIGMION of ciAiMs or IHI MIANOIMAI

To register, complete the form below and send with your payment to The Center for Inquiry, ATTN: November Conference, P. O. Box 741. Amherst NY 14226-0741, or call credit card charges (Visa or MasterCard) to 1-800-458-1366. Please note: You must reserve your sleeping room(s) directly with the hotel. Call 404-766-7900 and ask for the Center for Inquiry conference rate. Note: Room rate is only guaranteed until October 8. 2001 REGISTRATION FORM

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TOTAL S_ PAYMENT: I enclose checkMO .payable to Center fur Inquiry or Charge to my I MasterCard Visa Card Number: Expiration: Signature: irequired far durtoi Twenty-Five Years CELEBRATING 25 TEARS of Skeptical Inquiry

n this issue we continue the 25th anniversary celebration of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims I of the Paranormal and the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. Founding chairman Paul Kurtz leads off our anniversary section with his personal perspectives. He reflects on the founding of CSICOP, four strategic issues CSICOP faced from the beginning, selected highlights of his personal involvement in the skeptical movement, some surprises of recent years, and the development of the skeptics movement in the last quarter century. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Editor Kendrick Frazier then continues with Part 2 of his thoughts on science and skepticism in the twenty-first century. These essays are excerpted from the forthcoming book Skeptical Odysseys (Prometheus 2001, editor Paul Kurtz), published in honor of CSICOP's twenty-fifth anniversary.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 41 My Personal Involvement

Paul Kurtz

The Creation of CSICOP their own narrow specialties—interdisciplinary efforts were t is well known that I am the culprit responsible for the frowned upon—and they did not know what the facts of the founding of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation case were. Martin Gardner's Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Iof Claims of the Paranormal. Why did I do so? Because I Science was available, but aside from that there were all too few was dismayed in 1976 by the rising skeptical studies in the literature for tide of belief in the paranormal and open-minded inquirers, let alone the die lack of adequate scientific exami­ general public. nations of diese claims. At that time a It is within this cultural milieu as wide range of claims were everywhere background that I decided to convene a present. Books such as Erich von special conference to discuss "The New Daniken's Chariots of the Gods?, Irrationalisms: Antiscience and Pseudo- Immanuel Velikovsky's Worlds in science." This was held on the newly Collision, and Charles Berlin's The built Amherst Campus of the State were widely popu­ University of New York at Buffalo lar; and self-proclaimed and (where I was a professor) on April soothsayers were stalking the 30-May 2, 1976. I drafted a call invit­ media—from Uri Geller to Jeane ing a number of leading scholars to the Dixon. I was distressed that my stu­ inaugural session of the proposed new dents confused astrology with astron­ organization. This was endorsed by omy, accepted pyramid power, many philosophers, including W. V. Bigfoot, the , Quine, Sidney Hook, Ernest Nagel, Paul Kurtz Kirlian photography, and psychic Brand Blanshard, and Antony Flew. surgery without the benefit of a sci­ And I invited many of the well-known entific critique. Most of my scientific colleagues were equally skeptical critics to this opening session—Martin Gardner, Ray perplexed by what was happening, but they were focused on Hyman, Philip J. Klass, , , L. Sprague de Camp, and Milbourne Christopher. The new Paul Kurtz is the Founder of CSICOP and publisher of the organization, which I co-chaired with Truzzi, was to be called SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the

42 July/Augusi 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Paranormal (CSICOP). Our long-range goal was public edu­ there was already tremendous exposure of the cation of the aims of science, particularly an appreciation for pro-paranormalists' viewpoint, and that we scientific methods of inquiry and critical thinking. really wished to focus on the neglected skep­ There had been other scientific efforts historically to inves­ tical case. Truzzi resigned from the editorship tigate paranormal claims, such as the Society for Psychical of the magazine, and indeed from the Executive Research founded in Great Britain in 1882 and in the United Council, and the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER came into being, edited States in 1885 (by William James). And there had been many by veteran science writer Kendrick Frazier, who had covered the UFO groups which came into being in the post-World War first meeting of CSICOP for Science News. II period. But most of these groups mainly attracted believers Third, one of the most difficult problems that we faced who were predisposed to accept the phenomena; the skeptics was. What was the relationship of the paranormal to religion? in their midst were few and far Would CSICOP deal with religious between. Thus CSICOP was the first questions? Our position has been body made up predominantly of from the start that we would not skeptics, who were willing to investi­ investigate religious claims unless gate the alleged paranormal phenom­ there were empirical or experimental ena. We had been attacked by believ­ means for evaluating them. We were ers for being "closed-minded" and by Today there are not concerned with religious faith, other skeptics who claimed that we theology, or , but only with were dignifying phenomena that did approximately one scientific evidence adduced for the not deserve special attention. But we hundred skeptics thought that we had an important religious claims. task to fulfill. organizations in thirty-eight Fourth, a most interesting and countries and a great unexpected development occurred: immediately after forming CSICOP, The Agenda number of many concerned scientists and skep­ There were four strategic issues magazines and tics said that they wanted to establish that CSICOP had to address at its newsletters published similar local groups in their areas in founding. the United States. We helped them to worldwide, and they First, what would be our approach do so by providing our subscription to such phenomena? Would we sim­ continue to grow. lists and sending speakers. Similarly, ply be out to show by researchers in other countries said that ridicule the folly of the claims that they wished to do the same. We were made, or would we be serious assisted this effort in any way we investigators concerned with research could. I personally visited virtually all into claims, dispassionate, open- of the nascent national organizations minded inquirers? The answer was or sent other members of CSICOP clear: Our chief focus would be on inquiry, not doubt. Where (especially James Randi, Mark Plummer, and Barry Karr). This we had investigated a claim and found it wanting, we would included groups in Canada, England, France, Belgium, Italy, express our doubt and perhaps even debunk it, but this would Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Mexico, and Russia. be only after careful investigation. Thus skeptical organizations began forming throughout the Second, we asked, what would be our relationship to pro- world. What this meant was that CSICOP had become an paranormal believers? We observed that there were by now hun­ international organization. Since science was international in dreds, perhaps even thousands, of pro-paranormal magazines scope, the critical examination of paranormal claims was also and publications in the world, and that we were virtually the a matter for the international . This lone dissenting voice in the wilderness, as it were. We would be became all the more evident as the years went by, as the media glad to engage believers in debate, but it would be our agenda, became further globalized and paranormal programs pro­ not theirs. Accordingly, we decided that we wished by and large duced, for example, in Hollywood, were exported virtually to pursue our own research strategy, namely to encourage scien­ everywhere. Today there are approximately one hundred skep­ tific and skeptical inquiry. Truzzi, cochairman and editor of The tics organizations in thirty-eight countries and a great number Zetetic (founded by him but which we took over), insisted that of magazines and newsletters published worldwide, and they we present both believers and nonbelievers in dialogue in the continue to grow. pages of the magazine, and this he proceeded to do. Although Needless to say the mainstay of the skeptics movement has members of the CSICOP Executive Council found this inter­ been the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. Its development and influence esting and perhaps useful, they demurred because they felt that grew under the brilliant editorship of Kendrick Frazier.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 200' 43 Some Highlights of the First Quarter Century ducted nearly 100 independent tests. After launching CSICOP, we immediately became embroiled The thing that absolutely stunned me was the fact diat we in controversy; claims and counterclaims were bandied about. never had positive results in any of the many tests conducted. I I can only touch on some highlights of my personal involve­ have never published these findings, for I did them basically to ment in the skeptical movement. It is noteworthy tliat what­ satisfy my desire (and that of my students) to ascertain whether ever we did as skeptics was intensely followed. Although we anything paranormal could be uncovered. Was the so-called received a warm reception by mainline science magazines, we goat effect (doubters dampening psychic ability) suppressing were bitterly attacked by believers. They accused us of being the evidence? I doubt it. What I do know is that with rigorous "the gatekeepers of science." They said that we blocked any protocols we invariably had negative results. Indeed, although consideration of new ideas and that we were suppressing new 90 percent of the students began die course as believers, by the Galileos waiting in the wings to be discovered. We of course end 90 percent became extremely skeptical because of the fail­ denied this and were willing to keep an open mind about any ure to demonstrate the paranormal in their own experiments. testable claim. In my view, if we are to accept any psi factor—and we should always be open to further inquiry—we need simply to insist upon Astrology diree tilings: first, that any results be replicated in laboratories in This was particularly the case regarding the claims of astrology, which neutral and/or skeptical inquirers are involved; second, including the investigations of Michel and Francois Gauquelin, diat tight protocols be used so diat diere can be no sensory leak­ who tried to support a new form of astrobiology. I will not age; and third, that careful and rigorous grading standards be describe this twenty-year effort except to say diat their findings adhered to, for what constitutes a hit is often questionable. could not be replicated by skeptical inquirers. I think that one of One of my most memorable experiences in the earlier years the chief contributions of CSICOP over die past twenty-five was my debate with J. B. Rhine on April 19, 1978, at the years is that more scientific effort has been devoted to testing Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. One amusing astrology than ever in the history of die subject, and many of incident that occurred was that we were both wearing the same these papers were published in die SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. All of color and style of suit. I asked Mr. Rhine whether this was of the results were negative. paranormal significance or due to chance. I thought that he We did at the same time conduct a public campaign in an was a kindly gentleman but rather naive. effort to get newspapers to carry disclaimers to the effect that Uri Geller the daily astrological columns, which were based on sun signs, had no factual scientific support, but should be read for enter­ From the late 1980s until the mid-1990s CSICOP was con­ tainment value only. We have managed to convince some sixty fronted with legal suits brought by Uri Geller, who claimed that newspapers to carry such disclaimers. he had been libeled by James Randi and CSICOP These legal battles took almost a decade to resolve. Geller was unable to Parapsychology prove his case, and CSICOP was awarded court costs. Geller Many of CSICOP's efforts were devoted to examining the also sued Prometheus Books for publishing books by James claims of parapsychologists. We had an excellent parapsy- Randi (The Truth about Uri Geller) and Victor Stenger (Physics chological subcommittee, headed by Professor Ray Hyman and ), who had quoted Randi, and me for a passage I of the University of Oregon, and including James Alcock, had published in The Transcendental Temptation, also drawing Barry Beyerstein, and others. This committee worked with upon Randi's account. We agreed to modify these passages. At other psychologists in the , especially the present moment, suits still continue in Great Britain, and Susan Blackmore, Christopher French, Richard Wiseman, threats are constant from Geller, who has sued many others. and David Marks. In any case, the courts refused to find in favor of Uri Geller, I should say that although most skeptics believed diat there who claimed that he has special psychic powers, which he was considerable trickery afoot or self-deception in "psychical refused to have tested in a court of law. The amount of time research," I was not certain whether psi phenomena existed. My and effort spent in defending ourselves against Uri Geller was skeptical colleagues insisted diat such phenomena were unlikely, exhausting. We were gratified that our readers rallied to the but I decided to investigate for myself, to satisfy my own curios­ cause. They were deeply concerned about these harassing suits ity. I did this by teaching a course, "Philosophy, Parapsychology, against a scientific body. Any time a new suit was leveled and the Paranormal," at the university. Most of the students against us, contributions poured in, enabling us to fight back. who registered for the course were believers—I gave them a poll on the first day to determine their level of credulity. My plan was to work closely with students on various experiments in order to UFOlogy has proven to be especially fascinating. Philip J. (Class, test psychic and odier claims. I repeated die course four times a veteran UFO investigator, became chairman of a new UFO over eight years, and had over 250 students enroll. They con­ subcommittee which was made up of about nineteen skeptical

44 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER investigators, including Robert Sheaffer, Gary Posner, and James the open questions: "Has anyone in the audi­ Oberg. Wc each were numbered with a 00 before our name; by ence ever been abducted aboard a UFO?" or chance I happened to have the number 007, reminiscent of "Does anyone know of someone who has James Bond. There were so many claims proliferating in the been abducted?" The response was always in public domain, and in the media, diat die most this committee the negative. What were we to conclude from this: that could do was selectively attempt to explain those which were the ETs are prejudiced against Chinese and only kidnap most prominent. Philip J. Klass did a yeoman's job especially in Westerners, or that the Western media hype at that time had seeking out alternative causal explanations. I myself was partic­ not penetrated the Chinese mainland? ularly intrigued by die ETI hypothesis because I thought it was I must say that in my own empirical inquiry I have yet to entirely possible that intelligent life existed elsewhere in the uni­ find a UFO case that withstood critical scrutiny. The "sight­ verse (even rJiough it was sometimes difficult to find it on ings" in my view are not evidence for ET visitations; rather they Earth!). But whether we were being visited or had been visited were most likely in the "eyes of the beholders" and they tell us by extraterrestrial beings manning advanced-state technological something about ourselves. spacecraft was the issue. We needed to find some hard physical evidence to corroborate these claims. The one thing that per­ Believing the Unbelievable plexed me was that eyewitnesses were so often deceived. Given Perhaps the most surprising thing that has occurred over the the cultural milieu and the prominence of such reports almost past few years is that as increasing waves of media sensational­ daily at that time, many people looking at the sky thought that ism have inundated the public, what was formerly considered they had seen UFOs. Obviously they had seen something in the to be unbelievable is suddenly accepted as true by much of the sky, but whether it was a planet, entering rockets from Soviet or public. Added to this is the "unsinkable rubber duck" phe­ U.S. space probes, meteors, weather balloons, advertising nomenon; namely, although skeptical investigators may planes, or something else was unclear. I had met many people thoroughly refute a claim in one generation, it may come back who claimed to have seen UFOs and were intrigued by what 1 to haunt us in the next—as a hydra-headed monster—with suspected to be the will to believe, or the transcendental temp­ new intensity and attraction. I wish to briefly illustrate this by tation at work. reference to other recent weird claims. One area that really shocked us was the growth of reports of UFO abductions. Although Barney and Betty Hill in the Communicating with the Dead famous New Hampshire case (in 1961) claimed that they had In the late 1990s a spate of best-selling books by a new gener­ been abducted aboard a UFO, most UFOlogical investigators ation of spirit mediums have appeared—such as , were dubious of this and other similar reports. Accordingly, it , and . These mediums claim came as a surprise to us when about ten years ago reports of to have immediate communication with the dead in which abductions not only began to proliferate, but were taken seri­ they bring messages to bereaved relatives and friends. ously. We were puzzled by the claims. I debated many of the Unfortunately, there are virtually no efforts to corroborate proponents on television or radio—Budd Hopkins, David what they have said by any kind of independent tests. Their Jacobs, and John Mack. wrote me to say that given subjective phenomenological readings are accepted at face value the intense public interest, we really ought to look into this by publishers, popular television hosts, and the general public. phenomenon carefully to see if anything is there. With this in This phenomenon is startling to skeptical inquirers who had mind we invited John Mack to our national convention in been willing to investigate carefully the question of postmortem Seatde, Washington, in 1994, at a special session on UFO survival, but find this kind of "evidence" totally unreliable. abductions. Mack said that he was convinced that these Actually these so-called mediums are using familiar "hot" or abductions were real, that he had a number of otherwise trust­ "cold-reading" techniques, by which they artfully fish for infor­ worthy people who reported such experiences under hypnosis, mation while giving the impression it comes from a mystical and he had to accept their claims as true. At an open meeting source. What is so apparent is that gullibility and nincompoop- Phil Klass and John Mack tangled, but we allowed Mack every ery overtake critical common sense and all safeguards are aban­ opportunity to present his point of view. What was at issue was doned in the face of guile, deception, and self-deception. whether or not psychiatrists should accept at face value the subjective reports of their patients. Would John Mack accept the hallucinations of schizophrenics who believe deeply in the Equally surprising is the return of miracles. By the end of the worlds of fantasy that they concoct? If not, then why accept eighteenth century the belief in miracles had been largely the uncorroborated reports of UFO abductees? discredited by the powerful arguments of David Hume and An interesting sidelight: 1 headed a delegation of the CSI- other skeptical authors. By the nineteenth century it was COP Executive Council to China in 1988. We spoke to sev­ believed that miracles were a substitute for our ignorance, and eral large audiences in Shanghai and Beijing. I invariably raised that if one examines long enough, one can find natural causal

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 45 explanations for otherwise inexplicable phenomena. mous strides in the past century combating illnesses, extend­ The outbreak of reports of miracles in the United States is ing human life, and mitigating suffering—including the dis­ especially disturbing, since America is supposed to be educa­ covery of anesthesia, antibiotics, and modern surgery. Of tionally advanced. There have been a great number of Jesus and course, not all diseases have been cured by the medical profes­ Mary sightings, weeping icons and statues, even the return of sion, and so out of desperation many patients turn to alterna­ stigmata. All of these claims, which were considered to be tive therapies. In some cases, if you leave an illness alone, the medieval by educated persons, have been moved body will restore itself to health. In others, the placebo effect to center stage by the media, and tens of thousands of devotees may have powerful therapeutic value. In any case, the failure throng to places where miracles are proclaimed. Scientific ratio­ of large sectors of the public to appreciate how the scientific nalists thought that die days of -mongering were long method works in medicine is one reason why alternative ther­ gone. Now they have returned with a vengeance. apies seem to be gaining ground.

Intelligent Design Some Concluding Reflections Similarly, the case for intelligent design, long thought to have The development of the skeptics movement in the last quarter been discredited in the sciences, has been brought to new of a century I submit is a very significant event in the history of prominence. The United States is perhaps the only major science; for it helped to galvanize for the first time scientific democracy in which the theory of evolution is hotly contested inquirers who are willing to take part in systematic critical eval­ and in which a significant percentage of the population still uations of paranormal claims. believes in biblical creationism. This battle has been going on The basic question that we need to ask is, Why do para­ in the public schools for many years. What is surprising is the normal beliefs persist? One explanation is because the claims sudden emergence again of the intelligent design argument, of —old and new—are largely unexamined within such as defended by Michael Behe in his book Darwin's Black present-day culture. It is considered to be in bad taste to ques­ Box. Arguments for intelligent design are also encountered in tion anyone's religion. Granted, we ought to be tolerant of physics and astronomy. We arc beginning to hear statements other points of view. On the odier hand, should claims that are that the only way the universe can be explained is by postulat­ patently false be immune to criticism? There are a plethora of ing a Grand Designer. How else account for the "fine tuning" religious denominations in the United States and hundreds of that has occurred? they ask, supposing that life could not have bizarre sects and . Religious miracles like paranormal existed unless the proper conditions were present, and only an claims postulate a nonnatural transcendental realm that intelligent being could have arranged that. The arguments allegedly cannot be evaluated by evidence or reason. The uni­ against intelligent design go back in the history of science; to verse is bifurcated into a natural world, which science deals wit, there is no evidence for a Designer. To read into nature the widl, and a transcendent spirirual realm, which allegedly lies mind of God in analogy with the mind of Man is a vast pos- beyond our ability to comprehend it. Concomitant with these tulation, a speculative diesis not based upon scientific evi­ two realms, their proponents insist, are two truths. This dual­ dence. Here we are dealing with a leap of faith, not fact. ism is also said to apply to human personality where we con­ front a "separate ." Alternative Medicine This classical teligious outlook had been eroded by the One other recent and unexpected development is the rapid Copernican and Darwinian revolutions and by steady advances growth of "alternative" or "complementary" medicine. A wide in the behavioral and neurological sciences. In spite of this, the range of alternative therapies have become popular, most of spiritual realm is very rarely questioned. In my view it is often them ancient, many of diem imported from India and China. difficult to isolate paranormal claims from religious claims. The list of these therapies is extensive. It includes acupuncture, Most skeptical inquirers have said diat they wished to deal only qigong, , magnetic dierapy, , natur­ with diose questions diat have some empirical grounding. opathy, , homeopathy, the extensive use of herbal Interestingly, believers in the paranormal/spiritual worldview medicines, esoteric cancer cures, crash diets, and the like. have blurred the borderlines between die paranormal and die One must have an open mind about such therapies. They religious. Religious conservatives and fundamentalists have, of cannot be rejected a priori. Skeptical inquirers have insisted diat course, been highly critical of New Age astrology, UFOlogy, proposed alternative dierapies need to be submitted to double- and psychic phenomena, which they consider to be in compe­ blind randomized testing. Unfortunately, much of the support tition widi traditional religion. fot alternative medicine is based on anecdotal hearsay or testi­ Nonetheless, paranormal phenomena, which allegedly exist monials by self-proclaimed healers—such as Andrew Weil and over and beyond or beside , are similar to religious —and much of this is spiritual in character. miracles. I have labeled religious miracles as "paranatural," for Skeptical inquirers are dismayed by this development they lie midway between die and the natural and because scientific evidence-based medicine has made enor­ are amenable to some evidential examination. In this sense.

