Superbug Crisis | Ten Tactics for Skepticism | Claims of Chi | Fake Bomb Detectors

the Magazine for Science and Reason Vol. 41 No. 1 | January/February 2017

Public Debate on Project Science Greenglow Issues Creationism Myths of in Europe Child Psychology Doubt and American Fears Uncertainty Survey INTRODUCTORY PRICE U.S. and Canada $5.99 Skepticism Is Nonpartisan

Published by the in association with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Robyn E. Blumner, CEO , Research Fellow     Bar ry Karr, Ex ec u tive Di rect or , Research Fellow , Senior Research Fellow , Research Fellow www.csicop.org

Fellows James E. Al cock*, psy chol o gist, York Univ., Tor on to Mur ray Gell-Mann, pro fes sor of phys ics, San ta Fe In sti tute; Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA Mar cia An gell, MD, former ed i tor-in-chief, No bel lau re ate Lor en Pan kratz, psy chol o gist, Or e gon Health New Eng land Jour nal of Med i cine Thom as Gi lov ich, psy chol o gist, Cor nell Univ. Sci en ces Univ. IV, MD, physician; author; Newton, MA David H. Gorski, cancer surgeon and re searcher at Barbara Robert L. Park, professor of physics, Univ. of Maryland Steph en Bar rett, MD, psy chi a trist; au thor; con sum er ad vo cate, Ann Kar manos Cancer Institute and chief of breast surgery Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Al len town, PA section, Wayne State University School of Medicine. Astronomy and director of the Hopkins Willem Betz, MD, professor of medicine, Univ. of Wendy M. Grossman, writer; founder and first editor, Observatory, Williams College Ir ving Bie der man, psy chol o gist, Univ. of South ern CA The Skeptic magazine (UK) John Pau los, math e ma ti cian, Tem ple Univ. Sus an Black more, vis it ing lec tur er, Univ. of the West of Sus an Haack, Coop er Sen ior Schol ar in Arts and Clifford A. Pickover, scientist, au thor, editor, IBM T.J. Watson Eng land, Bris tol Sci en ces, professor of phi los o phy and professor Re search Center. Sandra Blakeslee, science writer; author; New York Times of Law, Univ. of Mi ami , professor of philosophy, science correspondent *, MD, physician; investigator, Puyallup, WA City Univ. of New York–Lehman College , physicist, Sandia National Laboratories, David J. Helfand, professor of astronomy, Stev en Pink er, cog ni tive sci en tist, Harvard Univ. Albuquerque, NM Columbia Univ. Mas si mo Pol id oro, sci ence writer; au thor; ex ec u tive Hen ri Broch, phys i cist, Univ. of Nice, France Terence M. Hines, prof. of psychology, Pace Univ., di rect or of CI CAP, It a ly Pleasantville, NY Jan Har old Brun vand, folk lor ist; pro fes sor emer i tus James L. Powell, geochemist, author, professor; executive direc- of Eng lish, Univ. of Utah Doug las R. Hof stad ter, pro fes sor of hu man tor, National Physical Science Consortium; retired college and un der stand ing and cog ni tive sci ence, In di ana Univ. Mar io Bunge, phi los o pher, McGill Univ., Montreal museum president, Buellton, CA Ger ald Hol ton, Mal linc krodt Pro fes sor of Phys ics and pro fes sor Anthony R. Pratkanis, professor of psychology, Univ. of CA, Robert T. Carroll, emeritus professor of philosophy, of his to ry of sci ence, Har vard Univ. ; writer Santa Cruz Sean B. Carroll, molecular geneticist; vice president for science Ray Hy man*, psy chol o gist, Univ. of Or e gon Donald R. Prothero, paleontologist/geologist, Natural History education, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Madison, WI Stuart D. Jordan, NASA astrophysicist emeritus; Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA Thomas R. Casten, energy expert; founder, Recycled Energy science advisor to Center for Inquiry Office of Public Benjamin Radford, investigator; research fellow, Committee Development, Westmont, IL Policy, Washington, DC for Skeptical Inquiry John R. Cole, an thro pol o gist; ed i tor, Na tion al , executive director, Committee for James “The Amazing” Randi, magician; CSICOP founding Cen ter for Sci ence Ed u ca tion Skeptical Inquiry, Amherst, NY member; founder, Educational Foundation K.C. Cole, science writer; author; professor, Univ. of Southern Law rence M. Krauss, foundation professor, School Mil ton Ro sen berg, psy chol o gist, Univ. of Chic a go ’s Annenberg School of Journalism of Earth and Space Exploration and Physics Dept.; Am ar deo Sar ma*, chairman, GWUP, Ger ma ny John Cook, climate communication research fellow for director, Origins Initiative, Arizona State Univ. Richard Saunders, president, ; educator; the Global Change Institute at the Univ. of Queensland, Ed win C. Krupp, as tron o mer; di rect or, investigator; podcaster; Sydney, Australia Australia. Grif fith Ob ser va to ry, Los Angeles, CA Joe Schwarcz, director, McGill Office for Science and Society Fred er ick Crews, lit er ary and cul tur al crit ic; pro fes sor emer i tus Law rence Kusche, sci ence writer Eu ge nie C. Scott*, phys i cal an thro pol o gist; chair, advisory of Eng lish, Univ. of CA, Berke ley Le on Le der man, emer i tus di rect or, Fer mi lab; council , Na tion al Cen ter for Sci ence Ed u ca tion Rich ard Dawk ins, zo ol o gist, Ox ford Univ. No bel lau re ate in phys ics Rob ert Sheaf fer, sci ence writer Ge of frey Dean, tech ni cal ed i tor, Perth, Aus tral ia Stephan Lewandowsky, psychologist, School of Experimental Seth Shostak, senior astronomer, SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA Cor nel is de Ja ger, pro fes sor of as tro phys ics, Univ. of Utrecht, Psychology and Cabot Institute, Univ. of Bristol, UK the Neth er lands Scott O. Lil i en feld*, psy chol o gist, Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA Simon Singh, science writer; broadcaster; UK Dan i el C. Den nett, Aus tin B. Fletch er Pro fes sor of Phi los o phy Lin Zix in, former ed i tor, Sci ence and Tech nol o gy Dai ly (Chi na) Dick Smith, entrepreneur, publisher, aviator, adventurer, Terrey Hills, N.S.W., Australia and di rect or of Cen ter for Cog ni tive Stud ies, Tufts Uni v. Je re Lipps, Mu se um of Pa le on tol o gy, Univ. of CA, Berke ley Keith E. Stanovich, cognitive psychologist; professor of Ann Druyan, writer and producer; CEO, Cosmos Studios, Eliz a beth Loft us*, pro fes sor of psy chol o gy, Univ. of CA, Ir vine human development and applied psychology, Uni v. of Ithaca, NY , author, editor of Junior Skeptic at Skeptic maga- Toronto Sanal Edamaruku, president, Indian Rationalist zine (US), artist, Vancouver, B.C., Canada *, linguist; skeptical investigator; writer; Association and Rationalist International Da vid Marks, psy chol o gist, City Univ., Lon don podcaster Edzard Ernst, professor, Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Mar io Men dez-Acos ta, jour nal ist and sci ence writer, Mex i co City Jill Cor nell Tar ter, as tron o mer, SE TI In sti tute, Moun tain View, CA Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Car ol Tav ris, psy chol o gist and au thor, Los Ange les, CA Exeter, UK Kenneth R. Miller, professor of biology, Brown Univ. Da vid Mor ri son, space sci en tist, NA SA Ames Re search Cen ter Da vid E. Thom as*, phys i cist and math e ma ti cian, Socorro, NM Ken neth Fed er, pro fes sor of an thro pol o gy, Cen tral Con nec ti cut State Univ. Rich ard A. Mul ler, pro fes sor of phys ics, Univ. of CA, Berke ley Neil de Gras se Ty son, as tro phys i cist and di rect or, Hay den Plan e tar i um, New York City Krista Federspiel, science journalist, expert on complementary Joe Nick ell, sen ior re search fel low, CSI and alternative medicine, Vienna, Austria. , mathematician, Waalre, Indre Viskontas, cognitive neuroscientist, TV and podcast host, Barbara Forrest, professor of philosophy, SE Louisiana Univ. The Netherlands and opera singer, San Francisco, CA An drew Fra knoi, as tron o mer, Foot hill Col lege, Los Al tos Hills, CA Lee Nis bet, phi los o pher, Med aille Col lege Stuart Vyse, psychologist, former Joanne Toor Cummings ’50 professor of psychology, Connecticut College; author Kend rick Fra zi er*, sci ence writer; ed i tor, S    I   *, MD, assistant professor of neurology, Yale Univ. School of Medicine of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition Christopher C. French, professor, Department , sci ence ed u ca tor and tel e vi sion host, Nye Labs Ma ri lyn vos Sa vant, Pa rade mag a zine con trib ut ing ed i tor of Psychology, and head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit, Goldsmiths College, Univ. of London James E. Oberg, sci ence writer Stev en Wein berg, pro fes sor of phys ics and as tron o my, Univ. of , host of the Rationally Speaking podcast; Irm gard Oe pen, pro fes sor of med i cine (re tired), Tex as at Aus tin; No bel lau re ate cofounder, Center for Applied , Berkeley, CA Mar burg, Ger ma ny E.O. Wil son, Univ. pro fes sor emer i tus, organismic and evolu- Luigi Garlaschelli, chemist, Università di Pavia (Italy); Paul Offit, professor of pediatrics, director of the Vaccine Educa- tionary biology, Har vard Univ. research fellow of CICAP, the Italian skeptics group tion Center, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Rich ard Wis e man, psy chol o gist, Univ. of Hert ford shire, England Maryanne Garry, professor, School of Psychology, Victoria Naomi Oreskes, geologist and professor, departments of the Benjamin Wolozin, professor, Department of Pharmacology, Univ. of Wellington, New Zealand History of Science and Earth and Planetary Sciences, Boston Univ. School of Medicine

* Mem ber, CSI Ex ec u tive Coun cil (Af fil i a tions giv en for iden ti fi ca tion on ly.)

The S    I   (ISSN 0194-6730) is pub lished Director, CSI, P.O. Box 703, Am herst, NY 14226-0703. Tel.: au thors. Their pub li ca tion does not nec es sa ri ly con sti tute an bi month ly by the Center for Inquiry in association with 716-636-1425. Fax: 716-636-1733. Email: bkarr@center- en dorse ment by CSI or its mem bers un less so stat ed. the Com mit tee for Skeptical Inquiry, P.O. Box 703, Am- forinquiry.net. Cop y right ©2016 by the Center for Inquiry and the herst, NY 14226. Print ed in U.S.A. Pe ri od i cals post- Man u scripts, let ters, books for re view, and ed i to ri al in- Com mit tee for Skeptical Inquiry. All rights re served. age paid at Buf fa lo, NY, and at ad di tion al mail ing of- quir ies should be sent to Kend rick Fra zi er, Ed i tor, S    Sub scrip tions and chan ges of ad dress should be ad- fi ces. Sub scrip tion pri ces: one year (six is sues), $35; I  , EMAIL: [email protected]. Mail: 944 dressed to: S    I  , P.O. Box 703, Am herst, NY two years, $60; three years, $84; sin gle is sue, $5.99. Deer Drive NE, Al bu querque, NM 87122. Be fore sub mit ting 14226-0703. Or call toll-free 1-800-634-1610 (out side Cana dian and for eign or ders: Pay ment in U.S. funds drawn any man uscript, please con sult our Guide for Au thors for the U.S. call 716-636-1425). Old ad dress as well as new on a U.S. bank must ac com pa ny or ders; please add US$10 style and ref er en ce requirements and submittal instruc- are nec es sa ry for change of sub scrib er’s ad dress, with six per year for ship ping. Cana dian and for eign cus tomers are tions. It is on our website at www.csi cop.org/publications/ weeks ad vance no tice. S    I   sub scrib ers may en cour aged to use Vi sa or Mas ter Card. guide. not speak on be half of CSI or the S    I  . In quir ies from the me dia and the pub lic about the work Ar ti cles, re ports, re views, and let ters pub lished in the Post mas ter: Send chan ges of ad dress to S    of the Com mit tee should be made to Barry Karr, Executive S    I   rep resent the views and work of in di vid u al I  , P.O. Box 703, Am herst, NY 14226-0703. Skep ti cal In quir er January/February 2017 | Vol. 41, No. 1 ODYSSEYS IN ARTICLES COLUMNS SCIENTIFIC SKEPTICISM FROM THE EDITOR 40th Anniversary Celebration Science, Public Trust, and 34 CSICon 2016 ...... 4 Stem Cell Research: NEWS AND COM MENT Still Embattled after Buzz Aldrin: What That Apollo 11 ‘UFO’ All These Years Really Was, and Why He Punched That RAYMOND BARGLOW AND Moon-Landing Denier / The Legacy of MARGRET SCHAEFER Fake Bomb Detectors in Iraq / Return of the Phantom Clowns / Philosopher and CSI Fellow Robert Carroll, Creator of Skep- 40 tics Dictionary, Dies at Seventy-One / Public Debate, Psychic Arrested in Exorcism Scam ...... 5 Scientifi c Skepticism, INVES TI GA TIVE FILES and Science Denial Claims of Chi: STEPHAN LEWANDOWSKY, MICHAEL Besting a Tai Chi Master E. MANN, NICHOLAS J.L. BROWN, JOE NICK ELL ...... 20 AND HARRIS L. FRIEDMAN PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS ‘Mirage Men’—Disinformation Agents or Just a Mirage? 44 ...... 23 Science vs. Silliness for NOTES ON A STRANGE WORLD Parents: Debunking the Ten Practical Tactics to Myths of Child Psychology Unravel the Uncanny MASSIMO POLIDORO ...... 25 STEPHEN HUPP, AMANDA STARY, AND JEREMY JEWELL THE SCIENCE OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION 48 The Superbug Crisis: False Beliefs about Antibiotics Creationism in Europe Are a Global Threat MATTHEW NISBET ...... 27 STEFAAN BLANCKE BEHAVIOR & BELIEF 52 Consensus: Could Two Hundred Scientists Be Wrong? Project Greenglow: STUART VYSE ...... 29 How Horizon Lost the SKEPTICAL INQUIREE Message in the Medium Ghost Hunters in the Dark JOHN EADES BENJAMIN RADFORD ...... 32 56 NEW AND NOTABLE ...... 60 No Time for Certainty LETTERS TO THE EDI TOR ...... 62 ALAN J. SCOTT QUIRKOLOGY COMICS An Introduction to Jerry Andrus COMMENTARY RICHARD WORTH AND JORDAN COLLVER WITH RICHARD WISEMAN ...... 65

14 THE LAST LAUGH ...... 66 Skepticism, at Heart, Is Not Partisan REVIEW CRAIG A. FOSTER The Story of the Gene HARRIET HALL...... 59

The Gene: An Intimate History SPECIAL REPORT by Siddhartha Mukherjee 16 19 Survey Shows Americans Notable Articles about the Fear Ghosts, the Government, Creation of CSICOP and and Each Other CARRIE POPPY TIMOTHY BINGA Committee for Skeptical Inquiry ™ “... promotes scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use Skep ti cal In quir er of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims.” THE MAG A ZINE FOR SCI ENCE AND REA SON EDI TOR Kend rick Fra zi er DEPUTY EDI TOR Ben ja min Rad ford MANA GING EDI TOR Julia Lavarnway [ FROM THE EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR Nicole Scott ART DIRECT OR Chri sto pher Fix PRODUC TION Paul E. Loynes Science, Public Trust, and CSICon 2016 WEBMASTER Matthew Licata PUBLISH ER’S REPRE SENT A TIVE Bar ry Karr

he 2016 presidential election campaign—one of the most bizarre in Amer- EDI TO RI AL BOARD James E. Al cock, Harriet Hall, ican history—is finally over. It preoccupied people in this country and Ray Hy man, Scott O. Lilienfeld, , Joe Nickell, Steven Novella, Am ar deo Sar ma, Eugenie C. worldwide for months. Deep healing and a return to some semblance of Scott, Karen Stollznow, David E. Thomas, T civility are essential. Whether or not that can be achieved, there are now other Leonard Tramiel issues demanding our attention. One that deserved discussion in the campaign CONSULT ING EDI TORS Sus an J. Black more, Ken neth L. Fed er, Barry Karr, E.C. Krupp, but got almost none is our political leaders’ attitudes toward science. Science and Jay M. Pasachoff, Rich ard Wis e man technology affect at least half of all public issues, but instead of needed dispas- CONTRIB UT ING EDI TORS D.J. Grothe, Harriet Hall, Kenneth W. Krause, David Morrison, James E. Oberg, sionate and thoughtful discussion, the same polarization that vexes our political Massimo Pigliucci, Rob ert Sheaf fer, David E. Thomas process has infected people’s attitudes about science. In this issue, psychologist Stephan Lewandowsky, noted climate scientist Mi- Published in association with chael E. Mann, and two colleagues consider how scientists can navigate highly polarized public issues and how the public’s legitimate need for involvement CHAIR Edward Tabash can be accommodated without sacrificing scientific integrity. In “Public Debate, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Robyn E. Blumner Scientific Skepticism, and Science Denial,” they show how we can involve the PRESIDENT Ronald A. Lindsay public in scientific debates and still conduct them according to the rules of sci- CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Barry Karr CORPO RATE COUNSEL Nicholas J. Little, ence—with evidence-based arguments, peer review, and the discarding of ideas Brenton N. VerPloeg shown to be false. They give some successful examples. Valuable lessons indeed. BUSINESS MANA GER Pa tri cia Beau champ We all harbor some myths about child psychology and raising children. In FISCAL OFFI CER Paul Pau lin “Science vs. Silliness for Parents: Debunking the Myths of Child Psychology,” SUBSCRIPTION DATA MANAGER Jacalyn Mohr psychologists Stephen Hupp, Amanda Stary, and Jeremy Jewell list twenty-six COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Paul Fidalgo such myths and use them as a starting point for an opinion survey of both stu- DIRECT OR OF LIBRAR IES Tim o thy S. Binga dents and parents. They asked about both the myths (Attachment Parenting is VICE PRESIDENT FOR PHILANTHROPY Martina Fern DIRECTOR, COUNCIL FOR SECULAR HUMANISM the most believed myth) and findings that are supported by scientific research. They believe this is the first study to collect data regarding beliefs for the majority DIRECTOR, DIGITAL PRODUCT AND STRATEGIES of these myths. Matt Licata DIRECTOR, CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS * * * Debbie Goddard BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Edward Tabash (chair), I write shortly after our CSICon 2016 conference in Las Vegas at the end of Brian Engler, , Barry A. Kosmin, October. Dedicated to science and skeptical inquiry, it was an exciting confer- Y. Sherry Sheng, Leonard Tramiel. Honorary: Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, ence, filled with great speakers and topical themes, and by any measure—nearly Susan Jacoby, . 500 participants, strong audience engagement, expressed satisfaction—highly successful. Fifteen fellows of our Committee for Skeptical Inquiry were on the Superbug Crisis | Ten Tactics for Skepticism | Claims of Chi | Fake Bomb Detectors program, along with as many other speakers with equally strong credentials. the Magazine for Science and Reason Vol. 41 No. 1 | January/February 2017 , in his first U.S. appearance since his stroke earlier in the year, took part fully and was interviewed live on stage, as was James Randi, still going strong (“I’m eighty-eight but I feel only eighty-six,” he quipped). Randi roamed the hallways hobnobbing with attendees and spreading his skepticism and wit. Jill Tarter, Paul Offit, , Maria Konnikova, Elizabeth Loftus, David Public Project J. Helfand, Carol Tavris, and the aforementioned Michael E. Mann, among oth- Debate on Greenglow Science Issues Creationism ers, gave memorable talks. The conference ended with a rousing talk by cosmolo- in Europe Myths of Child Psychology Doubt and gist Lawrence Krauss—who flew in from Sweden only a few hours before just to Uncertainty American Fears Survey Skepticism deliver it—on this past year’s epic detection of gravitational waves (“an amazing Is Nonpartisan discovery”) and with a “Sunday Papers” session of competitively selected short topical presentations borrowed from Randi’s now-ended TAM conferences. Published by the Center for Inquiry in association with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry We’ll have full coverage in our next issue. Some talks will likely become SI Had stem cell research not been articles. In the meantime, you can get a good sense of it all in Paul Fidalgo’s obstructed by political and religious online “CFI Live at CSICon” write-ups at www.centerforinquiry.live. opposition, it would probably have arrived by now at effective treatments —K F for a number of severe chronic dis- eases. See page 34. [ NEWS AND COMMENT

Buzz Aldrin: What That Apollo 11 ‘UFO’ Really Was, and Why He Punched That Moon-Landing Denier

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Buzz Aldrin is an American hero. The Apollo 11 astronaut walked on the moon with Neil Armstrong, the first two humans to do so. Now in his mid eighties and still full of that just- get-it-done spirit, he has become a tireless advocate of space exploration, especially a future manned mission to Mars. (He proudly sports his motto, “Get Your Ass to Mars,” on T-shirts at public gatherings around the world.) He has a PhD from MIT and consid- ers himself a scientist. His most recent book, No Dream Is Too High (National Geographic Books, 2016), is dedicated to “the dreamers, MARTIAL TREZZINI/EPA/Newscom the out-of-the-box thinkers and seat- ton if they knew where the S-IV-B, the of-the-pants innovators like me.” It is final stage of the rocket they had jetti- filled with stories illustrating his lively soned earlier, was. Houston answered brand of life’s lessons. Among them: that the S-IV-B was about 6,000 miles The sky is not the limit . . . there are away. So what they were seeing couldn’t footprints on the moon. Keep your be the discarded rocket. mind open to possibilities. Maintain They decided to go to sleep and your spirit of adventure. Failure is not worry about it. Writes Aldrin: “Of always an option (“If you are afraid to fail, you probably won’t accom- course, people who are convinced that plish much in life”). Do what you aliens and extraterrestrials exist contend believe is right even when others that we were being tracked by a UFO. choose otherwise. Keep a young It certainly seemed that way.” He em- mind-set at every age. phasizes “seemed.” The latter is what has given him so “So,” Aldrin writes, “if three intel- much appeal to younger generations. ligent human beings, all of whom had The book also includes two small flown in space previously, agreed that sections of special interest to skeptics. we saw something outside our window, One gives his personal take on the sup- something that appeared to be a UFO, posed “Apollo 11 UFO” he and his col- that should be evidence for the exis- leagues saw on their way to the moon. tence of UFOs, right?” The other recounts his much-viewed Armstrong and Mike Collins (the Com- “Not necessarily,” he answers. “Re- decking of a moon-landing denier. mand Module pilot) saw it as well. They member, things aren’t always what He begins the “UFO” section, in could see all sorts of stars, “but traveling they seem.” a chapter titled “Trust Your Gut . . . alongside us was this mysterious object. They ruled out the possibility that and Your Instruments,” with these apt We could see it but we couldn’t identify they were being followed by a space- words: “Things aren’t always what they what it was, so in that sense, I suppose it craft from another country. (“That was seem.” About three days and 200,000 could technically be described as an ‘un- ridiculous. How Russia could launch a miles into their journey to the moon, identified flying object.’” rocket to the Moon without our notic- “I noticed something odd outside our They never thought it had anything ing is totally incomprehensible to me.”) windows.” He says it appeared to be a to do with other spacecraft or aliens. Finally, they decided that what they light following along side them. Neil On a private channel, Neil asked Hous- were seeing was likely one or more

Skeptical Inquirer |January/February 2017 5 the landing. Their footprints and the experiments they set up are still there. Photos from lunar reconnaissance or- biter satellites show them. “For any “I’m glad to say that most people who have seen the intelligent person, such recent photos should forever put an end to the con- video of my punch have sided with me, agreeing that spiracy kooks claiming that we never my response was justified. It may not have been one landed on the Moon.” He says most of the conspiracy nuts of my most noble moments, but just as one picture is are harmless—“irritating but benign.” worth a thousand words. . . .” But one was not. Aldrin had agreed to do an interview in a Beverly Hills hotel for what he thought was a children’s television program. “But I quickly fig- ured out the interview was a farce and of the four panels that peeled away nary evidence.” Personally, I strongly that I had been tricked into showing when they extracted the lunar module believe other life-forms might exist up.” He tried to exit, but the man who (LM)—the vehicle that would take in various places throughout the accosted him repeatedly demanded universe, but the tremendous dis- Neil and Buzz down to the moon’s sur- tances involved in trying to explore that Aldrin swear on a Bible, which he face—from their command and service the immensity of the universe make thrust into Aldrin’s face, that he had vehicle. discovery unlikely in the near future. walked on the Moon. In moving the LM, the command “I was offended for both the Bible vehicle in which Mike, Neil, and I * * * and me,” Aldrin says. “I was irritated by were traveling was nose to nose with his incessant, rude, and irrelevant de- A few pages later in the same chapter the LM or a while, and the four mands, but when he called me a coward (pp. 161–163), Aldrin brings up the panels that had protected the LM and a liar and a thief . . . well, I could fell away in four directions. With the time he confronted the moon-landing no longer contain my composure. I Sun reflecting off one of the panels, denier. He does so in the context of still moving along with our space- his advice that when the pressure is punched the guy right in the jaw.” craft, it seemed as though a brightly on, “you can’t allow your emotions to The harasser’s film crew videotaped lit object was following us. the whole thing and thought they had Which of the four panels? I don’t overwhelm you; the best way to handle know, so technically, there was an the situation is to maintain your com- an assault case against him. “The video “unidentified flying object” in our posure. Not that I’ve always done so became a blessing in disguise because rearview mirror. (p. 153) perfectly—not by a long shot.” the police refused to entertain charges, concluding that the accoster had re- When they got back to Earth and “One incident in which my compo- were debriefed, they mentioned the sure was somewhat ruffled hit national peatedly provoked me into decking odd encounter, but NASA made little news, made the rounds of the talk him.” of it. A number of years later, Buzz told shows, and has been seen on YouTube The video was seen around the the story to a foreign television network more than five million times.” world. Talk show hosts had a field day. assuming it was already known. “When Writes Aldrin: Many skeptics, though usually prefer- ring intellectual arguments, secretly rel- word got out that Apollo 11 astronauts For years after I returned to Earth, had seen a UFO and not informed the my fellow astronauts and I were ished the idea that someone like Aldrin world—especially those who adamantly repeatedly accosted by conspiracy had finally confronted a moon-landing believe in extraterrestrial presences in theory nuts claiming that the United denier in a way the person could un- States never really landed on the space—it caused a major uproar.” Lots derstand. Moon, that the whole thing was “I’m glad to say that most people of believers contended Aldrin saw an done in a Hollywood-style studio, alien and NASA wouldn’t let him talk and that the landing was a hoax who have seen the video of my punch about it. “It seemed that way,” writes Al- foisted on the public by the govern- have sided with me, agreeing that my drin. “But now you know what really ment. What lunacy! But there is no response was justified,” Aldrin con- happened.” accounting for some people’s logic, cludes. “It may not have been one of my or lack of it. Aldrin concludes the section this most noble moments, but just as one way: Aldrin says he won’t waste time picture is worth a thousand words. . . .” debating the obvious. In the book, he As Carl Sagan is fond of noting about Kendrick Frazier is editor of the S  improbable possibilities, “Extra - recounts some of the photographic ev- ordinary claims require extraordi- idence still in place on the moon for I .

6 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer [ NEWS AND COMMENT

The Legacy of Fake Bomb Detectors in Iraq

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After years of equipping important security checkpoints throughout Iraq with nonfunctioning bomb detectors, the Iraqi government has finally banned their use. According to an ABC News story (http://tinyurl.com/js5zyyb): For nearly a decade, anyone driv- ing through one of Baghdad’s many checkpoints was subjected to a search by a soldier pointing a security wand at their vehicle and watching the device intently to see if its antenna moved. If it pointed at the car, it had supposedly detected a possible bomb. The wands were completely bogus. It had been proven years ago, even before 2013 when two British men were convicted in separate tri- als on fraud charges for selling the detectors. weapons and bombs specifically, using (See “British Businessman Sentenced proven technology) have failed under- in Bogus ‘Bomb Detector’ Scam,” SI cover tests about 95 percent of the time, July/August 2013.) Despite clear evidence making them arguably only marginally The wand devices, marketed under better than the bogus devices that will various names, including ADE651 and that the bomb detectors “detect” a few potential threats by ran- GT200, were not faulty or defective; were fake, many remained dom chance. It’s fair to say that the they were completely useless. They had TSA provides what’s called “security no working electronics in them that in use for years. theater,” or the illusion of safety, much could detect bombs or anything else. The device has only one moving part, an more than actual safety. antenna-like piece of metal that freely Ironically the devices—though swivels, supposedly detecting explosive demonstrably worthless—could still and other materials. The devices, which attack . . . would have encountered at conceivably make checkpoints at least have been compared to dowsing rods, least half a dozen checkpoints, most of slightly more secure. That’s because were sold for up to $40,000 each in lu- which likely used the wand. Investiga- they can serve as a psychological deter- crative government contracts eventually tors say the vehicle carried a 250-kilo- rent, just as fake (or nonfunctioning) totaling $60 million. gram (550-pound) bomb.” convenience store video cameras make Despite clear evidence that the The devices have been used in other potential shoplifters and robbers think bomb detectors were fake—ranging countries, including Mexico and Niger; twice. Bogus and counterfeit products from fraud convictions to warnings reporters for Reuters discovered them are common, and usually the damage by the U.S. military—many remained being used recently at checkpoints in to the consumer is financial—paying in use for years, not only in Baghdad volatile regions of Lebanon, Syria, top dollar for cheap substitutes sold as but around the country. Corruption and Egypt. Before Americans get too high-quality products, for example— and complacency played a role, and it smug about the silliness of bogus secu- but sometimes the fraud can be a mat- wasn’t until July 3, 2016, that the cata- rity measures in the Third World, it’s ter of life or death. There is no way to strophic toll of these fraudulent devices important to note that airport security know exactly how many innocent lives became too obvious to ignore. That was in the United States (as administered these bogus bomb detectors cost, but the day that a massive suicide bombing by the Transportation Safety Admin- even one life is too many. killed almost 300 people. According to istration or TSA) operates largely on ABC News, “Officials say the explo- just this sort of self-deception. The Benjamin Radford is the deputy editor of sives-laden minibus used in the July 3 TSA’s security measures (detecting the S  I .

