News and Comment

Scientific Literacy: New Survey Finds Levels Still Low in U.S., U.K.

MONG U.S adults, only about 1 of science, one to measure understanding Ain 18 knows enough about the of scientific terms and concepts, and a vocabulary and methodology of science third to evaluate understanding of how to function effectively as a citizen and science affects society. Only respondents consumer when faced with decisions achieving minimally acceptable scores on about scientific topics like nuclear power, all three sets were judged to be scien- acid rain, and health, according to a 1988 tifically literate. survey funded by the National Science According to Miller, about 50 percent Foundation (NSF) and conducted by Jon of the respondents had an adequate Miller, director of the Northern Illinois understanding of the impact of science University Public Opinion Laboratory. and technology, while 12 percent under- The results of the NSF study suggest stood scientific processes or thinking, and that only about 6 percent of Americans 28 percent understood scientific terms 18 years and older combine a general and concepts. Age was not a significant understanding of how science impacts factor, but men scored somewhat better society and the daily lives of individuals. than women, and completion of college- The survey had more than 2,000 respon- level science courses correlated with dents and a margin of error of + 3 percent. higher scores. "It is clear that it is the Miller has conducted similar surveys science course experience rather than the with NSF support over the past decade general degree experience that makes a and finds no significant differences be- difference," Miller said. "By inference, tween the results of his earlier surveys this result suggests that the high school and those of the 1988 study. And for the science experience has little impact on first time, identical questions were used subsequent adult literacy." to measure the understanding of science Survey results from the United States in the United Kingdom, where respon- and the United Kingdom were very dents fared as badly as those in the United similar, although a slightly higher per- States. centage of British respondents under- "The important point," Miller said, stood the impact of science on society. "is that in two of the world's oldest and However, almost one-half of U.S. most prominent democracies, at least respondents gave an acceptable definition nine out of ten citizens lack the scientific of computer software, whereas only literacy to understand and participate in about one quarter of British respondents the formulation of public policy on a very succeeded in defining the term. important segment of their national poli- To gauge understanding of the pro- tical agendas." cess of science, respondents were asked Miller used three sets of questions: to reply in their own words to the one to measure knowledge of the process question, "What does it mean to study

Summer 1989 343 something scientifically?" Answers correct), and "Does the earth go around judged correct included the testing of the sun, or does the sun go around the hypotheses and the building of theories, earth?" Questioners asked those who the use of experiments, and systematic knew that the earth orbits the sun whether comparative study. References to simple this event takes one day, one month, or instruments, measurements, or classifica- one year. (Earth orbits the sun in one tion were judged incorrect. As a check, year, 45% correct.) The final question respondents who answered this open- used to evaluate understanding of scienti- ended question correctly were asked fic concepts asked respondents to define questions about astrology. Only those DNA in their words; 22 percent did so who indicated that astrology is not at all correctly. scientific were classified as having an To determine whether respondents adequate understanding of the process of understood the impact of science on soci- science. ety, questioners asked whether the fol- To be considered adequately knowl- lowing statements were true or false: edgeable about scientific terms and con- cepts, respondents had to answer cor- Radioactive milk can be made safe rectly at least 7 of 10 questions, most of by boiling it. (False, 64% correct) them true-false. Respondents were asked Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bac- to reply "true," "false," or "don't know" teria. (False, 25.5% correct) to the following statements. (The correct answer and the percentage of correct U.S. Is all radioactivity man-made or does responses are in parentheses.) some radioactivity occur naturally? (Some occurs naturally, 65% correct) The oxygen we breathe comes from plants. (True, 81% correct) A four-part survey question on prob- ability asked what it means when doctors Lasers work by focusing sound waves. tell a couple that they have "one in four (False, 36% correct) chances of having a child with an in- Electrons are smaller than atoms. herited illness." (True, 43% correct) Does this mean that if they have only The universe began with a huge ex- three children, none will have the ill- plosion. (True, 54% correct) ness? (No, 87% correct) The continents on which we live have Does this mean that if their first child been moving their location for mil- has the illness, the next three will not? lions of years and will continue to (No, 86% correct) move in the future. (True, 80% cor- Does this mean that each of the rect) couple's children will have the same Human beings, as we know them risk of suffering from the illness? (Yes, today, evolved from earlier species of 72 percent correct) animals. (True, 46% correct) Does this mean that if their first three The earliest human beings lived at the children are healthy, the fourth will same time as the dinosaurs. (False, have the illness? (No, 84% correct) 37% correct) (Must answer all four parts correctly. [57% did so.]) Respondents were asked, "Which travels faster: light or sound?" (light, 76% Forty-nine percent of U.S. respon-