46 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER communication with the dead, the sighting of , exorcisms, zation of spiritual-paranormal claims without , prophecies, and prayer at a distance are not unlike adequate criticism now dominates the mass UFO abductions, out-of-body experiences, or precognitive pre media, which are all too often more inter­ il icii< ii i v—rJiey all are capable of being investigated scientifically. ested in box-office appeal than accurate Unlike many European and Latin American countries, the information. Huge media conglomerates find that sell­ United States has never had a strong anticlerical tradition. ing the paranormal by means of books, magazines, TV, and There are few, if any, objective examinations readily available movies is extremely profitable. There is too little time devoted to the public of the so-called sacred literature. Why should to dissenting scientific critiques. reports of miracles in holy books—faith healing, exorcism, the Computers are also rapidly transforming the way informa­ virgin birth and Resurrection, the ascension of Mohammed to tion is imparted. The Internet is a vast repository of data bytes Heaven, or the visitation of Joseph Smith by the that presents a huge quantity of unfiltered claims that can be Moroni—be any less amenable to critical scrutiny than any scrolled without critical analysis. By undermining standards of other extraordinary paranormal reports? Given the current , any sentence or utterance is as true as any other, cultural phobia against the investigation of religion, however, and in this process the methods of logic and science are I submit that irrationality will most likely continue strong— deemed irrelevant. Added to this is the emergence of post­ unless skeptical inquirers within the scientific community (if in the academy, which denies the objectivity of sci­ not CSICOP itself) are willing to use the best standards of sci­ ence or the possibility of achieving reliable knowledge. ence, including archaeology, linguistics, history, biology, psy­ I believe that the skeptical and scientific community has a chology, and sociology to uncover naturalistic explanations. special responsibility to help tedress the current state of distor­ Another explanation for the persistence of the paranormal, tion and misinformation. This becomes difficult, however, for I submit, is due to the transcendental temptation. In my book science has become overspecialized. Surely, a division of labor is by that name, I present the thesis that paranormal and reli­ essential if we are to advance the frontiers of knowledge; we gious phenomena have similar functions in human experience; need technical experts focused on specific fields of investigation. they are expressions of a tendency to accept magical thinking. Yet one reason why the scientific outlook is continuously under­ This temptation has such profound roots within human expe­ mined by antiscience and pseudoscience is because specialists in rience and culture that it constantly reasserts itself. one field may not necessarily be competent to judge claims in Transcendental myths offer consolation to bereaved souls others, nor do they always understand that science primarily is who cannot face their own mortality or those of loved ones. a method of inquiry. Likewise there is insufficient understand­ They provide psychological succor and social support, enabling ing of the broader implications of scientific discoveries to our them to endure the tragic elements of the human condition and conception of the universe and our place within it. to overcome the fragility of human life in the scheme of things. I submit that it is incumbent on us to defend the natural­ We need to ask how and in what sense the transcendental temp­ istic interpretation of reality, a materialistic not a spiritual- tation can be modified and whether naturalistic moral and paranormal account. We need generalists of science who can sum poetic equivalents can be found to satisfy it. I am convinced that up what science tells us about the human condition in a universe belief in the paranormal is a religious or quasi-religious phe­ without purpose or design, yet who have the ability to awaken nomenon: Astrology postulates that our destiny lies in the stars. wonder and excitement about the scientific quest itself. Psychics maintain that there are untapped extrasensory powers Given the massive cultural fixation on the spiritual- that can probe other dimensions of reality. UFOs transport paranormal outlook, perhaps the most that skeptical inquirers semidivine extraterrestrials from other worlds. All of these are can hope for is that we can lessen the excessive follies of its efforts to transcend the normal world. proponents. Perhaps our most effective course is to moderate- Still another factor in the recent growth of the paranormal untested overbeliefs and encourage critical thinking as far as is the introduction of new electronic media of communication we can. Our agenda should be to encourage the extension that are radically altering the way that we view the world. of critical thinking to all areas of life—including religion, Symbols and concepts are being replaced by signs and images: politics, , and society. the abstractions of logic by contrived virtual realities. The cul­ Looking ahead, I think that we can expect, unfortunately, ture of books is supplemented by the visual and auditory arts. that spiritual-paranormal beliefs will continue to lure the pub­ These media express imagery and sound, form and color. lic. Although the content of their beliefs may change in the Cinematography transforms intellectual content. Science fic­ light of criticism, some forms of the paranormal will most tion becomes the Sacred Church of the Paranormal. Soaring likely persist in the future. Skeptical inquirers thus will have an flights of imagination distort what is true or false. Instead of ongoing role to play in civilization. Our mission is to light explicating a thesis, the immediacy of photography in motion candles in the dark, as Carl Sagan so eloquently stated, and to seizes us and renders products of fancy as real. become Socratic gadflies questioning the sacred cows of soci­ The special problem that we face today is that the dramati­ ety and cultivating an appreciation for reason.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/Augusl 2001 47 i(«]iia

Kendrick Frazier

Second of two parts tive. The writers of excellent, scientifically responsible articles f paranormal and fringe-science ideas have such enduring and producers of fine science-oriented documentaries must be powerful appeal and seem to fulfill deep human needs, encouraged and praised. Political leaders, lawyers, judges, and what can scientists and scientific-minded skeptics do? If I juries must be given accurate information about what is good I science and what assertions have no scientific legitimacy. didn't think we were accomplishing something, I wouldn't be doing this. The first step is to understand ihose human needs I think the best way for most scientists, scholars, and teach­ and to have some compassion for die human condition. We ers to do diis is to emphasize the positive. Emphasize what you are all in this together. It is self-defeating to put yourself above zre fir. We share important core values diat should appeal to a the fray, separate from the rest of humanity. Understanding good pan of die public: honesty, integrity, and die value of these powerful needs is essential and should help shape how good science, clear thinking, intelligence, , sci­ you frame your responses to odiers' arguments and claims. ence education, and open scientific inquiry. Other important Aldiough the appeal of the paranormal and pseudoscience attributes include the error-correcting functions of science, die will always be with us, I think it should be the goal of scien­ commonsense aspects of science, and the fact that in science the tists, scholars, and scientific-minded skeptics everywhere to ultimate authority is not what any individuals may wish, combat and contain the most extreme and irresponsible believe, or say but what the evidence shows. Authority just elements of claims-mongering. Outright misrepresentations of doesn't count in science, at least not in the long term. In that science must bring strong correction. Efforts to introduce bad sense, science is highly democratic, even populist. Even those science or pseudoscience into science curriculums or die polit­ areas where science violates common sense and intuition, such ical process must be opposed. The more irresponsible elements as relativity or quantum mechanics, give us an opportunity. We of die entertainment and communications media must be bat­ can point out that these two highly successful areas of modern tled whenever they replace good science with unfounded spec­ physics are examples where firm experimental evidence has rat­ ulations, pseudoscience, and lies. Responsible media must be ified clearly bizarre aspects of nature, something that might encouraged and helped to gain accurate scientific information appeal to many people. and be given well-informed scientific comment and perspec- Most scientists and scholars—except for die most incorri­ gible postmodernists—will agree that die mediods of science Kendrick Frazier has been Editor of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER are an extremely effective approach to getting knowledge since 1977, one year after its inception. He is a CSICOP Fellow about nature. Many scientists will go much furdier and say and a member of the Executive Council. From 1971-1977 he that the methods of science together represent one of the most was Editor of Science News. successful ways, if not the most successful way, humans have

48 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER ever devised to expand our knowledge of the world. "Skepticism" itself is a core value, but it can be a hard sell. We all know it is an essential part of science, vital and comple­ mentary to science's imaginative, no-holds-barred, go-after-the- facts-no-matter-where-they-lie, creative aspects. But to most people "skepticism" and "skeptic" sound negative. I try to point out that skepticism is just ordinary common sense. You kick • How not only does life evolve, the universe itself evolves. the tires and get a mechanic to take a look before you buy a Astronomers can see areas of very young stars, newly born. used car. Why not take a very close, skeptical look before buy­ Old stars, dying, collapsing, and exploding, provide some of ing someone else's opinion? From pyramid schemes to "pyra­ the most stupendous explosions we can witness, and the explo­ mid power," skepticism can save you a lot of grief and money. sions manufacture the heavy elements—the "star stuff"—out It is an ultimate form of consumerism. of which we are made. Science and scientific inquiry, however—despite some • That while most scientists doubt we've ever been visited ever-present antiscience and anti-intellectual trends in soci­ by extraterrestrial beings, the idea that the first molecular seeds ety—should really be an easy sell. Polls for the National of life may have come to Earth from elsewhere aboard Science Board's series of Science Indicators reports show that or planetesimals at an early stage in the history of solar system the public strongly supports science and has a fascination with is gaining some scientific respectability. new discoveries. They also show that the public doesn't know • That while many scientists feel that life must be wide­ very much about science. This is especially true of the meth­ spread in the universe and we're monthly finding new planets ods and processes of science. Some understanding of these around odier star systems and also confirming the ability of processes is really necessary for getting a sense of what is good organisms on Earth to thrive under extreme conditions such as science and what is bad science (or worse). But the fact that boiling hot deep sea vents and in rock deep underground, it the public has very positive attitudes toward science provides doesn't necessarily follow that intelligent life is widespread in an opportunity. We can use that interest to good effect. the universe. There is another, new view. These scientists agree Here are just a few examples of what we can show: that simple life may be very common in the universe but argue • What we know (and more important how much we don't that Earth has a unique combination of circumstances (such yet know) about how the human mind really works. things as an exceedingly large moon that helps keep Earth's • How our brains still far outperform any computer yet axis stable and therefore long-term climate changes from being built at pattern-recognition, yet usually fail us in accurately too extreme) that may nevertheless be very rare and special assessing statistical evidence. (the "Rare Earth" hypothesis). If that is so, the step from sim­ • That these wonderful pattern-recognition functions ple life to advanced life is so difficult that it just may be likely evolved because they have immense survival value, yet at the that we are virtually the only civilization in our universe. same time they can mislead us when our brains overdo con­ You can sec that I hope always to bring a scientific view­ necting the dots and find patterns and meaning that may not point—even an imaginative scientific viewpoint—to skepti­ really be there. cism. I think to do so is important. I have tried to empha­ • That the study of consciousness is becoming a solidly size that whenever possible in the decisions that go into the experimental science. Using functional magnetic resonance SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. imaging (MRI) of the brain activity of volunteers when they Although probably the majority of claims and topics we became conscious of images gradually appearing before them, examine lie outside the boundaries of mainstream science, researchers can see visual signs of neuron activity as the volun­ keeping ourselves close to real science has essential advantages. teers press buttons indicating their perception. But the Here are some of them: researchers viewing die images could see that the neuronal • The daily advance of scientific discoveries is exciting and activity started before the volunteers pressed die buttons, essen­ intellectually stimulating, and that excitement can carry over tially the emergence of a conscious thought. As one researcher to skeptical investigation. says, "Consciousness is brain activity." • The imaginative/creative and the skeptical/evaluative • How deep-time and the immensity of the universe dwarf aspects of science are intermingled in research on a continual our ability to comprehend them. The former provides ample basis, and it is important to keep both in mind. time for the natural workings of evolution and the latter pro­ • The mediods of science are still the main tools used to eval­ vides severe limitations to the possibility that we are being uate claims outside of science (not die only tools, for we use routinely visited by alien spacefarers. everything from forensics to conjuring knowledge to historical • That although a succession of remarkable but unsetding dis­ analysis to investigative journalism), but the main ones. coveries over the centuries have seemingly downgraded our sta­ • What helps separate science from nonscience (and worse) tus in die universe, on a size-scale human beings are nevertheless are not the specific topics under examination, but proponents'

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 49 willingness to apply the various methods of science to their new pathways of understanding? Is there an intellectual rich­ ideas and to frame propositions in a way that can be tested and ness that has some value? These questions have been asked proved wrong if they are wrong. before about such things as UFOs, astrology, paranormal • Many of the institutional aspects of science such as peer- claims, and the like, and they have been answered (legitimately review, open exchange of information, formal publication, in my view) in the negative. So most scientists, especially in freedom of inquiry and discussion, international cooperation, the early, most difficult parts of their careers, probably aren't reliance on observation and experimental evidence, and such going to spend much of their professional time thinking about things as double-blind studies are essential in scientific skepti­ these kinds of claims at all, let alone try to come up with ways cism as well. to test and evaluate them. They have too many other priorities. And a more subtle point: Just as good science uses skepti­ But this then leaves a gap. The gap means there is a danger mat cism, good skeptical inquiry uses both science and what high-level scientific competence may not be applied in exam­ philosophers call pragmatic or mitigated or moderate skepti­ ining paranormal and fringe-science claims. cism. In other words, there are limits to the degree of skepti­ This is where I think CSICOP, the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, cism diat is appropriate, and I think and the skeptical movement in gen­ keeping close to science is very help­ eral come in. We help fill that gap. We ful in keeping on track in this regard. are in effect a surrogate in that area for Dogmatic skepticism—doubt or institutional science. And we are most denial unaccompanied by investiga­ effective when we truly represent the tion—is sterile and unconstructive. Dogmatic skepticism— views and values of the worldwide sci­ Science uses pragmatic or mitigated entific community. We must essen­ doubt or denial skepticism. Science builds upon pre­ tially have the same values. In actual vious knowledge piece by piece and unaccompanied by fact, in the majority of cases, the peo­ combines creative inquiry and criti­ investigation— ple who do our evaluations and arti­ cism to the constructive end of gain­ cles are from the scientific and schol­ is sterile and ing provisional new knowledge. It arly communities. This work may not would never be healthy for "skeptics" unconstructive. noticeably advance their scientific or to be more skeptical than the scien­ Science uses pragmatic scholarly careers because it is unfortu­ tific community itself. Science deals nately not often considered part of or mitigated successfully with absolutely bizarre their regular scientific work. This claims all the time; the only differ­ skepticism. Science despite repeated urgings from scien­ ence is that the subjects involved have builds upon previous tific organizations and others to withstood previous evidentiary tests encourage and reward scientists who knowledge. and have been defined as legitimate devote a portion of their time to help­ science by review committees, fund­ ing educate and inform the public. ing agencies, journals, and the like. Rewards are still infrequent. Most do Many new ideas in science, including it to some degree on their own, draw­ bizarre ones, become repeatedly con­ ing on all their scientific and intellec­ firmed on the basis of strong experi­ tual backgrounds and making time mental evidence. Other new hypotheses fail the tests of available out of personal interest and because they realize that evidence and are eventually forgotten. It is die evidence it is important. It is terribly important. I am so grateful to the that determines all this, not any preconceived opinion or many scientists scholars, educators, and investigators who ideological view. devote so much time and intellectual effort to preparing and If scientific institutions and the public funding agencies writing articles, reviews, and columns for the SKEPTICAL were to decide that it was in the public interest to do so, the INQUIRER. They are, in my view, scientific heroes. same processes could be applied by mainstream science to the The cross-fertilization between institutional science and sci­ kinds of subjects the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER evaluates. Scientists entific skepticism is extensive, and mat is all to die good. Just as are very pragmatic here too. They go where the funding is. in science one cannot determine prior to rigorously examining They have no choice. And those funding decisions arc not the evidence whedier a particular new idea or claim has validity, made arbitrarily. They also are a product of review panels and in scientific skepticism inquirers must be careful, especially if die peer review. One of the key determinants is, essentially, fruit- topic or claim is new and unevaluated and presented as amenable fulness. Is there a potential payoff? Is something here likely to to scientific examination, not to prejudge it and instead to let die advance our knowledge? Are diere indications mat an invest­ evidence determine die outcome. In odier words, a certain level ment of scientific research in this area will open important of humility is required. The evidence is die arbiter, nodiing else.

50 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER What I have said applies of course to new, untested claims and about? Have they skirted all forms of peer to theories that pose no obvious contradiction to scientific prin­ review? Are there direct appeals to die public, ciples. What instead is frequendy presented to scientific skeptics without any form of prior expert review? Have for judgment or approval are things that already have been sci­ any controlled tests been done? Are the hypotheses entifically tested and examined, over and over, coundess times in framed as scientific hypotheses, i.e., is the assertion posed in such countless ways, over years, decades, or (as widi astrology) cen­ a way diat it can in principle be proved to be wrong if it is wrong? turies, and found wanting. Or things that violate repeatedly Or has just the opposite happened, has it been framed so that confirmed laws or principles of nature such as the second law of only positive evidence can be obtained? Are the proponents thermodynamics or the conservation of energy. aware of previous scientific studies and examinations of similar Here is when scientific experimentation can be put aside for claims and do they acknowledge and build on those? Have anec­ a time and the even more difficult and frustrating task of pub­ dote and eyewitness testimony been emphasized over scientific lic education begins. Explaining diat someone's pet theory or testing and confirmed evidence? Has authority been invoked, idea is virtually identical to others that have been repeatedly such as the word of a charismatic ? Is the very spirit of sci­ tested and failed those tests is not ence disparaged, such as the argument likely to be well received. Yet that is the that if you don't believe (without evi­ position scientific skeptics are placed dence), you're just being closed- in over and over—both with propo­ minded? Are specious arguments used: nents of the ideas and widi the media. "They laughed at Galileo too!" or "I It is a bit thankless. But it must be In my view, what relates know what I saw!" These are all hall­ done. And it can be made more palat­ all the topics we are marks that somethings seriously able to both parties if you bring some wrong. And they are indications diat patience and some of the compassion I concerned about is not we might want to get involved with spoke of earlier along with the neces­ whether they invoke the some critical examination of our own. sary scientific knowledge and tough- "paranormal" but whether And then, looked at from the odier mindedness when delivering die mes­ viewpoint, do the subjects raise issues . The message can be reinforced they seem clearly to for science education, science literacy, with a fundamental tenet of skepti­ violate scientific the public perception of science, the cism: die burden of proof is on diose principles or whether philosophy of science? Do they taise making the assertion. Even skeptics consumer-protection issues? Is science frequendy forget this tenet and put they have been handled in invoked dishonesdy to sell an idea or a themselves in a hole by trying to dis­ ways inimical to the spirit product? Are national news organiza­ prove some claim for which no reason­ of scientific inquiry. tions getting carried away treating able evidence has been presented. something as real science diat merits no Everyone must be reminded where the such distinction? Or is there somediing burden of proof rests. This is as true in here that is of special interest to science- science as in scientific skepticism. oriented, philosophically minded read­ I want to briefly mention two more ers? We are, after all, subtided "The topics. Both have been shaped by my Magazine for Science and Reason." determination to keep the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER close to science. So you can see there are many justifications for our interest The first is the fact that we have always been far broader in in examining a topic beyond any "paranormal" connection. our interests than some might assume from the name of our Many years ago I prepared a list of subjects we had written parent committee: ". . . for the scientific investigation of about in SI that had nothing to do with the paranormal. It claims of the paranormal." Scientific Yes, always. Paranormal? took a full page. It doesn't have to be limited to that. Here are just a few new examples: Mass delusions and hys­ Recall from the opening paragraphs of Pan One of this terias of the past millennium; a skeptic's guide to the laws of essay (May/June), the initial announcement of CSICOP nature; the pseudoscience of oxygen therapy, the quality of referred to "the paranormal and related phenomena" (my medical Web sites; die universe and Carl Sagan; the physics emphasis). behind four amazing demonstrations; how well do projective In my view, what relates all die topics we are concerned about measures of personality work?; Carlos Castaneda and New Age is not whether diey invoke the "paranormal" but whether they anthropology; the Mead-Freeman controversy in anthropol­ seem clearly to violate scientific principles or whether they have ogy; the myth that we use only 10 percent of our brain; organ- been handled in ways inimical to the spirit of scientific inquiry. snatching urban legends; fears of the apocalypse; the failure of Do they casually invoke "energy fields" science knows nothing dowsing experiments; the perils of post-hoc reasoning; how to