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 7 Return of the Phantom Clowns

B R

In August 2016, creepy clowns were fun. If so, it would be only the latest in several children in Brookline, Massa- reported in Greenville, South Carolina, a series of creepy clowns reports; in fact, chusetts, reported that clowns had tried allegedly luring children into the woods there were two recent cases in Quebec to lure them into a van with promises behind a block of apartments. It’s scary and Wisconsin. In the former case, a of candy. Police searched the area but and alarming—but whether they’re real pair of teenagers dressed as clowns were found nothing. The following day, or rumor is another matter. Most of the having fun in a park scaring younger Boston parents and police grew worried handful of reports were from children. kids; in the latter, a nocturnal clown when children there claimed that adult No one was actually harmed by the was revealed to be part of a viral mar- clowns had been bothering children on menacing clowns, who children believe keting campaign for a scary film. their way to school. live in a house located near a pond at Most evil clowns are fictional, Other reports surfaced in other the end of a trail in the woods. Police though a few (such as serial killer John cities and in later years with the same who investigated this sinister Hansel Wayne Gacy) are real. But there are pattern: Parents were fearful, children and Gretel–like tale found no signs of other bad clowns reported to roam were warned, and police were vigilant suspicious activity or anyone dressed as streets and parks looking for innocent but despite searches and police check- a clown. children to abduct—yet they seem to points, no evidence was ever found of According to an ABC News story vanish just before police can apprehend their existence. Throughout the phan- (http://tinyurl.com/zjrv3gp): them. Some say they are real, while tom clown panic, no hard evidence was One resident said she was in front others claim they are figments of imag- ever found, and—more importantly— of her apartment one evening when ination. Known as phantom clowns, no children were actually abducted. one of her sons “approached her and they were first sighted in 1981 when This suggests that some form of social stated that he [had] seen clowns in delusion or mass hysteria was at play. the woods whispering and making The Greenville sightings seem to strange noises.” The resident added that she “went over to the area that Throughout the be the most recent reappearance of this her son mentioned and observed mythical menace, and in fact there’s several clowns in the woods flashing phantom clown panic, little evidence the clowns exist at all. green laser lights” before seeing them no hard evidence An August 21 report from the Green- run off. ville County Sheriff’s Office offers ad- If this report is to be credited, it was ever found. ditional insight, noting that “Several suggests that pranksters are afoot— children of the community stated that perhaps teenagers with store-bought several clowns have been appearing in clown masks and laser pointers having the woods behind building ‘D’ and try to persuade them into the woods further by displaying large amounts of money.” This is a curious (and suspicious) detail. Malicious clowns might be ex- pected to lure children with candy or ice cream—but big stacks of Benja- mins? Flashing wads of cash can draw a crowd anywhere, and no clown costume is needed. It seems like an example of urban folklore in the making, perhaps fueled in part by creepy clown sight- ings in the news and the recent release of publicity photos of the Stephen King killer clown Pennywise from the upcom- ing film It. The Greenville clown reports are likely pranksters, mistakes (for example assuming that a bang on a door must have been caused by an unseen clown),

8 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer [ NEWS AND COMMENT

legend, or a combination of all three. cause she was running late for her job knife to her middle school to fight off The chances that one or more people at McDonald’s. In a handful of cases, clowns, and in several instances, people dressed as clowns are actually trying to there were real injuries (fights and so shot at real or imagined clowns with abduct kids and assault people are re- on), but they weren’t inflicted by strang- guns and rifles. mote. ers dressed as clowns. As I describe in my book Bad Clowns, By mid-October, the scary clown The rumors can, of course, have this is not the first time that a rash of panic had spread across the country serious consequences. Schools in Ala- scary clown reports has surfaced; prank- to dozens of states, fueled by hoaxes, bama and other states were temporar- sters used social media to share creepy copycats, pranksters, rumors, and social ily placed on security lockdown due to clown photos in October 2013, and the media. The creepy clown panic became threats allegedly made by clowns on so-called phantom clowns date back to so serious that it was addressed in an social media (see my September 22 CSI the early 1980s. Though children have October 4 White House briefing; Press online Special Report “Alabama School little to fear from stalking clowns, the Secretary Josh Earnest said: Panic: Is ‘Clown Lockdown’ the New urban legend may pose a real danger; I don’t know that the president has Normal?” at http://tinyurl.com/jlhfosv). as the Sheriff’s report notes, “While been briefed on this particular situa- At any other time reports of threatening speaking with the residents I was in- tion. . . . Obviously, this is a situation clowns would likely have been ignored formed male subjects from the complex that local law enforcement authorities take quite seriously, and they should or dismissed, but these copycat clown heard about the recent clown activity carefully and thoroughly review per- incidents come at a time when very real and heard noises in the woods behind ceived threats to the safety of the terroristic threats and school shootings building ‘D’. I was told these men fired community, and they should do so are in the news. Parents can take com- weapons in the direction of the wooded prudently. fort that no clowns are actually trying to area.” No one was hurt in the shooting, Many of the reports were later admit- abduct or harm kids—not a single credi- but as long as people take the rumors ted to be hoaxes; for example, a North ble report has surfaced of any child being seriously, the lives of both face-painted Carolina man who falsely claimed that a hurt or even touched by a threatening pranksters and innocent bystanders scary clown had knocked on his window clown in recent weeks. Still, teachers and may be at risk—whether the phantom at night was arrested for faking the inci- police understandably err on the side of clowns exist or not. dent, and an Ohio woman claimed that caution, deciding it’s better to be safe Benjamin Radford is author or coauthor of a knife-wielding clown attacked her on than sorry. her way to work and cut her hand but Amid the rumors and scares, one ten books, most recently Bad Clowns from later admitted she made up the story be- eleven-year-old girl in Georgia took a the University of New Mexico Press.

For in-depth interviews with the most fascinating minds in science, religion, and politics, join cohosts Lindsay Beyerstein and Josh Zepps at pointofinquiry.org. JOSH ZEPPS LINDSAY BEYERSTEIN

Josh Zepps (cohost) is a new media Lindsay Beyerstein (cohost) is an pioneer; a journalist serving as a found- award-winning investigative journalist ing host and producer at the online talk and staff writer for In These Times. Her network HuffPost Live, following hosting work has appeared in places such as stints with such outlets as Bloomberg The New Republic, Reuters, Slate, Salon, TV, the Discovery Channel, and as an an- Ms. Magazine, and The New York Press. chor for CBS’s Peabody Award-winning Wait to see what stories she tells with Channel One News. her guests on Point of Inquiry.

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 9 We’ve made giving a damn surprisingly a ordable.

rom time to time we conduct reader surveys. to promote (If you’ve completed one, thank you.) When understanding results come in, two items of interest always among Americans Fjump out. of di ering beliefs. One is that readers like you do not lack in We’re there to intelligence. You’ve probably noticed that we don’t ensure that the growing “dumb down” our articles. ere’s no need. population of Nones is no longer overlooked. e other is that you give a damn. You give a damn about things like bettering the world, Not only that. We give science teachers tools standing up for science and reason, and promoting for teaching evolution, help provide schooling for human rights and secular values. Kenyan orphans, unite skeptics and freethinkers in problem-solving forums, stir things up with We give a damn, too. Many of our readers are our popular Point of Inquiry podcast on science, surprised to learn the extent to which the Center religion, and politics, and more. for Inquiry works on the front lines, over and above publishing magazines. To maintain this level of activism, we hold operational costs to the minimum. Our lean, And we’re winning. rst-rate sta does the work other organizations e Food and Drug Administration recently spread over many more people. As a result, you’d invited CFI to testify about the dangers and abuses be amazed at how far we make even the smallest of . We didn’t stop there. Right now contribution stretch. we’re busily following up to see that positive action If, like many of our readers, you give a damn follows. and long to help make a dierence, here’s great Perhaps you’ve heard of writer-activist Shammi news: e step from giving a damn to taking Haque. It was the Center for Inquiry that helped action costs next to nothing. With our bare-bones her escape from her native Bangladesh, where approach, a pledge of as little as nine dollars a her name had landed on a notorious hit list. More month—c’mon, we know you can spare nine secularists in the Middle East are in danger, and we bucks—makes a BIG dierence. If you can manage need to be there for them. more, you’ll make all the more dierence. You probably know that the U.S. Supreme Court Please do more than care. To see how struck down a horrible Texas law designed to make aordable bettering the world can be, visit legal abortions there all but impossible. What you centerforinquiry.net/damn. You’ll be helping may not know is the role the Center for Inquiry spread knowledge, inuence legislation—and, yes, played. e amicus brief we led with the Court even save lives. did a thorough job of exposing the aws behind the ank you state’s arguments and its in advance. e so-called experts. best time to visit Right now we’re centerforinquiry.net/ participating in a new, Visit centerforinquiry.net/damn damn is now, while it’s national program designed or contact Rosemarie Giambrone on your mind. Phone: 800-818-7071 ext. 300 Email: [email protected] [ NEWS AND COMMENT

We’ve made giving a damn Philosopher and CSI Fellow Robert Carroll, surprisingly a ordable. Creator of Skeptics Dictionary, Dies at Seventy-One S  G rom time to time we conduct reader surveys. to promote (If you’ve completed one, thank you.) When understanding Robert Carroll, philosopher, CSI fel- Common-sense Philosophy of Religion of results come in, two items of interest always among Americans low, and prominent skeptic widely Bishop 1635–1699 . Fjump out. of di ering beliefs. known for his online (and print) I asked Mahmoud why he felt so One is that readers like you do not lack in We’re there to Skeptics Dictionary, died from pancre- strongly about wanting to rewrite ensure that the growing atic neuroendocrine cancer August 25, Bob’s Wikipedia page, and I think his intelligence. You’ve probably noticed that we don’t 2016. He was seventy-one. In his last population of Nones is no longer response explains completely why Bob “dumb down” our articles. ere’s no need. hours, he was surrounded by fam- Carroll is so important to us: overlooked. ily and Bob Dylan songs. His legacy e other is that you give a damn. You give When I was 15 and grappling with lives on through his work, his writings, Not only that. We give science teachers tools Islam, the internet was my only a damn about things like bettering the world, his inspiration, and in the thousands for teaching evolution, help provide schooling for chance at some rational and impar- standing up for science and reason, and promoting of students who sat in his classroom tial reading material in Egypt. That’s human rights and secular values. Kenyan orphans, unite skeptics and freethinkers where he taught critical thinking skills. when I first came across skepdic. in problem-solving forums, stir things up with Our heart goes out to his family, espe- com. Carroll’s article about Satan We give a damn, too. Many of our readers are our popular Point of Inquiry podcast on science, cially his wife of forty-eight years, particularly fascinated me. The arti- surprised to learn the extent to which the Center Leslie; daughters, Jennifer and Allison; cle was written in an amusing satiri- religion, and politics, and more. cal tone, mocking fears that had been for Inquiry works on the front lines, over and above sons-in-law, Rodney and Daniel; and instilled in me since infancy. Yet, it publishing magazines. To maintain this level of activism, we hold his grandchildren, Olivia and Flynn. still managed to feel analytical and operational costs to the minimum. Our lean, Before there was Wikipedia, there thought-provoking, it spoke to me And we’re winning. rst-rate sta does the work other organizations was The Skeptic’s Dictionary. It was con- deeply at the time. This article was e Food and Drug Administration recently ceived and managed by this one amaz- all the more special for me because spread over many more people. As a result, you’d Before there was of how hard it was to find people invited CFI to testify about the dangers and abuses ing person, Robert Todd Carroll. He be amazed at how far we make even the smallest started it in 1994 after taking a commu- Wikipedia, there was with a sympathetic point of view of homeopathy. We didn’t stop there. Right now before the explosion of social media. contribution stretch. nity education class with his wife, Les- Since that day I’m still yet to emerge we’re busily following up to see that positive action lie, learning about the Internet, email, The Skeptic’s Dictionary. If, like many of our readers, you give a damn from the rabbit hole that’s skepdic. follows. and HTML. It was conceived and com. and long to help make a dierence, here’s great Carroll earned his PhD in philos- I was fortunate to be able to tell Perhaps you’ve heard of writer-activist Shammi news: e step from giving a damn to taking ophy in 1974 from the University of managed by this one Carroll just how big of an impact he Haque. It was the Center for Inquiry that helped California at . A professor of amazing person, had on my life a few months before action costs next to nothing. With our bare-bones his passing. Surely thousands of oth- philosophy from 1977 to 2007 at Sac- her escape from her native Bangladesh, where approach, a pledge of as little as nine dollars a ers have similar stories, thousands ramento City College, Carroll initially Robert Todd Carroll. her name had landed on a notorious hit list. More month—c’mon, we know you can spare nine who were affected by a stimulating secularists in the Middle East are in danger, and we began the Dictionary with rewritten piece of writing from the man’s bucks—makes a BIG dierence. If you can manage lectures from his classes. Over time, prolific career. His writing brought need to be there for them. you were tired of being tired?” Yet he more, you’ll make all the more dierence. the website http://skepdic.com mor- continued maintaining the website and skepticism to the internet. However, its value doesn’t just lie in its entre- You probably know that the U.S. Supreme Court phed into the workhorse it is today with writing his popular newsletters. Only in Please do more than care. To see how more than 85,000 hyperlinks and 5,500 preneurial status. More than twenty struck down a horrible Texas law designed to make May 2016 did he announce that he was years after its inception, skepdic. aordable bettering the world can be, visit files. It receives more than 400,000 vis- stopping due to health reasons. com still houses some of the most legal abortions there all but impossible. What you centerforinquiry.net/damn. You’ll be helping its a month. In 2003, it was published Mostafa Mahmoud, an editor for intriguing and provocative skepti- may not know is the role the Center for Inquiry in book form by John Wiley and Sons. spread knowledge, inuence legislation—and, yes, our Guerilla Skepticism on Wikipe- cal arguments around. Nowadays, played. e amicus brief we led with the Court In 2010, CSI made him a well- because of the efforts of Carroll and even save lives. dia project, published a long overdue did a thorough job of exposing the aws behind the deserved fellow. Starting in March people like him, truth seekers all ank you 2012, Bob appeared on the Skepticality rewrite of Carroll’s Wikipedia page in around the world can traverse any state’s arguments and its geological or intellectual barriers set in advance. e podcast with a regular segment called May 2016. Readers will enjoy learning so-called experts. about the Bob Carroll few knew. He by their environments—that’s the best time to visit “Unnatural Virtue.” sort of legacy he leaves behind. Right now we’re When Bob discovered his cancer in was raised Catholic and, for a time in centerforinquiry.net/ 2014, we talked briefly about it, as I college, even entered a seminary. His participating in a new, is founder of the Guerilla Visit centerforinquiry.net/damn damn is now, while it’s had battled the same disease. He didn’t doctoral thesis was on the religious Skepticism on Wikipedia project. She is a national program designed or contact Rosemarie Giambrone on your mind. feel depressed, just tired. He asked me, philosophy of Edward Stillingfleet, Phone: 800-818-7071 ext. 300 “Did you ever get to the point where which Carroll later published as The CSI Scientific and Technical Consultant. Email: [email protected]

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 11 Psychic Arrested in Exorcism Scam

B  R 

In September 2016, a New York–based sult psychics are often troubled peo- suspected infidelity. Nicholes allegedly psychic was arrested for convincing ple looking for answers and guidance. convinced the victim that her marital a client that her failing marriage was Thousands of people are scammed by troubles were caused by a demon inside caused by an evil spirit that could be psychics every year, falsely told, for her and that if the demon wasn’t ex- driven out only by an expensive exor- example, that they are cursed and that orcized, the woman would never again cism. According to a September 13, $10,000 in “faith money” can help end have a happy, normal romantic rela- 2016, story in The Gothamist: a bad luck streak. tionship. Fortunately for the victim, An Upper East Side fortune teller “Psychic Lisa” knew how to remove the was arrested this weekend after she demon and get her life back on track. allegedly terrified and manipulated a As The Gothamist explains: distraught woman out of more than $60K. Among other things, the “psy- First Nicholes allegedly said she’d chic” convinced the woman she had Psychic scammers need $33K in cash ($1K for each a “demon/evil spirit” inside her that use various psychological year of her age) for special candles was a dead baby the victim’s mother and crystals to be used in the cleans- had miscarried before the victim was principles to ensnare ing ceremony. Then she allegedly born—and the only way to get it asked for a Rolex Daytona Everose out was through increasingly expen- their prey. watch with a black dial (valued at sive “demon removal work.” (http:// $30K) because (here we go) it would tinyurl.com/z6m48d4) be used as part of a ritual that would “spring back time” to before the vic- Many fortune-tellers try to skirt re- tim was born, thereby allowing her sponsibility by advertising their services to remove the demon. as “for entertainment only,” though In the end, according to the com- most people who visit psychics really The unidentified victim, a thirty- plaint, the psychic conned the victim do take the information seriously (as five-year-old woman, first visited “Psy- you might expect they would when chic Lisa” (Victoria Nicholes) in 2013, out of nearly $62,000 over the course of paying around $60 per hour for “enter- seeking help in saving her marriage several months. Eventually, the victim tainment”). Those who seriously con- and concerned about her husband’s grew suspicious and contacted a private investigator, who helped collect evi- dence that led to the arrest of Nicholes. Nicholes’s alleged scam—as bizarre as it seems—follows a well-worn (and often successful) formula. Psychic scammers use various psychological principles to ensnare their prey. One of them is incremental invest- ment, or the escalation of commitment. Once a person has invested a significant amount of time, money, and personal experience in a project, they are more likely to keep going. At some point the behavioral and economic principle of the sunken cost fallacy often comes up: doubts or suspicions that something is not right are rationalized away because the person has already invested time and money—not to mention emotional attachment and likely even friend- Photo: Steven Hirsch ship—in the project.

12 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer [ NEWS AND COMMENT

The victim’s state of mind is import- spell will irrevocably fail—or the curse son why it happened. For many, it’s ant as well: People who go to psychics might even get twice as bad. In a partic- more comforting to think that some- are a self-selected group who share ularly insidious theme of victim-blam- thing bad happened to you because of certain characteristics that make them ing, the psychic may even tell the client an enemy’s malicious actions than if it’s especially vulnerable to exploitation. that the entire success or failure of the simply bad luck or the result of random Perhaps most obviously, they are not curse removal depends on their faith chance. If you believe that your poor skeptics but instead people who believe health or marriage troubles have been in the existence of psychic abilities. intentionally caused through magic by Second, they are unhappy with some another person, that implies—and psy- aspect of their lives and are seeking an- Curses are an answer chics are quick to offer—a remedy to swers to important life questions that to the age-old question remove the spell or curse. Curses are an concern them: health, wealth, love, ca- answer to the age-old question of why reer, relationships, and so on. Psychic of why bad things bad things happen to good people. scammers become masters of emotional happen to good people. Con games may play out over the manipulation and quickly learn what course of weeks, months, or even years. deep psychological issues their client/ Psychic con artists aren’t looking to victim is going through and thus will earn a quick $50 for a half hour palm respond to. Anything is fair game, from reading when—with the right victim fear of infidelity to illness to infertility. and the right plan—they could easily The psychic con artist knows that that it will work—that entertaining any take the victim for $5,000 or $50,000. if the client tells his or her friends and doubts will jeopardize the plan. Many victims of psychic scams never family about what’s going on, they may Why would a person believe a curse come forward because they are embar- suspect a scam. Thus they often take has been placed on him or her? Belief in rassed at having been fooled by what steps to insulate their client from oth- curses has its roots in magical thinking in retrospect was an increasingly out- ers, much like cults do. For example, a and superstition. If a person experiences landish series of claims. Nicholes, who psychic may say that the whole curse bad luck, ill health, an accident, or some has a previous arrest history, including removal process must be kept secret, unexplained or unexpected tragedy, it’s for grand larceny, is scheduled to go on and if the victim tells anyone the magic common to look for some external rea- trial later this year.

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Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 13 [COMMENTARY

Skepticism, at Heart, Is Not Partisan

CRAIG A. FOSTER

he United States has just completed the most con- promoted importantly by every member of the skeptical move- tentious presidential election in recent memory. The ment. This occurs when members support each other. This oc- Tconcept of President Trump is obviously distressing curs when members support groups such as the Committee for to many members of the skeptical community. It might be Skeptical Inquiry. This occurs, perhaps most importantly of all, particularly tempting at times like this to associate skepticism when skeptics have those innumerable unplanned conversa- formally or informally with being a political movement. I tions with others about vaccinations, ancient aliens, creation- think it is important for skepticism to avoid making this ism, faith healing, psychics, and so forth. In sum, the skeptical mistake. movement needs members. The more people embracing sci- Skepticism, as it is used in the today, is ence and reason, the better. not necessarily easy to define. Suffice it to say that modern-day Politics is potential kryptonite for the skeptical movement. skeptics promote the logical and reasonable interpretation of Skepticism, in its focus on the evidence, does not seem to re- existing evidence. They question claims that lack legitimate quire a particular political affiliation. In the United States, a supporting evidence and embrace claims that are supported true skeptic could be conservative or liberal. Many debates by such evidence. In so doing, skeptics promote good science, between liberals and conservatives carry a considerable de- criticize bad science, and question no science. Skepticism is gree of conjecture and invoke different ethical perspectives needed because people frequently fail to interpret evidence in and corresponding solutions. In this respect, aspects of broad a sensible manner due to humans’ limited cognitive capacity, political debate are often outside the scope of modern-day memory distortions, and a variety of well-known cognitive skepticism. Science and reason do not clearly debunk many errors and biases. political claims, and they do not debunk the entirety of a polit- Skepticism can be conceptualized as a nerdy superhero. ical candidate or party, with perhaps some isolated exceptions. Until nobody believes the scientifically unreasonable, skepti- Skepticism is applied most sensibly to political claims that are cism is there! Skeptics’ powers are an odd sort. They constitute inconsistent with existing science or are illogical in some other little in the way of physical force. Skeptics do not overpower way. These political claims could come from any political party villains with superhuman strength or with Amazonian combat or broad political view. skills. Rather, skeptics possess a heightened ability to detect If the skeptical movement allows its focus on science and flim-flam, a willingness to educate about corresponding issues, reason to become transmuted into broad political affiliation, and a propensity to ask a series of annoying questions possibly I think the consequences for skepticism would be dire. First, ending with a lecture about non-falsifiable claims. Skeptics use this would undermine the identity of the skeptical movement. these tools to promote a particular kind of truth—a truth based Skepticism would be in danger of searching for evidence to on science and reason. support political causes rather than searching for evidence to Skepticism has one other inconspicuous but incredibly im- support truth. Second, an inappropriately partisan skeptical portant superpower. Skeptics should be particularly adept at movement would alienate potential members. People who are changing their beliefs to keep them consistent with the existing ready to embrace skepticism more formally might not do so evidence. Consequently, skeptics, by definition, typically have due to political disagreements rather than concerns with skep- the evidence on their side. If, for instance, somebody provides ticism per se. reliable evidence for Bigfoot, good skeptics will eventually To illustrate, I return to the 2016 presidential election. It adapt to the new evidence and move on. Thus, skepticism is is clearly appropriate for the skeptical community to criticize an approach to the world, not an obstinate set of beliefs. sternly some of President-elect Trump’s apparent platforms. Skepticism is enhanced by the number of people who em- Mr. Trump appears to be dangerously disdainful of the evi- brace it. There are well-known skeptics who famously and dence supporting anthropogenic climate change. He has en- fabulously promote science and reason, but skepticism is also couraged unsubstantiated stereotypes by characterizing Mus-

14 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer lim and Mexican immigrants in negative ways. One could How do we do this successfully? To begin, skepticism must argue that he has promoted beliefs about gun control that are stay true to its principles. Skeptics must continue to voice their inconsistent with the existing evidence. These issues, among disapproval for claims that appear to be implausible or impos- others, make it alluring for the skeptical movement to fashion sible based on a logical interpretation of the evidence. Skep- itself as Anti-Trump or even Anti-Republican. ticism should continue to engage in this manner regardless It is nonetheless important for all of us who love skepticism of whether claims are associated with liberal or conservative to separate the broad political considerations from skepticism. viewpoints. However, skeptics should also take care to criti- Skeptics cannot support political claims that are simply at cize the claim not the player. Skeptics, when communicating odds with reasonable interpretations of the existing evidence. as skeptics, should be careful to constrain their concerns to However, they should, when speaking as skeptics, stop short of inconsistencies between claims and evidence and avoid gen- denigrating an entire political viewpoint. It is understandably eralizing skepticism to concerns with broader political affilia- enticing for many skeptics to do so by embracing skepticism tions. Skeptics should also take care to constrain the disdain. today as a battle between science-denying Republicans and It is easy to understand why skeptics become so frustrated, logical pro-science Democrats, but this would be harmful to but suggestions that opponents are stupid or ignorant will not skepticism more broadly. It would embrace stereotyping at win them to our side. The goals of the skeptical movement are the political party level; obviously some Republicans are for science and reason and some Democrats are not. Ironically, this most likely to be achieved when skeptics communicate in a broad level of generalization would contradict the thoughtful respectful, transparent, and constructive manner. approach that skeptics generally try to embrace. To this point, it is important to remember that liberally minded people are also capable of generating woo. Proponents of the anti-vaccination movement are more likely to come from the political left than Skepticism will be most effective, the political right. More importantly, I think it is imperative to consider the and possibly most enjoyable, when nature of an ideal skeptical movement. Skepticism will be most its members come from all parts of effective, and possibly most enjoyable, when its members come from all parts of the political spectrum. This might feel coun- the political spectrum. terintuitive at present. However, if skepticism stays true to its principles, a conservative presence would not represent failure. It would represent success. Scientific skepticism will always pro- mote science and reason. A conservative or Republican presence in this movement would not signify a diminishing of those goals. Mahatma Gandhi used the Sanskrit word Satyagraha to Rather, it would demonstrate that the promotion of science and describe the soul of his political opposition. The word is dif- reason is taking place across the political spectrum. It would in- ficult to translate, but in being so, it might describe Gandhi’s dicate that the ensuing political debates are more likely to be morally enlightening perspective better than any English term. grounded in scientific reality. If we could create that world, I Satyagraha means something like politely and insistently hold- would be a happy, happy skeptic. I suspect that most skeptics ing on to the truth. Satyagraha is the best course of action for feel the same way. the skeptical community. The skeptical community is founded So, even at a time like this, we should proceed carefully and on the pursuit of truth, a truth that changes as the evidence openly. Based on my experiences in the skeptical community, I dictates. In this emotionally charged political zeitgeist, the believe that most of its U.S. members are left of center politi- skeptical community needs to remember its goal of promoting cally. This is understandable. The skeptical community does not science and reason across all parts of the political spectrum. need to match the U.S. liberal-conservative political spectrum, The skeptical community will achieve that goal most effec- and it seems intuitive that contemporary politics makes it easier tively not with brazen, negative characterizations of those who I to be a liberal skeptic than a conservative one. Nevertheless, I disagree but rather with polite insistence. believe that the skeptical community should keep open chairs at the dinner table for conservatives who also embrace science and reason. To illustrate, perhaps the most pressing skepticism issue Craig A. Foster is a professor in the Department of Behavioral Sci- of our time is climate change. On this issue, the skeptical move- ences and Leadership at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He teaches ment does not need more liberals. It needs more conservatives. statistics and methods and conducts research in scientific rea- Liberals are already far more likely to support initiatives aimed soning and . He may be reached at craig.foster@ at mitigating anthropogenic climate change. Helping conserva- usafa.edu. tives understand the skeptical perspective is more likely to create (The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official sensible evidence-based solutions. policy or position of the Air Force Academy, the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.) [SPECIAL REPORT

Survey Shows Americans Fear Ghosts, the Government, and Each Other

CARRIE POPPY

very year, Chapman University According to the new research in whereas ghosts (as far as we can tell) tells us what we fear the most. the 2016 survey, issued in October, 46.6 do not. It’s simply when we speak of E While “What’s your biggest percent of Americans believe places can a massive, and massively unlikely, con- fear?” might seem a psychological rid- be haunted by spirits; 27 percent believe spiracy requiring many players pulling dle, these researchers have got it down that extraterrestrials have visited Earth off incredibly difficult cover-ups that to a science, using rigorous polling in “our ancient past” (we no doubt can these theories become less likely than methods to ask Americans about the thank the History Chan nel, in part, the original story they’re meant to blow most common fears and suspicions for this result); 24.7 percent say aliens wide open. Still, an alarming number of that plague them. The project, which is have come to Earth “in modern times”; Americans believe in outlandish con- in its third year, offers telling insights 13.5 percent are eating tacos, answering spiracy theories. Some are more ratio- about fear of government control and email, and all the while believing that nal than others, and the survey is de- terrorism. For readers of S Bigfoot is real; and a whopping 39.6 signed to fairly assess the nuances, from I, the survey covers something percent believe that Atlantis, or some- believing that the government might else equally compelling: Americans’ thing like it, once existed. not be disclosing all the details about seemingly unshakable beliefs in the Conspiracies were a new addition the 9/11 attacks (which might not be and in conspiracy theories. this year, but paranormal beliefs are cat- totally outlandish, and which is vague And things are looking … well … egorically distinct from conspiracy the- enough that any unreleased detail about pretty bonkers. ories. For one, conspiracies do happen, 9/11 might be considered “covered up”) to the idea that the moon landing never happened (which has been completely discredited). In this study, conspiracy theories were examined particularly as they re- late to distrust of the government. For each theory, respondents were asked whether they believe the government is “concealing what they know about” the incident or alleged incident.

While “What’s your biggest fear?” might seem a psychological riddle, researchers have got it down to a science, using rigorous polling methods to ask Americans about the most common fears and suspicions that plague them.

Respondents were most likely to think that we aren’t getting the whole story about the 9/11 attacks (54.3 per- cent said the government is hiding something there); the JFK assassination came in at second place (49.6 percent); alien encounters are third (42.6 percent think the government is pulling the ex- traterrestrial wool over our eyes); 30.2 percent still think there’s something up with Obama’s birth certificate even However, the most exciting part of is concealing what they know about the though that issue has been put to rest the study, by far, is about the North North Dakota Crash.” A sizable 32.5 so hard you’d think we’d euthanized it; Dakota Crash. As each respondent percent of respondents either agreed or and 30.2 percent think something fishy was asked whether they think the gov- strongly agreed. As readers of S- caused HIV (some believe the CIA ernment was covering up information  I will know, the craft in created the virus that causes AIDS). Fi- about the famous, mysterious aerial the North Dakota Crash was quickly nally, 24.2 percent are still hanging on wreck, they were given this question: discovered to be an experimental pas- for dear life to the oft-derided view that “To what degree do you agree with the senger plane. Its odd circular design the moon landing isn’t real. following statement? The government was no match for aerodynamics, and

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 17 [SPECIAL REPORT

unsurprisingly it fell to Earth within a ways corroborate your sources, because Yes, says Bader, who ran an analysis of few minutes of its first test flight. Yet even S I gets things the data especially for our audience. 32.5 percent of respondents still believe wrong sometimes. (One reviewer didn’t “There is a significant, positive cor- that the government wants to cover up like Ben Stein’s Expelled, which, while relation between fear of ghosts and something about this highly banal tale truly one of the worst movies of all time, fear of dying. The more one tends to of ragtag plane hobbyists. is also, for all the same reasons, one of fear ghosts, the more one tends to fears Okay, I lied. That’s not what the the best movies of all time.) dying. This is a correlation so I couldn’t North Dakota Crash was. I made it up. I asked Christopher Bader, the sur- claim which comes first—just an asso- And so did the people who designed the vey’s lead researcher on conspiracy the- ciation.” study. The North Dakota Crash never ories and the paranormal, what he made There were other connections, too. existed; the study’s designers merely cre- of all these new North Dakota Crash I asked Bader if those who believe ET believers. has come to visit also fear undocu- “I was absolutely shocked by the mented immigrants (a separate portion high levels of belief in the North Da- of the study dealt with American fears The issues of paranor- kota Crash,” he wrote via email, “and by of immigrants and xenophobia). mal and conspiracy the fact that most Americans believe in “People who believe aliens have at least one of the conspiracies we pre- visited the Earth in modern times are claims, which have sented. I see this item as the best indica- more likely to believe that immigrants long been the focus tor (better than asking about any partic- are more likely to commit crimes than ular conspiracy that ‘exists’ in the public U.S. citizens and that immigrants bring of our work at SKEPTI- consciousness such as JFK or 9/11) of a diseases into the United States,” said CAL INQUIRER, are finding conspiratorial mindset.” Bader. So why does someone who has never In many ways, the larger report is a new, interesting even heard of the supposed crash say he warning against painting people with connections with these or she is suspicious of it? Said Bader: a broad brush: it serves to fight xeno- I read it as a respondent thinking phobia and unwarranted fear of Mus- broader issues of how “Well I don’t know what the North lim Americans (tragically, 75 percent of Dakota Crash is—but whatever it is, respondents said they would or might fear—especially the government knows more than call the police to report “a large group it is telling us.” Of course, when of people who appear to be of Middle irrational fear—works. you try a [misleading] question like this other factors come into play. Eastern descent congregating near a Some respondents might lie in their fountain”). The issues of paranormal response or may actually think they and conspiracy claims, which have long know what the North Dakota Crash been the focus of our work at S- is (have it confused with something  I, are finding new, inter- else). But the amount of belief we found was shocking, even consider- esting connections with these broader ated a name for an incident that sounded ing the random error such a tech- issues of how fear—especially irrational like something mysterious (the descrip- nique will introduce. It is a worrying fear—works. tion of the event is all mine). Yet even sign of the extremely high levels of You can read the entire Chapman that name—North Dakota Crash—was distrust in the government when University Survey of American Fears enough to make over 30 percent of re- people simply assume the govern- ment is nefarious. 2016 on their website at https://blogs. spondents agree that something is up chapman.edu/wilkinson/2016/10/11/ I and the government isn’t telling us what And these conspiratorial beliefs americas-top-fears-2016/. it is. But my little trick is a reminder to can have troubling associations in the us, too. If you, having never read even believer’s personal life. A person who the name “North Dakota Crash,” pre- believes in numerous conspiracy theo- sumed there was nothing shady going ries is more likely to fear their partner Carrie Poppy is a jour- on with it either, you’ve faced your own cheating on them and also is more likely nalist and podcaster in presuppositions. And if you read my to buy a gun out of fear—a potentially Los Angeles. She thinks fictionalized account of the crash and deadly combination. there’s definitely some- took it on face value without looking it But what of those ghost beliefs? Do thing up with the North up yourself, it’s a good reminder to al- they betray other fears and insecurities? Dakota Crash.