344 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 13 dents could define computer software as the instructions that computers use to perform various tasks, or could name The New Age: examples of software. In a final question, A Special Issue when given a list of choices, 25 percent correctly chose "eating a lot of animal All the articles and book reviews and fat" as the most serious cause of heart a part of the News and Comment disease in the United States. section in this issue of the SKEPTICAL Respondents who correctly answered INQUIRER are devoted to the New Age three of these six questions were con- movement. We've tried to examine the sidered to have an adequate understand- most pertinent facets of New Age ing of the impact of science on society. concerns and to do so from a variety of points of view. Few readers are —National Science Foundation likely to agree with everything in these articles, nor should that be expected or even desired. They represent a ICR Denied Approval to healthy diversity of opinion and Grant Science Degrees analysis from thoughtful and well- informed vantage points. We hope HE INSTITUTE for Creation you will find it a fresh and useful look. TResearch (ICR)—one of the main Many of the articles are somewhat promoters of creationist pseudoscience in condensed versions of invited talks the guise of science—has been denied given at the recent CSICOP confer- approval by the State of California to ence "The New Age: A Scientific grant science degrees. Evaluation"; the authors were encour- ICR is the institutional home of well- aged to revise or update their com- known creationists Henry Morris (its ments as they wished. The book founder and president) and Duane Gish. reviews were prepared expressly for The battle isn't over, however. Con- this issue.—ED. siderable bureaucratic procedures and appeals are still ahead. Nevertheless, the outlook appears good that the ICR's three years, and it looks as though ICR current right to grant master's degrees in isn't going to be successful this time. science education, astro-geophysics, Since the ICR is allegedly a science biology, and geology will be repealed. program, it has to be measured according With these degrees, recipients become to what scientists consider science. And eligible for certification as secondary- its curriculum must be "consistent in school science teachers. quality with accredited institutions." But The dispute isn't over accreditation; ICR has only five faculty members for ICR is a private nonaccredited school, four graduate programs. Supporters of and it has apparently never attempted to science education began an active cam- get official accreditation other than by paign last year to ensure that this time a Christian school accrediting agency. the State of California followed its own The issue is state approval to grant a guidelines in evaluating ICR. degree. Without this approval, a school A Visiting Committee of five Califor- cannot grant degrees, nor can its students nia scientists and educators prepared a apply for student aid, loans, or other brief report that found deficiencies in the financial benefits. ICR program but nevertheless initially The state charter requires that degree- recommended approval, by a 3-2 vote. granting institutions be reviewed every "The text of the report was, in a word,

Summer 1989 345 baloney," says scientific consultant to 2 against approval. William Bennetta in the first of an "No one is stopping the ICR from informative two-part investigative article granting degrees in religion or creation," in BASIS, the newsletter of the Bay Area said Honig, "but they are holding their Skeptics (February and March 1989 people out to have science degrees, which issues). "It continually omitted or obfus- they don't. The vast bulk of what they cated any information that might have learn is not science. ... It's a consumer told the real nature or aims of the ICR, issue. If a person is going to get a degree the ICR's graduate school or the men on in anything, the institution should be the school's faculty, and it repeatedly approved for quality in that area." promoted the pretense that the ICR was The ICR mounted a call-in protest doing scientific work." campaign and was expected to follow the But the two dissenters on the com- appeal process, but Honig is not obligated mittee gave State Superintendent Bill to accept the hearing officer's findings. Honig documentation about the ICR and "So far," says the pro-science Bay Area also about the committee's proceedings. Committee of Correspondence for Honig, who in recent years has been a Science in a report on the procedures, strong defender of science education "Honig has acted with exemplary respon- against the creationists' tactics, called the sibility and integrity." committee members to a meeting. At the end of their discussion, the vote was 3 —K.F.