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 51 study weird things; open minds and the argument from igno­ welcome," "pleased," and a variety of other accolades). A few rance; the compelling nature of extraordinary claims in the expressed disappointment the articles didn't lambaste religion absence of alternative explanations; hidden messages and the directly, but that wasn't our intention. Bible code; alternative medicine in a scientific world. My own feeling for why the issue was so well received focuses Many readers would have us expand our reach even further, on two reasons: The first was that it was refreshing to many long­ to encompass examination of organized religion. I am sympa­ time readers because we had not ever devoted much space to the thetic to their appeal, up to a point. Once again, here we are issues of religious belief. The more important reason, in my view, guided by our connections to science. And one can strongly is that we did it in a very thoughtful and nonconfrontational way. argue—and the arguments go on and on—that science and Focusing specifically on the issue of science and religion allowed religion are separate domains, each treating different aspects of us to be respectful of sincere mainstream religious belief while the human situation, the former the quest for knowledge of clearly demarcating religion from everything science is all about. the natural world, the latter the search for personal meaning It was good to know that could be done in a way that most read­ and significance. The hard fact is, although religion is a dom­ ers appreciated. We plan a second science and religion issue very inant cultural force in society, it is not a part of science, nor soon, before the end of this year. should it be. Science's always questioning attitudes and reli­ The modern skeptical movement has completed a resound­ gion's appeal to unquestioning faith are anathema. And we are, ing first 25 years since that inaugural conference on anti- essentially, a scientific organization and a science-oriented science and pseudoscience that started it all in 1976. We have magazine. The very first issue of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER been a strong and resilient voice of scientific skepticism. Long (then The Zetetic) said this: an independent, international, nonprofit scientific and educa­ tional organization, CSICOP itself has steadily expanded its ... [A] word might be said about our exclusive concern with scientific investigation and empirical claims. The Committee activities and reach. The tradition of stimulating conferences takes no position regarding nonempirical or mystical claims. has continued and been internationalized. The SKEPTICAL We accept a scientific viewpoint and will not argue for it in INQUIRER has expanded its audience, publication frequency, these pages. Those concerned about and super­ and page size. The subtitle added in Fall 1994 describes the natural claims arc directed to those journals of philosophy and religion dedicated to such matters. broader purpose: The Magazine for Science and Reason. We serve a vigorous community of scientists, scholars, educators, That was the original intention of our founding Executive investigators, and others worldwide. Independent national, Council members, and it has served us well. We have had abun­ regional, and local groups with similar aims and intellectual dant opportunity to deal with empirical claims related to religion. ties to CSICOP have been founded nearly everywhere. These have included the Shroud of Turin, the continuing abuses The influence of both CSICOP and SI has been significant. of science and evolution by the creationists and sympathetic Both are widely referenced in scientific and scholarly publica­ politicians, claims of bleeding religious icons, the recent fad alleg­ tions as well as the popular media. CSICOP's media outreach ing spontaneously appearing crucifixion-like wounds or stigmata, efforts serve news and entertainment media worldwide, provid­ religious cult groups such as Heaven's Gate whose members com­ ing authoritative, responsible scientific information and experts mitted mass suicide in a belief they would ascend to join space for comment and interviews. Workshops teach how to conduct people they thought were associated with Hale-Bopp, and investigations and how to examine various kinds of claims. A on and on. We have also dealt sociologically with the issues of reli­ published quarterly newsletter serves CSICOP associates. New gious belief its extent, influence, and ramifications for society. electronic newsletters circulate timely announcements and cri­ So while we leave critical examination of religion itself to tiques and relevant news. A dynamic Web site (www.csicop.org) our sister publications, we nevertheless deal with certain provides broad information and access. aspects of it within the context of our role as both a science The controversy and media and public interest that accom­ publication and a magazine of science and reason. panied our founding still surround almost everything we do. In July/August 1999, we devoted an entire expanded issue This is virtually inevitable given the inherent interest and fas­ of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER to "Science and Religion: Conflict cination of the subjects we examine and the deep investment or Conciliation?" I introduced it with an essay "Science and of belief many people have in them. But maintaining close ties Religion: Conflicting or Complementary?" Twenty authors to the values of science and scientific inquiry has helped guide including distinguished scientists and philosophers then us through and around all the worst thickets and pitfalls. In wrote on different aspects of the matter. It was the most suc­ my view our reputation for commitment to scientific skepti­ cessful single issue of SI in our history: the greatest reader sat­ cism, , and is stronger than ever. isfaction as measured by the volume of letters to editor (well And that serves us all well—die worldwide community of sci­ over 140) and their overwhelmingly complimentary tone ("I entific skeptics and the broader public we serve—as we look greatly enjoyed the special issue," "I thoroughly forward to applying those attributes well into this new century enjoyed . . .," "excellent articles," "drought provoking," "very and millennium. LJ

52 luly/Augus! 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER This brief guide by psychology professor Ray Hyman, a member of the CSICOP Executive Council from the beginning, has for many years been used by SKEPTICAL INQUIRER'S editorial staff and widely distributed to authors and others. It was printed some years ago in the CSICOP newsletter Skeptical Briefs, and it appears in Hyman's book The Elusive Quarry, but it has never actually been published in SI. We thought our 25th anniversary would be a good time to do so. —The Editors Ray Hyman

ince the founding of CSICOP in 1976, and with the than logic, made sweeping charges beyond what they can rea­ growing number of localized skeptical groups, the skeptic sonably support, failed to adequately document their asser­ Sfinds more ways to state his or her tions, and, in general, failed to do the case. The broadcast and print media, homework necessary to make their along with other forums, provide more challenges credible. opportunities for us to be heard. For Such ill-considered criticism can some of these occasions, we have the be counterproductive for the cause of luxury of carefully planning and crafting serious skepticism. The author of our response, but most of the time we such criticism may fail to achieve the have to formulate our response on the desired effect, may lose credibility, spot. But regardless of the circumstance, and may even become vulnerable to the critics task, if it is to be carried out lawsuits. But the unfavorable effects properly, is both challenging and loaded have consequences beyond the indi­ with unanticipated hazards. vidual critics, and the entire cause of Many well-intentioned critics have skepticism suffers as a result. Even jumped into the fray without carefully when the individual critic takes pains thinking through the various implica­ to assert that he or she is expressing tions of their statements. They have his or her own personal opinion, the sometimes displayed more emotion "ay Hyman public associates the assertions with all critics. Roy Hyman, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of During CSICOP's first decade of existence, members of the Oregon, is a Fellow and member of the Executive Council of Executive Council often found diemselves devoting most of their CSICOP and a member of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER editorial board.availabl e time to damage control—precipitated by die careless

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 53 remarks of fellow skeptics—instead of toward the common cause trying to belittle your opponent? Are you trying to gain pub­ of explaining the skeptical agenda. licity for your viewpoint? Do you want to demonstrate that Unfortunately, at this time, there are no courses on the proper the claim lacks reasonable justification? Do you hope to edu­ way to criticize paranormal claims. So far as I know, no manuals cate die public about what constitutes adequate evidence? or books or rules are currently available to guide us. Until such Often our objectives, upon examination, turn out to be mixed. courses and guide books come into being, what can we do to And, especially when we act impulsively, some of our objec­ ensure that our criticisms are both effective and responsible? tives conflict with one another. I would be irresponsible if I told you I had an easy solution. The difference between short-term and long-term objec­ The problem is complicated and there are no quick fixes. But tives can be especially important. Most skeptics, I believe, I do believe wc all could improve our contributions to respon­ would agree that our long-term goal is to educate the public so sible criticism by keeping a few principles always in mind. that it can more effectively cope with various claims. We can make enormous improvements in our collective Sometimes this long-range goal is sacrificed because of the and individual efforts by simply trying to adhere to those stan­ desire to expose or debunk a current claim. dards that we profess to admire and that we believe diat many Part of clarifying our objectives is to decide who our audi­ peddlers of the paranormal violate. If we envision ourselves as ence is. Hard-nosed, strident attacks on paranormal claims the champions of rationality, science, and objectivity, then we rarely change opinions, but they do stroke the egos of those ought to display these very same qualities in our criticism. Just who are already skeptics. Arguments that may persuade the by trying to speak and write in the spirit of precision, science, readers of the National Enquirer may offend academics and logic, and rationality—those attributes we supposedly important opinion-makers. admire—we would raise the quality of our critiques by at least Try to make it clear diat you are attacking die claim and not one order of magnitude. the claimant. Avoid, at all costs, creating the impression diat you The failure to consistently live up to these standards exposes are trying to interfere with someone's civil liberties. Do not try us to a number of hazards. V/e can find ourselves going beyond to get someone fired from his or her job. Do not try to have the facts at hand. We may fail to communicate exactly what we courses dropped or otherwise be put in the position of advocat­ intended. We can confuse die public about what skeptics are ing censorship. Being for rationality and reason should not force trying to achieve. We can unwittingly put paranormal propo­ us into the position to seeming to be against nents in the position of the underdogs and create sympathy for and civil liberties. them. And, as I already mentioned, we can make the task much 3. Do your homework. Again, this goes hand in hand with more difficult for other skeptics. the advice about being prepared. Whenever possible, you What, then, can skeptics do to upgrade the quality of their should not try to counter a specific paranormal claim without criticism? What follows are just a few suggestions. It is hoped getting as many of the relevant facts as possible. Along the way, they will stimulate further thought and discussion. you should carefully document your sources. Do not depend 1. Be prepared. Good criticism is a skill that requires upon a report in the media either for what is being claimed or practice, work, and level-headedness. Your response to a sud­ for facts relevant to die claim. Try to get the specifics of die den challenge is much more likely to be appropriate if you claim directly from the claimant. have already anticipated similar challenges. Try to prepare in 4. Do not go beyond your level of competence. No one, advance effective and short answers to those questions you especially in our times, can credibly claim to be an expert on arc most likely to be asked. Be ready to answer why skeptical all subjects. Whenever possible, you should consult appropri­ activity is important, why people should listen to your views, ate experts. We, understandably, are highly critical of paranor­ why false beliefs can be harmful, and the many similar ques­ mal claimants who make assertions that are obviously beyond tions that invariably are raised. A useful project would be to their competence. We should be just as demanding on our­ compile a list of the most frequently occurring questions selves. A critic's worst sin is to go beyond the facts and the along with possible answers. available evidence. Whenever possible try your ideas out on friends and In this regard, always ask yourself if you really have somediing "enemies" before offering them in the public arena. An to say. Sometimes it is better to remain silent than to jump into effective exercise is to rehearse your arguments with fellow an argument diat involves aspects that are beyond your present skeptics. Some of you can take the role of the psychic competence. When it is appropriate, do not be afraid to say, "I claimants while others play the role of critics. And, for more don't know." general preparation, read books on critical thinking, effec­ 5. Let the facts speak for themselves. If you have done tive writing, and argumentation. your homework and have collected an adequate supply of 2. Clarify your objectives. Before you try to cope with a facts, the audience rarely will need your help in reaching an paranormal claim, ask yourself what you are trying to accom­ appropriate conclusion. Indeed, your case is made much plish. Are you trying to release pent-up resentment? Are you stronger if the audience is allowed to draw its own conclusions

54 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER from the facts. Say that Madame X claims to have psychically of charity implies that, whenever there is located Mrs. As missing daughter and you have obtained a doubt or ambiguity about a paranormal statement from the police to the effect that her contributions claim, we should try to resolve the ambigu­ did not help. Under these circumstances it can be counter­ ity in favor of the claimant until we acquire strong productive to assert that Madame X lied about her contribu­ reasons for not doing so. In this respect, we should carefully tion or that her claim was "fraudulent." For one thing, distinguish between being wrong and being dishonest. Madame X may sincerely, if mistakenly, believe that her con­ We often can challenge the accuracy or validity of a given tributions did in fact help. In addition, some listeners may be paranormal claim. But rarely are we in a position to know if offended by the tone of the criticism and become sympathetic the claimant is deliberately lying or is self-deceived. to Madame X. However, if you simply report what Madame X Furthermore, we often have a choice in how to interpret or claimed along with the response of the police, you not only are represent an opponent's arguments. The principle tell us to convey the opponent's position in a fair, objective, and non- sticking to the facts, but your listeners will more likely come emotional manner. the appropriate conclusion. 6. Be precise. Good criticism requires precision and care in 8. Avoid loaded words and sensationalism. All these the use of language. Because, in challenging psychic claims, we principles are interrelated. The ones previous stated imply that are appealing to objectivity and fairness, we have a special we should avoid using loaded and prejudicial words in our obligation to be as honest and accurate in our own statements criticisms. If the proponents happen to resort to emotionally as possible. We should take special pains to avoid making asser­ laden terms and sensationalism, we should avoid stooping to tions about paranormal claims that cannot be backed up with their level. We should not respond in kind. hard evidence. We should be especially careful in this regard This is not a matter of simply turning the other cheek. We when being interviewed by the media. Every effort should be want to gain credibility for our cause. In the short run, emo­ made to ensure that the media understand precisely what we tional charges and sensationalistic challenges might garner are and are not saying. quickly publicity. But most of us see our mission as a long-run 7. Use the principle of charity. I know that many of my effort. We would like to persuade the media and the public fellow critics will find this principle to be unpalatable. To that we have a serious and important message to get across. some, the paranormalists are the "enemy," and it seems And we would like to earn their their trust as a credible and inconsistent to lean over backward to give them the benefit reliable source. Such a task requires always keeping in mind of the doubt. But being charitable to paranormal claims is the scientific principles and standards of rationality and simply the other side of being honest and fair. The principle integrity that we would like to make universal.

SISYFOS - Czech Skeptics Club and the ECSO - European Council of Special Organizations Invite you to the 10th European Skeptics Congress

September 7-9,2001 • Praha, Czech

The Congress will be held in the center oi Prague in the main building of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic on Narodni street, close to the National Theatre. The program will include a sightseeing tour of Prague and an outdoor dinner.

The program of the congress will be divided into three thematic areas: 1. Paranormal Scene in Europe — Comparison between Post-Communist and Western Countries 2. Alternative Medicine 3. Miscellaneous (astrology, genetic , climate changes, UFOIogy. religious sects, anthroposophy. , creationism. pseudoscience in psychology etc.)

For registration and further information visit the official Web site of the Congress: http://www.fi.muni.cz/sisfos/10esc or contact: ICARIS Ltd., Conference Management — Phone: +420.2.684 43 04. Fax: +4207.684 0817. E-mail: [email protected] For program matters contact Kami I Galuscak [email protected]

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 55 TWE Fiprsr C&\OOP MEMBER

Skeptical Cartoons by Rob Pudim

Even hard-nosed skeptics take time to have fun . . . here are some of the best SKEPTICAL INQUIRER cartoons from the past 25 years. —THE EDITORS

I SEE BY YOUR HANDWnTMG YOU UKE BANANAS

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g£< Jaa/Feb. 2000 OUT THERE Rob Pudim BOOK REVIEWS

Our Species' Fatal Flaw?

KEN PAREJKO

The Spirit in the Gene: Humanity's Proud Illusion and the Laws of Nature. By Reg Morrison. Comstock Publishing, Ithaca, NY and London. 1999. ISBN 0-8014-3651-6. 286 pp. Hardcover, $27.

ome hypotheses are so audacious Morrison's arguments go like this: oceans with rust, which acted as a feed­ they nearly take your breath away. According to the Gaia hypothesis (which back loop to bring the algae populations SHeliocentrism must have sounded he buys into). Earth is a self-regulating crashing down. that way, five hundred years ago, with superorganism. To prevent plague spe­ Likewise, rodents have a series of Earth spinning recklessly through space. cies like achaebacterial algae, rats, physiological mechanisms which de­ Others include continental drift (while locusts, and humans from destroying crease their birth rates as they get spinning recklessly, shirting beneath our crowded. These are hormonal and feet), evolution by natural selection, the behavioral changes which prevent them theory of relativity, and Big Bang cos­ from completely destroying their habi­ mology. Reg Morrison's hypotheses may tats. And we humans? not be as grand as these, but they are just In his first two chapters Morrison as audacious. describes a litany of human-caused envi­ Morrison's book, The Spirit in the ronmental disasters, which with our Gene: Humanity's Proud Illusion and the exploding population mark us as a Laws of Nature, will not be a favorite of plague species. And what mole has nat­ the clergy. Lynn Margulis praises it in her ural selection planted in our genes, to foreword, and I can imagine Richard prevent us from destroying Earth? Dawkins's wry smile as he reads it. First, Morrison discusses growing Morrison uses wide-ranging research and good evidence that complex person­ and well-composed writing to argue that ality traits have a strong genetic compo­ spirituality is a genetically determined nent. Is there a spirituality gene? trait, molded by natural selection to pre­ Unlikely, but our tendency to fall back vent our species from destroying the on , tribalism, and emotional world. And not, as you might think, by answers to complex questions, like other providing us with the compassion to care such personality traits, is likely hidden and the wisdom to see and solve our prob­ in a number of places on our DNA. lems. On the contrary, Morrison says, our their environment, evolution has built This inborn tendency to delude our­ "proud illusion" of being a special species, doomsday flaws into all tJiese species. selves, and use ancient emotional bearing God and religions imprimatur, is He describes how early in Earth's history responses when clear-thinking is bet­ a fatal flaw that will (pretry soon, actually) some bacteria evolved the ability to cap­ ter called for, has actually played a big result in our own destruction, to the ture the energy of sunlight and use it to part in our success. Combined with greater good of the world. put carbon dioxide and water together our intellect and the part cultural evolu­ into glucose: die first photosynthesizing tion plays in insulating us from our Ken Parejko is in the Biology Department algae. Unfortunately for them (though environment, this innate emotional at the University of Wisconsin-Stout fortunately for us), oxygen was a tribalism has made us, in Morrison's Menomonie, Wisconsin. E-mail: parejkok byproduct of this reaction. This oxygen words, "surely the most dangerous ani­ @uwstout.edu. was toxic to early life, and clouded the mal ever to walk the earth." And, "being

58 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER BOOK REVIEWS primarily founded on and driven by inevitable catastrophic decline. For women, the survey findings should have mystical beliefs of one kind or another, while reason might convince us that we been big news. But they were not. The human civilization represents not so must drastically change our ways, to findings were ignored by the New York much tlie triumph of the mind over the protect ourselves and Earth's ecosystems, Times and the Washington Post, and to body as the triumph of the gene over our "proud illusion" will likely prevent the authors' knowledge were covered gene-threatening rational thought." us from acting reasonably. most extensively in a ninety-four-word Cults, astrology, mysticism, conspir­ While he brings wide-ranging evi­ report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. acy myths all mark us, in Carl Sagan's dence, creative thinking, and a very read­ One hypothesis as to why some words, as "significance junkies." These able style to fundamental questions of stories are not covered is that they do not are our responses to an unpredictable humankind's past and future, Morrison's conform to a "template"—the template and chaotic world. More than that, they arguments are not all equally convincing. being "what editors and other people are clear evidence of our tendency to Still, this anodyne to our present epi­ who arc not on the ground have decided delude ourselves. It is this delusion itself demic of "spirituality" is a provocative is The Story." Thus, if the template is which, according to Morrison, in the and audacious book, deserving close that sexual assaults pose a severe, and coming decades will result in our own reading and ongoing discussion. possibly worsening, problem, evidence to the contrary will often be ignored or rejected. Another of the authors' hypotheses is that journalists—who II Unl NeGBSsarOu So Being a Savvy Consumer often rely on press releases, rather than having the significance of data explained of Science Reporting to them by researchers—can fail to P.A. LAMAL understand the significance of the data. In contrast to news stories that are It Ain't Necessarily So: How Media Make and Unmake the ignored by the press, what is not very Scientific Picture of Reality. By David Murray, Joel Schwartz, newsworthy, say the authors, sometimes and S. Robert Lichter. Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, makes headlines. Too often, research Maryland, 2001. ISBN 0-7425-1095-6. 249 pp. results that are preliminary or inconclu­ Hardcover, $24.95. sive receive front-page coverage. As they do with ignored stories, the authors n It Ain't Necessarily So, the authors' tronic media. This assertion, however, is provide examples of such coverage, the goal is to give science news con­ not well supported. classic example being the media hype sumers the tools to evaluate news The book's three sections cover following the claim by Pons and I Fleischmann of achieving cold fusion. effectively by recognizing the media's use ambiguity in three areas: news, measure­ of hype and bad science. The authors ment, and explanation. Under each sec­ These stories appear because of publicity reveal the inner workings of the news tion are accounts of specific research efforts and the stories' fit with journal­ process, including its choices, judg­ findings: how they were generated and ists' pre-defined templates. ments, biases, deletions, and framings as came to public attention; how journal­ Concerning the ambiguity of mea­ it reports on scientific research. ists parsed, selected, and conveyed surement, the authors focus on common The book is organized as a series of them; and how they could have been problems with reports of survey results case studies of scientific research report­ portrayed differently while remaining about crimes. If researchers' definition ing. The studies involved research faithful to the same facts. of a crime (e.g., child abduction) is results that had clear public policy Many of us with science back­ broader than yours, and the news story implications and attracted media atten­ grounds are able to critically evaluate does not tell you what definition tion. The authors focus on coverage of media reports of research findings. But researchers used, you may assume that studies of health and statistical descrip­ we cannot evaluate reports that do not the problem is more (or less) common tions of social phenomena because, they appear. For example, the federal govern­ than it actually is. Thus, the authors say, the science that drives public policy ment's National Criminal Victimization warn, reports about the frequency of deals mostly with these two domains. Survey (NCVS) showed that between various crimes should always be exam­ The primary concern is with the print 1993 and 1994 the combined rate for all ined skeptically, until you know what media. Murray et al. believe that the sexual assaults fell by 13 percent. print medium is regarded as more Murray et al. say that amid a mass of PA. Lamal is emeritus professor of psy­ authoritative and is more commonly contentions of an epidemic of sexual chology at the University of North cited by policymakers than are the clec- violence directed against American Carolina-Charlotte.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER jUl»/August 2001 59 BOOK REVIEWS