18 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer Notable Articles about the Creation of CSICOP and SKEPTICAL INQUIRER T B 

usan Gerbic, founder of the Guerilla Skeptics on Wikipedia Project, contacted CSI to provide pictures and other information for an update to the Wikipedia article about S I. Several of us were involved in making Scontent available for this endeavor, and Kendrick Frazier, the magazine’s editor, created a bibliography of important articles concerning the origin of CSICOP and S I. The biggest concern we had was the fact that very little of the material was easily available, if it was available at all. As part of my role as librarian and archivist for the Center for Inquiry, we decided I should try to find these items and get them together in one place, either in links or by creating electronic copies for preservation purposes. Below is Ken’s bibliography as written. Links to the text of the original articles and PDFs of the original articles can be found at http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/notable_articles_about_the_creation_of_csicop_and_skeptical_inquirer. These items now reside on our server in an effort to preserve the early history of CSICOP. The items were scanned from the originals, and text was created from the scans using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software and then manually cor- rected as needed. I hope we can continue to preserve the history of our organization in this manner and provide our members with more and more of this type of information in the future.

Notable Articles about CSICOP and SKEPTICAL INQUIRER

(Chronological order. First two decades.) 1. Boyce Rensberger, “Paranormal 6. Douglas R. Hofstadter, “About 8. Alan L. Otten, “People Will Phenomena Facing Scientific Two Kinds of Inquiry: ‘Nation- Believe Anything, Which Is Why Study.” New York Times, May 1, al Enquirer’ and ‘The Skeptical Csicops Exist: These Defenders of 1976, p. 26. Inquirer.’” Scientific American Science Debunk ‘False’ Notions; 2. Kendrick Frazier, “Science and the (“Metamagical Themas” column), How to Regard Astrology.” Wall Parascience Cults.” Science News February 1982. Republished Street Journal, July 19, 1985, pp. (cover article), May 29, 1976, pp. as Chapter 5, “World Views in 1, 15. 346–350. Collision: The Skeptical Inquirer 9. David F. Marks, “Investigating the versus the National Enquirer,” 3. “Attacking the New Nonsense.” Paranormal,” Nature (cover arti- with an eight-page “Post Scriptum” Time, December 12, 1977. cle), 120: 119–123, March 13–19, of further meditations on the topic, 1986. 4. Kendrick Frazier, “UFOs, Horo- including a long exchange with M. 10. Carl Sagan, “The Fine Art of scopes, Bigfoot, Psychics, and Truzzi, in Hofstadter’s 1985 book Baloney Detection: How Not to Other Nonsense.” Smithsonian, Metamagical Themas (New York: Be Fooled,” Parade Magazine, March 1978. Basic Books), pp. 91–114. February 1, 1987, with a box titled 5. Kendrick Frazier, “UFOs! Horo- 7. James Cornell, “Science vs. the “The Skeptical Inquirer.” scopes! (And Other Nonsense).” Paranormal: Skeptics Fight an Reader’s Digest, July 1978. (Con- Uphill Battle in their Efforts to densed from Smithsonian. Also Overthrow the Forces of Pseu- published in dozens of languages doscience.” Psychology Today, Timothy Binga is Director of Libraries for in Reader’s Digest’s international March 1984. the Center for Inquiry. editions.)

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 19 [ INVESTIGATIVE FILES JOE NICKELL

Joe Nickell, PhD, is now well into his fifth decade as an investigative writer. Among his many books is Secrets of the Sideshows (2005).

Claims of Chi: Besting a Tai Chi Master

n nearly half a century of inves- I am quick to say I did not have much graceful, flowing movements reminded tigating strange mysteries, I have special knowledge for this particular in- me of Chinese brush calligraphy, and Ifrequently encountered claims of the vestigation other than my background I found plausible the claims that the mysterious force or power known as as a magician and wonderworker (Nic- practice could help reduce stress and qi or ch’i or simply chi (pronounced kell 2005, 219–220, 231–232, 274), but tone muscles. “chee”). The term translates as “air” or I did have a college course in sport judo In addition to tai chi, all martial “breath” and, by extension, “life force” and was once trained—by karate black arts typically involve the concept of or “energy flow.” belt and physics teacher Matt Lowry— chi—including kung fu, a Chinese form In traditional Asian cultures, es- to break boards by striking them with of fighting without weapons, and tae- pecially Chinese, chi is the essential my hand (Nickell 2011; 2012a). kwondo, a type of Korean karate that principle in such practices as feng shui uses such aggressive moves as jabs, (pronounced “fung shway”), the art of Tai Chi, et al. chops, and dramatic leaping kicks. All creating harmonious environments; acu- rely on chi, the supposed internal life Tai chi is a shortened form of taiji quan, energy, as discussed in the Qi Encyclo- puncture, a form of traditional Chinese “Supreme ultimate boxing.” Conceived pedia (Lam 2016). Many unsupported medicine in which needles are inserted centuries ago as a martial art, it is now claims are made for the magical, invis- at specified points to stimulate the flow also practiced—as “Taoist tai chi”—as ible chi—whose existence itself is un- of chi (Nickell 2012); and certain martial an exercise technique. In China in 2010 supported by science. arts, including tai chi. I will expand on as a visiting scholar in an exchange pro- Consider the myriad therapeutic the latter here, exposing tricks used by gram (see Nickell 2012), I watched peo- claims made to promote tai chi. Mar- masters and their followers. ple doing morning tai chi exercises. The tial arts authority Bruce Tegner (1973, 140) calls them “misleading.” As he explains: Tai chi promoters claim that tai chi exercise will cure as many diseases and restore as many non-functioning organs as the old snake-oil remedies. While it is true that practice of the routine will promote general health and you will feel better if you do tai chi, there is absolutely no acceptable evidence that tai chi is a substitute for medical care. A tai chi teacher is without any preparation for diag- nosing disease, or for prescribing for cure or care. If you are ill, see a doc- tor. If your ailment could be “cured” by doing tai chi, it could be “cured” by any routine of exercise. It is a Figure 1. Author at the grave of Dixie Annie (Jarrett) Haygood, a.k.a Annie Abbott, “The Little Georgia Magnet,” cruel deception to make promises of whom strong men could not move. (Author’s photo, taken before a headstone was installed.) “cure”; rather than enhancing the reputation of tai chi, it lowers it to

20 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer the rank of a quack or crank activ- 1980s by causing a balanced pencil to target. My Italian friends Massimo ity. Tai chi is a good exercise and it move by only pointing at it, turning Polidoro and Luigi Garlaschelli in- deserves to be rescued from the bad pages of a phone book from several feet vestigated the claim for an episode of reputation of cure-all quackery. away by simply staring, and perform- National Geographic TV’s Is It Real? ing other feats. Touted by an Associ- They began by watching a video of Chi Chicanery ated Press story and the TV program Dillman waving his hands before a vol- Still other claims made for chi—involv- That’s Incredible, Hydrick seemed to unteer who started to oscillate and then ing tai chi and related martial arts—are gain scientific support for his powers collapse on the floor, “exactly as Obi actually due to skill and application of when he passed tests given by an assis- Wan Kenobi would do on an Imperial simple physical principles. Here are a tant professor of electrical engineering. guard in the Star Wars films” (Polidoro few examples. Hydrick wore a karate gi and claimed 2008, 20). Candle Feat. In 1984, one of my uni- Eastern philosophy helped him develop The skeptics suspected the feat de- versity students, who had witnessed a his mind power. pended on the power of suggestion. sensational karate demonstration, told However, Hydrick was undone “It looked like the old hypnotic stunts me how the practitioner supposedly when magician and psychical where the hypnotist stands in front of flung off some of his “energy” (chi) to investigator James Randi challenged someone, points a finger to his face extinguish a candle. He supposedly ac- Hydrick on What’s My Line?—offering telling him that he is going to fall complished this by simply pointing at him $10,000 if he could demonstrate backward and, after a while, the per- the flame in a dramatic fashion. genuine paranormal powers as claimed. son falls as expected” (Polidoro 2008, I went to see the demonstration at a Randi thought Hydrick was merely 20). When they conducted an experi- Lexington, Kentucky, high school. The blowing to spin the pencil and flip the ment with Dillman, and Garlaschelli martial artist had his mouth taped to book pages, so he scattered feather- stood with closed eyes as suggested, prove he was not blowing out the flame. He moved his open hand in a rather short, quick blow toward the flame. It only flickered the first time, but on the fourth try was extinguished. I was later able—with some practice—to duplicate the feat. I also found that the secret to such a stunt had been published months earlier in a kung-fu magazine. The se- cret lies in “displacing the air. . . . The speed of your technique is what causes the flame to go out” (Blauer 1983, 86). Cutting Apple on Throat. The same evening I watched the candle stunt, I also witnessed a seemingly risky feat in which a martial artist placed an apple on the throat of a reclining man and cut it in two with a sword. The blade went Portrait of Don Ahn graces his business card (author’s collection). quickly down but stopped abruptly— rather in the manner of someone “pull- ing a punch” in stunt fighting. This might be practiced successfully. light Styrofoam pieces on the table he learned that another factor was at The blade does not need to go all the around the book and challenged him to play: It is easier to lose one’s balance way through the apple to cut it in two. repeat the feat. If he were blowing, the with closed eyes. So he opened his and Indeed, I have heard of a trick method Styrofoam pieces would be disturbed became immune to the punches of chi in which a short length of rigid wire is and thus reveal the trick. Hydrick spent directed at him. inserted in the apple near the bottom an hour and half pretending to use his The investigators followed up with to help stop the blade. Nevertheless, powers before giving up (Baker and another test in which one of Dillman’s sometimes the stunt can go awry as Nickell 1992, 80). He later confessed, students stood behind a curtain that shown in a YouTube video of an assis- boasting that he had “tricked the whole blocked his view while the karate mas- tant having his throat cut—fortunately world” (Korem 1988, 149). ter sent his supposed chi punches at not fatally (“Karate Master” 2009). No-Touch Knockouts. Again, karate intervals directed by the skeptics. This Psychokinetic Effects. A young martial master George Dillman allegedly dis- ruled out suggestion, and the student arts instructor and ex-con named James covered a technique allowing him to simply stood looking puzzled, awaiting Hydrick fooled countless people in the direct chi so as to knock down a human the chi force that never came.

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 21 Rooting “unrecognized mechanical principles To smooth things over, I pretended Another questionable claim—one a involving leverage and balance.” She to have misunderstood what was ex- television producer asked me to look simply caused force applied against her pected and invited him to try again, al- into in 2009—involves what is known to deflect, or glance off, and so become lowing him to succeed. He not only re- in the martial arts as rooting. This is a useless effort (Nickell 1991, 34–40). sisted my push but actually repelled me, the purported special ability—aided by Among several imitators of Hurst, as I compliantly played by his rules and I drawing chi up from the earth while “One of the cleverest of these,” wrote let him easily deflect my applied force. imagining roots branching down from magician Harry Houdini (1920, 228), the feet—to keep oneself planted firmly used the stage name Annie Abbott. Notes despite an incoming force (“Rooting” Her posters even billed her as “The 1. I never learned what happened to our vid- 2016). I watched a hastily shot video Little Georgia Magnet.” She was a eotape of this event, since I was drawn away to of tai chi Grand Master Don Ahn. brief sensation in London, where she another film project. A producer did say he was took her act in 1891, but—exposed very happy with my efforts (Gaines 2009). What I saw reminded me of the stunts 2. Dongkuk “Don” Ahn (1937–2013) was of certain “human magnets”—such as by what Houdini (1920, 229) called “a also a prominent artist residing in New York teenage Lulu Hurst of Georgia in the keen-witted reporter”—she also soon City. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he painted in 1880s. faded from view. Her real name was acrylic on canvas using fluid brushstrokes remi- Dixie Annie (Jarrett) Haygood, and she niscent of Eastern calligraphy (“Don Ahn” 2014). is buried in the Memory Hill Cemetery References I was the only one to in Milledge ville, Georgia, where I vis- Baker, Robert A., and Joe Nickell. 1992. Missing displace Master Ahn. ited many years ago (see Figure 1). Pieces: How to Investigate Ghosts, UFOs, Psychics, I did so by subverting & Other Mysteries. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Overpowering a Master Books. his method: I quickly Blauer, Tony. 1983. Effective self-defense. Inside Master Ahn seemed to use principles Kung-Fu August: 85–87. crouched low, grabbed similar to those of Hurst and Abbott. Don Ahn (Dongkuk)—Spirit. 2014. Available online at www.ahlfoundation.org/spirit/; him bodily, and moved I flew to New York on June 26, 2009, accessed August 23, 2016. to shoot a demo for a possible TV Gaines, Cory. 2009. Personal communication him—sputtering and series,1 and I observed him closely. He (from Leftfield Pictures) to Joe Nickell, June 27. Houdini, Harry. 1920. Miracle Mongers and Their protesting—straight remained firmly in place while oth- Methods. Reprinted Toronto: Coles, 1980. ers—singly or together—attempted to Karate master cuts his assistant’s throat. 2009. back. push him backward. Having others play Available online at https://www.youtube.com/ by his rules ensured his success as he watch?v=OYJvglrEsAk; accessed August 23, 2016. applied the principles of low center Korem, Dan. 1988. Powers: Testing the Psychic & of gravity (his small stature and effec- Supernatural. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Billed as the “Georgia Magnet,” 2 tive stance) and force deflection. He Press, 85–156. the fifteen-year-old Hurst would stand employed his forearm much as Lulu Lam, Paul. 2016. Qi in Martial Arts. Available online at qi-encyclopedia.com/?article=Qi%20 before the audience holding a stick Hurst used a stick, having opponents parallel to the floor of the stage, while in%20Martial%20Arts; accessed August 23, place their hands there so he could use it 2016. two strong men gripping it would at- as a lever, pivoting from the elbow. Nickell, Joe. 1991. Wonderworkers! How They tempt to move her. Instead, she merely I was the only one to displace him. Perform the Impossible. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus pressed against the stick and not only Books. I did so by subverting his method: I ———. 2005. Secrets of the Sideshows. Lexington, prevented the action but pushed them quickly crouched low, grabbed him KY: University Press of Kentucky. across the stage to the spectators’ de- bodily, and moved him—sputtering and ———. 2011. Karate Student. Available online at www.joenickell.com/KarateStudent/ light. Hurst called her power a “Great protesting—straight back. He strongly Unknown.” However, in time came KarateStudent1html; accessed August 25, 2016. objected, saying I was manipulating ———. 2012. Traditional Chinese Medicine: criticism: the New York Times (July 13, him. And so I was, refusing to play his Views East and West. S I 1884) called her performances “a phe- game, which had nothing at all to do 36(2) (March/April): 18–20. nomenon of stupidity” showing “how ———. 2012a. Jujitsu White Belt. Available online with chi and everything to do with phys- at www.joenickell.com/JujitsuWhiteBelt/ willingly people will be fooled. . . .” ical principles. JujitsuWhiteBelt1html; accessed August 25, Miss Hurst also became concerned Of course it was rude to have behaved 2016. with how spiritualists were embracing so, but it was not the same as grabbing Polidoro, Massimo. 2008. Just like Jedi knights (if her as a powerful medium. After two only). S I 32(3) (May/June): something from a magician’s hands. The 20–21. years of performing, she married the latter is an honest deceiver, whereas— Rooting, stabilizing . . . in Qigong. . . . 2016. young man who managed her show and intentionally or otherwise—the martial Available online at www.egreenway.com/ returned to obscurity. She later con- qigong/rooting.htm; accessed August 23, 2016. artist who attributes such feats to any- Tegner, Bruce. 1973. Kung Fu & Tai Chi: Chinese fessed that the secret behind her power thing other than physical principles is Karate and Classical Exercises. New York: was simply “deflected force,” namely, misleading the public. Bantam Books.

22 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer [ PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS ROBERT SHEAFFER Sheaffer’s “Psychic Vibrations” column has appeared in the S  I for forty years. His new book, Bad UFOs, is available through his blog, BadUFOs.com. His website is www.debunker.com.

‘Mirage Men’—Disinformation Agents or Just a Mirage?

n UFOlogy today, the term Mirage strategic deception planners and early Men is understood to signify sup- UFO events by relating how Colonel Iposed shadowy government agents Carl Goldbranson petitioned FBI as- who, for inscrutable reasons, are sistance in investigating UFO events. allegedly tricking the public—not by Goldbranson was a WW2 member of “debunking” UFOs but creating belief Joint Security Control and one of its in UFOs and the like. The title comes principal deception planners.” from a 2010 book by the British On August 23, I posted the fol- author Mark Pilkington, Mirage Men: lowing comment on Carrion’s blog: An Adventure into Paranoia, Espionage, “Goldbranson ‘desired the Bureau Psychological Warfare, and UFOs. In conduct some investigation of Shaver 2013, the book was made into a movie to determine whether or not he has any of the same title written by Pilkington information pertaining to the origin of and directed by John Lundberg, Roland the flying saucers.’ So, am I correct in Denning, and Kypros Kyprianou. The understanding that Col. Goldbranson movie purports to demonstrate “How was asking the FBI investigate Richard the US government created a myth Shaver to see what he knows about the that took over the world” (www.mir- origin of the flying saucers? Shaver, the agemen.com). Interestingly, Lundberg guy who claimed that underground ro- is a leading “crop circle maker” in the bots are fighting in caves?” United Kingdom (www.circlemakers. Carrion seems not to have noticed org). none of them involved official agencies that Goldbranson was in essence ask- One investigator who has been (see my book Bad UFOs, p. 4). ing the FBI to investigate the “Shaver widely promoting the idea of Mirage After promoting the Mirage Men Mystery,” a well-known series of crack- Men is James Carrion, who served as hypothesis on his blog for several years, pot stories about all kinds of impossi- the International Director of MUFON on August 20, 2016, Carrion claimed ble things that were supposedly true. from 2006 to 2009. Carrion was very to have found a “smoking gun” that In chapter 5 of his classic 1952 book different from the typical MUFON demonstrates “Human Deception at Fads & Fallacies in the Name of Science, leader. Not even willing to defend Play during the UFO Wave of 1947” Martin Gardner explains: “Drawing on Holy Roswell as an E.T. event, he was (http://goo.gl/cq87Ej). He cited an his ‘racial memories,’ Shaver described far too independent a thinker to fit in FBI memo of July 21, 1947, stating in great detail the activities of a midget well at MUFON. It was no surprise that Colonel Carl Goldbranson “de- race of degenerates called ‘deros’ who when Carrion and MUFON went sired the Bureau conduct some investi- live in huge caverns beneath the surface their separate ways, with him pro- gation of Shaver to determine whether of the earth. By means of telepathy and claiming that the UFO phenomenon or not he has any information pertain- secret rays, the deros are responsible for “is based in deception—of the human ing to the origin of the flying saucers.” most of the earth’s catastrophes—wars, kind.” He cited several very interesting This, says Carrion, “unequivocally doc- fires, airplane crashes, shipwrecks, and examples of such deception, although uments the connection between U.S. nervous breakdowns.”

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 23 On August 25, longtime UFO re- * * * BLACK MOON: Astrological event searcher Brad Sparks wrote: Believers in government UFO con- to herald ‘End of Days’ and second [Carrion’s] “proof ” is what is now spiracies are always on the lookout for coming.” This supposedly rare event his central figure in the entire plot, “evidence” to support that belief, and was supposed to occur on September a “Col.” Carl Goldbranson, and an now they think they may have found 30, 2016, at 8:11  Eastern time, FBI memo of July 21, 1947, released which is in fact the exact time of the decades ago. But Carrion has so far some. Alejandro Rojas of Open Minds, failed to prove that Goldbranson a group that promotes UFO claims, new moon. did anything more than ask the FBI wrote on July 6, 2016, about the sup- “On Friday September 30, a rare to investigate a notorious character posed discovery of “the US military’s Black Moon will occur, which many are who supposedly knew the origin of high-priority UFO reporting system” linking to the apocalypse. The spectac- flying saucers and whose location ular Black Moon occurs when the il- and timing supposedly coincided (http://goo.gl/Fp0ICA): with certain incidents in early July AFI 10-206 now references what luminated side of the moon is caught 1947.... Carrion apparently missed is called Operational Reporting in the shadow of the Earth, making the fact that it was the infamous (OPREP). In the past, UFO it virtually impossible to see” (http:// Richard Shaver whose name got researchers have noted the term goo.gl/ELbwhc). This makes no sense through the document censors in OPREP-3 on UFO documents. at all. The moon can only move into one place of the FBI memo. Yes, Australian UFO researcher Paul the Richard Shaver of the lunatic Dean has been taking a closer look, the Earth’s shadow at the time of full Shaver Mysteries, full of “deros” or and it appears this may be the way moon, not new moon. And the new “deranged robots”—the so-called important UFO sightings are being moon is always “virtually impossible robots who were not actually even reported by the military today. . . . to see,” unless it impinges on the solar robots (how deranged is that?!?)— Dean first noticed that OPREP-3 and Lemuria tales. . . . was being used to report UFOs disk during an eclipse. But Goldbranson did not even ask when he was looking into UFO Somewhat more comprehensible are the FBI to perpetrate any deception! cases in the 70s, in particular a other discussions of the “Black Moon” How is asking the FBI to investigate case from the Pinecastle Electronic someone amount to carrying out a of September 30. An article by sci- Warfare Range in Florida on May ence writer Joe Rao explains, “Friday’s deception? Does any of this deceive 14, 1978. . . . It is no wonder that the Soviet intelligence agencies? And these cases are deserving of a vital sky (Sept. 30) is host to a somewhat into believing what? That a marginal reporting system such as OPREP- unusual lunar event in the Western character such as Richard Shaver of 3. It is also no wonder that despite Hemisphere: a second new moon in a the Shaver Mystery stories and the telling the public they are not inter- single month, which some people call a “truth” about underground worlds ested in UFOs, that they are in fact and Lemuria was a credible bearer of investigating these shocking cases ‘Black Moon’. . . . A second full moon intelligence about flying saucers being of unidentified aircraft violating our in a single calendar month is some- U.S. secret weapons? (see http://goo. most secure airspace. times called a ‘Blue Moon.’ A Black gl/308r0g). Moon is supposedly the flip side of a Skeptics with a military background Blue Moon: the second new moon in a The British researcher Christopher were quick to point out that the various single calendar month” (see http://goo. D. Allen noted: OPREPs have long been used to report practically any kind of unexpected event gl/0rru35). The FBI did, from time to time, Of course, astronomers did not interview a few oddities we would up the chain of command, for example, call “cranks.” Adamski was one, Ray a vehicle accident. So if some military invent these terms and never used Palmer was another, Shaver was personnel saw a light in the sky that them—at least not until they became obviously another. I dare say anyone they could not identify, the officer in fixed in the public’s mind. Decades who, in the opinion of the FBI, pub- ago, some creative writer reassigned lished something cranky that might charge would write an OPREP and have some effect on the security of send it upstairs. But some UFO con- the old term “blue moon,” which used the US was a suspect, and there- spiracy theorists seem to think that to signify a rare event, to mean two full fore a risk. Hence these occasional the reporting of lights in the sky on an moons in a single month (which is not interviews of eccentrics. (http://goo. OPREP is proof of the long-rumored so rare), and the usage stuck. Now it gl/5S0tib) Secret Government UFO Investigation appears that the same has been done in So while we don’t know if the FBI Group. the case of two new moons, and with actually did interview Shaver, even all this hoopla the designation is likely if they did it doesn’t prove anything. * * * to stick. Then there is the supposedly What this does suggest, however, is the And here comes a new piece of cra- dreadful “Blood Moon,” to which startling fact that the experienced mil- ziness: trending on Facebook in many attribute religious significance. itary intelligence officer Goldbranson mid-September was the “black moon,” It is nothing more than the full moon actually thought that the “true fantasy” which is one of the silliest things I have passing into total eclipse, illuminated writer Richard Shaver might have some seen in a very long time. The Express only by reddish light passing through I useful information about flying saucers! in London proclaims, “Warning of rare Earth’s atmosphere.

24 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer [NOTES ON A STRANGE WORLD MASSIMO POLIDORO Massimo Polidoro is an investigator of the paranormal, lecturer, and cofounder and head of CICAP, the Italian skeptics group. His website is at www.massimopolidoro.com.

Ten Practical Tactics to Unravel the Uncanny

“Science, my boy, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, comments or reproaches. Mistakes can because they lead little by little to the truth.” happen to anyone, and it is better to —Jules Verne offer your findings as helpful contribu- tions to the subject at hand in the hopes nvestigating mysteries can be both plicable mystery. Just add a little curi- that in the future news will be checked fun and instructive. Sure, it’s an osity about the subject and the desire to for facts before being announced. Iactivity that requires a lot of patience, apply yourself and you are ready to go! the desire and the time to study and 2) Check the credibility of the source. remain up to date, the willingness to 1) Make sure that the mystery not stop at the surface but always get to actually exists. If the director of NASA were to say the bottom of things, the humbleness that little green men have landed on It’s the first rule. More often than to seek advice, and a lot of other big Earth, the credibility of the news you would expect, news devoid of any would be much higher than if similar and small strategies in order to reach foundation is published in newspapers statements were made by a former the end of the path that will lead to or broadcast on television. These are actress or a writer of science-fiction a final explanation—or at least to an usually curious episodes found on the novels. This does not mean that the educated guess when it’s impossible to Internet that never happened in reality, authority of a source is enough to make perform definitive testing. fantasies of people seeking publicity, the statement true—the list of blunders Here I present a few tools that will poor translations of news outlets in made by Nobel laureates and heads of help you get started, after which you a foreign language, stories misunder- state is unfortunately very long—but, can go deeper as you see fit. In Italy, stood by the reporter, or perhaps urban at least, it may represent an initial cred- for example, the skeptics group CICAP legends that for the umpteenth time ibility filter. organizes an annual course on how to are passed off as authentic facts. In investigate mysteries, which includes all these cases, those who have the several seminars, experts from which to patience to ask fundamental questions 3) Conduct extensive research and learn, books and documents to study, will invariably find the explanation to go back to the original sources. and practical experiences to perform the mystery simply because there is no Never trust the accuracy of what is (such as walking on hot coals, testing mystery to explain. reported by secondary sources. Even a self-proclaimed psychic, or creating a However, when you raise doubts unintentionally, news may be distorted crop circle in the night). Similar courses and explain the facts to the newspaper, because it is poorly understood by the are organized by skeptical organizations the website, or the program that broke reporter, because a witness has not in other parts of the world as well, and the news, the reaction is rarely one of been able to explain him- or herself, there are also very good books on the gratitude. In the best cases, a retraction because his or her statements were subject. is published, though usually in small changed in order to make them more Let’s start with these ten practical print; at worst, the correction is ignored palatable to the audience, or for many suggestions that you must keep in mind or the news is simply taken down from other reasons. It is important to, on the each time you find yourself watching a the website without further explana- one hand, compare multiple versions TV show or news report or reading an tions. Therefore, when contacting the of the same episode, and, on the other article dealing with an apparently inex- news outlet it is best to avoid sarcastic hand, to determine who first made the

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 25 claim in question whenever possible. which a specific phenomenon took requires a specialist opinion outside our Only then can you hope to reduce the place. Sometimes this can be enough covered fields. Searching an appropri- “noise” added to a story by those who to solve a mystery. Once, for exam- ate expert for the information you need came afterward. ple, I had a chance to examine some can be a fun activity in itself and could video clips with James Randi where result in collaborations that lead to new you could see a Russian psychic move investigations and discoveries. objects without touching them. The only explanation possible, aside from 8) Learn to distinguish between the unlikely explanation that she used facts and fantasies. psychokinetic powers, seemed to be The plural of anecdote is not evidence. the use of invisible threads or magnets. However, when we had the opportu- It does not matter how many stories nity to recreate the same conditions you collect on a particular mystery, they This is perhaps the using a Plexiglass plate identical to will never have the probative value of a the one used by the psychic, we found single documented fact. You may even most important rule with great surprise that any object of have 1,000 witnesses who claim they of all: always try to a certain weight and a certain shape have seen a psychic levitate in mid-air, find the simplest was going to move around “by itself ” but you can never declare a genuine when put on top of the plate due to a levitation unless the medium performs explanation available. reaction of static electricity produced the feat, even once, under conditions by the Plexiglass after it was rubbed. that prevent any tricks or deceptions. By reproducing the original conditions under which the psychic operated, we 9) Take witnesses with a grain of found a solution for the mystery with- salt and be polite. out testing the psychic herself. Listen with respect and patience to those who had unusual experiences or 6) Whenever you can, check the who believe they possess evidence of facts for yourself. a paranormal phenomenon. Granted, 4) Do not make assumptions before Never trust reports given by others, they may be wrong, but the number you have all the facts. even though they may be from people of factors that influence eyewitness This is the fundamental rule laid out who are usually reliable. For example, reports are so many (and beyond per- by Sherlock Holmes: “It is a capital whenever you have the opportunity, sonal control) that a person may believe mistake to theorize before one has personally go to the location where a in good faith in what he or she says. data. Insensibly, one begins to twist mystery took place; it’s the best way to Please, always bear in mind that the facts to suit theories, instead of theories really evaluate the situation. You can task of an investigator of mysteries is to suit facts.” easily start to see possible alternative to reconstruct the facts and to find the Trying to guess possible explana- explanations and maybe understand truth, not to attack or ridicule people’s tions for a mystery with few facts and what really happened. Watching tele- beliefs or motivations. basing your guesses merely on news re- vision or reading web pages about the ports or hearsay is a sure way to avoid mystery at hand are not even remotely 10) Apply Occam’s Razor. solving the problem. You should in- comparable to going out in the field to This is perhaps the most important stead approach the mystery with an conduct an investigation. rule of all: always try to find the sim- open mind and note as much detail and plest explanation available. Occam’s information as possible. You cannot 7) Ask experts for advice. Razor is a problem-solving principle rely on news reports for a very simple Do not pretend you know every- devised in the fourteenth century by an reason: even if a reporter is capable and thing—especially in a hyper-informed English Franciscan friar and philoso- attentive, the limited space available age such as ours. Getting in touch pher, William of Ockham. It states that will lead him or her to leave out details with the appropriate experts is the when there are competing hypotheses that might at first sight seem insignifi- only useful way to solve a technical or that predict equally well, the one with cant but that, if known and seen in per- practical doubt. CICAP’s consultants, the fewest assumptions is most likely spective, could lead to the solution of for example, come from many dif- the correct one. In other words, before the mystery. ferent disciplines: physicists, chemists, formulating revolutionary theories, it is biologists, psychologists, neurologists, necessary to determine whether or not 5) Reproduce the original conditions. climatologists, geologists, and so on. a certain phenomenon can be inter- I Try to recreate the conditions under There is always some new mystery that preted with existing theories.

26 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer [ THE SCIENCE OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION MATTHEW NISBET Matthew Nisbet is associate professor of communication at Northeastern University and a Committee for Skeptical Inquiry scientific consultant. From 1997 to 1999, he was public relations director for CSI.