California Science Framework determines what teachers must teach and Supports Teaching Evolution what textbook publishers must include in books sold in the state. 66SCIENTIFIC creationist" de- "The new Anti-Dogmatism State- mands for equal time in the ment is designed to protect both teachers science classroom have been defeated by and students from pressure groups which repeated court decisions, but schools present nonscience as so-called 'alterna- avoid teaching evolution or denigrate it tive theories to scientific understanding," as "only theory," according to scientists Padian said. "It discourages bogus at the 1989 meeting of the American criticisms of science such as those Association for the Advancement of mounted by 'creation scientists.' " The Science (AAAS) in San Francisco in Board voted unanimously to strengthen January. and clarify the nonbinding guidelines. But U.S. science textbooks and The changes were backed by science teaching may improve if California teacher organizations in the state. succeeds in raising its local standards. At The revised policy says: "Neither the a symposium sponsored by the National California nor the U.S. Constitution Center for Science Education (NCSE), requires, in order to accommodate the University of California paleontologist religious views of those who object to Kevin Padian reported on the new Anti- certain material or activities that are Dogmatism Statement approved by the presented in science classes, that time be California State Board of Education. The given in the curriculum to those particular new policy requires clear separation of religious views. ... As a matter of science and nonscience in both method principle, science teachers are profession- and evidence. It is part of the California ally bound to limit their teaching to Science Framework, the document that science and should resist pressure to do

346 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 13 otherwise. Administrators should sup- the largest market in the country," noted port teachers in this regard. . . ." The John R. Cole, NCSE president, "and they statement notes that students need to can't afford to produce separate editions understand the nature of modern science, for different states. When California including the fact that science changes raises its standards, the entire country through time. They are free to disagree benefits." with the conclusions of science, but they The revised Framework is expected must understand its data and methods, to require textbooks to improve the Many religious leaders approved the new treatment of evolution, ecology, and policy because it separates religion and reproduction—subjects often avoided by science and does not denigrate religion, publishers for fear of controversy. In although some fundamentalist leaders 1985, the state rejected all proposed have vociferously objected. junior high school science books because The revised Science Framework will of their lack of coverage of these topics, require a clear separation of religiously This sent a message to publishers that based explanations of the origin of the California would no longer tolerate universe and life from scientific explana- inaccurate and outdated science tions. "Publishers cannot afford to ignore books. •

Cold Fusion Confusion HATEVER the final outcome of the scientific drama played out this Wspring over reports from Utah of net-energy-producing cold nuclear fusion, the public was treated to a fascinating case study in the messy process of scientific discovery. The case, it seemed, could turn out to be an epochal scientific achievement of overarching importance, or it could turn out to be an artifact, a mistake, or a delusion. Or perhaps it could be something in- between, some previously unknown reaction that is new and important but less significant scientifically and practically than originally claimed. By early May, with several major research institutions reporting negative results in their own experiments and serious flaws in the Utah ones, the balance seemed to tip strongly against the Utah results. The case shows the genuine excitement a truly astonishing claim can cause among scientists, and the equally important proper skepticism science must apply to any new and unusual claim. Underscoring both imperatives, scores of labs immediately began trying to replicate the experiment. A few claimed to be successful, at least partially. Others were not. The reasons for these disparate results will undoubtedly prove fascinating in themselves. The case presents so many events, issues, and conflicts it will be fodder for sociologists, philosophers, and other observers of science for years to come. Not the least of the issues was the propriety of scientists announcing a major discovery at a news conference before a scientific paper had been submitted, and the authors' subsequent withdrawal of their Nature paper, unable to take the time to meet peer-reviewers' requested revisions. All in all, it has been a fascinating, exciting, and illuminating experience for scientists and the public alike.