definition of the crimes are being used. as die influence of poll questions' word- the role genes play in human behavior, Another measurement problemi ing and the way in which they are asked. with many books and papers written in involves the media's use of proxy, Such variables can significantly deter- an attempt to understand to what extent as opposed to direct, measures of mine which interpretation of the results human minds are "hard-wired." While phenomena. The authors acknowledge: is most warranted. Media reporting of respecting the gene's role in our evolu­ that the social and natural sciencess various kinds of risks also often leaves tionary history, Ehrlich steadfasdy dis­ frequently use proxies because they are; much to be desired. agrees with the idea of genes as a solitary unable to directly measure a behaviorr With respect to the ambiguity of explanation for our behavior. His argu­ or phenomenon. But there is always the: explanation, Murray et al. maintain ment, referred to as die "gene shortage" risk that the proxy may be an inade­ that the media often disparage research argument, is as follows: "Human beings quate measure of the subject of study. because of the researcher's personal have something on the order of 100,000 Use of a proxy helped create the long; convictions or sources of research genes, and human brains have more debate about the possible healthi funds. Scientific skeptics of global than 1 trillion cells, with about hazards posed by exposure to the elec­ warming, for example, were criticized 100—1,000 trillion connections between tromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced byf for research funded by the energy them. That's at least 1 billion synapses power lines and electric wiring. Ini industry. But, the authors say, the per gene, even if each and every gene did much of the research, wire codes were! important thing is to distinguish nothing but control the production of used as a proxy for exposure to EMFs, well-done from poorly done research. synapses (and it doesn't). Given that and the authors explain how the use off Examples are also given of the failure to ratio, it would be quite a trick for genes the wire code proxy was unwarranted. consider alternative explanations when typically to control more than the most The problem is that die media, wheni reporting findings. general aspects of human behavior." reporting findings, often fail to point outI The book concludes with an examina- Ehrlich further says that even if genes the limitations of research resulting fromi tion of what happens when research did control all aspects of our behavior these kinds of measurement problems. findings and news accounts intersect with the resultant inflexibility would be crip­ The authors also provide examples off public policy decision making, as well as pling from an evolutionary position. the media presenting only one interpre­ a consideration of the presuppositions What Ehrlich, among others, supports tation of data when odier interpretationsi that guide journalistic choices. This is is the idea of gene/culture coevolution. are reasonable. With respect to polls, die! recommended reading for all members of Homo sapiens' survival is founded in media usually fail to address issues suchi the news media audience. their filling an evolutionary niche referred to as the cognitive niche. The cognitive niche gave our ancestors the ability to store information outside our The Evolution of genes. This socially transmitted infor­ mation (behavior, beliefs, technology, Who We Are art, et cetera) gave our ancestors an edge BY DANIEL GRASSAM by allowing them to adapt to their envi­ ronment by bypassing die traditional Human Natures: Genes, Cultures, and the Human Prospect. and slower genetic method. As Ehrlich By Paul R. Ehrlich. Island Press/Shearwater Books, sees it this nongenetic information Washington, D.C., 2000. ISBN 1-55963-779-X. increased the survival rate of our ances­ 531 pp. Hardcover, $29.95. tors and created an evolutionary pres­ sure for better cognition that was answered by both biology and culture. n writing Human Natures Paul cruel, and generally brutish creatures The Great Leap Forward, an advance Ehrlich set out to correct the erro­ with a veneer of social responsibility." of Homo sapiens' technology accompa­ neous assumption that all humans While not denying Homo sapiens' capa­ nied by the introduction of art and mas­ I sive population growth over a short time share a common value. That notion, he bility to exhibit those behaviors, Ehrlich contends, "allows us to be painted in the denies it as pre-programmed predilec­ frame, has (at least) two competing the­ popular mind as instinctively aggressive, tion. Human behavior is not a predeter­ ories. Ehrlich discusses botli thoroughly greedy, selfish, duplicitous, sex-crazed, mined set of rules but a complex infra­ but throws his support behind cultural structure, a "product of our , evolution as die culprit. The competing Daniel Grassam writes from Denver. biological and cultural." theory is that our biological evolution Colorado. There has been much debate about brought on a complete change in brain

60 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER BOOK REVIEWS structure, which gave Homo sapiens a part of the ecosystem. "Despite all the ary background and the biases it pro­ increased cognitive and/or lingual abil­ good things that have come out of duces." Because our "cultural evolution, ity and that this led to the advancement human evolution, one thing is clear to unlike biological evolution, is seen in the Great Leap. The strongest me and to many of my colleagues who reversible," Ehrlich is hopeful that we argument against restructuring theory is spend their time examining that may turn ourselves around. the extremely short time frame, biologi­ predicament: our evolving human Human Natures is a gratifying trip cally speaking, for such a rapid and natures may be heading us toward the through the evolution of human extensive change to have occurred. worst catastrophe in the history of natures. The copious notes provide Definitive answers, however, are prob­ Homo sapiens." The steady demise of our enjoyable supplementary material, and lematic because of the difficulty of trac­ ecosystems presents the greatest danger the extensive references provide a good ing this type of information using the and is at the forefront of Ehrlich's strate­ launchpad for additional research. fossil record. gic plan. To reverse this trend Ehrlich Ehrlich has written an informative and Whether it was a biological or cultural calls for a "conscious evolutionary socially responsible book that at no change that brought about the great process" whereby we would educate point becomes preachy or lets the sci­ ence suffer for the opinion. advances in Homo sapiens technology people in "understanding our evolution­ may be unsettled, but the advancements of the past five hundred years surely point to our cultural evolutionary capabilities The Dish Dishes Up and show that our cultural evolution is outpacing our biological evolution. In Real Life and Real Scientists some areas our cultural evolution over­ rides cornerstones of biological evolution. EDWARD SUMMER This opens a discussion about where our cultural evolution is taking us and what to do with that information. What, if t is so uncommon for scientists to be fact-based story of three astrophysicists anything, does our evolution tell us about treated with marginal decency in who tended to a large radio-telescope ethics and morality? "Although the Icommercial motion pictures that it's dish situated in the middle of a sheep capacity to develop ethics is a product of well worth mentioning when a new film pasture in Parkes, Australia, during the biological evolution, there is nothing in comes along recognizing science workers July 1969 Moon landing of Apollo 11. that evolution that tells us what we as human beings. The Dish, an Without the cleverness and devotion of should do . .. the actual ethics, morals, Australian film which opened in North these otherwise ignored scientists, and norms of society—the products of America during March 2001, tells the humanity would not have been mesmer­ that ethical capacity—are overwhelm­ ized and awed by the real-time television ingly a result of cultural evolution within Edward Summer publishes The signals of Neil Armstrong actually set­ that society." Interplanetary Gazette, a science magazine. ting foot in Moon dust for the first time. In the final two chapters Ehrlich steps away from the known and the sci­ entific in exchange for a call to action, dividing the actions into the tactical and strategic. From the tactical Ehrlich says "perhaps the most important single tac­ tical evolutionary lesson ... is that there is a dynamic relationship between Homo sapiens and the microorganisms that attack it." Ehrlich believes thai the excessive use of antibiotics is creating a breeding ground for resistant strains of bacteria. He points to penicillin, once handed out indiscriminately to anyone with a sniffle, now being almost useless as an antibiotic. Our evolution has sep­ arated us so distinctly from our environ­ ment that we tend to forget that we arc Australian scientists help broadcast the 1969 Moon landing in The Dish.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 61 BOOK REVIEWS

This is not a movie review, so I'll scientific method or process in popu­ ration, is a rare bird indeed! only say that this is a warm, touching, lar entertainment. Given the failure of Here is a tight little film that re­ and gently humorous film that is tar, far American public education in the areas counts what it's really like on a daily better than the sort of stuff that most of science and mathematics, film and basis to sit at the controls of a huge radio often finds its way to our neighborhood television are the main exposure that the telescope pushing little buttons and movie screens. average child or adult has to the myster­ waiting endlessly for motors and gears The values of the story lie not in ies of science. On one hand, PBS, The to move the thing into position so that histrionics and special effects, but Discovery Channel, and the like gener­ the poor, exhausted scientists can sit rather in affirming the fallibility and ally do a good job of presenting real around for endless more hours listening hard-won accomplishments of down- research, real science, and real facts in a to radio noise that doesn't seem to make to-earth folks who just happen to digestible manner. On the other hand, much sense until it's tweaked out into make their living by calculating the short of reading journals, many of those something useful. More than that, it trajectories and coordinates of objects television programs are the closest that shows that the scientists themselves are hundreds of thousands of miles and we will all come to the workaday world as fallible as the next guy: one of the key millions of light-years away. Far too of scientists. players forgets to prime a fuel line and often, these same working stiffs are While I genuinely enjoy science fic­ nearly screws up an entire NASA pro­ shown as madmen in white coats. All tion like Star Trek, and The X-Files, not ject! These scientists get cranky and for­ of us who arc concerned about the only are they not educational in any getful, but they're also shy, sensitive popular depiction of scientists as peo­ meaningful sense, but aside from inspir­ and, in the end, brilliantly persistent ple to be distrusted and feared know ing a genuine "sense of wonder" about and innovative, saving the day for this only too well. When a film comes the unknown in the universe, they can NASA when nature itself supplies an along that breaks the stereotype, it's actually trivialize the labors of real scien­ unexpected obstacle. If I were a scientist, reason to celebrate. In recent memory tists. Without entering into the endless I wouldn't at all mind being immortal­ only October Sky (another true story debate about whether or not X-Files ized in this fashion. about how a young boy's dreams of really purports to be the "truth" (I think It was a no-braincr for a film like becoming an astronaut led him from that it only purports to be storytelling), Men in Black to become a top grossing the coal mines to the space program), it's fair to say that the "real" science film, but if the movie studios can see and Contact (discussed previously in shown in X-Files is only a parody of lab­ that a small, intelligent, and respectful SI 21(6) November/December 1997) oratory research and professional inves­ film like The Dish can turn a profit for which has a ficrional scientist heroine, tigation. There is the rub: it appears that them, perhaps they'll consider produc­ deal with the intense problems of only these sorts of highly dramatized ing more films with "human" scientists the nature of research, politics, and and fictionalized stories attract and hold to take their legitimate places alongside public perception. audiences. A film like The Dish, which the endless stream of mad Dr. We have every reason to be concerned not only tells a gripping story but also Frankensteins that are the traditional about the portrayal of scientists and the treats its subjects with respect and admi- staple of big-buck box office.

PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS rying out then-classified experiments upon the ground might be explained if from page 20 using exactly such balloons in New die flame were directed upward into the Mexico in 1963 and 1964 (apparently die balloon (which is how hot air balloons are more-or-lcss accurately, was a brief land­ CIA was interested in using balloons for, constructed), rather than thrusting down­ ing of a propane-powered hot air bal­ among other things, quietly getting ward toward the ground. The object took loon, commonplace today but new and agents into, and out of, exotic locations). several seconds to rise to a height of about quite rare in 1964 (see http://php.indi- However, nobody has yet been able to tie twenty feet, then suddenly the "propul­ ana.edu/-lrobins/howisoco.htm). a classified balloon experiment to the sion system" was turned off, and the Zamora compared the landed object's sighting's location and time. Zamora's object flew off in total silence. Watching shape to an ellipse with a long horizontal statement that the object rose slowly, the object depan, Zamora radioed to die axis, suggesting a balloon that was starting barely clearing die ground, and in taking police station, "it looks like a balloon." to collapse. In the excitement, Zamora off generated heat but "not nearly as While Robinson's explanation is still ducked behind his cruiser, and lost his much" as a rocket exhaust, sounds very being analyzed and debated in skeptical glasses. The object's shape when airborne much like a balloon ascending. Also, UFO circles (see www.ufoworld.co.uk/v looked like a teardrop. In fact, it has been Zamora's observation that the flame 07.txt), it makes a lot more sense than established that die government was car- seemed to strangely have little if any effect Little Green Men.

62 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NEW BOOKS

Listing does not preclude future review. gins, Esoteric and neo-Pagan movements, and Books, 59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY personal development movements. 14228-2197. 2001. ISBN I-57392-895-X. The New Believers: Sects, 'Cults,' and 452 pp. Hardcover, $28. A skeptical but sym­ Alternative Religions. David V. Barrett. Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction. pathetic scientist and writer provides a sweep­ Sterling Publishing Co., 387 Park Avenue Charles M. Wynn and Arthur W. Wiggins. ing reference to fortune-telling practices, South, New York, NY 20016-8810. ISBN 0- Joseph Henry Press, 2101 Constitution Ave. ancient to modern, from astrology, palmistry, 304-35592-5. 544 pp. Hardcover, $29.95. A N.W., Washington D.C., 20418. 2001. and tarot cards to readings ol tea leaves and comprehensive guide to new religious move­ ISBN 0-309-07309-X. 230 pp. Softcover. the shapes ol holes in cheese to divining (rod's ments. The book takes a comparative religion The first three chapters are devoted mostly to will by fire or flame. Humans have always approach; it treats no theological position as distinguishing science from pseudoscience, wanted to know what the future holds, more true, valid, or sound than any other. The outlining the nature of scientific inquiry, and explaining the enduring lure of . author says he has aimed not just for fairness scientific reasoning. The remainder of the Includes sections on Beyond Sticks and but for accuracy. Part One deals with major book has sections on UFOs, out-of-body Stones; Mind, Myth, and Meaning; issues of alternative religions, including what experiences, astrology, ESP, and creationism. and Other ; and is a cult and what is a real religion, conversion The book is largely an introductory text, Science and the Will to Believe. ("The and recruitment, problems for family mem­ good for younger readers (with plenty of car­ Antinous Prophecies: A Nostradamoid bers, problems lor leaving a movement, and toons) or those new to skepticism. Includes Project," in the May/June 2001 SKEPTICAI cult-watchers and experts. Part Two contains an index, glossary, and reading list. INQUIRER is from this book.) entries on individual movements, organized into five sections: Christian origins, Other Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of —Kendrick Frazier and "Religions ot the Book" origins. Eastern ori- Prediction. Clifford A. Pickover. Prometheus Benjamin Radford D

ARTICLES OF NOTE

Coyne, Jerry A. "Creationism by Stealth." ing religion or Cod (who appears only under March 22, 2001. This is the original scien­ Nature, 410:745-746, April 12, 2001. A the alias 'intelligent design'), and presents his tific paper ol the widely reported discovery devastating critique of the Jonathan Wells book as an objective critique. . ., it is easy for by a team in Africa of the 3.5 million-year- book Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth? Why the non-scientist to be taken in." old fossil remains of Kenyanthropus platyops, Much of What We Teach About Evolution is most likely a new genus and species of early Wrong. Coyne reports that Wells, despite Gomes, Joseph. "The Motive." human ancestor. This finding suggests that having a doctorate in biology, is no objective Brill's Content, 4(1): 42. February 2001. A Africa was inhabited by more than one scientist regarding evolution. A personal his­ brief article about alleged psychic Sylvia species of hominin. tory Coyne found not in this book but on a Browne and her televised claims of success as Unification Church Web site says in 1976 a . Both Larry King and Lieberman, Daniel E. "Another Face in Wells was a seminary student in the church Montel Williams have permitted her to Our Family Tree." Nature, 410: 419^20, and answered founder Sun Myung Moon's make claims ranging from "the vague and March 22, 2001. Lieberman discusses call. "Father's [Moon's] words, my studies, unverifiable to the patently false." Leakey et al.'s African finding of Kenyan­ and my prayers convinced me that I should thropus platyops, and the difficulty and con­ devote my life to destroying Darwinism." Hanson, Barry J. "The Kensington fusion surrounding attempts to classify it. Moon arranged tor Wells to enter a PhD Runestone." Journal of the West, 40(1): program. As Coyne says, "The University of 68-80. Winter 2001. The runestone, found Lilienfeld, Scott O., James M. Wood, and California supplied Wells with his weapon, a in a Minnesota farmer's field in 1898, osten­ Howard N. Garb. "What's Wrong with PhD in biology." Coyne calls Wells's book sibly records a Norse expedition in 1362. It This Picture?" Scientific American, May the latest salvo in "the eternal religious is generally considered a modern fraud but 2001, pp. 81-87. Psychologists often use assault" on Darwin. "The book, aimed at the Hanson says it has never been properly stud­ "projective tests" such as the famous non-specialist, masquerades as a scientific ied by geologists. A brief sidebar reports a Rorschach inkblot test, human figure draw­ critique of classic examples of evolution, but new study with an electron microscope indi­ ings, and the thematic apperception test, to is actually a polemic intelligently designed to cating the stone was underground for more assess personality and mental illness. But please Father Moon. Icons is a work of stealth than fifty years after the runes were carved. research reported in this article says the creationism, and strives to debunk instruments are frequently ineffective for Darwinism using the familiar rhetoric of Leakey, Meave G., Fred Spoor, Frank H. those purposes. "Even seasoned professionals biblical creationists, including scientific quo­ Brown, Patrick N. Gathogo, Christopher can be fooled by their intuitions and their tations out of context, incomplete sum­ Kiarie, Louise N. Leakey, and Ian faith in tools that lack strong evidence of maries of research, and muddled McDougall. "New Hominin Genus from effectiveness," conclude the authors. (Lead arguments. . . . But because Wells has scien­ Eastern Africa Shows Diverse Middle author Lilienfeld's September/October 1999 tific credentials, studiously avoids mention- Pliocene Lineages." Nature, 410: 43.3^40, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER article "Projective

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 63 ARTICLES OF NOTE

Measures of Personality and Psycho- lions to one" odds against paranormal effects Norlander, Charles. "John Edward on pathology: How Well Do They Work?" is not existing. His Own." Time, March 26, 2001, letters one of six articles referenced.) to the editor. The executive producer of the Midgley, Mary. "Being Objective." Nature, television show "Crossing Over with John I dims. Elizabeth, and William Calvin. 410:753, April 12, 2001. A philosopher asks, Edward" responds to Leon Jaroff's March 5 "Memory's Future." Psychology Today, "What docs it mean to be objective in sci­ skeptical article about psychic medium March/April 2001. Will technology change ence?" Physics and inanimate matter aren't John Edward. the way human memory works? Two experts the whole of science. "Life, consciousness, explore the topic and ponder what has been and purpose are natural facts in the world like Paul, Annie Murphy. "Self-Help: Shat­ learned about memory and what the future- any others, and in some contexts they are tering the Myths." Psychology Today, 60-68, might hold. Begins Loftus: "A flimsy curtain vitally important facts." Scientists need to 82, March/April 2001. Bookstores and the separates memory from imagination." deal with the greater complexity of living Internet are spilling over with advice from subjects by "watching for the obvious sources the latest self-help gurus. This report exam­ McCrone, John. "Tales of the Para­ of bias, not by suppressing our natural ines five distortions in typical self-help books normal." New Scientist, 169(2280): 46-49. responses altogether." She says scientists can (e.g., "Vent your anger and it will go away," An interview with Robert Morris, who runs combine thorough rigor with sympathy and "Self-affirmations will help you raise low the Koestler Parapsychology Unit at the respect for the people or animals they study. self-esteem"), compares them to what University of Edinburgh. Morris claims that To do otherwise "overlooks something cen­ researchers say, and offers suggestions for the results of Ganzfeld research offer "mil­ tral to the scientific spirit." what to do instead.

Australasian Science Special Issue on 'Scepticism'

The January/February issue of Australasian Science, volume 22, number I, is a special issue on "Scepticism.' Six specific articles in it are summarized below. There were also short articles on astrology, crystals, nutrition, global warming, and alternative medicine.