The Superbug Crisis False Beliefs about Antibiotics Are a Global Threat

s millions of Americans visit their to kill off “good” bacteria in their bodies that are resistant to one or more anti- health care providers this winter that protect them from infection. biotics, and at least 23,000 die annu- A complaining of a cold, surveys Drug-resistant bacteria are then more ally as a direct result of those infections suggest that one in four will be expect- likely to take over, festering in places (Centers for Disease Control 2013). In ing their provider to prescribe them such as the gut. These superbugs can a recent report, the World Bank (2016) an antibiotic, falsely believing that the spread to other people at home and at warned that by 2050 the growth in antibiotic will help them recover more work or in a hospital. drug-resistant infections, if not con- quickly from the virus (Watkins et al. The rise of superbugs and the loss of tained, would cause a level of global 2015). The demand for antibiotics by antibiotic effectiveness not only makes economic damage equivalent to, if not patients is not surprising, considering it more difficult to combat common worse than, the 2008 financial crisis. other survey findings. Only about half threats, such as urinary tract infections Responding to the threat, in 2015 of Americans know correctly that anti- or pneumonia, but those patients under- the Obama administration set a goal biotics kill bacteria but not viruses, a going joint replacements, dental surgery, of by 2020 cutting inappropriate use of proportion that has remained relatively cancer therapy, and other procedures— antibiotics in hospitals by 20 percent stable for more than a decade (Hwang who often depend on antibiotics to re- and in other health care settings by 50 et al. 2015). cover—are also put at high risk. percent. Recognizing that antibiotic In recent decades, similarly false be- Each year at least 2 million Amer- resistance is an international problem liefs across countries have contributed icans battle serious bacterial infections that cannot be solved by the actions to a dangerous rise in antibiotic use. Between 2000 and 2010, worldwide sales of antibiotics by pharmacies and hospitals increased 36 percent. Overall, India, China, and the United States use the most antibiotics, though Americans are by far the highest per capita con- sumers (Van Boeckel et al. 2014). In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2013) estimates that 50 per- cent of all antibiotics prescribed in the United States are not warranted. The overuse of antibiotics in the United States and other countries combined with the rapid growth in the use of antibiotics to grow livestock has led to the evolution of lethal “superbugs,” bacteria that are resistant to most antibiotics. When people overuse antibiotics, they are more likely

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 27 of a single country, a United Kingdom exist that evaluate public attitudes and and agriculture. The model for the pro- report last year called for a “massive beliefs, providing little basis by which cess reflects past UN efforts on climate global public awareness campaign” so to design and target messages or to plan change. that patients no longer demand—and other persuasion strategies. Those few However, for decades on the topic health care providers do not prescribe— studies available reveal a variety of sub- of climate change, world governments unnecessary antibiotics (Review on An- stantial communication challenges and and scientific bodies were slow to rec- timicrobial Resistance 2016). barriers. ognize the need to invest in social sci- In the United States and Europe, ence-based research to inform public Communicating in the Dark members of the public still do not see communication efforts, and they con- To be sure, more than just public edu- antibiotic resistance as a personally rel- tinue to underfund initiatives aimed at cation is needed. The widespread and evant problem that poses risks to their engaging the public on actions to re- unnecessary use of antibiotics in agri- health or that is a function of their own duce greenhouse gas emissions. Hope- culture must be ended; sanitation and choices as a health consumer. Instead, fully we have learned a lesson. In com- clean water systems must be built in they tend to blame doctors, hospitals, bating the superbug threat, we cannot poorer countries; drug companies must and the government. They also believe afford to delay investing in the commu- step up to develop new antibiotics; and that science is likely to find a solution nication research and activities needed in the form of new antibiotics and, as I health agencies need funding for the to decrease the overuse of antibiotics. early detection of emerging superbugs, of yet, do not see the need for major concludes the recent U.K. report. changes in individual behavior, health References Centers for Disease Control. 2013. Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/ Research shows that a health care provider’s ar-threats-2013-508.pdf. Hwang, T.J., K.A. Gibbs, S.H. Podolsky, et perceptions of patient expectations are al. 2015. Antimicrobial stewardship and public knowledge of antibiotics. The Lancet important, since they tend to be a reliable Infectious Diseases 15(9): 1000–1001. McCullough, A.R., S. Parekh, J. Rathbone, et predictor of over-prescribing. al. 2016. A systematic review of the public’s knowledge and beliefs about antibiotic resis- tance. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 71(1): 27–33. Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. 2016. Tackling Drug-Resistant Infections Globally: Final Report and Recommendations. Available online at https://amr-review.org/sites/ But changing the beliefs of the pub- care practice, or policy (McCullough et default/files/160525_Final%20paper_with lic is also essential. Health care provid- al. 2016; Wiklund et al. 2015). %20cover.pdf. ers are under immense pressure from The 2016 U.K. report estimates Van Boeckel, T.P., S. Gandra, A. Ashok, et al. patients to provide antibiotics for treat- the budget for a global public educa- 2014. Global antibiotic consumption 2000 to 2010: An analysis of national pharmaceu- ment of colds and other viral illnesses. tion campaign at $100 million, an ab- tical sales data. The Lancet Infectious Diseases A 2012 survey found that half of U.S. surdly low figure. The research costs 14(8): 742–750. health care providers say that their pa- of adequately mapping and evaluating Watkins, L.K.F., G.V. Sanchez, A.P. Albert, et the views of different segments of the al. 2015. Knowledge and attitudes regard- tients expect an antibiotic when visit- ing antibiotic use among adult consum- ing for a viral infection. Research shows public across countries, identifying the ers, adult Hispanic consumers, and health that a health care provider’s perceptions types of messages that are likely to be care providers—United States, 2012–2013. of patient expectations are important, persuasive, the sources that they trust MMWR-Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 64(28): 767–770. since they tend to be a reliable predictor for information, and the local channels Wiklund, S., I. Fagerberg, Å Örtqvist., et al. of over-prescribing. Patients also report by which to reach people would alone 2015. Knowledge and understanding of anti- other means by which they obtain an- easily exceed that figure. The budget biotic resistance and the risk of becoming a tibiotics, using prescriptions left over for the actual advertising and campaign carrier when travelling abroad: A qualitative study of Swedish travellers. Scandinavian from past visits or using those obtained efforts would be much greater. Journal of Public Health 43(3): 302–308. by a family member or friend (Watkins In September 2016, all 193 member World Bank. 2016. Drug-Resistant Infections: A et al. 2015). countries of the United Nations signed Threat to Our Economic Future (Discussion a declaration committing to a process Draft). Washington, DC: World Bank. The problem in mounting a pub- Available online at http://pubdocs.world- lic education campaign is that only a that sets goals and timelines for reduc- bank.org/en/527731474225046104/AMR- handful of quality studies and surveys ing the use of antibiotics in medicine Discussion-Draft-Sept18updated.pdf.

28 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer [ BEHAVIOR & BELIEF STUART VYSE Stuart Vyse is a psychologist and author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, which won the William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. He is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

Consensus: Could Two Hundred Scientists Be Wrong?

n August of 2016, publication of studies of H.M.’s memory loss. DiCarlo a book about neuroscience’s most objected to the suggestion that Corkin Ifamous amnesia patient—known for had ever tried to block the publication decades only as H.M.—stirred up a of an article revealing this brain injury. controversy in the world of science. On The article did eventually appear with August 3, the New York Times Magazine Corkin as a coauthor. released an article adapted from Luke 3. Allegation that there was something Dittrich’s book, Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness, and Family Secrets inappropriate in the selection of Tom (Dittrich 2016a; 2016b). Two days later, An illustration of the human brain showing the hippocam- Mooney as Henry’s guardian. Perhaps pus (red area), one of the structures removed from Henry the most troubling questions raised by on August 5, more than two hundred Molaison’s brain. (source: Wikimedia) neuroscientists from around the world Dittrich were about the way Corkin had signed a letter to the Times in sup- obtained Henry’s consent to be studied. Given Molaison’s disability, it was doubt- port of Professor Suzanne Corkin, the “biased and misleading” description of ful that he was capable of understanding Massachusetts Institute of Technology Corkin’s work with H.M. On August and evaluating Corkin’s requests to par- scientist who did most of the research 9, six days after the Times article was ticipate in research, and yet informed with H.M (DiCarlo et al. 2016). released and four days after the let- consent is a basic hallmark of research Henry Molaison (H.M.) suffered ter signed by the scientists appeared, ethics. According to Dittrich, from 1981 profound memory loss as a result of an Professor Corkin’s colleagues in the to 1992, Henry was the only person experimental brain operation conducted Department of Brain and Cognitive signing the informed consent forms for in 1953 in an effort to control his ep- Sciences got specific about their con- Corkin’s research studies. Eventually, ilepsy. The surgery removed most of cerns, posting a letter on the MIT although three of Henry’s first cousins Molaison’s hippocampus and some website outlining what Department were alive at the time, Corkin arranged nearby structures on both sides of his Head James J. DiCarlo characterized for Thomas F. Mooney, a second cousin, brain, leaving him incapable of creating as the “allegations” in Dittrich’s article to become his conservator. Mooney new episodic memories. Henry, who (DiCarlo 2016a): was the inspiration for the popular film went on to sign research consent forms and—importantly—an agreement to Memento, could recall many things that 1. Allegation that (H.M.’s) research records donate Henry’s brain to MIT upon his happened to him prior to 1953, but after were or would be destroyed or shredded. death. the surgery he couldn’t tell you what he Given the importance of H.M. to the had done five minutes before the present history of neuroscience, any destruction The August 5 letter to the New York moment. As Dittrich put it in the New of primary data would be considered an Times Magazine signed by two hundred York Times Magazine article, “Each of enormous loss and possibly a violation scientists in defense of Professor Corkin the hundreds of times [he and Professor of research ethics. Corkin] met, it was, for Henry, a first appeared on the MIT website with the meeting. . . .” 2. Allegation that the finding of an addi- heading “by International Community tional lesion in (H.M.’s) left orbitofrontal of Scientists”—a clear attempt to sug- The Questions Raised cortex was suppressed. When Molaison gest a consensus opinion in support of Sadly, Suzanne Corkin died in May of died, his brain was donated to sci- Professor Corkin. Without question, 2016, months before Dittrich’s book ence, and postmortem analysis revealed Suzanne Corkin was much admired, and and the Times article appeared, and so it a previously unknown lesion in his left her death must have been a great loss to was left to her colleagues to defend her frontal lobe. The discovery of this injury her colleagues. On a human level, the against what they believed was Dittrich’s could affect the interpretation of earlier urge to defend her honor is completely

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 29 temperature trend data—spawning a Unfortunately, the apparent consensus popular “I brought the graph” Internet produced by the two hundred signatures video meme—and other evidence in fur- on the MIT website in support of Profes- ther support of his viewpoint, whereas sor Corkin is something else entirely. It is Roberts could only defend his position unlikely the vast majority of the signers with vague conspiracy theories about had direct experience with the relevant NASA and other scientific groups “ma- evidence. nipulating” the data. The Questions Raised As Malcolm Roberts was trying to suggest, consensus alone is not evidence. In the August 9 letter, Professor DiCarlo There was a time when, according to highlighted and responded to the three the prevailing scientific consensus, the “allegations” above. According to DiCarlo, Earth—not the Sun—was at the center two of Professor Corkin’s department of our planetary system, and it took a colleagues at MIT had investigated the long time for geocentricism to be tossed matter, and their report “rebutted each aside. Appeals to consensus and author- claim” made by Dittrich in the New York ity should always be suspect. At the same Times Magazine article. Unfortunately, time, we cannot all be experts. In the that appears to be far from clear. In response to the August 9 letter, Leonard Shelby, the central character of the popular movie contemporary world, citizens confront Dittrich published a piece addressing Memento, was based on patient H.M., although the script many important issues without having incorrectly described his problem as a lack of short-term each of the objections raised by the MIT the necessary skills to judge the evidence. memory. In fact, both Leonard Shelby and H.M. suffered from evaluation on Medium.com (Dittrich an inability to form new long-term episodic memories. As a result, we are often forced to rely on 2016c). In defense of his claim that authorities. Furthermore, if the experts Corkin destroyed some of H.M.’s data, understandable, but was it a good idea? have reached a level of agreement, know- Dittrich posted an audio file of his in- Should these scientists have put their ing that they agree can sometimes be a terview with Corkin in which she can be names and institutional affiliations on useful bit of information. heard saying that she had already shred- this letter? Consensus is not a given. Often ded data and planned to shred more. This well-intentioned investigators working When Scientists Appeal to Consensus means that either Corkin did what she with shared sets of data fail to agree. said and destroyed data, or she lied (or Two other recent cases of scientists mak- Problems remain unsolved, and scien- perhaps misspoke) to Dittrich. ing appeals to consensus come to mind. tists retreat to their corners in support of In a subsequent piece posted on the In my July 2015 online “Behavior & conflicting pet theories. This is common MIT website (that’s number three, if you Belief ” column, I argued that Lumosity and to be expected. Eventually, future are counting) on August 20, Professor and similar brain training programs advances in technology or theory may DiCarlo further defended Corkin, argu- were scams (Vyse 2015). I based my make additional progress possible, but ing: (1) that an internal investigation had assessment, in part, on a 2014 consensus until then disagreements and incomplete discovered that no files were destroyed, statement signed by seventy neuroscien- answers are the normal state of affairs. So, (2) that there was nothing wrong with the tists and memory researchers that found when scientists are able to converge on a assignment of Thomas Mooney as Hen- the claims of the brain training industry shared understanding, consensus can add ry’s conservator, and (3) that any dispute to be unjustified (“A Consensus on a little weight to that view. over publication and the newly discovered the Brain Training Industry from the But how should regular folks know lesion was overblown (DiCarlo 2016b). Scientific Community” 2014). when to accept a consensus viewpoint? Similarly, in arguments about cli- To help decide, it is useful to ask, “What Weighing the Evidence mate change, scientists frequently cite is the basis of the claim?” In the strongest This is a spat that will not be resolved. the overwhelming consensus among cases, we have the word of scientists who Professor Corkin is no longer with us, climate change scientists that global have worked directly with the relevant and she alone could answer some of these warming is real and caused by human evidence. For example, the consensus questions. In her defense, it should be activity. For example, in an August 10, in climate change comes from research- acknowledged that the ethical standards 2016, televised climate change debate, ers who work directly with climate data. for research with human participants physicist Brian Cox made an appeal to Similarly, the brain training consensus has been evolving somewhat gradu- scientific consensus, and the Australian statement was written by seventy scien- ally since World War II, and Corkin climate change denier Malcolm Roberts, tists who routinely conduct and evaluate began working with H.M. more than a member of the far-right One Nation research on memory and learning. So, in four decades ago. Today’s standards for Party, attacked Cox for citing consensus these cases, the presence of a consensus obtaining informed consent and for the rather than data (“Professor Brian Cox seems noteworthy. It is not a guarantee preservation of research data are much Clashes with Australian Climate Scep- that the dominant paradigm is correct, more rigorous than they were when she tic” 2016). Fortunately, Cox brought but it adds weight to the claim. first met Henry. In addition, squabbles

30 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer among authors of scientific publications • Once MIT identified the “allegations” Finally, I strongly recommend Dit- happen from time to time. As a result, it it became clear that few if any of trich’s book, Patient H.M.: A Story of is unclear—to me, at least—whether she the signers could have had relevant Memory, Madness, and Family Secrets violated professional research standards. knowledge of the facts. For example, (Dittrich 2016b). It paints a vivid pic- Having said that, the questions raised it took an additional week and a half ture of the history of psychosurgery by Dittrich are ones that, as a journalist, for MIT to investigate the H.M. and the treatment of the mentally ill he has a right—perhaps even a duty—to files and come to the conclusion that from the mid-nineteenth to the late raise. Our ethical standards will not con- they had been “maintained and not twentieth centuries, and it provides an tinue to evolve unless we soberly consider destroyed”—a claim that would be evocative and detailed account of the the various research dilemmas of the difficult to validate (DiCarlo 2016b). world’s most famous human research past, present, and future. Perhaps there Scientists have a unique and import- participant. In addition, Dittrich has a were good reasons for assigning Thomas ant role in the public dialogue. They are number of personal connections to the Mooney conservator for H.M.—despite trusted—or should be—to have special story. For example, it was Dittrich’s his not being Henry’s closest relative— skills of analysis achieved after long study grandfather, William Beecher Scoville, but what principles should guide cases and practice. There are many important who performed the tragic operation in like this in the future? Like Dittrich, I social issues to which scientists can and 1953 that turned Henry Molaison into would prefer that every bit of Henry’s I should contribute. Unfortunately, when it Patient H.M. data be preserved, and yet in Dittrich’s comes to evolution, climate change, and References audio recording, Corkin can be heard de- the benefits of vaccination, scientists are fending the shredding of data. It is clear “A Consensus on the Brain Training Industry from too often ignored. the Scientific Community.” 2014. Max Planck to me that Dittrich considers Henry Mo- But if scientists are going to maintain Institute for Human Develop ment and Stanford Center on Lon gevity. Available online at http:// laison’s legacy to be a public good, some- their credibility, they should not squander thing that should be preserved for future longevity3.stanford.edu/blog/2014/10/15/ their authority by weighing in on subjects the-consensus-on-the-brain-training-indus- generations, and I tend to agree. outside their circle of knowledge. Many try-from-the-scientific-community/; accessed But now back to the question of scien- October 12, 2016. of us—including me—have at times DiCarlo, James J. 2016a. “Letter/Statement tific consensus. made public statements that go beyond Submitted to the New York Times on August 9, 2016 from Prof. James J. DiCarlo, Head, When Should a Scientist Sign a Statement, the data, but if we want to maintain the Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences Petition, or Letter of Support? influence of science in society, we need to at MIT,” Bsc.mit.edu. Available online at make every effort to stick to the subjects http://bcs.mit.edu/news-events/news/letter- It is understandable that MIT’s De - statement-submitted-new-york-times-august- partment of Brain and Cognitive we know best. 9-2016-prof-james-j-dicarlo-head; accessed I cannot help but wonder what might October 12, 2016. Sciences should want to defend its status ———. 2016b. “Additional information as of in the scientific community and come to have happened if MIT had just let the August 20, 2016, further rebutting Luke the defense of a beloved colleague. But issue slide. Dittrich’s book is interesting Dittrich’s allegations against Professor Corkin.” and provocative, but the “allegations” that Bsc.mit.edu. Available online at http://bcs. what of the two hundred signers of the mit.edu/news-events/news/additional-in- letter, the “International Community of MIT saw in the New York Times Maga- formation-august-20-2016-further-rebut- ting-luke-dittrich%E2%80%99s-allegations; Scientists”? Each of these individuals lent zine article are undoubtedly a much big- ger deal inside the field of neuroscience accessed October 12, 2016. their professional identities to a claim of DiCarlo, James J., Nancy Kanwisher, and John journalistic bias when few—if any—of than outside. Had Professor Corkin’s D.E. Gabrieli. 2016. “Letter to the Editor supporters kept their powder dry, they of the New York Times Magazine,” Brain them could have known the facts. In an & Cognitive Sciences. Available online at might have done a better job of pro- interview for this article, Luke Dittrich http://bcs.mit.edu/news-events/news/let- tecting her honor. The Dittrich article ter-editor-new-york-times-magazine; accessed reported that only one of the signers had and book would have caused whispers October 12, 2016. an advanced copy of his book. In prepa- Dittrich, Luke. 2016a. The brain that couldn’t within the scientific community, but by ration for the book, Dittrich interviewed remember. The New York Times Magazine returning fire MIT ensured that the case (August 3). four people who later signed the state- ———. 2016b. Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, would be picked up by the press and that ment. He recalled discussing the general Madness, and Family Secrets. New York: more copies of Dittrich’s book would be Random House. question of informed consent with all four, sold. MIT may ultimately have come ———. 2016c. “Questions & Answers about but “I don’t think I delved into the three ‘Patient H.M.’” Medium.com. Last modi- to understand this point. Neither Dr. specific ‘allegations’ that MIT made.” fied on August 10, 2016. Available online at DiCarlo, the head of the Department https://medium.com/@lukedittrich/questions- So here is what we know: answers-about-patient-h-m-ae4ddd33ed9c#. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, nor m07ogcven. • All of the signers responded very the department media office replied to “Professor Brian Cox clashes with Australian cli- quickly—in all but one case based on emails requesting comment for this ar- mate sceptic.” 2016. BBC.com. Last mod- ified August 16, 2016. Available online at the New York Times Magazine article ticle. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-austra- alone. Not responding to the New York lia-37091391. • The signatures were obtained before Times Magazine article would also have Vyse, Stuart. 2015. Neuro-Pseudoscience. CSICOP.org.Available online at http://www. the specific claims of bias were made saved the two hundred scientists from csicop.org/specialarticles/show/neuro-pseu- public by MIT. having to endorse a dubious statement. doscience; accessed October 12, 2016. Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 31 [ SKEPTICAL INQUIREE BENJAMIN RADFORD Benjamin Radford is a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and author or coauthor of ten books, including Bad Clowns.

Ghost Hunters in the Dark

Why do ghost hunters look for ghosts at night with the lights off? Obviously it’s more dramatic, but is there some specific reason or investigative rationale behind it? Q: —S. Pedroncelli

Nearly every ghost- which they can be observed and use People have reported seeing ghosts in themed “reality” TV that to their advantage in hiding their broad daylight, in the morning, and at : show and film has illusions. While it’s an unspoken rule all times of the day. Well over a cen- one or more scenes in that an inquisitive audience member tury ago, it was recognized that ghosts A which the investigators is not allowed backstage—or onstage were not necessarily associated with walk around a dark- behind the magician while he or she the dark—popular perception notwith- ened place, usually at night, looking for performs—mediums offering a ghostly standing. Educator and researcher El- ghosts. Much of the reason that mod- experience would give clear instructions eanor Sidgwick of the Society for Psy- ern ghost hunters look for their quarry about where their audiences could sit, chical Research concluded around 1885 in the dark has nothing to do with what they could do, and so on. when analyzing hundreds of eyewitness science or investigation but instead When mediums and ghost conju- ghost reports that “ghosts may be seen early Spiritualist fraud and fakery— rors were caught faking, it was often in daylight or in artificial light, at dawn specifically the conditions under which because the investigators did not fol- or at dusk, and in various parts of a ghostly hoaxing by psychic mediums low the rules carefully set for them house or outside in the yard,” accord- would least likely be detected and but instead took steps to get a clearer ing to Michaeleen Maher (2015, 328). visitors would be most open to misper- view of what was going on, for exam- It is true that people are statistically ception and psychological suggestion. ple by bringing out hidden flashlights more likely to report seeing a ghost in In her book on the Spiritualist town or whisking a dark cloth they’d been the evening, but it does not logically of Lily Dale—the site of various CSI told not to touch off a prop conceal- follow that ghosts must be more active investigations over the years (see, for ing trickery. Keep in mind of course after sunset. There are several non- example, Radford 2002)—Christine that bringing literal and metaphorical supernatural reasons why ghost reports Wicker notes that “mediums so dis- light to supposed ghost activity would would occur more often at night, espe- liked light that they nailed planks over only reveal fakery and presumably not cially in homes. For one thing, there’s the windows of their séance rooms. . . . deter real paranormal entities. If au- a sampling bias: most people are not The mediums further improved their tomatic writings really did magically at home during the daytime, and most chances by constructing so-called spirit appear on mediums’ slates by ghostly of their waking hours while at home cabinets—curtained-off portions of the hands—or the spirit trumpets really occur in the evening. Obviously, peo- room from which the spirits emerged did float in the air from otherworldly ple are more likely to report potential once all the lights were extinguished. forces—there’s no reason it couldn’t be ghostly activity at night in their homes Spirits demanded such conditions, the done in a brightly lit room. The same instead of during the day at an office mediums said” (Wicker 2003, 65). holds true today; that ghosts are more job, post office, or assembly plant. Fur- Whether ghosts indeed had a clause apt to appear when close scrutiny and thermore, people are more likely to be in their contracts to appear only out open investigation are thwarted is not in psychological states that can induce of the spotlight is unknown, but the a coincidence. misperceptions (and even mild hallu- darkness certainly helped mediums Some ghost hunters believe that cinations) in the evening. The evening hide hoaxing and trickery. It’s the darkness helps to draw out ghostly en- hours—which of course largely overlap same reason that magicians carefully tities. Yet even a casual review of ghost with the darkness hours—are when control where their audience sits; they reports reveals that this is not true: people typically get off work to relax; are keenly aware of the angles from most sightings do not occur in darkness. sometimes they drink alcohol or use

32 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer recreational drugs. Others succumb not) manifest themselves in bright in an investigation area and then turn to another common mental state that light and under well-observed condi- smaller lights back on is illogical and a has been clinically proven to greatly tions. In fact, while many ghostly ex- very poor investigative strategy virtually increase misperceptions and hallucina- periences are said to be liminal, others guaranteed to fail. tions: ordinary fatigue. have been claimed to be very clear and It’s like trying to record auditory ev- This of course does not mean that obvious, such as in poltergeist cases in idence for ghosts by turning off stereos everyone who is tired after a long day which dishes, telephones, and other and devices generating ambient noise— large items are claimed to suddenly will necessarily see or hear things that but then putting on headphones to lis- aren’t there, but fatigue is a real and fly off tables and shelves. Some ghosts ten to music while investigating. It’s significant factor that cannot be dis- have even been claimed to move and as if the ghost hunters are unwittingly missed. Ironically, ghosts are almost rearrange furniture, including chairs and never reported under the conditions tables. These are not faint, brief sounds doing everything they can to introduce that most ghost hunters search for or light arguably best perceived in the false-positive evidence of ghosts and them: in near darkness with flashlights dark but instead large and loud obvious make it as difficult as possible to deter- and EMF detectors. ghostly displays that presumably should mine whether something paranormal is Conducting an investigation in the and could occur in bright daylight and truly occurring or not. dark is the equivalent of tying an anvil while cameras are recording—yet do not. As Thomas Paine wrote, “It is error to a marathon runner’s foot. It inten- This quest for minimal light cre- only, and not truth, that shrinks from tionally hobbles the investigation and ates an amusing paradox in which inquiry”; thus ghost hunters should is completely counterproductive. It also violates common sense and logic; if you are trying to identify an unknown That’s right: after choosing to remove a bright, object, is it better to look for it under fixed light from the investigation area (by looking bright lights or in a darkened room? There are virtually no other objects or after dark, turning lights off, etc.) the ghost hunters entities on Earth that anyone would then re-introduce small amounts of light into the think are better observed in darkness instead of light; why would ghosts be area, thus clearly illuminating only what is any different? Humans are visual crea- directly in front of the flashlight. tures, and our eyes need light to see— the more light the better. Darkness, by definition, severely limits the amount ghost hunters’ desire for ghost-friendly not be content to sabotage their own of information available. Searching at (not to mention error- and sugges- research by turning the lights off or night in the dark puts investigators at tion-prone) darkness must be weighed otherwise impeding their ability to an immediate and obvious disadvantage against the fact that ghost hunters investigate and identify the source of in trying to identify and understand must be able to see something in order any anomalies, whether natural or su- to sustain the pretense of investigation. what’s going on around them. If lim- pernatural. The reason it’s often done iting the investigator’s ability to detect So a compromise is often reached in for television shows is obvious: it makes things around them helps find ghosts, which ghost hunters use flashlights. for dramatic footage. It’s spookier and why not take it a step further and use That’s right: after choosing to remove blindfolds and earplugs? a bright, fixed light from the investiga- more visually interesting to film the Furthermore, this strategy fails on tion area (by looking after dark, turn- ghost investigators with infrared cam- its own terms. While some report see- ing lights off, etc.) the ghost hunters eras. If the purpose of the investigation ing ghosts as glowing figures, many then re-introduce small amounts of is to get spooky footage, turn the lights people report them as shadows or dark light into the area, thus clearly illumi- off. If the purpose is to scientifically entities. Searching a dark room for a nating only what is directly in front of search for evidence of ghosts, leave the I shadowy figure is an exercise in futility. the flashlight, whose light constantly lights on. If it were an established fact that ghosts moves along with the ghost hunters References emit light, there would be some logic to and thus introduces moving shadows looking for them in a dark room. Un- into an area in which moving shadows Maher, Michaeleen. 2015. Ghosts and pol- tergeists. Chapter 25 in Parapsychology: less a ghost or entity has been specifi- are easily mistaken for ghosts. If a ghost st A Handbook for the 21 Century. Ed. by cally and repeatedly reported or photo- hunter has reason to believe—based, Etzel Cardena, John Palmer, and David graphed emitting light, there’s no valid, for example, on multiple eyewitness re- Marcussen-Clavertz. New York: McFarland. logical reason that ghost investigators ports or videos—that ghosts emit light, Radford, Benjamin. 2002. Messages from would work figuratively (and literally) then the investigation to find those beyond at a Spiritualist meeting. Skeptical Briefs, June. in the dark. entities should be done in complete Wicker, Christine. 2003. Lily Dale: The True There is no logical or scientific rea- darkness; if not, then it should be done Story of the Town that Talks to the Dead. New son that ghosts would not (or could in bright light. But to turn lights off York: HarperCollins. Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 33 Still Embattled after All These Years Had stem cell research not been obstructed by political and religious opposition, it would probably have arrived by now at effective treatments for a number of severe chronic diseases. RAYMOND BARGLOW  MARGRET SCHAEFER

34 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer tem cell research seized headlines at the beginning of this century, promising to revolutionize medicine by healing illnesses such as Alz- Sheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, spinal cord injury, and heart disease. These are all illnesses of severe cell deterioration or injury—illnesses that are in principle curable by embryonic stem cells, which have the ability to build every single tissue in the human body. Hence, when these cells were first isolated and replicated in 1998, it struck scientists at the time that the door now lay wide open to the advance of regenerative medicine.

Yet stem cell research has to date not lived up to its immense potential. Two narratives are com- monly told about this history, and they are at loggerheads with one another. The first is that the research has in fact steadily ad- vanced and that clinical trials will soon yield effective stem cell– based therapies. This narrative ac- knowledges that stem cell research has run into obstacles, but it holds that such challenges are only to be expected, given the newness of the science. Pitted against this sunny evalu- ation is an incriminating one: stem cell research, combining scientific hubris with hype, has been an overreaching, grandiose enterprise that has under-delivered on its therapeutic promises and proven ethically abhorrent as well scien- tifically barren. Whether the story is told in a way that makes the glass look half- full or empty, both the positive

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 35 view and the negative view misread the actual history, stem cell science, that research has played an import- failing to recognize that it has been and remains polit- ant part in advancing the entire field—a point that ical opposition that has been primarily responsible for we’ll return to later on in this article. slowing down stem cell research in the United States Because the slope of the trajectory from a fertilized and worldwide. Had the research received the support egg to a born child is a gradual one with no discernible that it merits, it would probably have arrived by now sudden leap into personhood, a consistent “sanctity of at effective treatments for a number of severe chronic life” view is logically compelled to push the time of diseases. incipient personhood all the way back to fertilization. Hence this view sweeps embryonic stem cell research, Stem Cell Research and Abortion Politics along with abortion at every stage of pregnancy, into It is of course appropriate that the goals and to some the domain of practices that are unethical and should extent even the methods of science be approved be outlawed. not only in the laboratory but also in the legislative Were personhood to begin at conception, as the chamber. Indeed, scientific inquiry sometimes raises religious right maintains, that indeed would make ethical issues that call for careful deliberation. In the extraction of stem cells that destroys a blastocyst the case of stem cell research specifically, such issues an act of murder. What is amiss with this reasoning? have been especially difficult to resolve because To be sure, a fertilized egg does count biologically as this scientific project has been impacted by clash- “human life.” But so does every individual cell in a ing demands. On the one hand, human beings are human body. A single hair cell, for example, is also vulnerable to severe illnesses that stem cell research “human life,” since it is both human (i.e., it belongs to may help to remedy or cure, making the moral case a member of the human species) and alive. But a hair for doing this research unusually compelling; public cell is not a “person,” and a haircut is not homicide. polls show strong support for research that uses Hence not every instance of “human life” has the sta- embryo-derived and other kinds of stem cells to tus of a “person” with an inviolable right to life. find effective therapies. On the other hand, there Yet this “right to life” view is fervently held by has arisen in the United States over the past several evangelical Protestant groups and the Catholic decades an influential religion-based political move- Church, and it has been politically influential in the ment that strongly opposes embryonic stem cell United States for more than two decades. In 1995, the research on the grounds that it is akin to abortion. U.S. Congress passed legislation that prohibits fed- Beginning in the late 1970s, the legalization of eral funding for any research that creates or destroys a abortion in the United States was contested by the human embryo at any stage of development. That leg- religious right and the , and it is still islation bars federally funded stem cell scientists from contested today. Many states have passed laws based using any of the hundreds of thousands of surplus on the belief that a pre-born human is a full-fledged embryos stored in IVF (in-vitro fertilization) clinic person and therefore possesses all the rights of per- freezers across the nation—embryos that are routinely sonhood. Consequently, women are required to run a discarded as waste. Lost on the lawmakers is the man- veritable gauntlet in order to terminate a pregnancy. ifest irrationality of such legislation, which permits This “pro-life” belief is also hostile to stem cell re- the destruction of excess embryos in IVF clinics but search, since the conviction that a fertilized egg is a prohibits the scientific use of those same embryos. person with full human rights makes a five-day-old In 2001, President Bush issued an executive order blastocyst (which is a source of embryonic stem cells that limited federal funding for embryonic stem cell for scientific experimentation) as sacred as a months- research still further, on the grounds that “human old fetus or a newborn child. And while it is true that life is a sacred gift from our creator.” In 2006 and research that uses embryonic cells is only one form of again in 2007, he vetoed congressional legislation that 36 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer would have enabled the research. Although Presi- Four leaders in the field of stem cell research— dent Obama, shortly after assuming office in 2009, Jeanne Loring from the Burnham Institute for Medi- issued more permissive guidelines, stem cell research cal Research, Douglas Melton and Chad Cowan from remained vulnerable to federal opposition. Legisla- Harvard, and the Australian researcher Alan Troun- tion bestowing the full legal rights of personhood son who became the president of the California In- upon fertilized eggs was introduced in both houses stitute for Regenerative Medicine—declared their op- of Congress in 2011 and 2013. A similar bill, H.R. position to the Geron patents. Stem cell research, they 2761, the so-called “Sanctity of Life Act,” was intro- pointed out, is very much a collaborative enterprise, duced in 2015 and is backed by the current Speaker involving multiple disciplines and relying upon the of the House, Paul Ryan. This bill declares that per- unencumbered sharing of information and methods sonhood “is deemed to exist from fertilization” and between scientists and sometimes between multiple would prohibit not only abortion but embryonic stem laboratories. Patents such as those granted to Geron cell research as well. In 2017, newly emboldened con- have not successfully incentivized innovation but have servatives in federal government are likely to renew instead driven up stem cell research and development their attack on science and science funding, including costs and interfered with the sharing of information funding for stem cell research. that is so important to scientific advance.