—KENDRICK FRAZIER, Editor May 2, 1989

Summer 1989 347 Cryptozoology: It's Not 3. Species that have been described, Just 'Monster' Hunting but for which only limited evidence exists, such as the pygmy hippo, which had been This report completes our coverage of the reported in the nineteenth century, but CSICOP Chicago conference.—ED. was not found until 1913. 4. Animals that reportedly became O DINOSAURS still walk the extinct in historical times, such as some D earth? Are Yeti and Sasquatch bird species of Peru and New Zealand, living, breathing creatures or are they of which claims of sightings continue to figments of the imagination? Who or be made. what is Nessie? These are the types of 5. Reports of fossil animals, i.e., romantic, speculative questions that those that became extinct in geological many people associate with cryptozool- times. The cryptozoologists' prime exam- ogy. It came as somewhat of a surprise, ple of this category—although it was not therefore, to hear the first speaker in the rediscovered by cryptozoologists—is the CSICOP conference session devoted to coelocanth, a Mesozoic fish whose cryptozoology list seven categories of descendants have turned up alive and well cryptozoological claims, most of them far in this century. The Loch Ness monster, less dramatic. Session moderator Lee "Nessie," might also belong in this Nisbet, associate professor of philosophy category; some reports claim that "Nes- at Medaille College and a CSICOP sie" is really a plesiosaur. Another well- Executive Council member, pointed out known type of claim made in this category that the term cryptozoology was created is that of the possible survival of to define a field that describes animals dinosaurs in Africa. However, as Green- before specimens have been collected. well pointed out, "this is quite contro- The panel represented a spectrum of versial and most paleontologists would belief in the field, its claims, and its give it a zero probability." endeavors. 6. Reported new species for which Opening speaker J. Richard Green- there is no fossil or organic evidence, such well has served as secretary of the Inter- as the giant forest hog discovered in East national Society of Cryptozoology in Africa early in this century. Tucson since its founding. In his heavily 7. Animals that have been dis- illustrated talk, he outlined these seven covered, for which there are no previ- categories of cryptozoological interests: ous reports or accounts. These represent 1. Giant individuals of known spe- completely new species; one such is cies, such as giant sturgeon, which may Megamouth, a large shark discovered in be responsible for some lake-monster Hawaii for which zoologists had to set claims in the United States, giant white up a new species, genus, and family. sharks and crocodiles in New Guinea and Following Greenwell, Roy P. Mackal, Australia, and giant anacondas in South a biochemist who serves in the admin- America. istration of the University of Chicago, 2. Known animals recorded to be in reported his investigations in what might geographical areas where they 're not sup- be termed "laboratory cryptozoology." posed to occur, such as—to take a Mackal carried out a biochemical inves- historical example—the white rhino, tigation of a tissue sample, collected in which had been known to be only in 1987 on the Florida coast, that may have South Africa until 1901, when it was belonged to the fabled "giant octopus." found in Sudan, about 2,000 miles from Although many historical and literary its known habitat. references to giant many-armed creatures

348 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 13 are believed to refer to the giant squid, and often disagree. Sometimes the a fairly well known animal, reports of evidence is there, but its significance is the giant octopus persist. Mackal's amino not grasped." acid analyses lead him to believe that the "Do Yeti and the Wild Man fit into tissue he examined was not whale this paradigm?" Poirier asked. After all, blubber—as many dismissed it as being, new animals do continue to be reported. at the time of its discovery—but rather Poirier dismissed attempts that have been collagen tissue from "either a giant squid made to relate such creatures to the fossil or an octopus." Gigantopithecus, which became extinct Mackal supported his tentative con- about 500,000 years ago. Turning to clusion with anecdotal evidence of a contemporary Chinese reports of the Bahamian tradition of giant octopuses Wild Man, Poirier noted that the (not "octopi," cautioned Mackal) and an reported sightings contain three groups account of a U.S. Navy sighting of a giant of characteristics: (1) human traits, such octopus off the Florida coast in 1941. as walking bipedally and having no tail; Now, Mackal said, another carcass (2) nonhuman traits, such as hairy bodies, appears to be available—"but again, we lack of language, and eating only raw don't have the animal, we only have part food; (3) nonhuman primate traits, such of it." He believes that radioimmunoassay as eating vegetable matter, sitting upright, could distinguish between giant octopus smiling, and chattered vocalization. "Can and giant squid tissue. any creature contain all these groups of Anthroplogist Frank Poirier of Ohio traits?" he asked. State University, the final speaker of the In the end, "most of what is offered session, has a unique claim to expertise as the best evidence can be explained as on the subject of cryptozoology—he's otherwise," Poirier said. "No conclusive probably the only cryptozoologist ever answer can be given except that the accused of being his quarry! That event existence of such creatures is highly took place during Poirier's fieldwork in improbable, and the burden of proof lies Kubei Province, China, where he was with those who hold that such creatures investigating reports of the "Wild Man." exist." As Poirier tells it, he fell asleep one What would constitute acceptable afternoon by the riverside, scantily evidence for Yeti, Sasquatch, or the Wild clothed, and awoke to the accusations of Man? Either an uncontested film docu- a frightened crowd. "After all," Poirier mentary, an actual body, or a live animal, admits, "I am considerably taller and Poirier said. However, he cautioned, "It much hairier than the local population!" would be better for such creatures if we Reports of the Wild Man have never find them. If they exist and are persisted in China for the past 2,000 years, located, they will soon become extinct. and folklore worldwide includes stories We have seen it all happen before, and of hairy, brutish, humanlike beings, we are none the wiser for our past traditionally reported from remote and mistakes." underpopulated regions. Poirier gave the examples of the Piltdown hoax and the —Lys Ann Shore initial refusal of physical anthropologists to accept that human evolution first Lys Ann Shore, a writer and editor, occurred in Africa as evidence that reported on other CSICOP conference "respectable researchers can be misled sessions in our Spring 1989 issue.