Eddie, Laurie. "Bent Spoon For Breatharian," p. 40. Meier, Peter. "Acupuncture: Testing die Sham," pp. 33—34. Australian Jasmuheen claims to live without food, but when Meier is developing methods to test the physiological responses to tested she became seriously ill in three days. acupuncture. For example, does a needle in the point "Heart 7" in the wrist affect the heart more dian a needle in die point "large Kocsis, Richard. "Psychological Profiling in Murder Intestine 4"? And do "true" acupuncture points have more physi­ Investigations," pp. 26—27. The case file for a murder was given ological effects than the "sham" points used as placebos? to groups of profilers, detectives, psychologists, scientists, and psychics, along with a questionnaire about the murderer. A sep­ Notch, Guy. "Psychic at $5 Per Minute," pp. 24-25. A light- arate randomly selected group filled out the questionnaire with­ hearted look at so-called psychic phenomena, keyed to the out the case file (based on "social stereotypes," what the person- Third Sceptics World Convention in Sydney, Australia. Nolch on-the-strcet would expect to be true about the murderer). The discusses Richard Wiseman, Bob Steiner, and James Randi, profilers were significantly more accurate than the other groups. among odiers. The psychics were statistically no more accurate than die group working from common sense. Sadly, while twenty willing psy­ Plimer, Ian. ": Neither Science Nor chics were found, only five profilers from around the world Religion," pp. 36-37. Australian geologist Plimer is best agreed to be tested. known for taking a creationist to court on fraud charges. He argues that creation science is really politics. He mentions cre­ Luntz, Stephen. "Backwards Approach to Saying What You ationists who publish scholarly articles saying Earth is millions Mean," p. 39. Australian David Oates offers to analyze back­ of years old and creationist articles saying Earth is only a few wards speech for a fee. Linguists have demonstrated that few peo­ thousand years old. ple can hear die same words as Oates, unless diey have been told what to expect. —Robert Lapresti

64 July/AuguM 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER ARTICLES OF NOTE

Pursell, Chris. "'Crossing Over' Sensing ationism movements have increased their Animals by Rupert Sheldrake. The Journal Skeptics." Electronic Media, 20(10): 3. budgets and bases of support. The latest of Parapsychology, 65(1): 90-96. A strongly March 5. 2001. A brief article about John challenge, "intelligent design theory," is not critical review of Sheldrake's book. "The Edward's show Crossing Over. Criticism, led science and should not be included in sci­ book is without scholarly merit and, apart by Time magazine, has apparently not ence curricula, warned anthropologist from a newer collection of anecdotes of changed Studios USA's plans to put the show Eugenic Scott. interesting psychic animal stories, pretty into syndication this fall. much without substance." Taylor accuses Sevrens Lyons, Julie. "No Cure for the Sheldrake of simply putting this book out to Russo, Eugene. "Fighting Darwin's Bat­ Con: Internet Access, Desperate Con­ increase his publication record. And he tles: Symposium Marks Evolutionist sumers, Lax Regulations Combine to claims that the book will put serious Victory, Anti-evolution Growth." The Create a Golden Age of Quackery." Knight researchers off this topic. Scientist, 15(6): 1, 13, March 19, 2001. The Ridder newspapers, March 12, 2001. From American Association for the Advancement dietary supplements and herbal remedies to Zalar, Michael A. "16th-Century Car­ of Science held a February symposium health aids and alternative therapy, "quack­ tography, Plat Maps, and the Kensington about creationist challenges to the teaching ery is as large an industry as it ever was." This Runestone." Journal of the West, 40(1): of evolution. The symposium marked the thanks in part to the Internet, which gives 62-67. Winter 2001. A companion piece to twentieth anniversary of the landmark con artists anonymity. Excellent syndicated the Hanson article above. While linguists McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education trial, newspaper report on the golden age of have rejected the runestone, Zalar argues which led to invalidation of an Arkansas quackery we're in, with a sidebar from the that the description of the Northern region statute requiring equal classroom time for Web site offering eight found in early fifteenth-century maps evolution and creationism. Stephen Jay "Symptoms of a Scam." demonstrate that Europeans had been to Gould and other veteran participants in that Hudson Bay and returned to tell about it. trial spoke at the symposium. They all Taylor, Robin. Review of Dogs that reported on important discoveries that Know When Their Owners Are Coming —Robert Lopresti, Kendrick Frazier, advance evolution; at the same time, cre­ Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of and Jodi Chapman SCIENCE BEST SELLERS Top Ten Best Sellers in New York

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SKEPTICAL INQUIRER luly/August 2001 65 FORUM

Undecidability

RALPH ESTLING

"I used to be indecisive, but now ing than others; some, the vast majority, ble to determine which is the case. I'm not so sure." would carry no discernible meaning at There is more than just the dilemma —Boscoe Pertwee all, but meaningful or not, there is no that mathematicians call the non- valid way of deciding what the "right" computable questions that we know can­ friend once presented me with a answer is without the additional, riddle- not be solved even with an eternity riddle: In the sequence Oil FF, effacing data. in which to work on them and an infi­ Awhat comes next? 1 replied, any­ To this day my friend considers me nite number of computers. Heisenberg, thing. My friend said no, SSENT came illogical and just plain contrary, even Godel, Turing, and Chaitin have shown next, because what was clearly meant after I discovered that a similar riddle that some questions simply have no were the initial letters (in English) of the presented to the great philosopher solution, even though the question first ten integers. Ludwig Wittgenstein had met with the is perfectly meaningful. But knowing I in turn remonstrated that this was same response as I had given, something something to be unknowable, non- one possible solution among an infinite I hadn't known at the time but which I computable, is still better than being unable to decide whether it is or not. The existence of undecidability is as Knowing that Heisenberg's indetermi­ nacy, Godel's incompleteness, Turing's important—and perhaps more important—than halting problem, and Chaitin's incom- learning what is true and what is false. prcssibility are certainly the case in this or that instance is a form of knowledge. Knowing we are up against a brick wall possibility of solutions, that it would be found satisfying to learn. is very useful. But if there remains the the only possible answer if and only if What can we learn from this? We can niggling doubt about the wall's stead­ the riddle stated that what it was refer­ learn of the existence of undecidability, fastness under some perhaps indescrib­ ring to were the initial letters (in which is as important—and perhaps able, uncontemplatable circumstance, English) of the first ten integers, which more important—than learning what is we are in existential hell, where we may admittedly would have rendered the true and what is false. or may not have free will, where our riddle rather useless as a riddle. Never­ Logic and mathematics dictate that in course of action, our ability to know, theless, it has its value as it stands, the equation x + I = 2 there exists a lim­ may or may not be fully predetermined. in logic. ited number of possible solutions for x, It is a no-win situation with bells on. Logically speaking, the additional in this case only one. But when we are For we can't even know for a fact that we information is essential for the answer faced with x + y = 2 there are an infinite have lost. We are in eternal limbo, or the riddler wants. Without it, any number of solutions. The task of science rather, we can't be absolutely sure we're answer would be as right as any other. is to determine which of the two cases in limbo or not. That, in a nutshell, is Some answers would carry more mean- reflects the true state of affairs and, if it is undecidability. the first, to seek to achieve the one and The question is, does the universe Our occasional essayist Ralph Estling only indisputably right answer. But the present us with this sort of riddle writes from Ilminster, Somerset, England. real problem is that it may not be possi­ because it is intrinsically unknowable

66 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER FORUM

whatever the level of intelligence The feeling that humanity will not brought to bear on it? Is it always possi­ ever, no matter how long it lasts, attain ble to know if all meaningful questions a position of workable knowledge of all that can be raised are solvable or not, the universe's operations and functions without first working through eternity is religious, and one thing we can be to find out? We know that some mean­ pretty sure of is that conclusions based ingful queries fall into the category of on a religious motive are at best suspect, insoluble, but how can we determine and probably worse. that this or that particular query is or No, undecidability will not be dis­ isn't? We are thrown back on the too- missed out of hand so easily, even when oft-quoted reflection of J.B.S. Haldane our greatest philosophers and theolo­

We know that some meaningful queries fall into the

category of insoluble, but how can we determine In an effort fo promote science and skepticism among that this or that particular query is or isn't? all generations, the Committee I for the Scientific Investigation (too-oft-quoted by him, among others) gians pronounce that it should be, of Claims of the Paranormal that the universe may not only be because it makes things a great deal eas­ (CSICOP), is pleased to queerer than we imagine, but queerer ier for them. This is because then the announce the launch of than we can imagine. To which I can argument goes away (which is what the Young Skeptics Program. only add, how can we decide between philosophy and theology is all about), The Web-based program is geared towards students. the two possibilities? and we can all go home to bed, safe in parents and educators. Are you beginning to get the picture? the knowledge that humans are and CSICORorg/youngskeptics If so, it's worse than that. Because it's no will always be incapable "by the nature help to try escaping the dilemma by of things" of knowing all that is know­ shrugging off and remarking that able. Surrender in the face of odds The goals of the Young human logic and comprehension are, declared to be overwhelming comes as Skeptics Program are: after all, not the be-all and end-all, as a great relief to minds incapable of I • To promote science and skepticism within an facets ot society and among some philosophers have, happily (Kant) knowing whether the opposition is aH generations. or unhappily (Schopenhauer). We can really insurmountable or not. Optim­ I • To provide multiple outlets tor young never know the thing-in-itself, Kant ists like Kant and pessimists like people to learn and involve themselves I In science, skepticism, and critical concluded, with a sigh of profound Schopenhauer and all their friends relief that die matter was now safely meet in mystic union and, like the I • To work with parents, teachers and students in an effort to promote knowable, and Schopenhauer agreed, Ouroboros snake swallowing its own learning, defend and odvance science I with his sigh of capitulating despair. End tail, swallow dieirs, agree with hand­ education, and encouroge critical thinking in an areas of Ife. of problem. Oh really? shakes all around that nothing more- I • To help young people moke sense of Well then, how can we be certain, so can possibly be said, their mouths the world by developing the tools and absolutely sure, that human thought being full, their brains being devoured. gathering the Information to navigate through the nonsense effectively. cannot (eventually if not now) bet\ie be- But alas. Mystic fulfillment, however I • To nurture curiosity, wonder, and the all and end-all? The universe is rather satiating, will never alter the fact that imoginallon whle shoring In the large but the laws dial govern it are few no matter how fast or in which direc­ fascination of reality and the excitement our universe has to offer and dieir complexities are unlikely to be tion we turn, our arse is still behind us. I • To explore extroordrory claims and infinite. There may be 10™ atoms in the Let me conclude with diese words of investigate unexplained phenomena. known universe but each and every one wisdom: A material, palpable backside whle enjoying ourselves in the process I • To inspire future generations to proudly of diem obeys exactly the same rules. counts for more, so far as reality goes, in carry the torch of science and reason The workings of the universe, as the a universe where spiritual essences seem and keep the ftarne burning bright for H years to come. physicist John Barrow reminds us, is only to reside within the realms and "the complicated coming together of confines of squishy gray matter widiin For more Information please many simple tilings." Corral and come the skulls of squishy gray men, the ped­ contact Program Directoi to comprehend the simple, and the dlers of unreason and die hucksters of Amanda Chesworth at complicated will come to you of its own false hopes and idle dreams. [email protected] accord. Maybe. At any rate, that may be the case... D

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/Augusi 2001 67 FOLLOW-UP

The Condemned Meta-Analysis on Child Sexual Abuse Good Science and Long-Overdue Skepticism

BRUCE RIND, ROBERT BAUSERMAN, AND PHILIP TROMOVITCH

n July 1999, the prestigious journal diagnoses of multiple personality disor­ without therapy). It was time to exam­ Psychological Bulletin published our der (MPD) mushroomed. All over the ine those assumptions. Ireview of fifty-nine studies that had country, women were entering therapy Freud was the first to formalize a rela­ examined psychological correlates of with vague complaints such as feeling tion between CSA and psychological mal­ child sexual abuse (CSA) (Rind, unhappy without knowing why, then adjustment. In his "seduction theory," he Tromovitch, and Bauserman 1998). We emerging with "recovered memories" of claimed that all adult neuroses are trace­ soon achieved an unexpected honor: our bizarre childhood victimization—such able to premature sex with an older paper was unanimously condemned by as being sexually assaulted with hard­ person. He based this notion on a dozen Congress. In the aftermath, SKEPTICAL ware tools or vegetables—sometimes for or so patients, whom he pressured to INQUIRER has published two commen­ many years, even decades, without recall seduction episodes using the same taries, one denouncing Congress (Berry "remembering." Often, these women discredited techniques that would later and Berry 2000), and the other denounc­ were led to believe that this purported be used in modern recovered memory ing our study (Hagen 2001). We would victimization had fragmented their per­ therapy. He soon abandoned his theory, like to offer our own thoughts about this sonalities into a dozen, a hundred, or and it lay dormant until the women's astonishing story of politics, pressure, even a thousand alters. movement of the 1970s, where it was and social hysteria—the anti dieses of Yet, over time, skeptics emerged— revived by advocates and victimologists critical and skeptical thought. social scientists, lawyers, and others who who found political and economic value We conducted our research in the questioned the stories coming from day­ in it for attacking the "patriarchy" and spirit of scientific skepticism, an attitude care cases and therapists' offices. They increasing a patient base. sadly missing in the CSA panic that provided showing As historian Philip Jenkins (1998) arose throughout much of the 1980s how even bizarre memories can be documented, virtually overnight in the and early 1990s. Beginning in 1984, implanted, how children can be manip­ 1970s a new orthodoxy emerged, in sensational cases of satanic ritual abuse ulated and coerced into telling prepos­ which CSA was elevated to the most in daycare centers proliferated in the terous stories, how people can be destructive experience a child could U.S., from McMartin in the West, to induced to believe they have thousands have. Who is a "child"? CSA came to Fells Acres in the Northeast, to Litde of "personalities." Daycare cases ceased; include any kind of sexual encounter Rascals in the South. Staff workers were convictions were overturned; some of between a minor under eighteen and accused of such things as assaulting the more egregious practitioners of someone rive or more years older. And four-year-olds with swords and curling MPD therapy were successfully sued for what is "abuse?" Victimologists began irons, forcing them in ritualistic style to malpractice. But few people were willing consume feces and drink the blood of to critically examine the core assump­ Bruce Rind is in the Department of sacrificed babies, and molesting them in tions that led to these hysterical epi­ Psychology at Temple University (E-mail: outer space or on ships at sea sur­ demics: that child sexual abuse is dis­ [email protected]). Robert Bauser­ rounded by sharks trained to prevent tinctively horrible (more horrible than man is with the Department of Health and them from escaping. Meanwhile, by the late 1980s, a billion-dollar recovered any other traumatic experience or than Mental Hygiene, State of Maryland. Philip memory movement had developed, and family pathology), inevitably leaving Tromovitch is in the Graduate School of scars that last throughout life (at least. Education, University of Pennsylvania.

68 luly/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER FOLLOW-UP

with rape and incest, but then stretch­ methodology in order to reach the even after taking into account other ed definitions of CSA to include non- expected conclusions. They mosdy used potential causes of poorer functioning contact episodes (e.g., flashing), sex highly unrepresentative clinical case stud­ (e.g., family environment). Moreover, if between children of differing ages, and ies, yet generalized with litde qualifica­ CSA is as traumatic as being mauled by episodes of mature adolescents willingly tion to the whole population (external an attack dog, then nearly 100 percent participating in sex with older teens or validity bias). Even though they repeat­ of victims should report that the experi­ adults. Yet they maintained that all these edly found that people with a history of ence was negative—indeed, devastating. encounters were traumatizing, using sexual abuse often came from poor or However, none of these predictions dramatic analogies such as slavery, head- chaotic family and social environments, were supported. CSA was related to on car crashes, being mauled by a dog, where physical abuse, emotional neglect, poorer adjustment, but the magnitude of and torture to convey their belief about and delinquency were frequent, they gen­ the relation was small, not large. Family CSA's nature. erally ignored or downplayed these fac­ environment (e.g., physical abuse, tors, attributing all or most current But sex, in general, is not like being emotional neglect) explained poorer adjustment problems to the CSA (inter­ mauled by a dog or torture, which are adjustment ten times better. When we nal validity bias). In noting that CSA was always painful and traumatic. Sex is often statistically controlled for the impact of associated with having symptoms of just the opposite—the most pleasurable growing up in a terrible family environ­ mental distress, they usually failed to experience one can have. It therefore can­ indicate to what degree, leaving the ment, the relation between CSA and not be assumed a priori that a fourteen- impression that the "impact" is always adjustment often vanished. For males or fifteen-year-old, for example, will react dramatic (precision bias). Finally, litem especially, CSA, far from being 100 with trauma rather than pleasure just ture reviews often selectively cited find­ percent negative, was reported as being because his or her partner is older. In fact, ings that supported victimological mostly positive or neutral—a major teens of this age often do not react as the assumptions, but gave short shrift to con­ contradiction to the victimological orthodoxy insists they must, as the fol­ tradictory findings (confirmation bias). model. These findings were not related to lowing example illustrates. It was related die type of sex (e.g., mild touching versus by Dan Savage, in reaction to the attacks Our study was designed to overcome intercourse), but they were related to on our study, in his nationally syndicated these biases. To improve external valid­ level of force and relatedness—child column "Savage Love" (July 29, 1999): ity, we examined college samples, far victims of repeated acts of incest, or of more generalizable than clinical samples acts brought about by force or threats, Why is this controversial? Speaking as (half the U.S. adult population has had a survivor of CSA at fourteen with a did have more psychological and some college). To improve internal twenty-rwo-year-old woman; sex at emotional problems later in life. But the fifteen with a thirty-year-old man—I validity, we systematically examined assumption of victimologists that all family environment to sec whether CSA can back the researchers up; 1 was not kinds of sexual experiences in child­ traumatized by these technically ille­ continued to be associated with poorer hood and adolescence have lasting and gal sexual encounters; indeed, I initi­ adjustment when taking this into ated them and cherish their memory. inevitably negative consequences was account. To improve precision, we used It's absurd to think that what I did at clearly wrong. meta-analysis, a statistical procedure fifteen would be considered "child Because many men said that they did sexual abuse," or lumped together by that transforms statistics from each not find "child sexual abuse" to be "abu­ lazy researchers with the incestuous study into a common metric indicating sive," that is, harmful or traumatic, and rape of a five-year-old girl. the magnitude of association of a rela­ tion of interest, and then combines because of comments by reviewers, the Stories like Savage's are far from rare, these. And to avoid confirmation bias, journal editor handling our paper but they are never incorporated into vic- we used all relevant quantitative infor­ requested that we reformulate the CSA timological models. mation on problems of adjustment, in our final draft. CSA, as cur­ Throughout the 1970s, the "victimol- rather than selecting only some findings. rently defined, had poor construct valid­ ogists" gained power and resources. The ity—that is, being told that someone Child Abuse Treatment and Prevention We hypothesized that, if CSA is like was "sexually abused" in "childhood" Act of 1974 provided funding to stem torture, and if it produces the lasting was not enough to predict anything the problem of physical abuse and emo­ effects claimed by victimologists, then about that person's reactions or later tional neglect. By 1976, its focus shifted the association between CSA and adjustment. Constructs in science that largely to CSA. Victimology flourished as current adjustment problems should be are not predictive are not useful. a result, producing hundreds of studies large regardless of the population sam­ Therefore, die editor asked us to rede­ supposedly verifying CSA assumptions. pled (even in the relatively well-func­ fine CSA, based on our findings. We But these studies consistendy violated tioning college population), and that complied, suggesting, for instance, that fundamental principles of scientific this association should remain robust scientists not use the term "child sexual