Research Funding The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Stem cell research has never received substantial Because of the lack of federal support for stem cell federal investment in the United States. Hence sci- research, a few individual states have sought to fund entists have had to rely largely on private funding, the research on their own. In California in 2004, which has proven inadequate for several reasons. a group of patient advocates and scientists wrote a First, biotech companies are reluctant to invest state initiative to provide $3 billion funding for stem in stem cell research since this science is still in cell research. Their grassroots campaign gathered its infancy and unlikely in the short term to yield enough signatures to place the measure on the ballot, profitable clinical applications. Second, privately and they achieved a landslide victory in November funded research typically relies on current or past 2004. Proposition 71 established the California government-sponsored research. Scientists employed Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which by biotech companies learn from the work that their has, over the years, deployed its resources judiciously, colleagues in the public sector are doing, and when becoming the hub of a global network of collabo- that work is underfunded, the entire field is held rating scientists, educators, and research institutions. back. Third, when the research is funded privately, However, although CIRM-funded research has sub- its innovative methods, materials, and results become stantially advanced scientific knowledge in many patented and proprietary in a way that interferes areas and has received approval for many clinical with the sharing and cooperation among researchers trials, it has not yet yielded a single FDA-approved and laboratories that is needed to move scientific exploration forward most effectively. These three problems with private financing have played a significant role in slowing the progress of stem cell research. Let’s review the history. The sci- entific breakthrough that, according to most accounts, founded the field of stem cell research was the isola- tion and extraction of embryonic stem cells by James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin in 1998. If the self-propagating stem cell lines produced in his laboratory had been made readily available to every- one conducting stem cell research, they would have supported the advance of the entire field. But although Thomson’s work was done at a public institution, the University of Wisconsin, it was privately funded by a single corporation, Geron. Access to these embryonic stem cell lines by other researchers was controlled by broad patents granting exclusive ownership to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), an entity set up by the University of Wisconsin but answering to Geron instead of to the wider public interest in advancing the science. Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 37 Joan Samuelson, an attorney diagnosed with Parkin son’s disease in 1987, served for a decade as one of ten patient advocates on the governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and helped to shape a wide range of institute policies.

Credit: C-Span

therapy. The major reason Proposition 71 has, to compensation, this policy stops proposed studies from date, not lived up to early expectations is that CIRM going forward. Scientists who applied to CIRM for has had to cope with political and legal objections to embryo research funding were turned down because its scientific work. they could not guarantee the availability of eggs to First, immediately following passage of Proposi- conduct their proposed projects. Alta Charo, professor tion 71, the constitutionality of the ballot measure was of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin, challenged in court at the behest of the Life Legal argues that making economic compensation for egg Defense Foundation, a “pro-life” law firm representing donation illegal throttles scientific advance and can religious organizations. Although this legal effort was “harm the millions of women worldwide who act as ultimately defeated, it succeeded in delaying financing the primary caregivers for husbands, parents and chil- for nearly three years. Only in October of 2007 were dren sickened by the very illnesses this research might the state funds released that enabled the research to someday cure.” go forward. CIRM’s mission has also been thwarted by insuffi- Second, political controversy has made it impossi- cient funding. Although California’s $3 billion invest- ble for federal and state regulatory agencies to arrive ment in stem cell research is substantial, it has not been at a consensus on the permitted paths that stem cell enough to subsidize both scientific discovery and the research may follow. Thoughtful and consistent reg- development of new treatments. In today’s research and development environment, it takes an average of twelve years and, on a conservative estimate, costs a Failure to publicly fund billion dollars to produce a single new drug, begin- ning with basic scientific exploration and discovery stem cell research and followed by animal studies, preclinical and clinical adequately is unjustifiable. trials, FDA approval, and finally manufacture. Advo- cates for the California stem cell program anticipated from the beginning that clinical applications would be too expensive for the Institute alone to fund, and they assumed that therapy development (so-called “trans- ulation is essential, and the public good will not be lation”) based on CIRM-sponsored scientific find- served if, under a Trump administration, politicians ings would instead be financed largely by biotech and succeed in weakening FDA authority over biomed- pharmaceutical firms possessing resources sufficient to ical research and development. On the other hand, carry the research “from the laboratory to the bedside.” when the California Institute conducted a survey of Unfortunately, this strategy has so far not worked well, its major stakeholders in 2015, every group—the ac- since the commercial prospects of discoveries made in ademic scientists, the clinical researchers, the indus- the basic science have not been promising enough to try investors, the patient advocates, and the general assure interested companies that a major investment on population—listed regulation as the biggest obstacle their part will eventually be profitable. in developing stem cell medicine. For example, in Cal- Failure to publicly fund stem cell research ade- ifornia economic compensation for donating eggs to quately is unjustifiable, given the alleviation of suf- be used in embryonic stem cell research is prohibited fering and the savings that will accrue if the research by law (although it is legal throughout the United results in treatments for debilitating diseases. Care in States to pay women when they donate eggs for non- the United States for patients with just one of these scientific purposes, in fertilization clinics, for exam- diseases, Alzheimer’s, cost $236 billion in 2016, ac- ple). Since very few women are willing to undergo cording to the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s notewor- an egg donation procedure without any monetary thy as well that total federal investment on biomedical

38 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer research—the 2016 NIH budget is $31.3 billion—is win hearts and minds on this issue, to persuade even much less than investment in other domains, such as some of those who are opposed on religious grounds, military preparedness for example. The Pentagon has the case has to be made by those who are burdened estimated that the expenditure in 2016 on the F-35 by severe illnesses that the research has the poten- fighter plane alone, the most expensive aircraft ever tial to alleviate or cure. When patients, together developed, will be $379 billion. The total cost of de- with their caregivers and advocates, take their cases signing and building the plane may reach $1.5 trillion. to the public, when they visit the offices of their political representatives and talk about the medical Pluripotent Stem Cells promise and ethics of the research, when patient “Induced pluripotent stem cells” are adult cells activists such as Michael J. Fox, Joan Samuelson, that have been genetically reprogrammed to closely and Mohammed Ali and his wife Lonnie Ali resemble embryonic stem cells, and for some research travel to Washington, D.C., and testify at a con- purposes they can be substituted for embryonic cells gressional hearing, opinions change. Conservative as a “raw material.” The discovery of induced plurip- Senator Strom Thurmond’s encounter with the dia- otency in 2006 was acclaimed by stem cell research betes of his daughter and Nancy Reagan’s with the advocates and critics alike because it permitted the Alzheimer’s of her husband disarmed their religious research to sidestep religious objections to working qualms, and they both became proponents for the with embryos. But leading research scientists such as research. In California, the overwhelmingly affirma- Thomson, Yamanaka, and Weissman have cautioned tive vote for stem cell research in 2004 was achieved that the discovery of induced pluripotency does not by a campaign that recounted the challenges faced render embryo research scientifically superfluous. by patients and their care providers in newspapers The reprogramming of cells to a state of pluripo- and social media, on TV, and at fundraising house tency has in the past run into a number of problems, parties. including low replication rates and early senescence In the 1980s and ’90s, HIV/AIDS activism en- of the induced cells. It currently remains unclear abled the successful scientific search for effective ther- whether induced pluripotent stem cells can be made apies. Today’s stem cell research movement travels a equivalent to embryonic cells for all clinical as well path that is no less promising—and no less challeng- as scientific applications. And even if it turns out ing. Many patient activists, although they realize that that induced pluripotent stem cells can provide an their own personal illness may be too far advanced to adequate cell source for almost all of the needs of be helped by a stem cell therapy that will be devel- regenerative medicine, valuable time has been lost. It oped during their lifetime, hold out hope that oth- has taken a decade (2006–2016) to validate this sub- ers will be spared the travail of that illness. “While stitute for embryonic cells—a decade during which we prolong the stem cell debate,” said Christopher embryonic cell research might have advanced much Reeve, the movie celebrity who was paralyzed by a further had it not been largely abandoned. horse-riding accident and became an advocate for the research, “millions continue to suffer.” By conveying to The Advocacy Community the public the urgency of acting on this humanitarian I The advance of stem cell science requires adequate cause, patient advocacy can play a decisive role. economic support and wise government oversight, Raymond Barglow majored in physics which to date have not been in place. A technocratic at Cal Tech and received a PhD in phi- strategy for dealing with this predicament is to wrest losophy at UC Berkeley. He has taught science policy formation out of the hands of the at UC Berkeley and Trinity College and lay public altogether, on the grounds that scientific matters are too complex for “ordinary people” to ever writes on science, ethics, and public grasp. Yet the history of the California Institute for policy issues. Regenerative Medicine, beginning with the cam- Margret Schaefer received a PhD paign to gather signatures and build public support, in English at UC Berkeley and has and continuing with patient advocate participation taught at UC Berkeley, San Francisco in administering the institute following the elec- State, and the University of Illinois at toral victory in 2004, illustrates that lay citizens, not Chicago. She is a cultural and literary themselves versed in biology or medicine but delib- critic, journalist, and translator and erating in the company of scientists, are capable of has written on issues in psychology providing effective guidance. and medical history as well as on Oscar Wilde, Kleist, Patient advocates are capable also of communicat- ing the value of stem cell research to the public. To Kafka, and Arthur Schnitzler.

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 39 Public Debate, Scientific Skepticism, and Science Denial How can scientists navigate highly polarized public controversies, and how can the public’s legitimate demand for involvement be accommodated without compromising the integrity of science?

STEPHAN LEWANDOWSKY, MICHAEL E. MANN, NICHOLAS J.L. BROWN, AND HARRIS L. FRIEDMAN

hen scientists discover a distant planet that is made fication because denial expresses itself in similar ways regardless of which sci- of diamonds (Bailes et al. 2011), public admira- entific fact is being targeted (Diethelm Wtion is virtually assured. When the same scientific and McKee 2009). For example, denial commonly invokes notions of conspir- method yields findings that impinge on corporate inter- acies (Lewandowsky et al. 2015; 2013; ests or people’s lifestyles, the public response can be any- Mann 2012). Conspiratorial content is thing but favorable. The controversy surrounding climate widespread in anti-vaccination material on the Internet (Briones et al. 2012) as change is one example of a polarized public debate that is well as on blogs that deny the reality completely detached from the uncontested scientific fact of climate change (Lewandowsky et al. 2015). that Earth is warming from greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., A second common feature of denial, Cook et al. 2013). How can scientists navigate those con- which differentiates it further from le- gitimate debate, involves personal and tested waters, and how can the public’s legitimate demand professional attacks on scientists both for involvement be accommodated without compromising in public and behind the scenes. To il- the integrity of science? lustrate, the first two authors (Lewand- owsky and Mann) have been variously accused of “mass murder and treason” Denial of Science or have received email from people who labels climate change a “hoax” that wanted to see them “six feet under.” Public debate and skepticism are essen- is ostensibly perpetrated by corrupt Such correspondence is not entirely tial to a functioning democracy. There is scientists (Inhofe 2012), such asser- random: Abusive mail tends to peak evidence that skeptics can differentiate tions are more indicative of the denial after the posting of scientists’ email more accurately between true and false of inconvenient scientific facts than addresses on websites run by political assertions (Lewandowsky et al. 2009). expressions of skepticism (Diethelm operatives. However, when tobacco researchers and McKee 2009). The dividing line Those public attacks are paralleled are accused of being a “cartel” that between denial and skepticism may by prolific complaints to scientists’ “manufactures alleged evidence” (Abt not always be apparent to the public, host institutions with allegations of re- 1983, 127), or when a U.S. senator but existing research permits its identi- search misconduct. The format of such

40 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer complaints ranges from brief enraged siderably from the initial draft pro- satisfactory and fulfilling life. At the emails to the submission of detailed duced by scientists without local public time when the project that led to our multipage dossiers, typically suffused input. Notably, Pickering escaped the article began, Brown (the first author with web links and richly adorned with flooding that gripped other parts of of that paper) was essentially a stranger formatting. In the tobacco arena, there Yorkshire during the winter of 2015– to academia, having only attended three is evidence that such complaints are 2016 (Lean 2016). weeks of a weekend master’s program in highly organized (Landman and Glantz Notwithstanding the public’s enti- psychology at the age of fifty-one while 2009). The triage between vexatious tlement to be involved, scientific de- working full time as a civil servant. complaints and legitimate grievances bates must still be conducted according When he doubted the validity of causes considerable expenditure of pub- lic funds when university staff are tied up in phone calls, email exchanges, and responding to persistent approaches while also trying to examine the merit of complaints. A curious feature of all these lines of attack is that A further target for contrarian activ- they tend to be accompanied by calls for “debate.” ity involves preliminary results or un- published data. This modus operandi Often the same individuals who launch complaints was also pioneered by the tobacco in- dustry, which campaigned hard to gain with institutions to silence a scientist also proclaim unhindered access to epidemiological that they want to enter into a “debate” about the data (Baba et al. 2005). At first glance, it might appear paradoxical that an in- science that they so strenuously oppose. dustry would sponsor laws ostensibly designed to ensure transparency of re- search. However, access to raw data is necessary for the re-“analyses” of data by entities sympathetic to corporate interests. In the case of tobacco, those analyses have repeatedly downplayed to the rules of science. Arguments must some of positive psychology’s find- the link between smoking and lung be evidence-based, and they are subject ings that were presented as fact in his cancer (see Proctor 2011). to peer review before they become pro- classroom, he pursued the issue by A curious feature of all these lines visionally accepted. Arguments or ideas contacting a researcher (Friedman) of attack is that they tend to be ac- that turn out to be false are eventually by email based only on the hope that companied by calls for “debate.” Often discarded—a process that sometimes Friedman might be sympathetic to his the same individuals who launch com- seems to take too long but that argu- puzzlement. Once a dialog with the plaints with institutions to silence a sci- ably has served science and society well expert had been established—and once entist also proclaim that they want to (Alberts et al. 2015). Brown had convinced his interlocutor enter into a “debate” about the science Although these strictures are rig- of his sincerity—a fruitful scientific that they so strenuously oppose. orous and may appear daunting to collaboration ensued that has thus far the layperson, they do not exclude led to the publication of six articles. the public from scientific debate. It is Notably, this collaboration differs from Public Skepticism and the important to show that the public can conventional student-professor interac- Scientific Process participate in scientific debate, because tions in that the parties initially were Given that scientific issues can have otherwise denialist activities might ac- not known to each other and had no far-reaching political, technologi- quire a sheen of legitimacy as the only professional relationship prior to an un- cal, or environmental consequences, avenues open to the public to question solicited approach by email. greater involvement of the public in scientific findings. To be sure, the process of getting policy decisions can only be welcome Recently, two of us (Friedman and the first rebuttal article published was and may lead to better outcomes. To Brown) were coauthors of an arti- not easy, given the stature (e.g., more illustrate, the town of Pickering in cle (Brown et al. 2013) that received than 350 citations) of the article re- Yorkshire, England, recently revised its much coverage for its criticism of a porting the original, erroneous finding flood management plan as a result of long-standing, much-cited finding in (Fredrickson and Losada 2005). Brown a year-long collaboration between the the field of positive psychology. Pos- and Friedman encountered a certain local public and scientists (Whatmore itive psychology studies the strengths amount of resistance—which would and Landström 2011). The plan that that enable individuals to thrive and mostly qualify as bureaucratic rather was ultimately accepted differed con- aims to aid in the achievement of a than sinister, despite some apparent

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 41 conflicts of interest—to the acceptance (GMOs) as a way to alleviate global not preclude, political debate about of both their initial rebuttal article (on food shortages, whereas two of us the safety of nuclear power. Whatever the basis of some rather bureaucratic (Mann and Lewadowsky), while provi- the science may say about the safety interpretations of customary publish- sionally accepting the safety of GMOs, of nuclear power—for example, that it ing practices), and to their attempts are concerned about their indirect con- causes 100 times fewer fatalities than to write a subsequent comment on the sequences, such as the emergence of renewable biomass (Markandya and original author’s reply (on the basis that herbicide-resistant weeds that has been Wilkinson 2007)—those data might be the standard sequence of replies to a associated with GMO-related overuse legitimately overridden by the “dread” target article was now finished). of herbicides (Gilbert 2013). One of that nuclear power evokes in people. Ultimately, the system worked as it us (Friedman) is concerned about both However, even dread does not jus- should: everyone remained calm and their indirect consequences and their tify harassment or threats of violence polite, and the various publishing and potential safety to individuals. against scientists who measure nuclear appeals processes were tested and ob- Two of us (Friedman and Brown) fallout (Hume 2015). served to work. In the end, all articles are not convinced beyond doubt that appeared in print in the same journal, highly complex climate models are as Enhancing the Resilience of the the scientific record was corrected, the yet sufficiently validated to be used as Scientific Enterprise Opinion surveys regularly and consis- tently show that public trust in sci- The argument typically ran thus: If psychologists entists is very high (Pew Research Center 2015). However, the position can be as badly wrong as Brown et al. showed, of the scientist as a neutral, disinter- and if psychologists are scientists, then how much ested proponent of “the truth” should not be taken for granted. For example, confidence can we have in the pronouncements when Brown and Friedman’s first arti- cle on positive psychology (Brown et of other scientists? While such flawed logic is al. 2013) was published, it was cited easily refuted in reasoned debate, it might be on several forums and blogs dedi- cated to creationist ideas or to climate preferable if scientists refrained from giving change denial. The argument typically provocateurs the opportunity to raise this ran thus: If psychologists can be as badly wrong as Brown et al. showed, kind of question in the first place. and if psychologists are scientists, then how much confidence can we have in the pronouncements of other scien- tists? While such flawed logic is easily refuted in reasoned debate, it might be field of positive psychology took stock, the basis of major public policy deci- preferable if scientists refrained from and nobody felt the need to publish sions that might have effects for many giving provocateurs the opportunity to home addresses or other personal de- decades; the other two authors (Le- raise this kind of question in the first tails on the Internet (a harassing pro- wandowsky and Mann) acknowledge place. We suggest that the scientific cess known as “doxxing” that is popular the uncertainty inherent in climate community should respond to both not only with political operatives who projections but note that, contrary to legitimate skepticism and politically oppose climate science but also with popular intuition, any uncertainty pro- motivated denial with a three-pronged anti-vaccination activists and others). vides even greater impetus for climate approach. The contrast between the approach mitigation (Lewandowsky et al. 2014). First, legitimate public concern followed by Brown and the refusal to Notwithstanding those disagreements, about a lack of transparency and ques- engage in the scientific process that is the present authors found common tionable research practices must be met characteristic of denial as we described ground for this article. by ensuring that research lives up to earlier in this article is striking. Although we believe that scientific rigorous standards. We endorse most evidence should inform political de- current efforts in this regard, and one The Need for Vigorous Debate bate, we acknowledge that it is no sub- of us (Lewandowsky) is a member of We underscore that there is plenty of stitute for it. To illustrate, the scientific a relevant initiative involving the use room for honest and vigorous debate evidence shows that the fallout from of peer review to facilitate openness in science, even among collaborators: the Fukushima nuclear accident poses (https://opennessinitiative.org/). One of us (Brown) is an enthusiastic no discernible risk to people in North Second, we believe that daylight is proponent of the widespread adop- America (e.g., Fisher et al. 2013), but the best protection against politically tion of genetically modified organisms that finding should only guide, and motivated maneuverings to undermine

42 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer science. The first part of this article is 10.1093/eurpub/ckn139. California Press. one effort toward such transparency. Fisher, N.S., K. Beaugelin-Seiller, T.G. Hinton, Whatmore, S.J., and C. Landström. 2011. Flood et al. 2013. Evaluation of radiation doses and apprentices: An exercise in making things Finally, skeptical members of the associated risk from the Fukushima nuclear public. Economy and Society 40: 582–610. doi: public must be given the opportunity accident to marine biota and human con- 10.1080/03085147.2011.602540. sumers of seafood. Proceedings of the National to engage in scientific debate. We Academy of Sciences 110: 10670–10675. doi: have shown how two of the present 10.1073/pnas.1221834110. Stephan Lewandowsky authors—an academic and a member Fredrickson, B.L., and M.F. Losada. 2005. Posi tive affect and the complex dynamics of holds a Chair in Cogni- of the public who had been to three human flourishing. American Psychologist 60: tive Psychology at the evening classes before his skepticism 678–686. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.60.7.678. University of Bristol was aroused—teamed up to critique a Gilbert, N. 2013. Case studies: A hard look at GM crops. Nature 497: 24–26. doi: and is a Royal Society widely cited finding and showed it to be 10.1038/497024a. Wolfson research fel- unsupportable. None of their activities Hume, M. 2015. Canadian researcher targeted low. His research sits at fell within the strategies and techniques by hate campaign over Fukushima find- ings. The Globe and Mail. Available online the intersection of cog- of denial that we reviewed at the outset, at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/ nitive science and climate science, and he clarifying that denial is not an “avenue british-columbia/canadian-researcher-tar- has authored around 150 journal articles, of last resort” for members of the public geted-by-hate-campaign-over-fukushi- ma-findings/article27060613/. chapters, and books. He also regularly who are desperate to contribute to sci- Inhofe, J. 2012. The Greatest Hoax: How the contributes opinion pieces to mainstream ence or even correct it but rather a po- Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your media around the world. He is a Committee litically motivated effort to undermine Future. Washington, DC: WND Books. I Landman, A., and S.A. Glantz. 2009. Tobacco for Skeptical Inquiry fellow. science. industry efforts to undermine policy-relevant research. American Journal of Public Health 99: Note 45–58. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.050963. Michael E. Mann is Dis- Lean, G. 2016. UK flooding: How a Yorkshire An extended version of this article, which town worked with nature to stay dry. The tinguished Professor of contains recommendations for the way in which Independent. Available online at http:// Atmospheric Science at scientists and members of the public might www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home- Penn State University. engage with each other on contested issues, news/uk-flooding-how-a-yorkshire-flood- can be found at Lewandowsky, S., M.E. Mann, blackspot-worked-with-nature-to-stay- He is a fellow of the N.J.L. Brown, et al. 2016. Science and the dry-a6794286.html. American Geophysical public: Debate, denial, and skepticism. Journal Lewandowsky, S., J. Cook, K. Oberauer, et Union, the American of Social and Political Psychology 4: 537–553. al. 2015. Recurrent fury: Conspiratorial DOI:10.5964/jspp.v4i2.604. discourse in the blogosphere triggered by Meteorological Society, research on the role of conspiracist ide- and the American Association for the Ad- References ation in climate denial. Journal of Social and Political Psychology 3: 142–178. doi: 10.5964/ vancement of Science and has authored Abt, C.C. 1983. The Anti-Smoking Industry jspp.v3i1.443. more than 200 publications, including (Philip Morris internal report). September. Lewandowsky, S., G.E. Gignac, and K. three books: Dire Predictions, The Hockey Available online at http://legacy.library.ucsf. Oberauer. 2013. The role of conspiracist edu/tid/vob81f00. Accessed May 6, 2012. ideation and worldviews in predicting rejec- Stick and the Climate Wars, and The Mad- Alberts, B., R.J. Cicerone, S.E. Fienberg, et tion of science. PLoS ONE 8: e75637. doi: house Effect. al. 2015. Self-correction in science at work. 10.1371/journal.pone.0075637. Science 348: 1420–1422. doi: 10.1126/sci- Lewandowsky, S., J.S. Risbey, M. Smithson, et ence.aab3847. al. 2014. Scientific uncertainty and climate Nicholas J.L. Brown is a Baba, A., D.M. Cook, T.O. McGarity, et al. change: Part I. Uncertainty and unabated PhD candidate in health 2005. Legislating “sound science”: The role emissions. Climatic Change 124: 21–37. doi: of the tobacco industry. American Journal of 10.1007/s10584-014-1082-7. psychology at the Uni- Public Health 95: S20–S27. doi: 10.2105/ Lewandowsky, S., W.G.K. Stritzke, K. versity of Groningen. AJPH.2004.050963. Oberauer, et al. 2009. Misinformation and Bailes, M., S. Bates, V. Bhalerao, et al. 2011. the war on terror: When memory turns His research focuses Transformation of a star into a planet in fiction into fact. In W.G.K. Stritzke, S. on the claims made by a millisecond pulsar binary. Science 333: Lewandowsky, D. Denemark, et al. (Eds.), psychologists for the 1717–1720. Terrorism and Torture: An Interdisciplinary Briones, R., X. Nan, K. Madden, et al. Perspective (pp. 179–203). Cambridge, UK: purported health benefits of positive emo- 2012. When vaccines go viral: An analy- Cambridge University Press. tional states. sis of HPV vaccine coverage on YouTube. Mann, M.E. 2012. The Hockey Stick and the Health Communication 27: 478–485. doi: Climate Wars: Dispatches from the Front Lines. 10.1080/10410236.2011.610258. New York: Columbia University Press. Harris L. Friedman is a Brown, N.J.L., A.D. Sokal, and H.L. Friedman. Markandya, A., and P. Wilkinson. 2007. retired research profes- 2013. The complex dynamics of wish- Energy and health 2: Electricity generation ful thinking: The critical positivity ratio. and health. The Lancet 370: 979–990. doi: sor of psychology at the American Psychologist 68: 801–813. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61253-7. University of Florida and 10.1037/a0032850. Pew Research Center. 2015. Public Esteem for Cook, J., D. Nuccitelli, S.A. Green, et al. 2013. U.S. Military Highest, Scientific Achieve- currently teaches part Quantifying the consensus on anthropogenic ments Second in Global Comparison. time at Goddard College. global warming in the scientific literature. Available online at http://www.pewinter- His research focuses on Environmental Research Letters 8: 024024. net.org/2015/01/29/public-and-scientists- doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/024024. views-on-science-and-society/. scientific methodology, Diethelm, P., and M. McKee. 2009. Denialism: Proctor, R.N. 2011. Golden Holocaust: Origins as well as on cultural and transpersonal What is it and how should scientists respond? of the Cigarette Catastrophe and the Case European Journal of Public Health : 2–4. doi: for Abolition. Berkeley, CA: University of psychology. Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 43 Science vs. Silliness for Parents: Debunking the Myths of Child Psychology Parents and students struggle to distinguish between pseudoscience and evidence-based ideas in child psychology. This study sampled the beliefs of 163 students and 205 parents on topics related to parenting and development.

STEPHEN HUPP, AMANDA STARY, AND JEREMY JEWELL

any ideas in child psychology have been largely ily Caucasian (66.9 percent), followed by African American (17.8 percent), discredited (Koocher et al. 2014). Unfortunately, Hispanic/Latino (3.1 percent), and Mparents and college students often have a hard Asian (1.2 percent); 6.7 percent of par- time distinguishing between research-supported ideas ticipants were biracial, and 4.3 percent did not classify themselves. The sam- and discredited myths. For example, in recent research, ple included freshmen (32.5 percent), college students believed that Facilitated Communication sophomores (25.2 percent), juniors (28.2 percent), and seniors (11.0 per- (a pseudoscientific intervention) was more effective than cent), with 3.1 percent of participants Applied Behavior Analysis (a well-established intervention) as leaving this item blank. a treatment for autism (Hupp et al. 2012; Hupp et al. 2013). The second group of participants consisted of parents. Specifically, 205 While there is emerging literature psychology, and this is the first study parents took part in an online study on beliefs about child-focused myths, to collect data regarding beliefs for the using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Al- the existing research base continues to majority of these myths. though Mechanical Turk is a relatively have limitations. First, many popular new tool for data collection, research myths of childhood have never been ex- Method shows that high-quality data from a amined with opinion surveys. Second, diverse population can be collected in published opinion surveys are largely This study includes two different sam- this manner, and it helps compensate limited to focusing on ineffective in- ples of participants. First, 163 consent- for limitations inherent in studying terventions even though there are many ing undergraduate students were given college students alone (Buhrmester et other myths in child psychology such as a paper survey at the beginning of a al. 2011). Only parents living in Amer- those related to etiology (cause), typi- child psychology course at a midsized ica could take the survey, and they cal development, assessment, and basic midwestern university. All students in completed the survey anonymously. parenting approaches. Finally, previous the course received a small amount Participants received 25 cents worth opinion surveys primarily included col- of credit for this activity regardless of credit to be used at Amazon.com. lege students. Although it is valuable to of whether or not they consented to The mean age of the parents was 33.2 know the beliefs of students, it may be being in the study. The mean age of the years old (SD = 8.4), and the mean age even more informative to gather infor- students was 19.9 years old (SD = 2.0). of their oldest child was 8.6 years old mation regarding parents’ beliefs. The Students were mostly female (83.4 per- (SD = 6.8). Regarding gender, 52.7 purpose of this study was to assess the cent), with 13.5 percent indicating they percent of parents were female, 45.9 beliefs of both students and parents on were male, and 3.1 percent leaving this percent were male, and 1.5 percent left a wide range of myths related to child item blank. The sample was primar- the item blank. The sample was primar- 44 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer ily Caucasian (69.8 percent) followed by African American (10.2 percent), Table 1. Percent of College Students and Parents that Believe Child-Focused Myths Asian (9.8 percent), Hispanic/Latino Myths of Child Psychology Rank College Parents (4.9 percent), and American Indian or The Attachment Parenting approach strengthens the mother-infant bond…… 1 88.4 83.0 Alaska Native (0.5 percent); 2.9 per- Most toddlers go through a “terrible two’s” stage…………………………… 2 84.7 83.4 cent of participants were biracial, and A child’s drawings provide insight into the subconscious cause of their 2.0 percent did not classify themselves problems……………………………………………………………….. 3 87.0 79.1 into any category. Within about one hour after birth, babies need to bond with their mothers so that attachment is stronger over time…………………………………… 4 82.7 82.0 Both students and parents com- The sex chromosomes of all girls are XX and all boys are XY………………… 5 82.4 79.1 pleted a survey that was designed for Baby walkers help young children learn to walk…………………………… 6* 77.8 75.6 this study. The Opinions About Kids Showing cognitively stimulating videos to infants boosts their intelligence…… 7* 84.7 68.7 Scale (OAKS) includes twenty-six Too much sugar causes most children to be hyperactive…………………… 8 81.6 70.3 statements that are myths related to Most antidepressants used for kids are approved by the Food & Drug child psychology, development, and Administration…………………………………………………………. 9 68.1 67.8 parenting. Research debunking each of Most “only children” (without siblings) are more likely to be selfish & spoiled.. 10 79.0 54.2 these myths is thoroughly described in Some identical twins can feel each other’s physical pain………………… 11 56.4 76.1 the book Great Myths of Child Devel- Programs like Scared Straight help prevent youth from breaking the law…… 12 64.2 62.4 opment (Hupp and Jewell 2015). The Having a baby sleep in the mother’s bed promotes the baby’s secure attachment………………………………………………………….. 13 63.2 62.4 myth statements are interspersed with When Mozart’s music is played to infants the music boosts their intelligence… 14 59.9 58.0 another twenty-six statements that are Using “baby talk” with an infant delays their ability to speak normally……… 15 50.0 51.7 supported by research. Breastfeeding a baby for more than two years helps strengthen the attachment Participants responded on a four- between the mother and child…………………………………………. . . 16 38.7 52.2 point Likert scale for each statement Divorce tends to ruin the lives of most children that have to go through it……. 17* 39.5 46.8 (3 = “agree,” 2 = “somewhat agree,” Children who frequently wet the bed usually have underlying emotional 1 = “somewhat disagree,” 0 = “dis- issues………………………………………………………………….18* 42.9 43.4 agree.”). For the purposes of this study, When kids are never spanked for their misbehavior they are likely to be spoiled…………………………………………………………. 19 45.0 38.5 responses of “agree” and “somewhat Being in daycare interferes with the attachment between children and their agree” were combined to indicate that parents……………………………………………………………….. 20 35.1 39.1 the participant believed the statement. If a child has an imaginary friend, the child is usually less sociable with real Results are reported in terms of the kids…………………………………………………………………… 21 41.7 32.2 percentage of college students and the Brief “time-outs” are too weak to help decrease real behavior problems in percentage of parents that believed each toddlers…………………………………………………………. 22 41.1 32.2 statement. Letting one-year-olds “cry it out” at bedtime hurts their emotional development.…………………………………………………………. 23 25.5 42.5 Couples that are struggling with fertility have an increased chance of getting Results and Discussion pregnant after they adopt a child……………………………………… 24 29.6 35.6 Results for the myths are presented The shape of the mother’s belly is one factor that can help doctors predict the sex of a fetus…………………………………………………… 25 31.3 20.4 in Table 1, and results of research- Vaccines have been a common cause of autism…………………………… 26 22.8 24.4 supported statements are in Table 2. Overall, college students (with a paper Note. Participants are reported to believe the statement if they marked “agree” or “somewhat agree.” Rank was determined by calculating the overall average between the college students and parents for each statement; survey) and parents (with an online in two cases there was a tie in rank (marked by asterisks), and greater weight was given to the parent rating survey) responded similarly across because there were more parent participants. most items. That is, college students and parents differed by less than 10 percentage points for a large majority the mother-infant bond.” This com- “Letting one-year-olds ‘cry it out’ at of the items (i.e., forty-one of fifty-two monly held belief could be concerning bedtime hurts their emotional devel- statements), and they differed by less to psychologists using evidence-based opment.” Other items from the survey than 5 percentage points for half of approaches, as a large part of Attach- queried about other components of the items (i.e., twenty-six of fifty-two ment Parenting is to warn parents of Attachment Parenting. For example, statements). Thus, this data indicates the cry-it-out method used for sleep 82.7 percent of students and 82.0 per- that college students and parents hold problems with children even though cent of parents believed that “Within similar beliefs as measured by these the cry-it-out approach is supported by about one hour after birth, babies need different data collection methods. research when used as part of a larger to bond with their mothers so that at- The highest-ranked myth overall sleep hygiene intervention (Kuhn and tachment is stronger over time,” and involved Attachment Parenting: 88.4 Elliott 2003). Fortunately, fewer of 63.2 percent of students and 62.4 per- percent of students and 83.0 percent the participants (i.e., 25.5 percent cent of parents believed that “Having of parents believed that “The Attach- of students and 42.5 percent of par- a baby sleep in the mother’s bed pro- ment Parenting approach strengthens ents) reported believing the myth that motes the baby’s secure attachment.” Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 45 of parents believed that time-outs are Table 2. Percent of College Students and Parents that Believe Research-Supported Statements too weak to be effective even though Research-Supported Statements Rank College Parents research shows that they can often be Daily physical activity is important for children’s health…………………… 1 100 97.6 helpful when used along with other It is common for siblings to have disagreements with each other…………… 2 99.4 96.1 strategies. Breastfeeding is a healthy way for babies to get nutrition…………………… 3 97.5 97.6 The third-highest-ranked myth Physical abuse can be harmful to children’s emotional development…………4 98.8 95.6 involved projective drawings that are It is important for mothers to eat a balanced diet while pregnant…………… 5 99.4 94.6 rooted in psychoanalysis. Eighty-seven Teachers should report a parent if they see the parent abuse a child………… 6 98.7 95.1 percent of students and 79.1 percent of It is common for children to make grammatical mistakes when learning parents believed that “A child’s draw- to talk……………………………………………………………… 7 98.7 94.6 ings provide insight into the subcon- It is a good idea for parents to read every day with toddlers………………… 8 98.1 94.6 scious cause of their problems.” In other Drug use during pregnancy can be harmful to the developing fetus………… 9 98.8 92.7 research, over half of the professionals Most children need more sleep than adults……………………………… 10 96.4 94.2 Fathers often have a big influence on their children’s emotional doing child custody evaluations (Ack- developments…………………………………………………………11 92.6 96.1 erman and Pritzl 2011) and nearly half Most young babies can perceive different speech sounds………………… 12* 92.6 94.7 of school psychologists (Hojnoski et al. Verbal teasing can be more harmful than physical bullying…………………13* 95.1 92.2 2006) were using projective drawing Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be helpful for children with clinical methods, such as the House-Tree-Per- depression…………………………………………………………… 14 92.0 92.2 son. With high use among profession- It can be helpful for children who experience a lot of anger to see a als, it’s not surprising that students and therapist………………………………………………………… 15 93.8 88.3 Children sometimes need to learn how to “face their fears”………………… 16 93.9 87.3 parents believe this myth even though Often a physical trait is influenced by more than one gene……………… 17 91.4 89.7 projective drawings have been de- Applied Behavior Analysis can be helpful for children with autism………… 18 87.7 88.8 bunked in terms of their ability to pro- Kids usually develop friendships with others that are similar to them in some vide useful clinical information during

