SI May/June 06 Cover V1 3/29/06 8:49 AM Page 1 AAAS AND EVOLUTION • THE 'NEW' IDOLATRY • THE 'CORAL CASTLE' MYSTERY THE MAGAZINE FOR SCIENCE AND REASON Volume 30, No. 3 • May/June 2006 • INTRODUCTORY PRICE U.S. $4.95 • Canada $5.95 05> Published by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal 0556698 80575 SI M-J 2006 pgs 3/29/06 11:00 AM Page 2 THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION of Claims of the Paranormal AT THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY–TRANSNATIONAL (ADJACENT TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO) AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION Paul Kurtz, Chairman; professor emeritus of philosophy, University at Buffalo Barry Karr, Executive Director Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow Massimo Polidoro, Research Fellow Richard Wiseman, Research Fellow Lee Nisbet, Special Projects Director FELLOWS James E. Alcock,* psychologist, York Univ., Toronto Susan Haack, Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts Robert L. Park, professor of physics, Univ. of Maryland Jerry Andrus, magician and inventor, Albany, Oregon and Sciences, Professor of Philosophy and John Paulos, mathematician, Temple Univ. Marcia Angell, M.D., former editor-in-chief, New Professor of Law, University of Miami Steven Pinker, cognitive scientist, Harvard England Journal of Medicine C. E. M. Hansel, psychologist, Univ. of Wales Massimo Polidoro, science writer, author, Stephen Barrett, M.D., psychiatrist, author, David J. Helfand, professor of astronomy, executive director CICAP, Italy Columbia Univ. consumer advocate, Allentown, Pa. Milton Rosenberg, psychologist, Univ. of Chicago Willem Betz, professor of medicine, Univ. of Douglas Hofstadter, professor of human under- Wallace Sampson, M.D., clinical professor of Brussels standing and cognitive science, Indiana Univ. medicine, Stanford Univ., editor, Scientific Barry Beyerstein,* biopsychologist, Simon Fraser Gerald Holton, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics Review of Alternative Medicine Univ., Vancouver, B.C., Canada and professor of history of science, Harvard Univ. Amardeo Sarma, manager NEC Europe Ltd., Irving Biederman, psychologist, Univ. of Southern Ray Hyman,* psychologist, Univ. of Oregon California Leon Jaroff, sciences editor emeritus, Time executive director, GWUP, Germany. Susan Blackmore, Visiting Lecturer, Univ. of the Sergei Kapitza, former editor, Russian edition, Evry Schatzman, former president, French Physics West of England, Bristol Scientific American Association Henri Broch, physicist, Univ. of Nice, France Lawrence M. Krauss, author and professor of physics Eugenie Scott, physical anthropologist, executive Jan Harold Brunvand, folklorist, professor and astronomy, Case Western Reserve University director, National Center for Science Education emeritus of English, Univ. of Utah Edwin C. Krupp, astronomer, director, Griffith Robert Sheaffer, science writer Vern Bullough, professor of history, California Observatory Elie A. Shneour, biochemist, author, State Univ. at Northridge Paul Kurtz,* chairman, Center for Inquiry director, Biosystems Research Institute, Mario Bunge, philosopher, McGill University Lawrence Kusche, science writer La Jolla, Calif. John R. Cole, anthropologist, editor, National Leon Lederman, emeritus director, Fermilab; Dick Smith, film producer, publisher, Terrey Hills, Center for Science Education Nobel laureate in physics N.S.W., Australia Frederick Crews, literary and cultural critic, Scott Lilienfeld, psychologist, Emory Univ. Robert Steiner, magician, author, El Cerrito, Calif. professor emeritus of English, Univ. of Lin Zixin, former editor, Science and Technology Victor J. Stenger, emeritus professor of physics California, Berkeley Daily (China) and astronomy, Univ. of Hawaii; adjunct Jere Lipps, Museum of Paleontology, Univ. of Richard Dawkins, zoologist, Oxford Univ. professor of philosophy, Univ. of Colorado Geoffrey Dean, technical editor, Perth, Australia California, Berkeley Jill Cornell Tarter, astronomer, SETI Institute, Daniel C. Dennett, University Professor and Austin Elizabeth Loftus, professor of psychology, Univ. of Mountain View, Calif. B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy, Director of California, Irvine Carol Tavris, psychologist and author, Los Angeles, Calif. the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts Univ. Paul MacCready, scientist/engineer, Ann Druyan, writer and producer, and CEO, AeroVironment, Inc., Monrovia, Calif. David Thomas, physicist and mathematician, Cosmos Studios, Ithaca, New York John Maddox, editor emeritus of Nature Peralta, New Mexico Cornelis de Jager, professor of astrophysics, Univ. David Marks, psychologist, City University, London. Stephen Toulmin, professor of philosophy, Univ. of of Utrecht, the Netherlands Mario Mendez-Acosta, journalist and Southern California Kenneth Feder, professor of anthropology, science writer, Mexico City, Mexico Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and director, Central Connecticut