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abuse" to include teenagers who con­ seminating inaccurate information. Our As we noted, we reformulated the sented and enjoyed the sex. This refor­ critics, who were expecting the AAAS to notion of CSA as a result of the peer- mulation both improved construct denounce our study, were notably silent. review process, wherein the concern was validity and occasioned moral outrage. We have extensively debunked com­ with the validity of the construct based Conservative radio host "Dr. Laura" mon criticisms of our study (see Rind, on our findings. This "sweeping reformu­ attacked us for months on her syndi­ Tromovitch, and Bauserman 2000; lation" was thus not to advance some cated show. The Family Research Rind, Bauserman, and Tromovitch "socio-political agenda," as Hagen Council, a conservative Christian advo­ 2000). We showed that the Leadership repeatedly accused us of doing, but to cacy group, mobilized conservative con­ Council's critique was little more than a comply with an editor's request to gressmen to pressure the American "kitchen sink" attack, throwing every advance science. We pointed this out in Psychological Association (APA) to possible complaint our way irrespective our commentaries on the controversy repudiate our study. And a recently of accuracy, relevance, or significance. (see both Rind et al. 2000 articles); formed organization of victimologists Advocates of recovered memories are not unfortunately, Hagen was not aware who had long advocated the validity of especially known for their statistical of these or had not read them. In recovered memories and MPD (they sophistication and methodological rigor, those commentaries, we also addressed called themselves, rather grandly, the and accordingly their complaints re­ thoroughly the issue of consent, another Leadership Council for Mental Health, vealed strained attempts to discredit our criticism of Hagen's. The primary Justice and the Media) fed Dr. Laura findings rather than serious efforts to studies we reviewed examined "simple and the congressmen distortions of our advance knowledge. An upcoming issue consent," as opposed to "informed research that were used as sound bites in of Psychological Bulletin contains another consent," which implies assent without attacking our study and the APA. The of their mistaken critiques, along with sophisticated knowledge of conse­ most notorious of these was that 60 per­ our refutation. None of their objections quences. Simple consent moderated cent of our data came from one single have yet affected our basic conclusions. outcomes in these studies, in our meta­ outdated study. The APA, which ini­ The attacks by conservatives and analysis, and has in other research tially defended our publication as a victimologists, in our view, were all as well. Because of its predictive val­ "good study," eventually submitted to grounded in maintaining their strongly ue, it is a valid scientific construct. pressure and made concessions to the held ideological beliefs and, in the case The "informed consent" argument is a conservative congressmen and psych­ of therapists, their practices. A critique red herring. otherapists who were so angry. of a different nature, appearing recently Then Hagen attacked our use of Raymond Fowler, the APA's chief execu­ in SKEPTICAL INQUIRER by Margaret self-reports, calling them "notoriously tive officer, indicated to us that he had Hagen (2001), positioned itself as the unreliable." Sometimes they are; that's no alternative, because he was "in hand- view of a true skeptic, one more con­ why good interviewers take this into to-hand combat with congressmen, talk cerned with identifying problems in consideration in designing surveys. But show hosts, the Christian Right and the our study than with being politically you don't get to dismiss self-reports you American Psychiatric Association." And correct. Hagen certainly diverges from don't like and accept the ones you do so the APA issued a statement con­ most victimologists in acknowledging like. Everyone accepted self-reports of demning child sexual abuse (as if we had her own personal causes: that there is negative reactions to CSA; why then endorsed it!), disavowing the article, and an important difference between chil­ are self-reports of neutral or positive promising that it would be re-reviewed dren and teens in matters of sex, that reactions the only ones that are "notor­ by another scientific organization. This calling men who are attracted to mature iously unreliable?" Does Hagen believe statement placated Congress, which teens "pedophiles" is misleading, and that people's retrospective positive praised the APA in the same breath it that U.S. age of consent laws and other reports of a fine meal or negative repudiated us. age limits are inconsistent and illogical. reports of a painful medical proced­ And, indeed, our study was re- But because many of the errors she ure are to be dismissed as being unreli­ reviewed by the American Association made in interpreting our article are so able? We doubt it. Nonnegative self- for the Advancement of Science common, and so antithetical to true reports of CSA are highly informative, (AAAS), America's largest science orga­ skeptical inquiry, we would like to because they contradict what must be if nization. The panel found no fault with respond to them. CSA is by nature invariably a "fate our methods or analyses, but reported First, Hagen asserted that we politi­ worse than death." that they did have "grave concerns" with cally undermined her causes with our Finally, Hagen, like other critics, how our article was politicized and mis­ "sweeping reformulation" of the CSA attacked us for our use of meta-analysis, represented by our critics, whom they construct, which, she said, was not dri­ a method, she claimed, that researchers rebuked for violating public trust by dis­ ven by the findings of our meta-analysis. use to build "insubstantial mountains

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 71 FOLLOW-UP

out of statistical molehills." In fact, our Hagen, along with many psychouSera- SKBTICAl. INQUIRER 25(1), January/February, p. 20. Hagen, M. 2001. Damaged goods? What, if study went in the reverse direction, pists, thinks that in the final analysis, our anything, does science tell us about the long- breaking mountains down into mole­ study doesn't tell us much about child sex­ term effects of childhood sexual abuse? hills, rendering her metaphor miscast. ual abuse and its aftermath. We disagree. SKKPTICAI INCJIMKI.R 24(1). January/Febru­ ary, pp. 54-59. Like others who are unfamiliar with this Our study brought rigorous and skeptical Jenkins, R 1998. Moral panic: Changing concepts of method, she believes that meta-analysis attention to an issue tJiat has spun out of the child-molester in modern America New combines "apples and oranges" and is control, into what Jenkins (1998) called a Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press. Rind, B., R. Bauserman, and P. Tromovitch. 2000. blind to "good apples and bad apples." "moral panic." Victimologists are advocates, Science versus orthodoxy: Anatomy of the Actually, this is a criticism that applies not scientists. There is certainly a place for congressional condemnation of a scientific even more strongly to more traditional advocacy, as long as it is not confused with article and reflections on remedies for future ideological attacks. Applied and Preventive qualitative reviews, where the researcher science;—and as long as public policy is Psychology 9, 211-225. subjectively compares various studies. In informed by die best scientific information Rind. B., R Tromovitch. and R. Bauserman. 1998. meta-analysis, it is possible to test available, rather than by unvalidated A meta-analytic examination of assumed prop­ erties of child sexual abuse using college sam­ whether combining different measures beliefs, however passionately held. ples. Psychological Bulletin 124. 22-53. (apples and oranges) or good and bad . 2000. Condemnation of a scientific studies matters. If it does, the variability References article: A chronology and refutation of the attacks and a discussion of threats to the in results becomes large. That was not a Beny, K.K., and J. Berry. 2000. The congressional cen­ integrity of science. Sexuality and Culture 4, problem in our study. sure of a research paper Return of die Inquisition? 1-62. •

NOTES OF A FRINGE-WATCHER tinually accused others of plagiarism, Confirming instances underlie our from page 14 but rarely acknowledged his own beliefs that the Sun will rise tomorrow, intellectual debts. He expected oth­ that dropped objects will fall, that ers to make every sacrifice for him, water will freeze and boil, and a million that every time Carnap expressed an but did little in return. In Hacohen's words, "He remained to the end a other events. It is hard to think of opinion. Popper felt compelled to spoiled child who threw temper another philosophical battle so deci­ come forth with an opposing view, tantrums when he did not get his sively lost. although it usually turned out to be way." Hacohen is ready to excuse all Readers interested in exploring the same as Carnap's but in different this as the prerogative of genius. Those who think Popper a relatively Popper's eccentric views will find, in language. Carnap once said that the minor figure are likely to take a dif­ addition to his books and papers, distance between him and Popper was ferent view. most helpful the two-volume Philo­ not symmetrical. From Carnap to When Popper wrote "Logik der sophy of Karl Popper (1970), in the Popper it was small, but the other way Forschung," he was barely thirty. Library of Living Philosophers, edited around it appeared huge. Popper Despite its flawed center, it was full of good ideas, from perhaps the most by Paul Arthur Schilpp. The book con­ actually believed that the movement brilliant of the bright young philoso­ tains essays by others, along with known as logical , of which phers associated with the Vienna Popper's replies and an autobiography. Carnap was leader, had expir­ Circle. But where the others contin­ For vigorous criticism of Popper, see ed because he, Popper, had single- ued to learn, develop and in time exert a lasting influence on the David Stove's Popper and After: Four handedly killed it! philosophical tradition. Popper Modern lrrationalists (the other three I have not read Popper's first and knew better. He refused to revise his are , , and only biography, Karl Popper: The falsificationism, and so condemned ), and Stoves chapter Formative Years (1902-1945), by himself to a lifetime in the service of a bad idea. on Popper in his posthumous Against Malachi Haim Hacohen (2000). the Idols of the Age (1999), edited by Judging by the reviews it is an admirable Popper's great and tireless efforts to Roger Kimball. See also Carnap's reply work. David Papineau, a British expunge the word induction from sci­ to Popper in The Philosophy of Rudolf philosopher, reviewed it for The New entific and philosophical discourse has Carnap (1963), another volume in The York Times Book Review (November 12, utterly failed. Except for a small but Library of Living Philosophers. Of 2000). Here arc his harsh words about noisy group of British Popperians, many books by Popperians, one of Popper's character and work: induction is just too firmly embedded the best is Critical Rationalism (1994), By Hacohen's own account. Popper in the way philosophers of science and a skillful defense of Popper by his was a monster, a moral prig. He con- even ordinary people talk and think. top acolyte.

72 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Western fiction author Louis too little. The assumption that people are I'Amour is reported to have said, "Victory is pretty much as smart as each other, and as not won in miles but in inches." Henry well-meaning (even in error) is, well, endear­ Skeptical inquirer Adams wrote that "A teacher affects eternity; ing. She writes in a way that suggests that he can never tell where his influence stops." she'd be pleasant in person. I'm quite happy to But it was who captured have her out in the world being my consciousnEss our mission with die most insight when he spokesperson, asking everyone to make sense, MID PARAPSYCHOLOGY wrote in his "Letter to Robert Hooke" on please, if they don't mind too terribly.... February 5, 1675, diat "If I have seen further As a final note I might add that she was Demonic' (than you and Descartes) it is by standing the first to articulate, in what I was reading, Visitation: upon the shoulders of Giants." that human selves are verbs at best. This idea VCasc Critiquing '•lleiiigi'iit becomes strangely comforting after a while, Much E.A.Kral sign' enough so that I credit her book Dying to Wilber, Nebraska Live with taking some of the dread away • F.roluiion A from the of death. That's a pretty llllnf iil.ltliin Reading her most recent article reminded me big favor she's done me, among several. So, Spont.iiu'o. strongly of something I've felt since I first here's to Susan Blackmore: I'm sorry she 11 Lint.if i never found any psi, but I'm darn happy (oiilaluii.ilion stumbled across her ncar-deadi experience stuff some years ago: god, do I love Susan she's around. Blackmore! Susan Blackmore on Psi, As a member nl th.it class of skeptic with­ Victoria, B.C., Canada out scientific training, no voice in the move­ Consciousness, and Her ment has spoken more directly to me than 'End of a Personal Quest Blackmore's. To begin with, most of us ordi­ I am writing to praise, thank, and support nary folks were Fox Mulder for most our Susan Blackmore, whom I very affectionately Re Susan Blackmore's "End of a Personal youth, and that makes her, well, one of us. It call Miss Realer than Real Herself, for her is easy to imagine many of the greats spring­ Quest" (March/April 2001): courage, persistence, and determination in ing full-grown from the egg, crusty, square- Those who have fought the good fight in going cold turkey (which is very difficult to jawed, and ready to fight evil with their first academia for thirty years like Susan do) in her sttuggle to escape from and finally grim breath; by comparison, most of us Blackmore can relate to her decision. There kick that terrible, powerful addiction. I am in ended up half-crusty only after many clearly are times when attempting to change excited, drunken nights debating the inex­ a similar struggle atid have similar thoughts. what needs changing doesn't seem to get plicable. It is easy to place the young She is an inspiration to people like myself anywhere. At least that is the perception. Blackmore at diosc parties. who are trying to set themselves free from the Perhaps we can take comfort in the expe­ claims of the pro-supernatural books which riences of earlier academics who were para­ More than any other skeptical writer, arc very detrimental and deceptive. normal skeptics. Joseph Jastrow continued to she has been the one to instruct us on the Like her, I had one (only) "supernatural" educate the public after he retired from the details of how one "does science." Although experience, which began March 1993 and it may be embarrassing to her, the careful University of Wisconsin. So did Donald had many supernatural things happening play-by-play of her slow drift to skepticism, Menzel of Harvard University. that shocked me into believing that maybe the detail of her self-reported mistakes or Blackmore can be satisfied with her con­ it was true. ... In time I found other non- "failures" are fascinating to the science ama­ tribution, for she has been a pioneering supernatural explanations for it, and these teur. Most of what I know about science female skeptic, and well beyond her lifetime lingering happenings have absolutely no she will serve as a role model just as Jastrow, I've learned at the knee of SKEPTICAL INQUIRER or Blackmore. It's even been meaning. Lately 1 only write the dates, not Menzel, and others were before the forma­ what happened, contrary to pro-supernatural tion of CSICOP in 1976. handy—I work in silviculture, doing brush management using sheep, and every aspect books, which say to keep writing it. The advantage is that CSICOP's exis­ of our evaluation, pay schedule, penalty sys­ I wish to thank Susan Blackmore for her tence will enhance her efforts far more than tem, and so on is based on sampling and years of work and research. She's given them she might have done alone. That will be the statistics. Being able to perceive and argue all more than a fair trial, which is more than legacy of what Paul Kurtz and other found­ the flaws in the survey procedures used has they deserve. ing fellows have accomplished in just often helped me protect the name and secu­ In my opinion, no matter how convinc­ twenty-five short years. rity of the family business. In a cutthroat ing these supernatural experiences are, there I believe our sustained dedication docs field, my unpopular egghead hobby has is always a non-supernatural explanation for cause change in the long run when it is added helped keep us in the game. Thanks. it and the search for credible proof of the to die organized body of knowledge diat sur­ supernatural could go on for the next 10,000 vives for generations and centuries to come. It's die voice, though, that makes her such years and the results will always be zero and At die end of our physical lives it is "out like a fine example: die gende, sympathetic, com- none!... Thank you Susan Blackmore for motiMiiMt.il way in which she writes is a match." But our spirit, if one can use that showing me the way! term, endures in die form of our published immensely powerful, persuasive, and kind— findings. Our history or our biography prevails perhaps too kind, but diat's one of diosc Natali Night because die system encourages it to endure. things in which too much is at least as good as Neotsu, Oregon

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 73 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In her anicle "What Can die Paranormal 30, 1853) and a more detailed account, Intelligent design proponents are simply Teach Us About Consciousness?" (March/ "Experimental Investigation of Table Moving" wrong when they claim information is only April 2001) Susan Blackmore argues that "As in the magazine Athenaeum (July 2, 1853). rearranged or degraded by mutations. our understanding of conscious experience Both arc reprinted in Experimental Researches Random mutations do four things, not two. progresses, the desire to find 'the power of in Chemistry and Physics by Michael Faraday On a gene a "G" can be dropped or elimi­ consciousness' sets parapsychology ever more (Taylor and Francis 1991). nated; a "G" can be changed from a "G" to against the rest of science.... The more wc In these, Faraday described a number of something else; a "G" can be moved to look into the workings of the brain the less it experiments he used to investigate table another location; and a "G" can be doubled looks like a machine run by a conscious self turning, including thin sheets of cardboard or repeated several times. This adds for sure and the more it seems capable of getting on placed between the operator's hands and the to the information that is subject to selec­ without one." table and lined up with reference marks on tion. Mutations do add information. This conclusion needs to be connected the table, showing that the motive power P.M. deLaubenfels with the subject of Paul Kurtz's "The New came from the operator's hands. He also fas­ Corvallis, Oregon Paranatural Paradigm: Claims of Communi­ tened the vertical pivot of a light horizontal cating with the Dead" (November/ lever to the table with die short end of the December 2000). The classic objection to lever attached to a cardboard sheet between In "Darwin in Mind" writes "all near-death experiences as evidence for the the operator's hands and the table, so that functions can be expressed as a combination of existence of a conscious self separable from the long end of the lever would magnify any rules and randomness." After conferring with the patient's body is that such experiences arc relative movement of the operator's hands the author, I would like to try to clarify this to all experiences reported by—Surprise! and the table. When the operator could see readers who, like me, were not familiar with Surprise!—still-living persons. This objection the lever, the table remained immobile. But recent developments in computability theory. to such evidence can be overcome only if the if the lever was hidden from the operator, the The equivalent of Godel's incompleteness table would move, and the lever would show experiences reported by the of course still- theorem in terms of the capabilities of living patients include information which that the operator was moving the table rather machines is the fact that there are functions could only have been acquired, presumably than the reverse. that cannot be computed by Turing by ESP, at times when there were no on­ Derick W. Ovenall Machines (Turing Machines are a formaliza­ goings in the brains of those patients. . .. Wilmington, Delaware tion of the functional capabilities of any The only case I know which even appears modern computer, the standard reference is to satisfy this requirement is one recorded by Elements of the Theory of Computation by Michael Sabon in his Recollections of Death: Lewis and Papadimitriou, Prentice-Hall, A Medical Investigation (New York: Harper Two Critiques of 1981). It can be shown (cf. Section 4.6 of and Row, 1982). A patient is alleged to have Intelligent Design the above) that nondeterministic Turing provided, after her recovery, a blow-by-blow Machines cannot describe any more func­ tions from finite strings to finite strings than account of the activities of the surgical team Thank you for Taner Edis's "Darwin in deterministic Turing Machines can, since the at times when she was reputedly brain dead. Mind" (March/April 2001). former can be simulated by the latter. But this case depends on the unsupported The statement "Design implies a testimony of the author: which, in a matter Replacing nondetcrminism by randomness designer" demands just as big a leap of faith changes little with respect to the above-men­ of such eschatological importance, is quite as "I know that my Redeemer lives." It is not tioned type of function. scandalously inadequate. In October 2000 luminously obvious like "If A is true, then A there were reports in the United Kingdom or B is true." Intelligent Design proponents But in fact, the quoted text should not be press of an investigation by doctors Sam do not attempt to prove it from simpler read as that even Turing-uncomputable Parnia and P. Fenwick of die supposed recol­ statements, nor do they offer evidence. They functions can be implemented by machines lections of survivors of cardiac arrest. These devote much effort to finding design in the that "flip a coin"; it rather intends to convey recollections were welcomed by some natural world, and then they take the leap of that any infinite sequence of function values Bishops as evidence of death survival. But faith. can be obtained by applying an appropriate after the findings wete actually published— Intelligent Design fails Susan Black- machine to an appropriate random infinite (in the January 2001 issue of Resuscitation) it mores test: it doesn't help us do science. sequence (as defined in Edis 1998b). became obvious that the "memories" of the Adding ID to our assumptions doesn't tell us Mark-Jan Nederhof patients had had no cognitive content. the value of the Hubble constant or explain how migrating birds find their way. All ID Saarbruecken, Germany Antony Flew does is give IDers a warm fuzzy feeling. Reading, England Alice Anderson It's understandable to me why the concept of Las Cruces, New Mexico Intelligent Design is believed by so many. In her article "Giving Up the Ghosts: End of a After all, those who believe in this concept Personal Quest," Susan Blackmore mentioned designed something in their lives, and it is that in 1853 Michael Faraday published a Re "A Bit Confused" (March/April 2001). their personal experience that they can iden­ report on "table tipping." Readers might be Granted David Roche wanted to use infor­ tify widi the concept of Intelligent Design. interested to learn that Faraday wrote two arti­ mation theory itself to refute its use to deny Choosing to have children, building a home, cles in 1853 on mis subject. The first, "On Darwinian evolution, but there is a much creating a new business, and designing a Table Turning," appeared in The Times (June simpler argument. computer program or a blueprint are all

74 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

actions of intelligent designers. Certainly Bill Sheldrake misrepresents his data, and Marks aware that he or she was being watched. I Gates, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison and Colwell followed him to a certain extent. do not recall anyone stating later that he or were intelligent designers. Intelligent Design One shouldn't distinguish the conditions she had any impression they were under is a production of the believer's own experi­ "looking" and "not looking," but "feels a constant surveillance. Many were amazed ence onto a blank screen which they call stare" and "feels no stare." The reason is we their movements had been observed or even "God, the intelligent designer." know that there's 50 percent looking, but we photographed. don't know a priori how many people will feel There are persons whose actions indicate Newton Joseph, Ph.D. stared at. We therefore can only meaningfully they fear being "stared at." These are profes­ Porter Ranch, California compare the expected distributions with the sional criminals or chronic worker's compen­ actual distributions in the feel and the no-feel sation claimants caught in the past and conditions, i.e., perform statistics. warned by their unscrupulous lawyers to be Sheldrake's Staring careful in the future. Research In Marks and Colwell's Experiment Two, the subjects exhibited different degrees of Of course, once in a while a subject may paranoia. They felt stares between 43 and 70 become aware of a surveillance if the opera­ Rupert Sheldrake ("Research on the Feeling percent of the time. All in all there were 1,267 tive is inexperienced or some unanticipated of Being Stared At," Follow-up, March/April stares felt, and given the choice of the random factor creeps in. Even Sherlock Holmes suf­ 2001) reports "highly significant positive sequences one would expect 662 of these to be fered this tragedy. scores in the looking trials and scores close to correct. In fact 658 were correct, almost the chance level of 50 percent in the not- Patrick J. Leonard, Sr. exactly what one would expect, and similarly looking trials." Sheldrake's figure 1 shows Private Investigator/Security Consultant for the unfelt stares. The significance that that subjects reported feeling a stare on 55 Braintree, Massachusetts Sheldrake sees in "two out of three sessions" is percent of the trials. Sheldrake says that just an artifact. All subjects were exposed to exactly half his trials are stare trials, so that the same random series, resulting in imbal­ subjects, by biasing their response toward I read with interest various articles concern­ ances in the number of stoics and no-starcs. stares, are more likely than chance to be right ing Rupert Sheldrake's "Feeling of Being Sheldrake's data can be summarized by on a stare trial. Stared At." In their determination to refute saying that his subjects apparently felt being Sheldrake's claim of significant experimental In the limiting case, a subject who always stared at in 55 percent of the cases, and were evidence that people can tell when they are reports feeling a stare would be right on all correct five out of nine times, in both the feel being stared at, I think his critics fail to the stare trials, which Sheldrake finds very and the no-feel condition. The data of Marks acknowledge that the effect may be real, but interesting, and wrong on all the no-stare tri­ and Colwell arc more precise, and from them due to subtle but natural causes. als, which Sheldrake finds uninteresting. Yet we can infer that in the first block of their One can clearly detect a stare by glancing no reasonable person would say that this Experiment One (without feedback) 54.9 up and meeting the starcr's eyes, an ability subject could detect stares. percent stares were felt (Experiment Two had that appears to be "hard-wired" into our Marks and Colwell's ("The Psychic 58.6 percent), and that in both conditions brains. One can also sense it by the behavior Staring Effect," September/October 2000) (feel and no-feel) almost exactly 50 percent of others—the "someone behind you" effect, subjects also report more stares than no- of the guesses were correct, just as one would for example. Auditory and non-central visual stares. Easy calculations show that on each of expect. In none of the four blocks is there a clues are especially promising explanations, the four blocks of sixty trials, subjects significant difference in correctness between as they are likely to produce the vague feel­ reported about thirty-three stares and the feel and the no-feel conditions. In their ing subjects usually report. twenty-seven no-stares. last block the percentage of subjects who felt From an evolutionary perspective, few If Sheldrake had run the second control a stare has dropped somewhat, to 52.8 per­ would argue that the ability to sense stares is suggested by Thaddeus Cowan (Letters, cent (possibly because of a learning effect), not a valuable survival trait. The idea that January/February 2001) he would have dis­ but the correct guesses number about 58 people can process subtle sensory clues seems covered his subjects' bias. percent. The corresponding p-value for that more reasonable to me than that we can Pan A of Sheldrake's figure 1 reveals an block is 0.00005. detect and respond effectively to structure in additional bias. He runs about ninety-eight Summarizing, Sheldrake claims that "cor­ pseudo-random sequences. Although Marks no-stare trials for every 100 stare trials, not rect" significantly often goes together with and Colwell support the latter argument equal numbers as he asserts. "looking." He is wrong because he misap­ with citations, an experimental demonstra­ Sheldrake disputes the hypothesis that plies the statistics. It's an illusion caused tion using the sequences in question would be more convincing. subjects learn patterns by saying of Marks partly by the paranoia of die subjects in such and Colwell's experiments, "significant experiments. improvement occurred only in the looking Craig Duncan trials." Marks and Colwell's table 2 shows the Silver Spring, Maryland average correct no-stare responses increasing Waalre, Netherlands monotonicly from 13.50 in Block 1 to 16.00 David Marks responds: in Block 4. The average number of correct responses increased by 2.50 on no-stare trials For over fifty years I have participated in Thanks for Craig Duncan's letter. The whole and by 2.25 on stare trials. thousands of surveillances, during which point of our SI article is to show exactly what individuals were kept under observation for the writer suggests—that the staring effect is Alice Anderson hours, days, weeks, and at times months. "due to subtle but natural causes." Las Cruces, New Mexico The average Joe or Jane never became QED?