way………………………………………………………………… 19 91.9 84.4 an assessment (Lilienfeld et al. 2000). Most people don’t remember much before the age of about three years-old… 20 91.4 83.9 Although non-projective drawings may It is common for children who have been adopted to live happy and successful be one useful tool for therapists to build lives…………………………………………………………………. 21 82.2 91.2 rapport with children, projective draw- When babies are born they already have many reflexes…………………… 22 81.5 86.8 ings are problematic when used in place Children can be diagnosed with clinical depression……………………… 23 77.3 88.3 of useful assessment techniques such as The average boy tends to be more aggressive than the average girl………… 24 87.0 75.2 functional behavior assessment. Intelligence is influenced by genes……………………………………… 25 57.1 79.1 Other commonly believed myths The vision of most babies is worse than the vision of most adults ………… 26 51.6 66.3 may also interfere with evidence-based Note. Participants are reported to believe the statement if they marked “agree” or “somewhat agree.” approaches. For example, 81.6 percent Rank was determined by calculating the overall average between the college students and parents for each statements; in one case there was a tie in rank (marked by asterisks), and greater weight was of students and 70.3 percent of parents given to the parent rating because there were more parent participants. believed that sugar causes children to be hyperactive. This belief may lead to in- effective treatments such as sugar-elim- Overall, these Attachment Parenting just about every age group, and research ination diets instead of well-established beliefs may cause parents to avoid re- shows that two-year-olds are not more treatments such as behavioral classroom search-supported treatments, engage in terrible than children of other ages management (Evans et al. 2013). In an- bedtime behaviors discouraged by the (Janson and Mathiesen 2008). While it other example, 64.2 percent of students American Academy of Pediatrics (i.e., is true that some new disruptive behav- and 62.4 percent of parents believed bed-sharing), and feel guilty if they did ior might crop up at two-years-old, the that the Scared Straight program is an not have the opportunity to bond with same can also be said for other ages, and effective intervention for delinquency, their newborn immediately after birth. many new prosocial behaviors emerge which could lead to parents seeking this The second-highest-ranked myth at age two as well. The “terrible two’s” ineffective treatment in place of an ev- involved disruptive child behaviors. myth has the potential to normalize idence-based treatment such as Multi- Specifically, 84.7 percent of students clinical behavior problems and prevent systemic Therapy (Eyberg et al. 2008). and 83.4 percent of parents believed parents from seeking evidence-based In addition, 42.9 percent of students that “Most toddlers go through a ‘terri- interventions such as behavioral parent and 43.4 percent of parents believe that ble two’s’ stage.” Although it’s common training (Eyberg et al. 2008). Similarly, emotional issues are at the root of bed- for all two-year-olds to engage in some time-outs are a common component wetting, which could lead to therapy disruptive behaviors, it’s also common to behavioral parent training, and 41.1 based in treating an unidentified sub- to find some disruptive behaviors in percent of students and 32.2 percent conscious problem, when a urine alarm

46 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer is actually a quite effective treatment Overall, students and parents tended al. 2013. Disseminate, debunk, differentiate: instead (Gimpel et al. 1998). to believe in the effectiveness of evi- Teaching about evidence-based treatments in a child psychology course. The Behavior The lowest-ranked myth involved dence-based approaches; however, they Therapist 36: 14–16. autism and vaccines. Specifically, 22.8 also tended to believe several myths Hupp, S.D.A., A.K. Stary, K.N. Bradshaw, et percent of students and 24.4 percent that could interfere with effective treat- al. 2012. Debunk, debunk, debunk: Some ments and may otherwise put children’s evidence for why dissemination is only half of parents believed that “Vaccines the battle. The Behavior Therapist 35: 76–78. have been a common cause of autism,” safety at risk. This study provides data Janson, H., and K.S. Mathiesen. 2008. Tempera- even though research consistently fails regarding the prevalence of beliefs ment profiles from infancy to middle child- hood: Development and associations with behavior problems. Developmental Psychology 44: 1314–1328. Koocher, G.P., M.R. McMann, A.O. Stout, et al. 2014. Discredited assessment and treat- Overall, students and ment methods used with children and ado- lescents: A Delphi poll. Journal of Clinical parents tended to believe Child & Adolescent Psychology: 1–8. Kuhn, B.R., and A.J. Elliott. 2003. Treatment in the effectiveness of efficacy in behavioral pediatric sleep med- icine. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 54: evidence-based approaches. 587–597. Lilienfeld, S.O., J.M. Wood, and H.N. Garb. 2000. The scientific status of projective techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest 1(2): 27–66. Rogers, S.J., and L.A. Vismara. 2008. Evidence- based comprehensive treatments for early autism. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent to find this connection (Hobson et about several myths and can help in- Psychology 37: 8–38. al. 2012). Although this is the lowest structors prioritize which myths need to Stephen Hupp is a Li- ranked myth, it is potentially one of the be addressed in the classroom. For these censed Clinical Psy- most dangerous, as this belief causes myths, this study serves as a marker in time for future studies to evaluate how chologist and Profes- some parents to avoid important vac- I cinations for measles, mumps, rubella, beliefs change over time. sor in the Clinical Child and other diseases. In addition, belief References & School Psychology in this myth causes parents to choose program at Southern Ackerman, M.J., and T.B. Pritzl. 2011. Child ineffective autism treatments, such as custody evaluation practices: A 20-year fol- Illinois University Ed- chelation (i.e., to remove mercury from low-up. Family Court Review 49: 618–628. wardsville. He is co- Buhrmester, M., T. Kwang., and S.D. Gosling. author of the book Great Myths of Child the body) instead of well-established 2011. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk a new treatments such as Applied Behavior source of inexpensive, yet high-quality, data? Development, and on Twitter he is @Ste- Analysis (Rogers and Vismara 2008). Perspectives on Psychological Science 6(1): 3–5. phenHupp. Evans, S.W., J.S. Owens, and N. Bunford. 2013. Regarding the research-supported Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for Amanda Stary is a statements on the OAKS, college stu- children and adolescents with attention-defi- postdoctoral research dents and parents tended to report high cit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology: 1–25. associate in psychol- levels of belief. For example, about 92 Eyberg, S.M., M.M. Nelson, and S.R. Boggs. ogy at the University percent of participants believed that 2008. Evidence-based psychosocial treat- of Nebraska Medical Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy was ef- ments for children and adolescents with disruptive behavior. Journal of Clinical Child Center. fective for childhood depression, and & Adolescent Psychology 37: 215–237. about 88 percent of participants be- Gimpel, G.A., W.J. Warzak, B.R. Kuhn, et al. 1998. Clinical perspectives in primary noc- Jeremy Jewell is a Cer- lieved that Applied Behavior Analysis turnal enuresis. Clinical Pediatrics 37: 23–29. tified School Psychol- was an effective treatment for autism. Hobson, K.A., P.F. Mateu, C.L. Coryn, et al. ogist, Licensed Clini- 2012. Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines Regarding childhood anger, 93.8 per- cal Psychologist, and cent of college students and 88.3 per- and diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders among children: A metaanalysis. World Director of the Clinical cent of parents believed that “It can be Medical & Health Policy 4(2): 1–14. Child & School Psychol- helpful for children who experience a Hojnoski, R.L., R. Morrison, M. Brown, et al. 2006. Projective test use among school ogy program at South- lot of anger to see a therapist.” Regard- psychologists: A survey and critique. Journal ern Illinois University Edwardsville. He is ing anxiety, 93.9 percent of students of Psychoeducational Assessment 24: 145–159. coauthor of the book Great Myths of Child and 87.3 percent of parents believed Hupp, S., and J. Jewell. 2015. Great Myths of Child Development. Malden, MA: Wiley- Development, and his website is www.doc- that “Children sometimes need to learn Blackwell. how to ‘face their fears.’” Hupp, S.D.A., E. McKenney, M. Schmittel, et torjewell.com.

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 47 Creationism in Europe Creationism is not an exclusively North American phenomenon. In Europe, creationism is also finding a foothold, drawing the attention of European scholars.

STEFAAN BLANCKE

any people regard creationism as a North Ameri- perts from various countries to contrib- ute. These efforts resulted in a recently can phenomenon. Indeed, polls over the past three published edited volume with the Johns Mdecades have invariably shown that creationism is Hopkins University Press: Creationism in Europe (Blancke et al. 2014). The immensely popular in the United States. Between 40 and book contains ten chapters discussing 50 percent of the American population endorses the belief the situation in different countries or that God created the Earth (and life on it) more or less as it regions, plus four topical chapters; this article offers a sampling. is today. The rest accept the fact of evolution, but the large majority believes that God has guided the process. Only What Is This Thing Called ‘Creationism’? 10 to 15 percent accept the scientific, naturalistic account What do we mean by creationism? of evolution. If we compare these numbers with the few People tend to associate it exclusively with young-Earth creationism: the figures that we have on Europe, it becomes immediately belief that God created the Earth six clear how exceptional the American situation really is. to ten thousand years ago as told in the Book of Genesis. However, this In some Northern and Western across the globe. Historian Ronald is only one type of creationism, and it European countries, such as Iceland, Numbers has documented creationist has become the dominant view among Denmark, and France, the acceptance activities from Australia to Canada, American creationists only since the rate of human evolution is higher than from Brazil to Korea (Numbers 2006; 1960s. There is also old-Earth cre- 70, sometimes even 80, percent. In 2009). Incidents in various European ationism, which reconciles the fact that Eastern European countries the accep- countries have suggested that creation- the Earth is millions of years old with tance rate is much lower, but it is still ism is gaining a following on that con- the biblical account of creationism. at least ten percentage points higher tinent as well. As a result, an increasing The most recent creationist variety is than in the United States (Miller et al. number of European scholars devel- intelligent design (ID), a movement 2006). The only exception is Turkey, oped an interest in the phenomenon, that purports not to be connected to a where no more than 30 percent of the and some published on creationist ac- particular interpretation of the biblical public accepts evolution. Furthermore, tivities in the countries where they re- creation story. It merely claims that American creationists actively bat- sided. However, most of this research the world clearly bears the marks of an tle the (exclusive) teaching of evolu- was scattered across various magazines intelligent designer, without explicat- tion in public schools—politically, in and scientific journals. Two Danish re- ing the exact identity of that designer. the courtroom, and on school boards, searchers—Hans Henrik Hjermitslev This strategy is designed to circum- which has made them highly visible and Peter C. Kjærgaard—and I thought vent the First Amendment to the U.S. in the media. So it seems only reason- it would be a good idea to bundle ev- Constitution, which states, “Congress able to associate creationism with the erything we know about the recent his- shall make no law respecting an estab- United States. tory of creationism in Europe to get a lishment of religion.” By avoiding signs Nonetheless, recent research in the good understanding of what exactly is of explicitly religious commitments, historical and sociological sciences in- going on in Europe. We joined forces ID proponents aim to introduce their dicates that creationism is spreading with Ronald Numbers and invited ex- beliefs in biology classes as a viable 48 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer alternative to evolutionary theory. At socio-political movement that strives ate creationism with a particular inter- the same time, ID is also intended for the return to a utopia before the pretation of the Bible, nor even with a to function as “a big tent” where cre- Enlightenment humanism in which particular religion. Hence we can speak ationists can put their theological dis- God took central stage at all levels not only of Christian but also of Mus- putes about the age of the Earth aside of society. Indeed, the creationist lim, Orthodox, and even Vedic cre- because they all believe that an intelli- movement emerged from American ationism; this definition is very useful gent being created life on Earth. Protestant fundamentalism that gained if one wants to study and understand Phillip Johnson, professor emeritus ground in the 1920s as a response to creationism in Europe. of law at the University of California World War I, which was regarded and godfather to the ID movement, as an example of the devastating Creationism in Europe wants to expand the tent even further. consequences of humanism. In the course of the first decade of the He defines a creationist as someone These two features together—the twenty-first century, it became undeni- who believes that God creates. As if by design argument and antievolution- ably clear that creationism in Europe magic, he makes every religious person ism—form a working definition that a creationist, and becomes the was becoming an issue. Particularly is precise enough to allow us to dis- only alternative. Many people would telling and alarming were incidents criminate between conservative and resist such a depiction of their religious involving ministers of education. In liberal religious people. It is also broad beliefs. Moreover, to understand the 2004, the Italian minister tried to enough that we do not have to associ- phenomenon of creationism, Johnson’s delete any reference to evolutionary definition is far too broad. It would be quite a stretch to put a deist, who be- lieves that God created the universe but has not actively intervened since, or a theistic evolutionist, who accepts the scientific account of evolution, on the same footing as a fundamentalist who endorses a literal interpretation of the Bible. Because it comes in various shapes and sizes, creationism is not easy to define. Pragmatically, however, each variety of creationism shares two features. First, a creationist believes that God (or an ambiguously defined “intelligent designer”) actively and directly intervenes in the world and that we can find traces of these divine activities in nature. Biological theory from textbooks for primary and adaptations such as the human eye Phillip Johnson secondary education. One year later are typical examples. For creationists, in 2005, the Serbian minister of edu- these instances of functional complexity defines a creationist cation had to resign after she decided constitute irrefutable evidence of the that teachers were no longer allowed existence of a divine intelligence. In as someone who to teach evolution without also dis- other words, this is the old design believes that God cussing creationism. In the same year, argument. Second, creationism is the Romanian Ministry of Education characterized by antievolutionism. creates. As if by allowed teachers in Christian and pub- Creationists oppose evolution because lic schools to use a creationist hand- they believe it has terrible consequences magic, he makes book in biology classes. In 2006, the for mankind and society, and they want minister of education of the German to defend their traditional norms and every religious person state of Hessen sided with evangelical values, which they believe are divinely a creationist, and schools that taught creationism. The ordained. Practically, this entails that same year, the ultra-Catholic Polish women should stay at home and take atheism becomes deputy minister of education openly care of the family, that there should be no LGBT rights, no abortion or the only alternative. questioned evolutionary theory, which euthanasia, and so forth. Creationism he considered to be “a lie” and “the is much more than a religion. It is a feeble idea of an aged non-believer”

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 49 (Kjærgaard 2008). In both Ukraine which explains why the theory hardly re- and thus made Europeans aware of the and Russia, the Ministry of Education ceives any attention in Greek education. existence of Islamic creationism. How- has supported creationist conferences. However, the involvement of reli- ever, Harun Yahya not only spreads his And in the Netherlands, the minister gion in matters of state is nowhere as message via books but also—probably of education declared that ID could prominent as in Turkey where creation- more importantly—via the Internet. perhaps be used in the classroom to ism is simply in the textbooks. This Through his websites, he reaches the bridge science and religion. Because of situation is partly the result of active Muslim youngsters who live in Euro- the political and media upheaval her missionary work by American young- pean cities and are looking for an Is- statement caused, she had to put those Earth creationists during the 1960s lamic identity within a secular society, plans to rest (Blancke 2010; Blancke et and 1970s, when they were looking for where they do not always feel at home. al. 2013). the remains of Noah’s Ark on Mount They make an appreciative audience for Support also comes from official re- Ararat. It is therefore unsurprising Harun Yahya’s antievolutionary rheto- ligious institutions. In 2007, a fifteen- that Turkey is home to the group of ric. As a result, biology teachers are fre- year-old girl from St. Petersburg, Rus- one of the most active and influential quently confronted with students who sia, and her parents filed a complaint creationists in Europe, Harun Yahya, protest, make a fuss, or simply leave the to the court because they felt that the which is the nom de plume for architect classroom when evolutionary theory is teaching of evolution had violated the Adnan Oktar. In 2007, the organiza- taught.

The involvement of religion in matters of state is nowhere as prominent as in Turkey where creationism is simply in the textbooks. This situation is partly the result of active missionary work by American young-Earth creationists during the 1960s and 1970s, when they were looking for the remains of Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat.

girl’s religious rights. Both the Russian tion sent numerous unsolicited copies The activities of Harun Yahya were Ministry of Education and the Russian of the Atlas of Creation to schools, uni- one of the incentives for the Council Orthodox Church supported her case versities, clergymen, and journalists in of Europe (not to be confused with because they welcomed the teaching of countries such as Denmark, France, the European Council, which is one alternative ideas. After the fall of the Switzerland, Spain, and . This of the main political bodies in the Eu- Soviet Union, a large and influential lavishly published and monstrous book ropean Union) to issue a resolution in conservative faction within the Russian contains only one argument. By putting 2007 that warned against the dangers Orthodox Church has sought to extend pictures of extant species next to sim- of creationism for education and society its impact on Russian society. Opposing ilar looking fossils, it intends to show at large. The report that was drafted in evolutionary theory, which is often as- that evolution has never taken place. preparation of the resolution also tal- sociated with atheist communism, is an (See Stefano Bigliardi, “Harun Yahya’s lies several other creationist incidents important part of their strategy. In the Islamic Creationism: What It Is and that had occurred in various Euro- Greek Orthodox Church, a conserva- Isn’t,” S I, January/ pean countries in years before. Some tive faction has strived for the deletion February 2014.) Naturally, this event of them I’ve already mentioned, but of evolutionary theory from textbooks, drew massive attention of the media, the report also refers, for instance, to a

50 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer creationist museum in Sweden and an translated into several European lan- much chance, except perhaps in small incident in the United Kingdom where guages, including Serbian, Portuguese, Protestant communities and among a school had rented out classrooms to Italian, and Russian. Both authors are Muslim populations in the cities. In the organizers of a creationist confer- members of the Studiengemeinschaft Eastern Europe, however, decades of ence with American speakers. Later, a Wort und Wissen (Study Community communist regime have resulted in a newspaper revealed that the students Word and Knowledge), a small but religious wasteland, where the tradi- at this partly state-funded school were very active German creationist orga- tional religious beliefs of conservatives taught creationism. The school denied nization with ties to the American ID and fundamentalists find a welcoming the accusations, but it quickly became movement. In 1999, Joseph Cardinal soil. Creationists seem to have the best clear that the director and the head of Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) chance of exerting societal influence science were both young-Earth cre- referred to the works by Scherer and when they can align themselves with ationists who were in favor of “equal Junker to substantiate his doubts about right-wing parties who share the same time” (teaching as much creationism as macroevolution. Hence, it seems that moral agenda, as in Poland, or when evolutionary theory). After the report, they have managed to turn a typical they are the dominant faction within creationists have not stood still. Also in brand of American creationism into the official church, as in Russia. This the United Kingdom, an organization a European version that is digestible means that we cannot drop our guard. called “Truth in Science” dispatched and usable for religious conservatives When creationism spreads, it poses a unsolicited DVDs to secondary schools who do not want to be associated with threat not only to science education to promote ID. Later, a study showed American creationism. but also to the many achievements of I that after watching this material, teach- Clearly, creationism in Europe is a modern society. ers were more inclined to doubt evolu- complex phenomenon. Not only does References tionary theory. ID has also put its foot the popularity of creationist beliefs firmly on Scottish soil with the found- Blancke, Stefaan. 2010. Creationism in the differ from one European country to Netherlands. Zygon. Journal of Religion and ing of the Centre for Intelligent Design the next, but there are also many dif- Science 45(4): 791–816. doi: 10.1111/j.1467- in 2010. ferent types of creationism. Sometimes 9744.2010.01134.x. In the Netherlands in 2009, a group Blancke, Stefaan, Hans Henrik Hjermitslev, Europeans (especially evangelicals) Johan Braeckman, et al. 2013. Creationism of Dutch creationists distributed a leaf- simply adopt American-style creation- in Europe: Facts, gaps, and prospects. let with the title Evolution or Creation? ism. Creationism, however, also easily Journal of the American Academy of Religion What Do You Believe? through the mail 81(4): 996–1028. doi: 10.1093/jaarel/lft034. adapts itself to new environments by Blancke, Stefaan, Hans Henrik Hjermitslev, and to every Dutch household. The action mixing with local varieties. There are Peter C. Kjærgaard, eds. 2014. Creationism in was intended as a counter voice to the Islamic, Protestant, Catholic, Ortho- Europe. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University many celebrities in the public sphere on Press. dox, and in some places even Jewish Kjærgaard, Peter C. 2008. Western front. New the occasion of the Darwin year, the bi- and Vedic creationists. In Russia and Humanist 123(3): 39–41. centenary of the scientist’s birth and the other former Eastern Bloc countries, Miller, J.D., E.C. Scott, and S. Okamoto. 150th anniversary of the publication of evolutionary theory is associated with 2006. Public acceptance of evolution. Science On the Origin of Species. One of the or- 313(5788): 765–766. doi: 10.1126/science. communism, whereas for Muslim 1126746. ganizers, entrepreneur Johan Huibers, creationists the theory is a symbol of Numbers, Ronald L. 2006. The Creationists. has built an ark as a traveling museum Western decadence. Dutch creation- From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent to spread the word of God. On a de- Design. Expanded ed. Cambridge: Harvard ists regard evolution as the cause of the University Press. bate show on Dutch national television undesirable modernizing developments ———. 2009. Myth 24. That creationism is a in 2008, he was asked whether there since the 1960s. Hence, local factors uniquely American phenomenon. In Galilei Goes were dinosaurs on the ark, to which he to Jail and Other Myths about Science and Religion, determine the form and the success of edited by Ronald L. Numbers, 215–223. replied: “Only the little ones.” One year creationism, which makes it impossible Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press. later, some of these creationists estab- to speak of one European creationism lished a “scientific” creationist maga- or creationist subculture. Stefaan Blancke is a zine, Weet Magazine, which looks just philosopher at Ghent like a popular science magazine such The Future of European Creationism University, Belgium. as Scientific American. They also pub- His interests include lished Dutch translations of German Because of this complexity, it is diffi- pseudoscience and the creationist books, including the sixth cult—if not impossible—to predict the way it reflects underly- edition of Evolution, Ein kritisches Le- overall fate of creationism in Europe. ing intuitions. He has rhbuch (Evolution: A Critical Textbook). The situation is completely different also published on the The authors of this book are Reinhard from the United States where creation- history of science, public understanding Junker, a theologian and former biol- ism is part and parcel of a substantial ogy teacher, and Siegfried Scherer, a and politically influential subculture. of science, and science education, often microbiologist at the Technical Uni- In Western and Northern Europe, from evolutionary and cognitive perspec- versity of Munich. The book has been creationism does not seem to stand tives. Author photo by Farah Focquaert. Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 51 Project Greenglow: How Horizon Lost the Message in the Medium When news media tailor their science reporting to their expected audiences, the message of science can get lost in the requirements of the medium. An episode of the BBC flagship science series Horizon offers an unfortunate example.

JOHN EADES

everal years ago, I acquired a recording of Sibelius’s The medium is the message, a phrase coined in the 1960s by the Canadian fifth symphony. This is one of his best-known works, philosopher Marshall McLuhan, be- Sbut the version I received was the original 1915 one came what was perhaps the most suc- cessful, and least understood, meme rather than the revised 1919 version, which until fairly re- of the age. Arguments still rage about cently was the only recording ever heard. What I expected what McLuhan really meant, but it seems to me that he may at least have were minor changes in orchestration, with perhaps a few gotten it right about science reporting: passages removed or extended here and there. What I got the media decide what the message of science is, not the scientists. The was the kind of shock you might feel if you met someone requirement that TV science presenta- in the street you had known all your life and found that he tions keep the viewer entertained and tuned in means that they can easily was twenty centimeters taller than he was three weeks last wind up as a PR pitch for some sup- Tuesday and that his hair had turned blue. When I cast a posed future technological miracle, while reality and the true nature of the skeptical eye over newspaper, magazine, and television cov- science involved are largely ignored or erage of scientific topics, I often get much the same feeling.1 obscured.

52 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer Making Apples Fall Up Eric Laithwaite, who originally pro- anybody who said they could fly was The March 23, 2016, episode in the moted this as a real effect, to his credit looked upon as a lunatic.” And Evans’s BBC’s science series Horizon, titled subsequently admitted that this phe- admission that the green rays he added “Project Greenglow,” was billed as “the nomenon was illusory. under a drawing of a VTOL aircraft story of an extraordinary scientific CERN theorist Professor John Ellis were only put in to make the idea of adventure—the attempt to control explained why: The forces of nature are a working nuts and bolts antigravity gravity” (Horizon 2016). The episode well understood in terms of quantum machine look plausible did nothing to provides us with a textbook case of field theory, which, in the electromag- encourage the critically minded viewer real science disappearing in medium- netic case, permits two kinds of elec- to take what was to follow seriously. promoted PR.2 In the real world gravity controls us, not the other way around, and scientists talk about measuring or understanding natural forces, not about controlling In the real world gravity controls us, not the them. It quickly became clear that “controlling gravity” meant getting other way around, and scientists talk about it to push things (such as Newtonian measuring or understanding natural forces, apples!) up instead of pulling them down. Extraordinary? What was ex- not about controlling them. It quickly became traordinary to me was that almost the clear that “controlling gravity” meant getting it to entire program was devoted to things being pushed upward by forces other push things (such as Newtonian apples!) than gravity, such as electromagnetism, or to gravitational contraptions that up instead of pulling them down. were supposed to push up but didn’t. And the green glow was more like a red light warning the viewer to treat most of what followed with extreme skepti- cism. Levitation Experiment Falls Flat “Project Greenglow” was, it seems, a tric charge, positive and negative. Just In the late 1990s, Russian chemist 1990s scheme by U.K. defense contrac- as like electrical charges repel, unlike Yevgeny Podkletnov claimed to have tor BAE Systems, which apparently ones attract. For gravity, the property observed gravitational levitation of a “set about turning science fiction into analogous to electric charge is mass. small test object placed over a spin- reality.” The episode’s main protagonist This is always positive, but in gravita- ning superconducting disk (his first was a BAE aerospace engineer named tional fields the “likes repel” rule does inkling of this came—and I am not Ron Evans, but neither he nor BAE not hold, and every mass attracts every making this up—when he saw the were alone in this effort. Across the other. The gravitational pull of all the disc levitating tobacco smoke from a pond, NASA had its own idea about atoms in the Earth therefore add up colleague’s pipe!). Even if it had been things that glow green, but they called to produce what we call weight or the genuine, the claimed effect was tiny, it the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics force of gravity.3 but Podkletnov nevertheless insisted Project. It involved such things as space that his device could destroy missiles— applications of “new physics,” “faster- Killjoy Academics remove them from their trajectory. After than-light travel,” and “warp drives.” Logic would dictate that the entire both BAE and NASA had tried unsuc- “What new physics?” I wondered, and program end at this point. This would cessfully to replicate his results, they why hadn’t I heard of it? Has it, as Ho- have ruined a good story, so it conti- gave up. Podkletnov, by then fearful of rizon claimed, “helped change our un- nued for another forty-five minutes prying military eyes and ears, arranged derstanding of the Universe?” And did with a number of nonarguments and a secret meeting with Dr. Evans in a all this really make “the dream of flying descriptions of nonworking gadgetry London hotel, in which he described cars and journeys to the stars no longer suggesting that some really serious an improved version of his device. This, seem quite so distant?” science was forthcoming. Saying things he claimed, delivered a gravitational such as: “Academics jump on any push that was detectable a kilometer Gyroscopes and Gravity antigravity device as being—impos- away. Evans admitted that he could Horizon traced its theme back to a sible! Well it’s not impossible it’s just draw no conclusion from the meeting 1990s demonstration at the Royal that we don’t how to do it,” is not, but nevertheless solemnly remarked, Society, London, in which gyroscopes however, a scientific argument. Neither “We don’t know with gravity. Gravity appeared to be producing a repulsive is the statement: “It’s like flight in is a subject we don’t know about! That’s gravitational field. The late Professor the nineteenth century—in those days why we are exploring it.” Experiments Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 53 at the Technical University of Dresden by the Dresden team that investi- to the pull of gravity. Quite how this with a replica of the new device never- gated Podkletnov’s device (Tajmar and idea, even if it were correct, might ma- theless failed to show any evidence Fiedler 2015; Koepsell 2015; Tramiel nifest itself in an earthly setting, where that gravitational pulses were being 2015), also found that any thrust pro- no negative mass object has ever been propagated, even over short distances duced by the EMDrive was within the seen, was a can of worms that Horizon within the laboratory. experimental margin of error. chose not to open. Moreover, as Uni- Shawyer has now produced a new, versity of Southern California physicist Nongravitational Apple-Pushers improved, bigger EMDrive that, he Professor Clifford Johnson explained, says, does work. Of course he has never such notions have huge problems with Much of the program described various claimed to make apples or anything else runaway instabilities, which should be devices that did indeed push objects easily detectable but have never been fall upward under gravity, only to vio- upward, or purported to, but not by observed anywhere in the universe. late Newton’s third law! gravity. This incongruence apparently Einstein initially included in the troubled neither the producer nor theory of general relativity a form many of the participants. Thus an Cosmic Repulsion? of dark energy—the cosmological electromagnetically levitated magnetic In response to the fact that Podkletnov’s constant—to hold back gravity and disc was shown with the comment, kitchen sink–sized gadget should have keep the universe static. When Hubble “Wouldn’t it be great if we could get generated a gravitational push and later found that the universe was not gravity to work in reverse and be able didn’t, Horizon simply changed course static but rather expanding, he remo- to levitate things with gravity?”, while and talked up the idea that levitation of ved it. Putting it back in is now gene- Roger Shawyer’s EMDrive (Shawyer earthly objects might be achievable by rally accepted as the best explanation 2006), which claims to generate a pro- tapping into cosmic energies. for dark energy rather than introducing pulsive thrust without an equal and There is in fact a tenuous connec- highly problematic negative masses.