State Univ. Marvin Minsky, professor of media arts and Hayden Planetarium, New York City Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading Univ., U.K. sciences, M.I.T. Marilyn vos Savant, Parade magazine Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer, Foothill College, Los David Morrison, space scientist, NASA Ames contributing editor Altos Hills, Calif. Research Center Steven Weinberg, professor of physics and Kendrick Frazier, science writer, editor, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Richard A. Muller, professor of physics, Univ. of astronomy, Univ. of Texas at Austin; Yves Galifret, vice-president, Affiliated Calif., Berkeley Nobel laureate Organizations: France Joe Nickell, senior research fellow, CSICOP E.O. Wilson, University Professor Emeritus, Martin Gardner, author, critic Lee Nisbet,* philosopher, Medaille College Harvard University Bill Nye, science educator and television host, Nye Labs Murray Gell-Mann, professor of physics, Santa Fe Richard Wiseman, psychologist, University of James E. Oberg, science writer Institute; Nobel laureate Hertfordshire Thomas Gilovich, psychologist, Cornell Univ. Irmgard Oepen, professor of medicine (retired), Marvin Zelen, statistician, Harvard Univ. Henry Gordon, magician, columnist, Toronto Marburg, Germany Saul Green, Ph.D., biochemist, president of ZOL Loren Pankratz, psychologist, Oregon Health * Member, CSICOP Executive Council Consultants, New York, NY Sciences Univ. (Affiliations given for identification only.) • • • Visit the CSICOP Web site at www.csicop.org • • • The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (ISSN 0194-6730) is published bimonthly by the Committee for the Sci- of the January/February 2006 issue. Or you may send a fax request to the editor. entific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, 1310 Sweet Home Rd., Amherst, NY 14228. Articles, reports, reviews, and letters published in the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER represent the views Printed in U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Buffalo, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Subscrip- and work of individual authors. Their publication does not necessarily constitute an endorse- tion prices: one year (six issues), $35; two years, $60; three years, $84; single issue, $4.95. Canadian ment by CSICOP or its members unless so stated. and foreign orders: Payment in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank must accompany orders; please Copyright ©2006 by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranor- add US$10 per year for shipping. Canadian and foreign customers are encouraged to use Visa or MasterCard. Canada Publications Mail Agreement No. 41153509. Return undeliverable Canadian mal. All rights reserved. The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is available on 16mm microfilm, 35mm mi- addresses to: IMEX, P.O. Box 4332, Station Rd., Toronto, ON M5W 3J4. crofilm, and 105mm microfiche from University Microfilms International and is indexed in the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature. Inquiries from the media and the public about the work of the Committee should be made to Paul Kurtz, Chairman, CSICOP, P.O. Box 703, Amherst, NY 14226-0703. Tel.: 716-636-1425. Subscriptions and changes of address should be addressed to: SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, P.O. Box 703, Fax: 716-636-1733. Amherst, NY 14226-0703. Or call toll-free 1-800-634-1610 (outside U.S. call 716-636-1425). Old Manuscripts, letters, books for review, and editorial inquiries should be addressed to Kendrick Fra- address as well as new are necessary for change of subscriber’s address, with six weeks advance notice. zier, Editor, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, 944 Deer Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122. Fax: 505-828- SKEPTICAL INQUIRER subscribers may not speak on behalf of CSICOP or the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. 2080. Before submitting any manuscript, please consult our Guide for Authors for format and refer- Postmaster: Send changes of address to SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, P.O. Box 703, Amherst, NY ences requirements. It is on our Web site at www.csicop.org/si/guide-for-authors.html and on page 69 14226-0703. SI M-J 2006 pgs 3/29/06 11:00 AM Page 3 Skeptical Inquirer COMMENT AND OPINION May / June 2006 • VOL. 30, NO. 3 14 Public Health’s Credibility Crisis ELIZABETH M. WHELAN FROM SETI TO ASTROBIOLOGY: REASSESSMENT AND UPDATE— 16 Intelligent Design and the FOUR VIEWS Workings of Science MICHAEL FRIEDLANDER COLUMNS EDITOR’S NOTE Are We Alone? A Searching Look at SETI . 4 NEWS AND COMMENT AAAS Events, Statement Expound Evolution, Decry ID / AAAS: ‘Deeply Concerned about Legislation and Policies That Would Undermine the Teaching of Evolution’ / U.S. ‘Out on a Limb by 26 SETI Requires a Skeptical Ourselves’ in Evolution Rejection, Jon Miller Tells AAAS / Neil Reappraisal deGrasse Tyson to host NOVA scienceNOW / Studies on Soy and Arthritis-relief