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 75 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I am confused and amused by Rupert apt to appear anytime in a flashback precipi­ some cult of to explain my new sub­ Sheldrake's comment ". . . the failure to tated by a "." scription to SKEPTICAL INQUIRER? detect Wiseman's stares implies only that At the next appointment, the regression I bought into the Roswell UFO-crashed- Wiseman was an ineffective starer. Perhaps therapist "explains" the story of the dream in alien-ship scenario lock, stock, and barrel, his negative expectations consciously or all its Freudian implications of the "incest" absorbing documentaries, movies, and evi­ unconsciously influenced the way he looked which went on for untold years and thou­ dence-laden books with the relish of a con­ at the subjects." In my opinion, this state­ sands of incidents, all of which the "inner vert, awaiting a president's revelation on each ment says much about the laxity of control, child" has bundled off to . . . the warehouse succeeding election exposing the truth of poor design, and lack of logical scientific of repressed sexual abuse memories.. .. alien visitation! Now David E. Thomas, physicist, tells me it was a balloon experi­ approach to all of Sheldrake's trials. I would imagine that such nightly events ment fifty-five years after the fact? If it is possible for the starer to control as hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucina­ the effect on the subjects then it seems to me tions would be very disturbing, regardless of And you're going to insist that The that this factor should have been controlled one's frame of mind. However, with the didn't happen dur­ in every experiment. With this new "starer additional baggage of the belief in decades- ing WWII just because L. Sprague dc power" possibility brought to light, all his delayed repressed memories of childhood Camp, Robert A. Heinlein, , previous conclusions are rendered meaning­ sexual abuse, you have a major cause for con­ and a few other "witnesses" were there and less. Perhaps what Sheldrake has actually cern. But docs the Recovered Memory didn't see it happen? was found in his many thousands of trials is not Therapy practitioner allay the patient's fears there, too, you know. that we can feel someone staring at us but by citing the existence of hypnagogic and De Camp's derision of Erich von that we can force someone to feel our stares. hypnopompic hallucinations? Daniken's ancient-astronaut books as "solid masses of misstatements, errors, and wild The psychic power, if it exists at all, may not No. These events confirm the diagnosis of guesses" struck to the core of my earthly be in the receiver, but the sender. childhood sexual abuse to this charlatan of die soul, forcing my painful confrontation of the mind, and another family and another daugh­ Glenn Rimbey meaning of the woeful tears on the cheeks of ter's sanity are on their way to destruction. Snohomish, Washington the stone-faced gods left behind as evidence. Francis X. Kane There's a tear on the cheek of the Face on Acton, Massachusetts Mars which even with photographic evi­ Hallucinations and dence you denounce! 'Recovered Memories' John Carter, Warlord of Man, by Edgar Elizabeth Targ and CPMC Rice Burroughs, ninety years ago! Don't tell I thought it particularly interesting that me this is mere science fiction, these swash­ Andrew Reisner ("A Psychological Case In his article on Elizabeth Targ (March/April buckling adventure books where John Study of 'Demon' and 'Alien' Visitation," 2001) Martin Gardner wrote that her Carter, carthling, and Dcja Thoris, Princess March/April 2001), despite the item in his Complementary Medicine Research of Mars, rode off gallantly on their mighty bio that he has an "interest in the repressed Institute is located at the California Pacific mind-controlled thoats to save the planet memory controversy," made no allusion to Medical Center, "in turn part of the Mars from extinction. Asimov may well be the distinct possibility that hypnagogic University of California School of correct: "When a characteristic like human and hypnopompic hallucinations may play Medicine." CPMC is not a teaching hospital credulity becomes so widespread in a species, we must suspect that it plays a part in a significant role in the belief systems of and has no formal connection with the enabling the species to survive." adult children with therapeutically School of Medicine of UCSF. Like other induced "recovered memories" of child­ community practitioners, some physicians at Perhaps it is the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER hood sexual abuse. CPMC may have honorary clinical appoint­ which fatcfully awaits all of us. Many letters of "confrontation" from ments at UCSF. Such appointments have no Harold V. Blackman adult children, principally daughters, to their real academic significance. I don't know if Montrose, Colorado parents, mainly fathers, cite nightmares this is the case with Targ. which marked the beginnings of awareness of theit having been sexually molested. Robert Layzer, M.D. There would be a vivid description of a Professor of Neurology (emeritus) Five Times the Hindenburg! "faceless specter," usually a hulking figure, University of California, coming upon them in the darkness of their San Francisco I read with great interest the News and bedrooms. Invariably, the daughter, reading San Francisco, California Comment "Retired Air Force Balloon weird self-help books like Courage to Heal, Expert Expands on Origin of' ' and/or in therapy for vague symptomology UFO Hoax." by David E. Thomas of unknown trauma, inevitably recognizes You Have One Bullet Left (March/April 2001). A much needed help the "faceless specter" as being "Dad," die in the clarification of the Roswell mire, mind's worst-case imagining. You have demonstrated an almost maniacal Thomas made one observation that I think The narrative of the nightmare takes on methodology in eliminating—unknown to demands further clarification. He indi­ the aura of a horror movie. The victim in the me—each of my cherished myths of the past cated that "some of the Skyhook balloons were five times larger than the dream/awake state cannot move nor cry out ninety years, and all within a few, terse pages Hindenburg Zeppelin's seven million as die specter advances. Sheer terror. In true of your March/April 2001 issue (News & cubic feet. . . ." Having some familiarity Hollywood B-movic style, these episodes are Comment section). Must I subscribe to

76 July/August 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

with LZ-129 "Hindenburg" I can confirm says a 50-million cubic footer was built, but topics would be of great interest to the pub­ that the most accurate figure for that air­ it's not known if it was ever used. Both bal­ lic, as they involve common everyday ship is 7,063.000 cubic feet (Hoehling, loons were more than five times larger than issues. These results may even be publish- 1962) and given this, such Skyhook bal­ either the Hindenberg or the Graf Zeppelin able, as many of these areas have not been loons would then achieve some approxi­ II, according to Guinness the largest rigid air­ adequately studied (for example, nine- mate 35,315,000 cubic feet in size. ship ever built, at 7,062,100 cubic feel. year-old Emily Rosa's study of Therapeutic While the morphology of such balloons Touch, publishing in the Journal of the vary with the altitude they attain, if their American Medical Association, started as a general shape is cylindrical, 1 estimate that Limits in Drug Assessments science fair project). Furthermore, these for a radius of 100 feet (that is a diameter of experiments can be performed using every­ 200 feet), the balloon would have to approx­ day materials (often little more than paper It is logical to apply the same degree of skep­ imately 1,125 feet tall. This would render a and a statistics book), instead of compli­ ticism to treatments with drugs and herbs. I balloon surface area sufficient to cover cated laboratory equipment. suggest that even the medically accepted approximately 17 acres! My knowledge of "class one" evidence described by Spinella I refer interested people to the ICYR aerodynamics is poor and that of even ele­ (January/February 2001) falls short of an (International Cryobiology Young Research­ mentary mathematics not appreciably better. attainable standard. ers) Web site (www.icyr.org/static/science However, if these latter figures are correct it fairideas) as an example of the impact a sci­ Psychiatric research assesses symptoms would appear to make these balloons the ence fair Web site could have. This site lists using rating scales to sec if drugs act as largest flying objects ever created by cryobiology topics that make excellent science antidepressants. This is unsatisfactory humankind. Given their phenomenal size fair ideas and do not require much equip­ because it is an indirect measure that does and the amount of debris following upon ment. Examples include how earthworms sur­ not reflect the long-term outcome (ulti­ their aerial destruction it appears little won­ vive the winter and how ice skates work. der that thc>- would well be confused for mately a 15 percent risk of death by sui­ UFOs. Thomas's confirmation and amplifi­ cide). A partial (50 percent decrease from A similar resource for young skeptics cation of this issue, which surely connotes an baseline score) improvement on some would be very valuable. Issues that would aviation world-record, would be greatly symptom rating scale after 4—6 weeks treat­ make great science fair topics include Tarot appreciated. ment is the current de facto definition of cards, ESP, astrology, and subliminal mes­ successful treatment. In real life many peo­ sages. Many stories often found in the ple require treatment over many months, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER could also be expanded P.A. Hancock sometimes years. This uncritical acceptance into science fair ideas. Emily Rosa's study Provost Distinguished Research of only partial improvement as a standard shows that even simple experiments by Professor of "success" is a quite extraordinary situa­ young investigators can lead to significant Department of Psychology tion that has passed almost without com­ insights and findings, and the SKEPTICAL University of Central Florida ment in the psychiatric literature. INQUIRER is in an excellent position to lead Orlando, Florida this charge. Such limitations in assessments have a deleterious impact on drug trials and a great Tani Chen David E. Thomas and Editor Ken Frazier majority of them are nearly valueless. Arlington, Massachusetts reply: Outside observers might justifiably consider such practices as evidence of standards in An entry in the 1975 Guinness Book of academic research that could profitably be World Records says the largest balloon ever to re-evaluated. fly (up to then anyway) was an 800-foot-tall, Further (skeptical) analysis may be found 26 million-cubic-feet balloon built for the at my Web site, www.psychotropical.com. U.S. Air Force and used for a Martian re­ entry experiment by NASA on August 30, Dr. Ken Gillman 1966, above then Walker Air Force Base, PsychoTropical Research Unit Roswell New Mexico. The 1995 edition of Mount Pleasant, Queensland, Australia the Guinness record book says the "largest bal­ loon ever built," by Winzen Research Inc. of Minnesota, had an inflatable volume of 70 Young Skeptics Project million cubic feet and stood 1,000 feet tall but doesn't say if and when it flew. It also I was very excited to discover your brand- mentions a high-altitude flight of a 47.8-mil- new Web site dedicated to young skeptics lion-cubic-foot balloon from Chico, (www.csicop.org/youngskcptics). This is a California, in October 1972. The 2000 Millennium edition no longer includes very valuable took for encouraging young "largest balloons" as a category, nor does the skeptics to learn how to investigate extraor­ Guinness Book Web site. Duke Gildenberg, dinary claims. the source in our article, who worked in the I would like to suggest adding a section Skyhook Balloon program out of Holloman on science fair project ideas. Having a list of AFB, Alamogordo, New Mexico, recalls ideas would attract students looking for sci­ launching a 40-million-cubic-foot balloon; he ence fair topics and teach them how to start asking the right questions. Many of these