Hands-On Dark Energy Loath to abandon the imagined pro- mise of dark energy, Horizon moved on to dream about stockpiling it. One participant suggested that “dark energy has some form of antigravity—we still don’t know whether we can ever harness it” while the background com- mentary suggested that “the idea that the universe has some inherent form of antigravity is tantalizing—if only we could get our hands on it.” Well let’s suppose that we could: The density of dark energy has been estimated to be about 0.63 joules per cubic kilometer. A simple calculation shows that the amount contained in a volume the size of the Earth (1012 cubic kilometers) would raise a 2,000-ton vessel, the approximate lift-off weight opposite reaction, was discussed at tion here with the observed accelera- of a space shuttle, about 330 km into great length. NASA, which would like tion of the expansion of the universe, the air—not exactly encouraging news to send space probes to the stars wit- which is suspected to be caused by a for any idea NASA might have for hout the inconvenience of carrying so-called dark energy that fills space dark-energy–powered star probes. “Just trillions of tons of propellant, displayed and pushes the universe outward. True hilarious” was Prof. Johnson’s unders- a close interest in this microwave oven– to form, Horizon highlighted only the tandable reaction to these ideas. like device, but in the face of uncon- most speculative and questionable ex- vincing results soon defunded research planations of this phenomenon. One of Upward Falling Antimatter and Wobbling on all novel propulsion systems. “Who these is the concept of negative mass, Atomic Clouds cares?” said Evans. “If it works it’s which at first sight would fit Green- In its continued quest to ransack the up to the theorists to find out why.” glow’s bill nicely since negative masses universe from top to bottom for evi- Unfortunately, it doesn’t. Further work would move in the opposite direction dence of repulsive gravitational forces,

54 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer Horizon then lurched from the cos- in the future and summed up the entire words seem to have vanished over this I mic to the atomic scale, misrepre- Horizon episode with the words: “Gra- particular Horizon. senting certain ongoing experiments vity control is just something we haven’t on hydrogen and antihydrogen atoms learned to do—yet. . . . I’m sure we will Notes at CERN. These aim to test for any one day; it’s just a matter of time.” 1. A similarly titled article with the same small difference in the free-fall of these theme but a quite different body of material appeared in The Pantaneto Forum (April 2006), matter–antimatter pairs under gravity. A Flagship Science Series? available online at www.pantaneto.co.uk/issue22/ This would violate the Equivalence front22.htm. Principle, the modern synthesis of The message delivered by the medium 2. On account of the gadfly nature of this of television in this episode of Horizon Horizon episode, with contextless soundbites Galileo’s findings at the tower of Pisa. being freely inserted at will and incomplete There being good grounds to expect was not a scientific one. Rather it was or nonexistent connecting material between that the principle applies on the ato- that one of the world’s most respected the various topics covered, this article could not always stick to the program’s chronological mic as well as the bulk matter scale, media organizations gussied up a col- sequence. the experimenters do not expect to lection of smoke-and-mirror argu- 3. The latest success of field theory in its find that antihydrogen falls upward. ments as real science under the rubric application to gravitation was spectacularly achieved just weeks before the Horizon broad- Even if they did, it would take many of what it claims to be its gold-stan- cast, when the gravitational waves the theory thousands of times the age of the uni- dard science series. The lone voices of predicts were detected after decades of searching. verse to collect the 2,000 tons or so of mainstream science, Professors Ellis This great achievement in real science did not even get a mention in the “Project Greenglow” antihydrogen atoms necessary to push and Johnson, were heard for a total episode. a space shuttle–sized payload skyward. of about three to four minutes during 4. Gravity gradiometers are quite common devices, with uses in geophysics and geology. The claim about the wobble may be true, but in the absence of any supporting information there was The message delivered by the medium of no way of checking it. television in this episode of Horizon was not a References Close, F. 2007. Fears over factoids. Physics World scientific one. Rather it was that one of the world’s 20(8): 16–17. Horizon. 2016. Project Greenglow. BBC2 (March 23). Producer’s article available most respected media organizations gussied up a online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/program- mes/b0752f85. collection of smoke-and-mirror arguments as real Koepsell, D. 2015. From N-rays to EMDrives: When does science become pseudoscience? science under the rubric of what it claims to be its S I 39(6): 14–15. Shawyer, R. 2006. SPR Ltd. Internal document. gold-standard science series. Available online at http://www.emdrive. com/theorypaper9-4.pdf. Tajmar, M., and D. Fiedler. 2015. Direct thrust measurements of an EMDrive and evaluation of possible side-effects. Available online at http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2015- And of course, apart from the problem the sixty-minute episode. Given the 4083. of confining such a gigantic number Tramiel, L. 2015. Is the EMDrive pseudo- speculative and handwaving arguments science? S I 39(6): 16–17. in a small space, they would annihilate of the accompanying commentary, I the very payload they were supposed was not really surprised to find that it to push. was narrated by an actor from the BBC John Eades, PhD, grad- The final topic concerned a quan- science-fiction series Doctor Who. Nor uated from Liverpool tum gravity gradiometer, a device that was I sure that all the participants rea- University and is a detects small changes in the local gra- lized the extent to which their remarks particle physicist. As a vitational field by their effect on a cloud would be decontextualized and trivia- CERN senior physicist, of ultra-cold atoms. A slight wobble of he carried out research the cloud as an experimenter moved lized in the actual broadcast. on antihydrogen and around was interpreted to mean that the This is not the first time that Ho- antiprotonic helium gradiometer was sensitive to the gravi- rizon has failed to live up to its ad- in collaboration with Japanese and Euro- tational field of a human being–sized vertised role as a serious and reliable 4 pean colleagues for several years until his object. No justification was presented vehicle for presenting scientific topics for this (nor the further claim that the to nonscientists (Close 2007). Richard retirement. He is now affiliated with Tokyo laws of nature as we know them were P. Feynman once remarked that for University. In previous SI articles, he wrote somehow being broken). Ever the op- a successful technology, reality must on antimatter pseudoscience and global timist, Dr. Evans saw the wobble as a take precedence over public relations, warming factoids. He can be contacted at start on the road to controlling gravity for you cannot fool nature. These wise [email protected]. Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 55 No Time for Certainty Uncertainty and imprecision are basic attributes of interpreting the world and should not be viewed with scorn or disdain but understood, measured (when possible), and mixed into the framework of well-planned and well-reasoned public policies.

ALAN J. SCOTT

t has been said that a person with one wristwatch always vehicles that was designed to cheat emissions tests (Davenport 2016), and a knows what time it is. A person with two is never quite team of engineers and researchers from Icertain. The person with two watches is tormented if West Virginia University discovered the deception (Ross 2016). each displays a different time. A passerby asking for the This team refused to wear just one time of day will induce a semi-painful mental dissonance. watch. They could have simply ac- cepted the measurements made by the Most science and public policy is- one watch. Bertrand Russell hits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sues resemble the two-watch scenario. bull’s-eye saying, “The whole problem on tailpipe emissions, but they instead More generally, we inhabit a world with the world is that fools and fanatics decided to perform independent mea- with uncertainty, inaccuracy, and im- are always so certain of themselves and surements both in the lab and on the precision. This inexactness stretches wiser people so full of doubts” (Russell road. Reproducibility is a hallmark of into all realms of our existence—sci- n.d.). science, which means other watches ence, politics, public policy, religion, In this world, it is possible for both should show roughly the same time but social interactions, news media, en- watches, when wearing two, to be in- didn’t in this case. vironment, economy, and so on. Yet accurate—and in some cases purposely It was reported (Open Science many are beckoned and drawn toward distorted. Consider the scandal en- Collaboration 2015) in August of 2015 that a group of 270 researchers, known the over-simplicity and overconfidence gulfing Volkswagen. The company in- as the “Open Science Collaboration,” found in consciously choosing to wear troduced software into eleven million tried to replicate 100 social and cognitive studies published in top, peer-reviewed psychology journals. Only about one-third to one-half of the original findings was observed in the replicated studies. Metaphorically, more than half of the watches—in this large collection—have never really functioned properly. In 2013, a scientific study (Hart et al. 2013) was conducted that provided “. . . the first clear and simply measur- able evidence for the influence of geo- magnetic field variations on mammal behavior.” They found that dogs prefer- entially align with the Earth’s magnetic field when defecating. It can be argued that such conclu- sions are synonymous with wearing only one watch. There could be a host of confounding variables along with 56 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer inaccurate measurements leading to Productivity, driven in large part by tion-based afterthought reinforced and an incorrect interpretation of the sta- scientific and technological advances, echoed by social media self-organiza- tistics or significance (SkeptVet 2014). steadily rose about 3.6 percent per year. tion and preferred news outlets. In this Never theless, it is enchanting to know From 1948 to 1973, average worker sal- sense, misdirected teleological intu- that some creatures can sense and uti- aries also rose by about the same per- itions about the source of our emotions lize Earth’s magnetic field. cent (adjusted for inflation). Around could be fueling voter behavior. Even scientists are tempted to wear 1973, average worker salaries decoupled Pharmaceutical corporations often just one watch—sometimes for nefar- from the rising productivity. They re- wear one watch that is purposely dis- ious reasons. The journal Nature re- mained stagnant or flat. All the gains torted to misinform consumers and ported (Callaway 2015) in August of in productivity went to an explosion in optimize profits. Just in the past seven 2015 that a leading scientific publisher CEO salaries and corporate stock prof- years, over $13 billion in fines have suddenly retracted sixty-four articles its, which amplifies inequality. been levied by the U.S. Department in ten journals because of author im- Physicist Michael Lubell makes of Justice against eleven of the biggest proprieties in gaming the peer-review the argument that scientists bear some pharmaceutical companies (Groeger system. About 365 scientific papers get responsibility for today’s political dis- 2014). These companies have know- retracted every year, and about two per- content. He states “The danger for the ingly engaged in deception and fraud. cent of scientists admit to monkeying science community is that disillusioned Philosophically speaking, we should with their data in improper ways (Mar- voters could begin to direct their ire embrace the idea of wearing more than cus and Oransky 2015). Nonetheless, at the progenitors of the technologi- one watch. Skepticism and doubt can this finding should be kept in perspec- tive, since millions of articles are pub- lished every year. In the world of politics, leaders ar- Philosophically speaking, we should embrace en’t wearing enough watches. They are selling simple solutions to complex the idea of wearing more than one watch. problems with a lot of uncertainties Skepticism and doubt can serve us well in trying and, all too often, making factually in- correct statements. A visit to Politifact. to make sense of the world. Some organizations com and FactCheck.org will sour most have codified wearing two watches by forming pride and optimism toward our leaders. Scientists may be at fault, at least red teams, people tasked with playing partially, for a large portion of the U.S. population having distrust of govern- devil’s advocate. ment and casually dismissing scientific claims and concerns—particularly in- volving climate change. It is possible that this stems from the perception that cal changes they see as harming them” serve us well in trying to make sense science and technology are, in some (Lubell 2015). of the world. Some organizations have way, contributing to their economic New York Times columnist David codified wearing two watches by form- anxieties. Brooks reinforces these anxieties of im- ing what are called red teams. These This population often views scien- potence by saying, “The fact is, for all the are teams of people tasked with playing tific voices urging action on environ- problems we may have with Wall Street devil’s advocate. The U.S. Army uses mental concerns as costing jobs. And or Washington, our biggest problems red teams to penetrate defenses and some have argued that mechanization are systemic—the disruptions caused find weaknesses in ground combat and has placed a net downward pressure on by technological progress and global- cyber security (Satyanarayana 2015). average wages (Brynjolfsson and Mca- ization, mass migration. . . .There’s no Google and Microsoft utilize such fee 2011). Technology, combined with all-controlling Wizard of Oz to slay” teams to find and fix vulnerabilities reduced labor costs for equally skilled (Brooks 2016). This may explain much (Claburn 2012; Field 2014). workers, are also driving jobs out of the of the disfigurement of political dis- When it comes to religion, it would country. course and polarization. also behoove people to initiate red To elaborate upon the economic Yet one should be guarded against teams to play devil’s advocate in rooting connection, consider the work done by oversimplifications in this one-watch out superstition and dogma. Thomas economic researchers Josh Bivens and worldview of a rational voter. Neuro- Jefferson urged his nephew Peter Carr Lawrence Mishel from the Economic science and psychology (Cooper 2015; in 1787 to “Question with boldness Policy Institute (Bivens and Mishel Laber-Warren 2012) point to emotions even the existence of a god; because, if 2015). They examined economic pro- as the source of many voting decisions, there be one, he must more approve the ductivity with worker compensation with logic and reason being twisted homage of reason, than that of blind- from 1948 to the present. into a dissonance-reducing, predilec- folded fear” (Jefferson 1787).

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 57 Improprieties—wearing purposely tal organization) Engineers Against demanded by an enlightened citizenry. distorted watches—lurk everywhere. Poverty, states that between 10 and Science teaches us to detest the uncom- Intelligence information on U.S. prog- 30 percent of worldwide construction promising, self-aggrandizing simpleton ress in its fight against ISIL, or Daesh, project costs get funneled off into cor- orthodoxy of always knowing the exact were likely cooked (Apuzzo et al. 2015) ruption such as bribery. About $17.5 time by wantonly wearing only one I harking back to Westmoreland’s Viet- trillion is expected to be lost to corrup- watch. nam assessments. In 2016, Goldman tion by the year 2030 (Matthews 2016). References Sachs agreed to a $5 billion settlement One report (Kottasova 2014) indi- Apuzzo, M., M. Mazzetti, and M.S. Schmidt. for deceptions associated with securi- cates that the most corrupt industries, 2015. Pentagon expands inquiry into intel- ties. A host of different banking and from most to lesser, are: (1) extraction ligence on ISIS surge. New York Times investment entities have been fined of natural resources (such as oil and (November 21). Bivens, J., and L. Mishel. 2015. Understanding $40 billion by federal prosecutors and mining), (2) construction, and (3) the Historic Divergence Between Productivity regulators for deceptions in recent years transportation. Transparency in check- and a Typical Worker’s Pay, September (Goldstein 2016). Wearing purposely ing and recalibrating the timepieces of 2: Economic Policy Institute. Available online at http://www.epi.org/publication/ understanding-the-historic-divergence- between-productivity-and-a-typical-workers- pay-why-it-matters-and-why-its-real/. Brooks, D. 2016. The anxieties of impotence. New York Times (January 22). This push to wear more than one watch Brynjolfsson, E., and A. Mcafee. 2011. Why workers are losing the war against machines. is not about time but instead about the The Atlantic (October 26). Available online at http://www.theatlantic.com/business/ propensity for self-delusion. archive/2011/10/why-workers-are-losing- the-war-against-machines/247278/. Callaway, E. 2015. Faked peer reviews prompt 64 retractions. Nature.com. Available online at http://www.nature.com/news/faked-peer- reviews-prompt-64-retractions-1.18202. Childress, S. 2015. Report: After Citizens United, Outside Spending Doubles. PBS, distorted watches is an industry. others is all about integrity, justice, fair- Front line. Available online at http://www. The book Merchants of Doubt (Ore- ness, and democracy. pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/report-after- citizens-united-outside-spending-doubles/. skes and Conway 2011; Scott 2015) In the past three years, the Federal Claburn, T. 2012. Google ‘red team’ to test prod- summarizes such exploits where cor- Trade Commission (FTC) filed 220 uct privacy. InformationWeek (August 23). porations use shady experts-for-hire to actions against consumer fraud, re- Avail able online at http://www.darkreading. com/risk-management/google-red-team-to- foment and interject scientific doubt sulting in $1.7 billion in penalties and test-product-privacy/d/d-id/1105950. where there is no doubt—or very little. consumer redress (Rich 2015). One Cooper, K. 2015. The psychology of voting: Improprieties and flimflam dot the cul- can say the FTC helps keep corporate An emotional matter? BBC News (May 6). Available online at http://www.bbc.com/ tural landscape. We’ve got corruption wristwatches properly calibrated when news/election-2015-32537661. in soccer organizations (Reuters 2016), companies push them out of calibra- Cox, S. 2016. Tennis match fixing: Evidence of state-sponsored doping of Olympic tion. Recently, the FTC forced Lu- suspected match-fixing revealed. BBC News, Sport Tennis. Available online at http:// athletes in Russia (Futterman et al. mosity—a “brain-training” software www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/35319202. 2015), and professional tennis matches company—into a $2 million settlement Davenport, C. 2016. U.S. sues Volkswagen in being fixed (Cox 2016). (Federal Trade Commission 2016) for diesel emissions scandal. New York Times (September 22). Socially, a “hands-up, don’t shoot” unfounded and unwarranted adver- Department of Justice. 2015. Department of mantra blossomed—spurred by a nar- tising claims that its product reduces Justice Report Regarding the Criminal rative of police abuse in the case re- cognitive impairment associated with Investigation Into the Shooting Death of Michael Brown by Ferguson, Missouri Police garding Michael Brown in Ferguson, various health conditions, including Officer Darren Wilson. Missouri—that was contrary to the Alzheimer’s and dementia. The com- Federal Trade Commission. 2016. Lumosity physical evidence, though this is not pany falsely claimed that scientific stud- to Pay $2 Million to Settle FTC Deceptive Advertising Charges for Its “Brain Training” to argue police abuse isn’t a problem ies proved the benefits. Program (January 5). (Department of Justice 2015). There is This push to wear more than one Field, S. 2014. Red teaming: Using cut- dark money flooding into politics since watch is not about time but instead ting-edge threat simulation to harden the Microsoft Enterprise Cloud. Microsoft Azure the Citizens United Supreme Court about the propensity for self-delusion. Blog (November 11). Available online at decision (Childress 2015). The U.S. It is about the need for continuous re- https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/ government has regulations to register flection done with intellectual honesty red-teaming-using-cutting-edge-threat-sim- ulation-to-harden-the-microsoft-enter- cars and drones but not guns. And so and humility that seeks multiple, repro- prise-cloud/. it goes. ducible, and calibrated measurements. Futterman, M., S. Germano, and P. Sonne. Globally, corruption is a serious Only then will information graduate 2015. Anti-Doping Commission finds Russia engaged in state-sponsored doping. Wall problem. Petter Matthews, executive into facts onto which public policies Street Journal (November 9). director of the NGO (non-governmen- can be built with informed reasoning as Goldstein, M. 2016. Goldman to pay up to $5 58 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer billion to settle claims of faulty mortgages. Matthews, P. 2016. This is why construction is spicks/7669450-74/computer-military-secu- New York Times (January 14). so corrupt. World Economic Forum (February rity#axzz3xihyaOsW. Groeger, L. 2014. Big Pharma’s big fines. 4). Available online at http://www.weforum. Scott, A.O. 2015. Review: ‘Merchants of Doubt’, ProPublica (February 24). Available online org/agenda/2016/02/why-is-the-construc- separating science from spin. New York Times at http://projects.propublica.org/graphics/ tion-industry-so-corrupt-and-what-can-we- (March 5). bigpharma. do-about-it. SkeptVet. 2014. Do dogs line themselves up Hart, V., et. al. 2013. Dogs are sensitive to small Open Science Collaboration. 2015. Estimating with the Earth’s magnetic field to poop? variations of the Earth’s magnetic field. the reproducibility of psychological science. The SkeptVet Blog. Available online at http:// Frontiers of Zoology 10: 80. Science 349(6251) (August 28). skeptvet.com/Blog/2014/01/do-dogs-line- Jefferson, Thomas. 1787. Letter to his nephew Oreskes, N., and E. Conway. 2011. Merchants of themselves-up-with-the-earths-magnetic- Doubt. New York: Bloomsbury Press. Peter Carr, from Paris. In Thomas Jefferson: field-to-poop/. Writings; Merrill D Peterson, ed., by M.D. Reuters. 2016. Support for FIFA hopeful. New Peterson, 900–906. New York: Library of York Times (January 23). America. Rich, J. 2015. Our Consumer Protection Kottasova, I. 2014. World’s most corrupt indus- Agenda: Meeting the Challenges of a Chang- Alan J. Scott is a pro- tries. CNN Money. Available online at ing Marketplace. National Consumers fessor of physics at http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/02/news/ League speech: Federal Trade Commission. bribery-foreign-corruption/. Available online at https://www.ftc.gov/ the University of Wis- Laber-Warren, E. 2012. Unconscious reactions system/files/documents/public_state- consin-Stout, Wiscon- separate liberals and conservatives. Scientific ments/734351/150728changingmarketplace. American Mind (September 1). pdf. sin’s Polytechnic Uni- Lubell, M.S. 2015. Does science bear any respon- Ross, P.E. 2016. How engineers at West Virginia versity in Menomonie, sibility for today’s political discontent? APS University caught VW cheating. New York Wisconsin. He received News (November). Available online at http:// Times (January 4). www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/201511/ Russell, Bertrand. n.d. Wikiquote. Accessed his PhD in 1995 from Kent State Univer- beltway.cfm. February 19, 2016. Available online at https:// sity in experimental nuclear physics and Marcus, A., and L. Oransky. 2015. What’s en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Bertrand_ is currently active in science education behind big science fraud? New York Times Russell. (May 22). Available online at http://www. Satyanarayana, M. 2015. Military academy mem- issues and astrophysical research. This nytimes.com/2015/05/23/opinion/whats-be- bers hone hacking skills at Pittsburgh compe- is his third article published in S  hind-big-science-frauds.html?smprod=nyt- tition. TribLive News (January 30). Available core-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share. online at http://triblive.com/news/editor- I. REVIEWS]

HARRIETThe StoryHALL of the Gene

early six years ago, I reviewed Siddhartha Mukherjee’s book The Gene: An Intimate History. By Siddhartha N The Emperor of All Maladies: A Mukherjee. Scribner, New York, 2016. ISBN 978- Biography of Cancer (SI, May/June 2011). 1476733500. 592 pp. Hardcover, $32.00. It was hands-down one of the best books I have ever read on a medical topic. Now he’s done it again. His new book is titled The Gene: An Intimate History. Mukherjee is a superb writer. Much of what I said about his first book applies equally to his second, so I will quote my- self: It is a unique combination of insightful history, cutting edge science reporting, He links this second book to his first and its connection to inherited genes. and vivid stories about the individuals by pointing out that cancer is an ultimate He sets out to tell the story of the birth, involved: the scientists, the activists, perversion of genetics and that studying growth, and future of one of the most the doctors, and the patients. It is also cancer means also studying its obverse: powerful and dangerous ideas in the the story of science itself: how the scientific method works. Beautifully normalcy. He gives the topic a human history of science: the gene. He says it is written and informative. . . . Reads like face by interspersing anecdotes from his one of three destabilizing ideas that have a detective story with an exciting plot. own family’s struggles with mental illness transformed science: the concept that ir-

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 59 [NEW AND NOTABLE Listing does not preclude future review. reducible units underlie matter (the atom), digitized information (the CHEATS AND DECEITS: How Animals and Plants byte or bit), and biological information (the gene). He explains how Exploit and Mislead. Martin Stevens. In this book, the consequences of these ideas have transformed our thinking, our Martin Stevens, associate professor of sensory language, and our culture, politics, and society. and evolutionary ecology at the University of Ex- eter, examines how trickery and deception are History widespread in nature. Animals and plants mimic Mukherjee delves into the fascinating history of our early groping other objects or species in the environment for protection, to trick other species into rearing their toward understanding inheritance. Pythagoras believed that infor- young, to lure prey to their death, and to deceive mation was carried only in the sperm, and the uterus only provided potential mates for reproduction. Harmless butter- nourishment. The preformation theory held that sperm contained flies, for example, mimic the wing patterning of a a miniature human. Lamarck believed that acquired characteristics poisonous butterfly to avoid being eaten. Cheats could be inherited. Mendel was the first to discover dominant and and Deceits describes the remarkable range of recessive inheritance of traits, which meant that there must be inher- such adaptations in nature and considers how itable units. His published research was ignored for decades, and only they have evolved as part of an arms race between predator and prey or host and parasite. Skeptics much later did those units come to be called genes. are inherently interested in deception—not only The history of genetics was stained by the eugenic movement, which how people mislead each other but also how peo- had dire consequences. In America, there were involuntary sterilizations ple fool themselves. Stevens’s book reminds us of people who were thought to be defective but often weren’t. One such that trickery, in all its many forms, is common in person who was sterilized against her will was Carrie Buck, the plaintiff the world around us and is indeed part of evolution in the Supreme Court Case on the topic, Buck v. Bell. In Nazi Germany, and life itself. Oxford University Press, 2016, 296 pp, $34.95. eugenic arguments were used to justify the murder of children, gypsies, Jews, and other politically undesirable groups. THE EDGE OF REASON: A Rational Skeptic in an The research of Mendel and others convinced scientists that there Irrational World. Julian Baggini. Not just science must be such a thing as a gene. Around 1900, they figured out that is under siege; reason itself is more and more genes must be carried in the cell’s nucleus and narrowed it down to the dismissed and has ceased to be a universally chromosomes. Studies of fruit fly mutants and variants found that some admired faculty. British philosopher, writer, and cofounder of The Philosopher’s Magazine Julian traits were linked, so their genetic information must be located close to Baggini says we have lost our reason, and it’s each other on the chromosome. But how was the information carried? not an accident. It is too often misperceived as a When DNA was first proposed, it was dismissed as a “stupid mol- cold tool and “an enemy of mystery and ambigu- ecule” that couldn’t carry clever messages. It took a long series of in- ity.” Baggini, who considers himself a generalist genious experiments to reveal that DNA was the carrier of genetic whose perspective enables him to appreciate vir- information, and it was decades before the amino acid triplet code was tues of reason less evident from purely academic discovered and the structure of the DNA molecule was revealed by viewpoints, sets out here to rehabilitate reason and rationality (he uses both terms interchange- Watson and Crick. Mukherjee tells the story step by step, experiment ably). It is important because “it is only through by experiment, with all the suspense and excitement of a detective the proper use of reason that we can find our way story where the gradual accumulation of clues finally reveals the cul- out of the quagmires in which many big issues prit. His use of language is delicious, noting for example that “Bread of our times have become stuck.” He has a mod- molds are scrappy, fierce creatures.” erate, commonsense view of reason, drawing on As he relates discovery after discovery, the story gradually edu- Hume’s “mitigated skepticism,” and he sets out to debunk myths about reason that have led to its cates the reader about all the important concepts in genetics: introns, widespread diminishment (the first is “that reason “junk” DNA, the function of RNA, how genes direct the embryo to is purely objective and requires no subjective judg- form a human, recombinant DNA, gene sequencing, how proteins ment”). He ends with a short section on the uses are manufactured, genotype vs. phenotype, transcription and reverse of skepticism and a fifty-two-point “User’s Guide transcription, alleles, and epigenetics. He explains the “central dogma” to Reason.” It is a timely and important book. Yale that information moves from genes in DNA to messenger RNA to University Press, 2016, 272 pp., $26. proteins, and then he explains why that overly simplistic theory has FELT TIME: The Psychology of How We Perceive required several modifications. Time. Marc Wittmann, translated by Erik Butler. We He tells the complicated story of political restrictions on genetic have varying and subjective perceptions of time; experimentation and of the conflicts that troubled the Human Ge- children have trouble waiting for anything, while as nome Project. He explains how genes carry a molecular clock that tells we grow older, time seems to speed up. Marc Witt- our evolutionary history and how gene analysis can reconstruct the mann, a research fellow at the Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health in Frieburg, movements of early human populations. He explains why the Mito- Germany, explores the riddle of subjective time. chondrial Eve is the mother of us all. He tries to explain why biological Drawing on the latest insights from psychology males have a Y chromosome. He throws a monkey wrench into racial discrimination by showing that there is more diversity within races than between races. He talks about genetic factors in homosexuality

60 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer and neuroscience, Wittmann offers new answers to and transgender identity. He explains why epigenetics is on the verge of the question of how we experience time. Wittmann transforming into a dangerous idea that is being used to justify junk sci- explains, among other things, how we choose be- ence and a new Lamarckism. He even speculates about how life itself tween savoring the moment and deferring gratifica- began. tion; why impulsive people are bored easily; and why We have mapped the human genome and understand a lot about the the feeling of duration can serve as an “error signal,” genetic code, but we know virtually nothing about the genomic code, letting us know when it is taking too long for dinner to be ready or for the bus to come. The book is of which governs how multiple genes at various sites on the human genome particular significance to skeptics investigating or coordinate gene expression in space and time to build, maintain, and re- seeking to understand psychological factors under- pair a human organism. We don’t understand the functions of noncoding lying eyewitness testimony and perceived elapsed tracts of DNA between the genes. time. It suggests, for example, that the duration of Tinkering with Genes sudden or surprising events (such as UFO, ghost, or Bigfoot sightings) may be significantly overesti- Understanding the genome was the first goal that inevitably led to a mated by the eyewitnesses. The MIT Press, 2016, second goal: altering the genome. The hope was that we could outwit 184 pp, $24.95. nature and take control of our own destiny, changing the course of human evolution. If we could identify genes that caused diseases, we ought to be PSYCHOLOGY LED ASTRAY: Cargo Cult in Science able to fix the genes and eliminate diseases. We had eliminated smallpox and Therapy. Tomasz Witkowski with a foreword by James E. Alcock. Psychologist Witkowski follows up from the world; now genetics offered the hope of eliminating everything his 2015 book Psychology Gone Wrong (with M. Za- from nearsightedness to cancer. We are still far from that goal, and it is tonski) with this second part of what he says will looking more and more unrealistic, but some progress has been made. be a trilogy devoted to the dark side of psychology. Genetic analysis can identify couples who might want to avoid preg- It examines the many problems that plague mod- nancy because of a high likelihood of transmitting a serious genetic condi- ern psychological research and psychotherapeu- tion such as Huntington disease. Prenatal diagnosis can be used to guide tic practice. He critiques problems in statistical selective abortion of fetuses with genetic diseases (and sometimes fetuses significance, over-generalization of findings from neuroscience, and uncontrolled experiments on hu- of the “wrong” sex!). Gene therapy is already possible, although some of mans, and he picks apart a number of questionable the early experiments have gone awry due to incompetence, blunders, practices in the treatment of children, including the neglect, and gaps in knowledge. It is now possible to biopsy a human pseudoscience of educational kinesiology, attach- embryo and extract cells for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis without ment therapy, trauma debriefing, Facilitated Com- affecting the viability of the embryo. In 2014, a landmark study was pub- munication, Dolphin Therapy, and so on. In his Fore- lished in The New England Journal of Medicine reporting the successful use word Alcock calls this “a very important and valuable book” and praises the author for not just his critical of gene therapy to treat hemophilia. Thanks to CRISPR (see SI Special examinations of shortcomings in psychology but for Report “CRISPR-Cas9: Not Just Another Scientific Revolution,” May/ his support of the value of evidence-based psychol- June 2016), we have the ability to cut out a defective gene and replace it ogy. BrownWalker Press, 2016, 276 pp., $29.95. with a normal one. The new technologies offer exciting promises but give rise to ethical THE WAR ON SCIENCE: Who’s Waging It, Why It Mat- dilemmas. Should society allow the creation of “designer babies”? Who ters, and What We Can Do About It. Shawn Otto. Fore- is to determine what is normal and what is not? What if a defective gene word by Lawrence M. Krauss. “A vast war on science is underway,” writes Otto, “and the winners will chart causes mental illness but also causes genius and creativity? Genes affect the future of power, democracy, and freedom itself.” the expression of other genes; modifying genes could have unforeseen He sees the war as having three well-funded fronts: consequences. the identity politics war on science, the ideological The book is a cornucopia of delights that offers something for every- war on science, and the industrial war on science. one. You can read it for its detective story and literary value. You can read Politically, he says, the war on science is coming it to get a basic education in genetics. You can read it to finally understand from both the left (arguing that truth is relative and there are hidden environmental and health threats what epigenetics is really all about. You can read it for its explanation afoot) and the right, but he argues that the anti- of cutting-edge science, for its tantalizing clues about where science is science of those on the right has the more danger- headed, and for a challenging view of the ethical dilemmas we will have ous public policy implications because it is about to face as a society. forestalling policies based on evidence (in order to Mukherjee is a rare combination of scientist, storyteller, and educator. protect business models). This ambitious book is an He is a truly gifted writer. I highly recommend both of his books, and account of that war and what concerned citizens of all political persuasions in all countries can do about I look forward to reading whatever he may write about in the future. n it. Otto, a novelist and award-winning screenwriter, and in Krauss’s word, “the epitome of a responsible Harriet Hall, MD, also known as The SkepDoc, is a retired family physician who citizen scientist,” is head of the effort to persuade writes primarily about pseudoscience and questionable medical practices. presidential candidates to engage in science de- She is a S  I contributing editor and a member of the Executive bates. Milkweed Editions, 2016, 598 pp. $18. Council of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. She is also an editor of the Sci- —Benjamin Radford and Kendrick Frazier ence-Based Medicine blog.