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 2001 77 THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS OF THE PARANORMAL AT THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY-INTERNATIONAL (ADJACENT TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO) AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION Network of Affiliated Organizations International ARGENTINA. CAIRP. Enrique Marquez. Director. E CHINA. China Association for Science and Tech­ the Investigation of the Anomalous mail: cieschave8cvtci.com ar Jose Marti 35 • "C" nology. China. Shen Zhenyu Research Center. Phenomena (KXIAP) Kazakhstan. Dr. Sergey Buenos Aires (1406). Argentina, www.cairp.org. P.O. Box 8113, Beijing China. Hong Kong Efimov. Scientific Secretary. E-mail: efimO AUSTRALIA. Canberra Skeptics. Canberra Skeptics, Hong Kong. Brad Collins, P.O. Box afi.south-capital.kz. Astrophysical Institute Australia. Peter Barrett. President. PO Box 555, 1010, Shatin Central Post Office, Shatin NT China. Kamenskoye Alma-Ata. 480020 Republic CIVIC Square ACT 2608 Australia. Australian COSTA RICA. Iniciativa para la Promocidn del of Kazakhstan. Committee for the Scien­ Skeptics Int. Australia. Barry Williams. Pensamiento Critico (IPPEC) San Jose. Victor tific Expertise of Claims of the Paranormal Executive Officer. Tel. 61-2-9417-2071; e-mail: Quiros V Tel.: 506 275 43 52; e-mail: victorcr (CSECOP). skeptics6kasm.com.au. PO Box 268. Roseville eracsa.co.cr. A.P. 1513-1002 Paseo de los KOREA. Korea PseudoScience Awareness NSW 2069 Australia, www.skeptics.com.au. Estudiantes San Jose, Costa Rica. http7/webs. (KOPSA) Korea. Dr. Gun-ll Kang, Director. Tel.: —Hunter Region demasiado.com/vicr. 82-2-393-2734; e-mail: KOPSAOchollian.net. Newcastle/Hunter Valley. Dr. Colin Keay, CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Sisyfos-Czech Skeptics 187-11 Bukahyun-dong, Sudaemun-ku, Seoul President. Tel.: 61-2-49689666; e-mail: Club. Czech Republic. Ms. Ing. Olga Kracikova, 120-190 Korea www.kopsa.or.kr. bolideehunterlink.net au. PO Box 166, Waratah Secretary. Tel.: 420-2-24826691; e-mail: MALTA. Society for Investigating the NSW 2298. Australia Darwin Skeptics. olgakracikovaeemail.cz. Hastalska 27 Praha 1 Credibility of Extraordinary Claims (SICEC) Northern Territory. Australia. Simon Potter. 110 00 Czech Republic, www.fi.muni.cz/sisyfos/ Malta. Vanni Pule. Chairman. Tel.: 356-381994; Secretary. Tel.: 61-8-8932-7552; e-mail: dwnskep- (in Czech). e-mail: pulevanOvol.net.mt. P.O. Box 31, tic«ais.net.au. PO Box 809, Sanderson NT 0812 DENMARK. Skeptica: Association of Hamrun. Malta. Australia. Gold Coast Skeptics. Queensland. Independent Danish Skeptics. Denmark. MEXICO. Mexican Association for Skeptical Re­ Australia. Lilian Derrick. Secretary. Tel.: 61-7- Willy Wegner. Tel.: 45-75-64-84-02; e-mail: search (SOMIE) Mexico. Mario Mendez-Acosta, 5593-1882; e-mail: ImderrickOtelstra.easymail. skepticaeskeptica.dk. Vibevej 7 A DK 8700 Apartado Postal 19-546 D.F. 03900 Mexico. com.au. PO Box 8348. GCMC Bundall QLD 4217 Horsens, Denmark, www.skeptica.dk. NETHERLANDS. . Netherlands. Australia. Queensland Skeptics Assoc Inc. ECUADOR. Pablo Cevallos Estarellas. Apartado 09- . Secretary. Tel.: 31-50-3129893; (Qskeptics) Queensland. Bob Bruce, President. 01-5603 Guayaquil. Ecuador. e-mail: skepsisOwxs.nl. Westerkade 20. 9718 AS Tel.: 61-7-3255-0499; e-mail: qskepticOuq.net.au. Groningen, Netherlands, www.skepsis.nl. PO Box 6454, Fairview Gardens QLD 4103 ESTONIA Horisont. Indrek Rohtmets. EE 0102 Australia. South Australia Skeptics (SAS) Tallinn, Narva mnt. 5. NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand Skeptics. New South Australia. Mr. Laurie Eddie, Secretary. Tel.: FINLAND. SKEPSIS. Finland. Jukka Hakkinen. PO Zealand. Vicki Hyde. Chair. Tel.: 64-3-384-5136; 61-8-8272-5881; e-mail: allangetxc.net.au. PO Box 483, Helsinki 00101 Finland. e-mail: VickiOspis.co.nz. PO Box 29-492, Christ- Box 377. Rundle Mall SA 5000 Australia. FRANCE. AFIS, AFIS France. 14 rue de I'Ecole church. New Zealand, www.skeptics.org.nz. Australian Skeptics in Tasmania Inc. Polytechnique F-75005 Paris, France. Cercle NIGERIA. Nigerian Skeptics Society, Nigeria Leo Tasmania, Australia. Fred Thomett, Secretary. Zetetique. France. Paul-Eric Blanrue. 12 rue; Igwe, Convenor. E-mail: dpcOskannet.com.ng. Tel.: 61-3-6234-1458; e-mail: fredthornettOhot- David Deitz. F-57000 Metz, France. Comite PO Box 25269. Mapo Ibadan Oyo State. Nigeria. mail.com. PO Box 582. North Hobart. TAS 7000 Francais pour I'Etude des Phenomenes NORWAY. SKEPSIS. Norway St. Olavsgt. 27 N0166 Australia. Australian Skeptics—Victorian Paranormaux, France. Merlin Gerin. RGE/A2 F- Oslo, Norway. Branch Victoria. Grant Stevenson. President. Tel.: 38050 Grenoble Cedex. France. Michel Rouze. PERU. Comite de Investigaciones de lo Para­ 61-3-9531-9905; e-mail: contacteskeptics.com.au. 147 rue de Rennes F-75006 Paris. France. normal lo Seudocientifico y lo Irracional GPO Box 5166AA Melbourne VIC 3001 Australia. Laboratoire de Zetetique (laboratory). CIPSI-PERU. Lima. Peru. Manuel Abraham www.skeptics.com.au. WA Skeptics. Western Professeur Henri Broch. Tel.: 33-0492076312; e- Paz-y-Mino. Tel.: 51-14-810712; e-mail: cip- Australia. Dr. John Happs, President. Tel.: 61-8- mail: brochOunice.fr. Universite de Nice-Sophia siperuOyahoo.com. El Corregidor 318 Rimac 9448-8458; e-mail: wa.skepticseaustraliamail. Antipolis Faculte des Sciences F 06108 Nice Lima 25 Peru, www.geocities.com/cipsiperu. Cedex 2 France, www.unice.fr/zetetique/. com. PO Box 899. Morley. WA 6062 Australia. POLAND. Polish Skeptics, Poland. Adam GERMANY. Gesellschaft zur wissenschaft Pietrasiewicz. E-mail: redaktorOiname.com. BELGIUM. Comite Beige Pour ^Investigation lichen Unterrsuchung von Parawissen- www.biuletynsceptyczny.z.pl. Scientifique des Phenomenes Reputes schaften (GWUP) Germany. Amardeo Sarma, PORTUGAL. Associacao Cepticos de Portugal Pananormaux Comite Para, Belgium. J. Chairman. Tel.: 49-6154-695023. E-mail: (CEPO) Portugal. Ludwig Krippahl. E-mail: Dommanget, President of the Committee. E- infoegwup.org. Arheilger Weg 11 D 64380 cepoOinteracesso.pt. Apartado 334 2676-901 mail: omer.nyseoma.be. Observatoire Royal Rossdorf, Germany, www.gwup.org. European Odivelas, Portugal. http7/cepo.interacesso.pt. Belgique 3. ave. Grculaire B-1180. Brussels. Council of Skeptical Organizations (ECSO) RUSSIA. Dr. Valerii A. Kuvakin. Tel.: 95-718-2178; Belgium, www.comitepara.be. Studiekring Europe. Dr. Martin Mahner. Tel.: 49-6154- e-mail: V.KUVAKINOMTU-NET.RU. Vorob'evy voor Kritische Evaluatie van Pseudoweten- 69S023; e-mail: infoOecso.org. Arheilger Weg Gory, Moscow State University, Phil. Dept. schap en Paranormale beweringen (SKEPP) 11 64380 Rossdorf, Germany, www.ecso.org/. Moscow 119899 Russia, http://1og.philos.msu. Belgium. Prof. Dr. W. Betz. Tel.: 32-2-477-43-11; HUNGARY. Tenyeket Tisztelk Tarsasaga TTT ru/rhs/index/htm. e-mail: skeppBskepp.be Laarbeeklaan. 103 Hungary. Prof. Gyula Bencze. Tel.: 36-1-392-2728 SLOVAK REPUBLIC (SACT). Slovak Republic. Igor B 1090 Brussels. 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Krakra 22 BG-1504 Sofia. Bulgaria. Indian Rationalist Association. India. Sanal SPAIN. El Investigador Esceptico. Spain Felix CANADA. Alberta Skeptics. Alberta. Greg Hart. Edamaruku. E-mail: edamarukuOyahoo.com. Ares de Bias Gamez/Ares/Martinez. P.O. Box 904. Chairman. Tel.: 403-215-1440; e-mail: hartg 779, Pocket 5, Mayur Vihar 1. New Delhi 110 091 Donostia-San Sebastian 20080 Spain. ARP- ehumaneffort.com. PO Box 5571, Station 'A', India. Dravidar Kazhagam. southern India. K. Sociedad para el Avance del Pensamiento Calgary, Alberta T2H 1X9 Canada, www home­ Veeramani. Secretary General. Tel.: 9144- Critico ARP-SAPC Spain. Sergio Ldpez. stead, com/ Alberta Skeptics. British 5386555; e-mail: periyarevsnl.com. Periyar Borgonoz. Tel.: 34-933-010220; e-mail: arpOarp- Columbia Skeptics. BC and Alberta. Lee Thidal. SO. E.F.K. Sampath Road Vepery. Chennai sapc.org. Apartado de Correos. 310 Moller. Tel. 604-929-6299; e-mail: leemoller Tamil Nadu 600 007 India. www.Periyar.org. E-08860 Castelldefels. Spain, www.arp-sapc.org. ehome.com. 1188 Beaufort Road, N. Indian CSICOP. India. B. Premanand. Convenor. Tel.: 091-0422-872423; e-mail: dayaminiemd4. SWEDEN. Swedish Skeptics. Sweden. Dan Vancouver, BC V7G 1R7 Canada. Ontario Larhammar. professor chairperson. Tel.: 46-18- Skeptics. Ontario. Canada. Eric McMillan. vsnl.net.in. 11/7 Chettipalayam Road Podanur Tamilnadu 641 023 India. 4714173; e-mail: vetfolkOphysto.se. Medical Chair. Tel.: 416-425-2451; e-mail: ericOwe-com- Pharmacology BMC Box 593. Uppsala 751 24 pute.com. P.O. Box 53003. 10 Royal Orchard ITALY. Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Sweden, www.physto.se/-vetfolk/index.html. Blvd.. Thornhill, ON L3T 7R9 Canada. Affermazioni sul Paranormale (CICAP) Italy TAIWAN. Taiwan Skeptics. Taiwan. Tim Holmes. www.astro.yorku.ca/-mmdr/oskeptics.html. Massimo Polidoro. Executive Director. Tel.: 39- PO Box 195, Tanzu. Taiwan Perspective. Toronto Skeptical Inquirers (TSI) Toronto. 049-686870; e-mail: polidoroOcicap.org. P.O. UKRAINE. Oleg Bakhtiarov 3-B Khmelnitskogo St. Henry Gordon. President. Tel.: 905-771-1615; e- Box 1117 35100 Padova, ltaly.www..org. mail: henry_gordonehotmail.com. 343 Clark Kiev 252001 Ukraine. Ave.. W.. Suite 1009. Thornhill. ON L4J 7KS JAPAN. Japan Anti-Pseudoscieoce Activities Net­ UNITED KINGDOM. The Skeptic Magazine. United Canada. Ottawa Skeptics. Ottawa, Ontario. work (JAPAN) Japan. Ryutarou Minakami. chair­ Kingdom. Toby Howard. E-mail: tobyOcs.man. Greg Singer. E-mail: skepticeottawa.com. PO person. E-mail: skepticOe-mail.ne.jp. c/o Ohta acuk. P.O. Box 475 M60 2TH Box 1237. Station B. Ottawa. Ontario KIP 5R3 Publishing Company. Epcot Bid. IF. 22. Arakkho, United Kingdom. Canada.www.admissions.carleton.ca/-addalby/ Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 160-8571 Japan. Japan VENEZUELA. La Asociacion Racional y Esceptica de cats/skeptic html Sceptiques du Quebec, Skeptics. Japan. Dr. Jun Jugaku. E-mail: Venezuela (A.R.E.V.). Guido David Nunez Quebec. Alan Bonnier. Tel.: 514-990-8099. CP. jugakujnOccnao.ac.jp. Japan Skeptics, Business Mujica. 10th Street 13th av. corner. Mini centro 202. Succ. Beaubien Montreal. Quebec H2G 3C9 Center for Academic Societies. Japan 5-16-9 Honk- comercial Oasis. Valera. Trujillo state. Canada, www.sceptiques.qc.ca. omagome. Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8622 Japan. Venezuela. Web site: www.geocrties.com/escep KAZAKHSTAN. Kazakhstan Commission for ticosvenezuela. Rebecca Long, President. Tel.: 770-493-6857; Providence St., Albany. NY 12203 US. United States e-mail: arlongehcrc.org. 2277 Winding Woods NORTH CAROLINA. Triad Area Skeptics Club Dr.. Tucker. GA 30084 US. (TASC) North Carolina. Eric Carlson, President. ALABAMA. Alabama Skeptics. Alabama. Emory IOWA. Central Iowa Skeptics (CIS) Central Iowa. Tel.: 336-758-4994; e-mail: ecarlsonewfu.edu. Kimbrough. Tel.: 205-759-2624. 3550 Water­ Rob Beeston. Tel.: 515-285-0622; e-mail: Physics Department. Wake Forest University, melon Road, Apt 28A. Northport. AL 35476 US. webguyedangerousideas.net. 5602 SW 2nd St. Winston-Salem. NC 27109 US. www.wfu.edu/- Skeptics-Freethought Forum of Alabama Des Moines. IA 50315 US. www.dangerous ecarlson/tasc/index html. Richard 6. Davis Tel: 256-751-4447; e-mail ideas.net. OHIO. Central Ohioans for Rational Inquiry RRBama66Shotmail.com. ILLINOIS. Rational Examination Association of (CORI) Central Ohio. Charlie Hazlett. President. ARIZONA. Tucson Skeptics Inc. Tucson. AZ. James Lincoln Land (REALL) Illinois. David Tel.: 614-878-2742; e-mail: charlieehazlett.net. McGaha. E-mail: JMCGAHAePimaCC.Pima.EDU. Bloomberg. Chairman Tel.: 217-726-5354; PO Box 282069, Columbus OH 43228 US. South 5100 N. Sabino Foothills Dr.. Tucson. AZ 85715 US. e-mail: chairmanereall.org. PO Box 20302, Shore Skeptics (55S) Cleveland and counties. Phoenix Skeptics. Phoenix. AZ Michael Stack- Springfield, IL 62708 US. www.reall.org. Jim Kutz. Tel.: 440 942-5543; e-mail: jimkutz pole. PO Box 60333, Phoenix. AZ 85082 US. KENTUCKY. Kentucky Assn. of Science eearthlink.net. PO Box 5083. Cleveland. OH CALIFORNIA. Sacramento Organization for Educators and Skeptics (KASES) Kentucky. 44101 US. www.southshoreskeptics.org/. Rational Thinking (SORT) Sacramento, CA. Prof. Robert Baker, 3495 Castleton Way. North Association for Rational Thought (ART) Ray Spangenburg, co-founder. Tel.: 916-978- Lexington. KY 40502 US. Contact Fred Bach at Cincinnati. Roy Auerbach, president. Tel: 513- 0321; e-mail: kitrayequiknet.com. PO Box e-mail: fwbachevisto.com. 731-2774. e-mail: raaecinci.rr.com. PO Box 2147, Carmichael. CA 95609-2147 US. LOUISIANA. Baton Rouge Proponents of 128%. Cincinnati. OH 45212 US. www.cincinnati www.quiknet.com/-kitray/index1.html Bay Rational Inquiry and Scientific Methods skeptics.org. Area Skeptics (BAS) San Francisco—Bay Area. (BR PRISM) Louisiana. Marge Schroth. Tel: 225- OREGON. Oregonians for Rationality (04R) Tully McCarroll. Chair. Tel.: 415 927-1548; e- 766-4747 425 Carriage Way. Baton Rouge, LA Oregon. Dave Chapman. President. Tel.: 503 mail: tullyannepacbell.net. PO Box 2443 70808 US. 292-2146; e-mail: dchapmaneiccom.com. 7555 Castro Valley, CA 94546-0443 US www MICHIGAN. Great Lakes Skeptics (GLS) SE Spring Valley Rd NW. Salem. OR 97304 US BASkeptics.org. Sacramento Skeptics Michigan. Lorna J. Simmons, Contact person. www.o4r org. Society. Sacramento. Terry Sandbek. Presi­ Tel.: 734-525-5731; e-mail: Skeptic3ieaol.com. PENNSYLVANIA. Paranormal Investigating dent. Tel.: 916-489-1774; e-mail: tsandbeke 31710 Cowan Road, Apt. 103, Westland, Ml Committee of Pittsburgh (PICP) Pittsburgh ispchannel.com. 4300 Auburn Blvd. Ste 206 48185-2366 US. Tri-Cities Skeptics, Michigan PA. Richard Busch. Chairman. Tel.: 412-366- Sacramento, CA 95841 US. http://my.isp Gary Barker. Tel.: 517-799-4502; e-mail: bark- 1000; e-mail: mindfuietelerama.com. 8209 channel.com/-tsandbek/Skeptics/skeptics.htm. ergesvol.org. 35% Butternut St., Saginaw, Ml Thompson Run Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237 US. Association for Rational Inquiry 48604 US Philadelphia Association for Critical (SDARI) San Diego, CA, county. Keith Taylor, Thinking (PhACT), much of Pennsylvania. Eric President. Tel.: 619-220-1045; e-mail: krtay- MINNESOTA. St. Kloud Extraordinary Claim Krieg. President. Tel.: 215-885-2089; e-mail: lorxyzeaol.com. 945 4th Ave. San Diego. CA Psychic Teaching Investigating Community ericephact.org. PO Box 1131. North Wales. PA 92101 US. http://members.tripod.com/sdari- (SKEPTIC) St. Cloud, Minnesota. Jerry Mertens. 19454 US. www.phact.org/phact. web/home.html. Tel.: 320-255-2138; e-mail: gmertensestcloud state.edu. Jerry Mertens. Psychology Depart­ TENNESEE. Rationalists of East Tennessee. East COLORADO. Rocky Mountain Skeptics (RMS) ment, 720 4th Ave. S, St. Cloud State University, Tennessee. Carl Ledenbecker. Tel.: 865-982- Colo.. Wyo.. Utah. Mont. Bela Scheiber. Pres­ St. Cloud, MN 56301 US. Minnesota Skeptics, 8687; e-mail: Aletalieaol.com. 2123 Stony- ident. Tel.. 303-444-7537, e-mail: rmscentral Minnesota. Robert McCoy, 549 Turnpike Rd.. brook Rd.. Louisville. TN 37777 US emindspring.com PO Box 7277. Boulder, CO Golden Valley, MN 55416 US. TEXAS. North Texas Skeptics NTS Dallas/Ft 80306 US. http://bcn.boulder.co.us/community MISSOURI. Gateway Skeptics, Missouri. Steve Worth area, John Blanton. Secretary. Tel.: 972- /rms. Best. 6943 Amherst Ave., University City, MO 306-3187. e-mail: skepticentskeptics.org. PO CONNECTICUT. New England Skeptical Society 63130 US Kansas City Committee for Box 111794, Carrollton, TX 75011-1794 US. (NESS) New England. MD. Skeptical Inquiry, Missouri. Verle Muhrer. www.ntskeptics.org. President Tel.: 203-281-6277; e-mail: boarde United Labor Bldg., 6301 Rockhill Road. Suite VIRGINIA. Science & Reason. Hampton Rds., theness.com. PO Box 185526, Hamden. CT 412 Kansas City, MO 64131 US. Virginia. Lawrence Weinstein, Old Dominion 06518-5526 US. www.theness.com. NEW MEXICO. New Mexicans for Science and Univ.-Physics Dept., Norfolk, VA 23529 US. DC /MARYLAND National Capital Area Reason (NMSR) New Mexico. David E. Thomas. WASHINGTON. Society for Sensible Explan­ Skeptics NCAS, Maryland. D.C.. Virginia. D.W. President. Tel.: 505-869-9250; e-mail: dete ations, Western Washington. Tad Cook. Secre­ "Chip" Denman. Tel.: 301-587-3827. 8006 rt66.com. PO Box 1017, Peralta, NM 87042 US. tary. E-mail: tadeaa net. PO Box 45792. Seattle, Valley Street. Silver Spring, MD 20910 US. www.nmsr.org. WA 98145-0792 US. www.seaftlesketpics.org. www.ncas.org. NEW YORK. New York Area Skeptics (NYASk) FLORIDA. Tampa Bay Skeptics (TBS) Tampa Bay, metropolitan NY area. Ted W. Debiak, The organizations listed above have aims similar to Florida. Gary Posner, Executive Director. Tel.: President. Tel.: 516-735-8739; e-mail: infoe those of CSICOP but are independent and 813-584-0603; e-mail: tbskepeaol.com. 5319 nyask.com. 57 South Windhorst Ave., autonomous. Representatives of these organiza­ Archstone Dr. #102, Tampa. FL 33634 US. Bethpage, NY 11714-4931 US. www.nyask.com. tions cannot speak on behalf of the CSICOP. Please http://members.aol.com/tbskep. Inquiring Skeptics of Upper New York send updates to Bela Scheiber, PO Box 4482, GEORGIA. Georgia Skeptics (GS) Georgia (ISUNY) Upper New York. Michael Sofka. 8 Boulder, CO 80306

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS

George Agogino, Depl. of Anthropology, Eastern New Laurie Godfrey, anthropologist University of Massachusetts John W. Patterson, professor of materials science and Mexico University Gerald Goldin. mathematician, Rutgers University, New engineering. Iowa State University Gary Bauslaugh, educational consultant. Center for Jersey James Pomerantz, Provost, and professor of cognitive and Curriculum, Transfer and Technology, Victoria. B.C. Donald Goldsmith, astronomer; president. Interstellar linguistic sciences. Brown Univ. Canada Media Gary P. Posner, M.D.. Tampa, Fla. Richard E. Berendzen, astronomer, Washington, D.C , astronomer. Southwest Institute for Space Daisie Radner, professor of philosophy, SUNY, Buffalo Martin Bridgstock. lecturer. School of Science, Griffith Research. Alamogordo, New Mexico Michael Radner, professor of philosophy. McMaster University, Brisbane, Australia Clyde F. Herreid. professor of biology. SUNY. Buffalo University, Hamilton. Ontario, Canada Richard Busch, magician/mentalist Pittsburgh, Penn. Terence M. Hines, professor of psychology. Pace Robert H. Romer, professor of physics, Amherst College Shawn Carlson, Society for Amateur Scientists, East University, Pleasantville. NY. Milton A Rothman, physicist Philadelphia, Penn Greenwich, CT Michael Hutchinson, author; Sumou I»QUM> represen Karl Sabbagh. journalist Richmond, Surrey, England Roger B. Culver, professor of astronomy, Colorado State tatwe. Europe Robert J. Samp, assistant professor of education and Univ. Philip A lanna. assoc. professor of astronomy, Univ. of medicine. University of Wisconsin-Madison Felix Ares de Bias, professor of computer science. Virginia Steven D. Schafersman, asst professor of geology, University of Basque. San Sebastian. Spain William Jams, professor of health promotion and public Miami Unrv, Ohio Michael R. Dennett writer, investigator, Federal Way, health, loma Unda University. School of PuWk Health Bela Scheiber,' systems analyst Boulder, Colo Washington I. W. Kelly, professor of psychology. University of Chris Scott statistician, London. England Sid Deutsch consultant Sarasota, Fla. Saskatchewan Stuart D. Scott Jr, associate professor of anthropology. J. Dommanget astronomer, Royale Observatory, Brussels. Richard H. Lange, MO, Mohawk Valley Physician Health SUNY, Buffalo Belgium Plan, Schenectady. NY Erwin M. Segal, professor of psychology. SUNY, Buffalo Nahum J. Duker. assistant professor of pathology. Temple Gerald A. Larue, professor of biblical history and archae­ Carta Sefby, anthropologist/archaeologist University ology, University of So. California. Steven N. Shore, associate professor and chair, Dept of Barbara Eisenstadt psychologist, educator, clinician. East William M. London, consumer advocate. Fort lee. New Physics and Astronomy. Indiana Univ. South Bend Greenbush. NY Jersey Waclaw Szybalski. professor. McArdle laboratory. William Evans, professor of communication, Georgia Rebecca Long, nuclear engineer, president of Georgia University of Wisconsin-Madison State University Council Against Health Fraud, Atlanta. Ga Ernest H. laves, psychoanalyst Cambridge. Mass John F. Fischer, forensic analyst. Orlando. Fla. Thomas R. McDonough, lecturer in engineering. Caltech. Sarah G, Thomason. professor of linguistics. University of Robert E. Funk, anthropologist. New York State Museum and SETI Coordinator of the Planetary Society Pittsburgh 8 Science Service James E. McGaha. Major, USAF; pilot Tim Trachet journalist and science writer, honorary chair­ Eileen Gambrill professor of social welfare. University of Joel A. Moskowftz, director of medical psychiatry. man of SKEPR Belgium. California at Berkeley Calabasas Mental Health Services Los Angeles Syfvio Garattini, director. Mario Negri Pharmacology Jan Willem Nienhuys. mathematician. Univ. of •Member. CSICOP Executive Council Institute. Milan, Italy Eindhoven, the Netherlands "Associate Member, CSICOP Executive Council v^enier lor inquiry iniernanonai "... to promote and defend reason, science, and freedom of inquiry in all areas of human endeavor."

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•CENTER FOR INQUIRY—WEST 5519 Grosvenor Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066 Tel.: (310) 306-2847 Massive Infant Stars Rock their Cradle CENTER FOR INQUIRY—MOSCOW Professor Valerii A. Kuvakin Extremely intense radiation from newly born, ultra-bright stars has blown 119899 Russia, a glowing spherical bubble in the nebula N83B, also known as NGC 1748. Moscow, Vorobevy Gory, A new Hubble telescope image has helped to decipher the complex inter­ Moscow State University, play of gas and radiation of a star-forming region in the nearby galaxy, the Philosophy Department Large Magellanic Cloud. The image graphically illustrates just how these CENTER FOR INQUIRY—EUROPE massive stars sculpt their environment by generating powerful winds that Dr. Martin Mahner alter the shape of the parent gaseous nebula. These processes are also Arheilger Weg 11 seen in our Milky Way regions like the Orion Nebula. D-64380 Rossdorf, Germany Credit: NASA. ESA, Mohammed Heydari-Malayeri (Observatoire de Paris, France) Tel.: +49 6154 695023

HE COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OP ISAIMJ <)r r;i-! '/AifAnOiimAL The Committee is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization. The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is its official journal. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the the scientific community, the media, and the public. It also promotes Paranormal encourages the critical investigation of paranormal and science and scientific inquiry, critical thinking, science education, and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and the use of reason in examining important issues, eminates factual information about the results of such inquiries to 'keptical Inqi THt U A G A f 1 N f I O • i t T I U C f AND MASON