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 61 [ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Science Literacy Paradox | Fate | Faith vs. Fact | Conspiracy Theories | Ley Lines | Balles Award exposed by scientist Dr. Pushpa bring down all GMOs, in the of farmed salmon, the Atlantic M. Bhargav and me. Govern- public eye, like a house of cards. salmon is heading to extinction;

Vol. 40 No. 5 | September/October 2016 ments are supporting and justi- Separate the reasons for GM the Pacific salmon species can be the Magazine for Science and Reason

ISSUES IN SCIENCE SPECIAL fying pseudo-medical practices and address them. Golden rice is next. Farmed fish are also over- & SKEPTICISM ANNIVERSARY Neil deGrasse TYSON in the name of religion. It is de- a great example of GM food that crowded, fed with antibiotics, Bill NYE EDITION Steven NOVELLA plorable that institutions such as should to be allowed; it’s simply and have high parasite loads. Lawrence M. KRAUSS Daniel DENNETT Richard WISEMAN the National Institutes of Health inhumane not to. GM for pesti- Wild fish are caught to feed Scott O. LILIENFELD Sharon HILL support alternative medicines, cide resistance is more problem- those farmed fish depleting the David J. HELFAND Edzard ERNST wasting taxpayers’ money. Chil- atic—not because of the GMO food that other fish and our seals, Martin BRIDGSTOCK dren should be taught the scien- itself but because it can encour- birds, and whales need to eat. tific method. Educated people age misuse of pesticides. I have no problem with have succumbed to beliefs due GMOs for increasing food GMOs that improve flavor, im- to lack of systematic exposure of supply may be a red herring. For prove quality, or increase produc- science. one, we’re told that famine may tivity, but that is not what most Published by the Center for Inquiry in association with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Innaiah Narisetti be as much due to failed distri- GMOs are being developed for; Brookeville, Maryland bution (including politics and they are being developed to max- Spread the Word crime) as to lack of food. Second, imize profit! Bill Nye’s “Promote Reason, “you can’t beat the exponential”; Greenpeace’s Anti-GMO Sheila Chambers Prevent Climate Catastrophes: if world population keeps grow- Brookings, Oregon Let’s Get ’Er Done” (September/ Stance ing it will eventually outstrip any October 2016) was a great article means of increasing food supply. Your report on 110 Nobel laure- In response to Sheila Chambers, it on critical thinking, but it misses ate scientists urging Greenpeace Dick Dunn may be worth simply repeating two the mark on two points. to drop its anti-GMO stance Longmont, Colorado key sentences from the 110 Nobel First, you are, as they say, (News & Comment, Septem ber/ laureates’ statement: “preaching to the choir” (sorry October 2016) was very inter- I would not give a blanket state- about the theistic reference). esting. Another organization in ment that all GM organisms are Scientific and regulatory Send this to The Wall Street Jour- need of correction on this issue is safe. agencies around the world nal, Washington Post, New York the Consumers Union. Recently I oppose those foods that have repeatedly and con- it has been emailing its Consumer Times, Fox News. Now you are have been genetically modified sistently found crops and Reports subscribers urging them talking to an audience that mat- to be more resistant to herbi- foods improved through to contact their state represen- ters. cides because that allows farmers biotechnology to be as safe tatives in support of legislation Second, his reference to his to spray even more carcinogenic as, if not safer than, those parents, World War II, and the requiring GMO labeling. This derived from any other organization, which has generally herbicide on it, poisoning our Greatest Generation was faulty. rivers and streams. We now also method of production. . . . provided consumers with sound Their environmental im- They were responding to a ca- have “Roundup ready” weeds. I scientific and technical advice, pacts have been shown tastrophe that had already hap- also oppose having food plants pened. It affected us all in a di- has unfortunately followed the repeatedly to be less dam- lead of popular opinion on this genetically modified to have an aging to the environment, rect and personal way. I worked insect poison throughout their in government and we, too, had issue. and a boon to global bio- tissues so that any insect that eats diversity. a saying: “Nothing happens until David W. Briggs or uses its pollen or nectar is poi- you turn on the faucet and noth- Marion, Massachusetts soned. —The Editors ing comes out.” As a people we Because we are related to all don’t respond to a problem until Regarding “110 Nobel Laureate living things, our DNA speaks it affects us directly and person- Scientists Urge Greenpeace to the same language as all other Fate ally, whether it be a dry faucet or Drop Its Anti-GMO Stance,” DNA. What poisons an insect climate change. Sad but true. perhaps the anti-GMO attitude Perhaps Stuart Vyse’s bafflement is encouraged by a pro-GMO can’t be good for us either. concerning the source of people’s David H. Brands “Trust us; we’re scientists” There is also a huge problem persistent near-universal ten- Tehachapi, California stance. Laboratory GMOs could with genetically modified fish. dency to see purpose, destiny, or produce harmful foods if they They have been modified so that fate in especially unusual natural Special Anniversary tried—just as natural selection they grow faster and bigger than or coincidental events (“Fate: In- wild fish. This means that when, Edition produces organisms that produce venting Reasons for the Things toxins to protect themselves. not if, they escape into the wild, that Happen,” September/Oc- Your special anniversary edition The pro-GMO position needs they will breed with our remain- tober 2016) is unnecessary. As (September/October 2016) is to present information (under- ing wild salmon for example, may be his caution in attributing great reference material touching standable to reasonably educated causing them to need more food this tendency toward a particu- outstanding issues. Neil deGrasse laymen) on how we know GMO than normal to grow. This could lar cognitive error to “nature vs. Tyson and Edzard Ernst nailed foods are safe. Replace “trust us” result in skinny, sickly fish that nurture.” the coffin of blind belief and un- with “here’s why.” will fail in the wild, resulting in Of course almost all traits and scientific attitudes. Also avoid saying “all GMOs even fewer wild salmon return- behaviors in any one individual In India, we experienced a are safe.” If there’s no distinction ing to our polluted dying rivers are the result of a complex inter- hostile atmosphere and physical in the how and why of GM, one and causing the extinction of our action between these two sets of attacks when homeopathy was problem with one GMO will remaining wild salmon. Because factors. But this need not prevent

62 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer us from confidently leaning one going to happen, and could not the article, I am further chastened should “fire” anti-vaccination way or the other in our general have been avoided. Such beliefs by the recent revelation that a clas- parents. Finally, there was an attributions. And the findings do not require belief in a god, sic study suggesting that imitation “ask us anything” Q&A panel and features pushing toward an merely that stable(-ish) mecha- is innate has been thrown into session. explanation of this tendency in nisms exist. question. Harriet Hall, MD our “nature,” in our “hard-wir- To add to the scope of the Peter J. Seymour is correct. The Puyallup, Washington ing,” or in our genes have grown discussion, perhaps there is some- word fate is sometimes used sim- one out there who could write a exponentially in recent years. ply to indicate a nonsupernatural similar article but with a “no- Some of these findings were deterministic outcome of events, Russ Dobler replies: free-will” orientation. described in my article “Why Do but the first definition of fate in The space limitation was the main People Believe in Gods?” (SI, Jan- Peter J. Seymour the Oxford dictionary is “The de- determining factor. Also, having uary/February 2015), in which Redhill, U.K velopment of events outside a per- put a strong focus on the day of Sci- Kelemen’s program of research son’s control, regarded as predeter- ence-Based Medicine in the online was cited to suggest that “pro- mined by a supernatural power.” version published on csicop.org, I miscuous teleological intuition” Stuart Vyse replies: The most common usage seems to wanted to highlight some things is a powerful innate universal Citing research by Deborah Kele- imply something more than mere that didn’t make the previous cut, tendency because people born men, Gary Bakker subscribes to the physical determinism, and that is such as the day of workshops on without it (as seems to occur in view that “‘promiscuous teleologi- the meaning most researchers in Thursday and Richard Wiseman’s autism) do not recognize, engage cal intuition’ is a powerful innate this field have employed. Finally, keynote. My apologies to Dr. Hall; with, and manipulate their criti- universal tendency,” giving people I like Mr. Seymour’s suggestion no slight was intended. cal early environment, i.e., their a natural propensity to see fate of an article on free-will and de- parents. Before our modern, af- and purpose in objects and events. terminism and may take up that fluent, safe, and doting world de- In his 2015 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER topic in a future column. Dog Behavior veloped, such individuals would article “Why Do People Believe in I am not pleased with the arti- invariably fail to engage their God?” Bakker goes on to propose cle on animal behavior (Science carers, wander away to be eaten, that this innate tendency provides NECSS 2016 Conference Watch column, “Dog Behavior: or eat poison themselves. So this a reasonable explanatory hypoth- Russ Dobler’s account of the Beneath the Veneer of Man’s cognitive error confers an enor- esis for widespread popularity of NECSS 2016 conference (News Best Friend,” September/Octo- mous survival and evolutionary religious belief. Both of these ideas & Comment, September/Octo- ber 2016). advantage. are popular among developmen- ber 2016) was good as far as it It is claimed that cougars The surprise—given such tal psychologists, but the latter, in went, but it didn’t go far enough. cannot consume an animal that’s a powerful and necessary, if particular, is far from settled. For example, in a 2013 article titled He inexplicably left out one- already dead, but offering meat deluded, tendency to attri- “Would Tarzan Believe in God? third of the whole. The confer- is a standard means of trapping bute agency to all events in the Conditions for the Emergence of ence had three cosponsors, not pumas. Predators are not stupid world—is that some of us are Religious Belief,” Konika Banerjee two. He mentioned the New enough to pass up a free meal, able to see past the excruciating and Paul Bloom argue that with- York City Skeptics and the New and it’s a simple coded behavior. desire for a purpose and a creator out cultural influence, children England Skeptical Society, but Even finicky cheetahs occasion- behind those events and, as we would not naturally acquire reli- he neglected to mention the So- ally coordinate to drive a lone cognitively mature, correct our gious belief. Tarzan would not be- ciety for Science-Based Medicine hyena off its kill. cognitive error tendencies by lieve in God (Trends in Cognitive (SfSBM), which cosponsored this The hypothesis that the clas- deliberately adopting scientific Sciences 17(1): 7–8). year’s and last year’s NECSS. sic canid “play bow” is merely methods of enquiry and objective Researchers are in greater The SfSBM put on a third of an aborted stalking action is no- explanation. This is very hard to agreement that children’s tendency the entire NECSS program, with where close to being convincing. do, but it confers its own survival to see fate and purpose is innate, a full day devoted to science- The dropping of the shoulders advantages beyond the childhood and Kelemen and others have con- based medicine on Friday, the while extending both forelimbs years. ducted studies that support this first day of the conference. I forward is not at all a sneaky Gary Bakker view. However, I am reluctant spoke on functional medicine; stalking pose in which the entire Legana, Tasmania, Australia to make this attribution because dentist Grant Ritchey spoke body is dropped to nearly the the studies that would provide the on science-based dentistry; ground to minimize visibility In “Fate: Inventing Reasons for strongest evidence of innateness pharmacist Scott Gavura and while the legs work alternately the Things That Happen,” Stu- are not ethical to conduct. The best lawyer Jann Bellamy spoke on so the hunter can creep toward art Vyse covers some interesting test would be a deprivation study different aspects of the “natural its target. Nor is such an awk- ground. I felt uncomfortable, in which a group of healthy new- disaster” of dietary supplements; ward, head-low/butt-high pose however, with an aspect of the borns were assigned to be Tarzans, three pediatricians spoke: John going to intimidate potential article. The word fate is presented raised without language or human Snyder on pediatric CAM, Saul prey into fleeing. Keeping the as having an exclusively supernat- culture. If these feral children went Hynes on the bogus diagnosis rump high is instead an obvious, ural or religious context, and this on to show teleological intuition, of Chronic Lyme, and Clay prominent signal that hunting is seemed to me unreasonably re- then the point would be made. Ab- Jones on the inadvisability of not intended. And why do dogs strictive. I am sure that determin- sent this kind of data, it is difficult chiropractic for children; Steven frequently adopt the bow with ists are capable of using words to assess the relative contributions Novella spoke on Bayesian humans and other dogs in play- such as fate to signify merely that of nature vs. nurture in our ten- statistics; and there was a panel friendly locations, such as dog something happened, was always dency to see fate. As I mentioned in debate on whether pediatricians runs, and then enthusiastically

Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2017 63 engage in playful behavior in of our buildings, finds lost chil- long-held beliefs. very, very eerie. . . . which doing harm to the play- dren, is a trusted companion, and However, the scientific Beware, ghosts—Benjamin mate is strictly avoided? To look so much more does all that with method can be used to dissect the Radford is on your trail…! at it another way, dogs do play, a few simple motor-pattern com- foundations of all religions, while Frits Schjøtt and they have to have a stereo- binations. they have no tool but assertion to Svendborg, Denmark typical posture signal to initiate There is nothing in nature explain their worlds. In my view, nonviolent play, and since they like the thousands-of-years-old science always trumps religion. do the play bow thing before bond between humans and dogs. Keep to the Ley Lines This relationship has benefited Herman M. Heyn playing, it’s pretty darn obvious Baltimore, Maryland Just a minor quibble with Joe that’s what the play bow is for. both. Dogs have a much longer Nickell’s article on ley lines (Sep- The hypothesis that many life and far better reproduction Ghost Hunting with Music tember/October 2016). animal activities, such as pack success then their wolf ancestors. In the article, Dr. Nickell de- hunting, are guided by simple The relationship has expanded Thank you for a very enlightening scribes paranormalist and be liever genetically programmed rules the range of dogs to every cor- and comprehensive answer to the in ley lines John Michell as a “life- rather than sophisticated intel- ner of the Earth. When humans important question of whether long marijuana smoker.” I have to begin to travel to the stars, dogs ligence is viable. But although hunting ghosts with music is ef- wonder why that was relevant. The will be with us providing their fective (Ben Radford’s Skeptical we’re currently lacking the abil- fact this fellow may have smoked superior olfactory ability, hear- Inquiree column, “Ghost Hunting ity to fully assess what is going on pot doesn’t come up anywhere else ing, and companionship. It will and ‘Singapore Theory,’” Septem- in the brains of nonhumans, it is in the article. It seems like a soft be important to fully understand ber/October 2016). reasonable for a skeptic to provi- ad hominem or a bit of poisoning our friend when that day comes. In a far future, they might sionally conclude that sometimes the well, which is completely un- Today it appears dogs understand call me back from the great un- dogs have fun because they con- necessary. Let the man’s ideas float our behavior and language more known by playing Duke Elling- or sink on their own merits. What sciously enjoy having fun. completely than we do theirs. ton’s “Mood Indigo,” but for the moment I just listen to him on the he smokes on his own time doesn’t Gregory Paul Matthew Carter rack. seem, in Nickell’s article, to have Baltimore, Maryland Portland, Oregon But—unwittingly—you re- any bearing on his beliefs. I found it interesting to learn that Science and Religion vealed an important aspect of Jim Fitzsimons my Golden Retriever’s “CON- musical ghost hunting: Playing St. Paul, Minnesota SUME” rule for food in her I see no irreconcilability be tween the music backward (as in Not- bowl and “NOT-CONSUME” science and religion (“Why Sci- gnille Ogindi Doom). At least, rule for food in the cat’s bowl is ence and Religion Are Irrecon- that is what the illustration on Joe Nickell replies: due to the cat being lucky. It is cilable,” review of Jerry Coyne’s page 31 demonstrates: Normally While interjecting some negative ir- impressive that the amazing dog Faith vs. Fact, September/Octo- phonographs play the records relevancy would be an ad hominem, that guides the disabled, fights in ber 2016). clockwise. Here you see it the surely given Michell’s many fanciful our wars, protects us from sei- Sure, antagonism can arise other way around. Apart from ideas, his chronic use of a drug— zures, provides emotional ther- when a religion denies scientific the needle plowing the record to that is known to promote a fantasy apy, rescues us from the rubble truths, or science challenges its chips, the music will come out state—is potentially explanatory.

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The letters column is a forum on Skep ti cal In quir er matters raised in previous issues. Letters should be no longer than 225 words. Due to the volume Here’s just a sample of what you’ll find: of letters we receive, not all can be published. Send letters as Self-Hatred: The Cause of Autoimmune Disease? email text (not attachments) to CSI Fellow Harriet “SkepDoc” Hall examines the idea that self-loathing can cause autoimmune disorders. When we get sick [email protected]. In the subject we naturally want to understand what is happening to us, and we want to understand what caused the illness. When science line, provide your surname and in- formative identi fication, e.g.: “Smith has no explanation, people are tempted to make one up. When scientifically ignorant people speculate about the causes of Letter on Jones evolution article.” In- disease, it can lead to bizarre false conclusions and to blaming the victim. clude your name and address at the end of the letter. You may also mail In Memoriam Segment from CSICon 2016 your letter to the editor to 944 Deer CFI Director of Libraries Tim Binga, along with veteran skeptics and Jim Lippard, highlight at the recent CSICon Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122. conference those who died in the skeptical world in 2016. Both notable skeptics and what were termed “cultural competi- tors” (those who were opponents of skepticism or noteworthy) were remembered for their deeds in a short presentation.

64 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer

[ THE LAST LAUGH BENJAMIN RADFORD, EDITOR

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xkcd.com

The organizations listed above have aims similar to those of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry but are independent and autonomous. Representatives of these organizations cannot speak on behalf of CSI. Please send updates to Barry Karr, P.O. Box 703, Amherst NY 14226-0703. International affiliated organizations listed at www.csicop.org. 66 Volume 41 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer Scientific and Technical Consultants CENTERS FOR INQUIRY www.centerforinquiry.net/about/branches Gary Bauslaugh, Univ. of California at Berkeley Richard H. Lange, Tim Printy, writer and editor, MD, Mohawk Valley Physician amateur astronomer, UFO skeptic, former Luis Alfonso Gámez, TRANSNATIONAL Victoria, B.C., Canada science journalist, Bilbao, Spain Health Plan, Schenectady, NY Navy nuclear reactor operator/division chief, Manchester, NH 3965 Rensch Road, Amherst, NY 14228 Richard E. Berendzen, Sylvio Garattini, William M. London, Tel.: (716) 636-4869 astronomer, Washington, DC California State Univ., Los Angeles Daisie Radner, director, Mario Negri Pharma cology AUSTIN prof. of philosophy, SUNY Buffalo Martin Bridgstock, Institute, Milan, Italy Rebecca Long, PO Box 300036, Austin, TX 78703 senior lecturer, School of Science, Susan Gerbic, nuclear engineer, president of Geor gia Robert H. Romer, Tel.: (512) 454-0977 Griffith Univ., Brisbane, Australia Council Against Health Fraud, Atlanta, GA prof. of physics, Amherst College founder and leader of the Guerilla Skepti- CHICAGO Richard Busch, cism on Wikipedia (GSoW) project John R. Mashey, Karl Sabbagh, [email protected] magician/mentalist, Pittsburgh, PA Laurie Godfrey, computer scientist/executive (Bell Labs, then journalist, Richmond, Surrey, England INDIANAPOLIS Silicon Valley), analyst of climate-change Shawn Carlson, anthropologist, Univ. of Massachusetts Robert J. Samp, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46202 denial, contributor to DeSmogBlog and Society for Amateur Scientists, assistant prof. of education and Tel.: (317) 423-0710 Gerald Goldin, Skeptical Science, Portola Valley, CA LOS ANGELES East Greenwich, RI mathematician, Rutgers Univ., NJ medicine, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison Thomas R. McDonough, Roger B. Culver, Steven D. Schafersman, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90027 Donald Goldsmith, astrophysicist, Pasadena, CA Tel.: (323) 666-9797 prof. of astronomy, Colorado State Univ. astronomer; president, Interstellar Media asst. prof. of geology, Miami Univ., OH James E. McGaha, MICHIGAN Felix Ares de Blas, Chris Scott, Alan Hale, astronomer, USAF pilot (ret.) 3777 44th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 prof. of computer science, statistician, London, England astronomer, Southwest Institute for Space Tel.: (616) 698-2342 Univ. of Basque, San Sebastian, Spain Research, Alamogordo, NM Joel A. Moskowitz, Stuart D. Scott Jr., director of medical psychiatry, Calabasas NEW YORK CITY Nahum J. Duker, associate prof. of anthropology, Clyde F. Herreid, Mental Health Services, Los Angeles 33-29 28th St. Astoria, NY 11106 assistant prof. of pathology, SUNY Buffalo prof. of biology, SUNY Buffalo SAN FRANCISCO Temple Univ. Matthew C. Nisbet, Erwin M. Segal, email: [email protected] Sharon Hill, associate professor of communication , geologist, writer, researcher, creator and prof. of psychology, SUNY Buffalo TAMPA BAY Division of Science/Physics studies, public policy, and urban affairs at editor of the Doubful News blog Northeastern University Carla Selby, 4011 S. Manhattan Ave. #139, Tampa, FL 33611-1277 Truman State Univ. anthropologist /archaeologist Tel.: (813) 505-7013 Gabor Hrasko, Julia Offe, Barbara Eisenstadt, chairman of the European Council of Skepti- Steven N. Shore, WASHINGTON, DC psychologist, educator, clinician, neurobiologist, science journalist, creator cal Organizations (ECSO), president of German Science Slam prof. of astrophysics, Univ. of Pisa, Italy 1012 14th Street., NW, Suite 205 East Greenbush, NY of Hungarian Skeptics Washington, DC 20005 John W. Patterson, Waclaw Szybalski, tel.: (202) 733-5275 William Evans, Michael Hutchinson, professor, McArdle Laboratory, Univ. prof. of journalism and prof. of materials science and author; SKEPTICAL INQUIRER en gineering, Iowa State Univ. of Wisconsin–Madison creative media, Univ. of Alabama ARGENTINA representative, Europe Sarah G. Thomason, Bryan Farha, James R. Pomerantz, Buenos Aires, Argentina Philip A. Ianna, prof. of linguistics, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA prof. of behavioral studies in prof. of psychology, Rice Univ. [email protected] assoc. prof. of astronomy, education, Oklahoma City Univ. Gary P. Posner, Tim Trachet, www.cfiargentina.org Univ. of Virginia journalist and science writer, honorary John F. Fischer, MD, Tampa, FL CANADA I.W. Kelly, chairman of SKEPP, Belgium forensic analyst, Orlando, FL 55 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 307 prof. of psychology, Univ. of Saskatch ewan, David Willey, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 1G8, Canada Eileen Gambrill, Canada physics instructor, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA CHINA prof. of social welfare, China Research Institute for Science Popularization, NO. 86, Xueyuan Nanlu Haidian Dist., Beijing, 100081 China Tel.: +86-10-62170515 Affiliated Organizations | United States EGYPT 44 Gol Gamal St., Agouza, Giza, Egypt OREGON ALABAMA D.C./MARYLAND MISSOURI FRANCE Skeptical Society of St. Louis (SSSL) Oregonians for Science and Reason Alabama Skeptics, Alabama. Emory National Capital Area Skeptics NCAS, Dr. Henri Broch, Universite of Nice, Faculte des Kimbrough. Tel.: 205-759-2624. 3550 Maryland, D.C., Virginia. D.W. “Chip” St. Louis, Missouri. Michael Blanford, (O4SR) Oregon. Jeanine DeNoma, Water melon Road, Apt. 28A, Northport, Denman. Tel.: (240) 670-6227. Email: President. Email: [email protected]. president. Tel.: (541) 745-5026; Email: Sciences, Parc Valrose, 06108, Nice cedex 2, AL 35476 [email protected]. PO Box 8461, Silver Spring, 2729 Ann Ave., St. Louis, MO 63104 [email protected]; 39105 Military Rd., France Tel.: +33-492-07-63-12 MD 20907-8428 http://www.ncas.org www.skepticalstl.org Monmouth, OR 97361. www.04SR.org GERMANY ARIZONA Arheilger Weg 11, 64380 Rossdorf, Germany Tucson Skeptics Inc. Tucson, AZ. James FLORIDA St. Joseph Skeptics PENNSYLVANIA Tel.: +49-6154-0695023 Mc Gaha. Email:[email protected]. Tampa Bay Skeptics (TBS) Tampa Bay, P.O. Box 8908 Philadelphia Association for Critical 5100 N. Sabino Foot hills Dr., Tucson, Florida. Rick O’Keefe, contact person. St. Joseph MO, 64508-8908 Think ing (PhACT), Bob Glickman Pres- INDIA ident. 653 Garden Road Glenside PA 46 Masi garh, New Friends Colony AZ 85715 Tel.: 813-505-7013; Email: NEVADA [email protected]. c/o O’Keefe, 19038. 215-885-2089 E-mail: Presi- New Delhi 110025 Phoenix Area Skeptics Society (PASS) Reno Skeptical Society, Inc., 4011 S. Manhattan Ave. #139, Tampa, [email protected]. Website: www.phact.org Tel.: 91-9868010950 http://phoenixskeptics.org Brad Lutts, President. FL 33611-1277. www.tampabayskept Email: [email protected] Tel.: (775) 335-5505; TENNESSEE LONDON ics.org Email: [email protected]. 18124 Rationalists of East Tennessee, East Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Phoenix Skeptics, Phoenix, AZ. Michael ILLINOIS Wedge Parkway #1052 Reno, Nevada Ten nessee. Carl Ledenbecker. Tel.: London WC1R 4RL, England Stack pole, P.O. Box 60333, Phoenix, Rational Examination Association 89511. www.RenoSkeptics.org (865)-982-8687; Email: Aletall@aol. NEPAL AZ 85082 com. 2123 Stony brook Rd., Louis ville, of Lincoln Land (REALL) Illinois. Bob NEW MEXICO Humanist Association of Nepal, CALIFORNIA TN 37777 Ladendorf, Chairman. Tel.: 217-546- New Mexicans for Science and Reason PO Box 5284, Kathmandu Nepal Sacramento Organization for Rational 3475; Email: [email protected]. PO (NMSR) New Mexico. David E. Thomas, TEXAS Tel.: +977-1-4413-345 Thinking (SORT) Sacramento, CA. Ray Box 20302, Springfield, IL 62708 www. President. Tel.: 505-869-9250; Email: North Texas Skeptics NTS Dallas/Ft NEW ZEALAND Spangenburg, co-founder. Tel.: 916-978- reall.org [email protected]. 801 Fitch Ave., Worth area, John Blanton, Secretary. 0321; Email: [email protected]. PO Box email: [email protected] Chicago Skeptics Jennifer Newport, Socorro, NM 87801. www.nmsr.org Tel.: (972)-306-3187; Email: skeptic@ 2215, Carmichael, CA 95609-2215 http:// NIGERIA contact person. Email: chicagoskeptics@ ntskeptics.org. PO Box 111794, Carroll- home.comcast.net/~kitray2/site/ NEW YORK PO Box 25269, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria ton, TX 75011-1794. www.ntskeptics.org gmail.com. www.chicagoskeptics.com New York City Skeptics Michael Feldman, Tel.: +234-2-2313699 Bay Area Skeptics (BAS) San Fran- LOUISIANA president. PO Box 5122 New York, NY VIRGINIA PERU cisco—Bay Area. Eugenie C. Scott, Baton Rouge Proponents of Rational 10185. www.nycskeptics.org The James Randi Educational President. 1218 Miluia St., Berkeley, CA D. Casanova 430, Lima 14, Peru Inquiry and Scientific Methods Foun dation. James Randi, Director. email: [email protected] 94709. Email: [email protected]. www. Central New York Skeptics (CNY Skeptics) (BR-PRISM) Louisiana. Marge Schroth. 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 105 POLAND BASkeptics.org Syracuse. Lisa Goodlin, President. Tel: Tel.: 225-766-4747. 425 Carriage Way, Falls Church, VA 22042 Lokal Biurowy No. 8, 8 Sapiezynska Sr., Independent Investigations Group (IIG), Baton Rouge, LA 70808 (315) 636-6533; Email: info@cnyskeptics. Email: [email protected] Center for Inquiry–Los Angeles, 4773 org, cnyskeptics.org PO Box 417, Fayett- Telephone: 571-318-6530 00-215, Warsaw, Poland MICHIGAN Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. ville, NY 13066 ROMA NIA Great Lakes Skeptics (GLS) SE Michi- Science & Reason, Hampton Rds., Fundatia Centrul pentru Constiinta Critica Tel.: 323-666-9797. www.iighq.com OHIO gan. Lorna J. Simmons, Contact person. Virginia. Lawrence Weinstein, Old Tel.: (40)-(O)744-67-67-94 Sacramento Skeptics Society, Sacra- Tel.: 734-525-5731; Email: Skeptic31 Central Ohioans for Rational Inquiry Dominion Univ.-Physics Dept., Norfolk, email: [email protected] mento. Terry Sandbek, President. 4300 @aol.com. 31710 Cowan Road, Apt. (CORI) Central Ohio. Charlie Hazlett, VA 23529 Auburn Blvd. Suite 206, Sacramento CA President. Tel.: 614-878-2742; Email: RUSSIA 103, West land, MI 48185-2366 WASHINGTON 95841. Tel.: 916 489-1774. Email: terry@ [email protected]. PO Box 282069, Dr. Valerii A. Kuvakin, 119899 Russia, Moscow, Tri-Cities Skeptics, Michi gan. Dr. Gary Seattle Skeptics sandbek.com Columbus, OH 43228 Vorobevy Gory, Moscow State Univ., Peterson. Tel.: 989-964-4491; www.seattleskeptics.com Philosophy Department San Diego Asso ciation for Rational Inquiry e-mail: [email protected]. Cleveland Skeptics Joshua Hunt, (SDARI) President: Tom Pickett. Email: www.tcskeptics.blogspot.com Co-Organizer, www.clevelandskeptics.org SENEGAL [email protected]. Program/ PO Box 15376, Dakar – Fann, Senegal MINNESOTA South Shore Skeptics (SSS) Cleveland general information 619-421-5844. Tel.: +221-501-13-00 St. Kloud Extraordinary Claim Psychic and counties. Jim Kutz. Tel.: 440 942- www.sdari.org. Postal ad dress: PO Box 623, Teaching Investigating Community 5543; Email: [email protected]. PO La Jolla, CA 92038-0623 (SKEPTIC) St. Cloud, Minne sota. Jerry Box 5083, Cleveland, OH 44101 www. CONNECTICUT Mertens. Tel.: 320-255-2138; Email: southshoreskeptics.org New England Skeptical Society (NESS) [email protected]. Jerry Mer- Association for Rational Thought (ART) New England. Steven Novella M.D., Presi- tens, Psychology Department, 720 4th Cincinnati. Roy Auerbach, president. dent. Tel.: 203-281-6277; Email: board@ Ave. S, St. Cloud State Univ., St. Cloud, Tel: (513)-731-2774, Email: raa@cinci. theness.com. 64 Cobblestone Dr., Ham- MN 56301 rr.com. PO Box 12896, Cin cinnati, OH den, CT 06518 www.theness.com 45212. www.cincinnati skeptics.org

C Y E The organizations listed above have aims similar to those of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry but are independent and autonomous. N I R T U E Q Representatives of these organizations cannot speak on behalf of CSI. Please send updates to Barry Karr, P.O. Box 703, Amherst NY 14226-0703. R F O R I N International affiliated organizations listed at www.csicop.org.

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