Summer 1989 349 Trends in New Age Publishing: bookseller, "It's like a flood. I've got so Less Pseudo, More Substance? much coming at me that discrimination has become real important." HANNELING, crystals, UFOs, The editorial director of Crown's Cand psychics are out. Quality and Harmony Books refers to quality material attention to less sensational aspects of becoming "awash in a sea of mediocre New Age philosophy are in. This, at least, books." The marketing manager of is the trend among New Age books Theosophical Publishing House referred detected by the trade magazine Publishers to "a lot of really soft material, pablum, Weekly in a comprehensive report, "New in the New Age literature, a kind of feel- Age: Still Glowing." good, thinking-good, be-good kind of The New Age publishing boom shows thing." no signs of abating, but the emphasis has Journalist Frederick Levine, author shifted somewhat away from what critics of The Psychic Sourcebook, told Bethune accurately call its "pseudoscientific" the openness of the New Age movement aspects. is not sufficiently balanced by critical "This year in New Age publishing, the thinking. Superficial and even exploita- key words are no longer 'crystals' and tive material is the result. 'channeling,' but 'quality' and 'discrim- Bethune refers to publishers' com- ination,' " freelance writer and editor plaints about what he calls "an over- John Bethune reports (December 16, whelming excess of low-quality material. 1988), based on conversations with . . . With so many New Age books now publishers and booksellers. "Confronted on the market, the emphasis is shifting with an evident overabundance of mate- from the more sensational aspects of the rial, some of it j u d g ed to be poorly written New Age movement to what are generally and ill-conceived, publishers, distributors described as more serious and enduring and retailers with an interest in the New works and subjects." Age movement are placing renewed Los Angeles publisher Jeremy emphasis on highlighting the enduring Tarcher said: "In the past year or so there values and ideas of the movement rather has been a significant diminution of than its passing fads." interest in channeling, crystals, UFOs, He quotes the executive director of and psychic experience in general, and the New Age Publishing and Retailing a rising interest in more solid aspects of Alliance, Marylyn McGuire: "This thing the movement." called the New Age is just not a narrow Crystal books "are definitely taking category, it is very broad. It includes a dive," a distributor in Berkeley, anything about being better people, California, said. The sellers complained having a better world, and being more about the excess of such books, their creative." extravagant claims, and the soaring prices Although statistics are difficult to of crystals. "The crystal books are coming come by, no one doubted that New Age out like crazy," a Charlottesville, Virgi- books had seen tremendous growth in the nia, bookshop owner said. "One I've got past year. One specialty distributor, New now on my sales table claims that crystals Leaf, carries 11,000 titles. The editor of will improve your sex life and give you a New Age monthly, Body, Mind & improved energy. I just like stones and Spirit, said: "The flood of review books rocks, myself. But people are getting coming in is amazing—it isn't ebbing and confused by the directions that are being flowing, it keeps growing. We must get given about crystals. It's just crazy stuff, 25 to 50 books a week, and I'm sure we're an insult to the intelligence of the public." not getting them all." Said another The channeling craze likewise appears

350 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 13 to be diminishing. A Seattle New Age rectify this lack of scientific scrutiny. distributor estimates channeling books Harmony's publisher, Peter Guzzardi, are down by 25 percent. He refers to "a told Bethune it is "both a serious analysis dropping of interest in channeling, of basic ideas on the lunatic fringe and definitely." A Boise, Idaho, bookseller a reference work" and takes objective says, "A lot of my customers think looks at esoteric claims. (For whatever channeling is interesting, but they don't reason, Publishers Weekly's New Age necessarily think there are some gurus out report fails to mention any other books there who can tell them who they are." that critically examine the New Age, such The president of the Association for as Robert Basil's Not Necessarily the New Research and Enlightenment, the Edgar Age and Henry Gordon's Channeling Cayce group in Virginia, said: "The wave Into the New Age, both reviewed in this of interest in channeling and getting issue, or Martin Gardner's The New Age, information from psychics and crystals all by Prometheus Books. It does carry reflects a search, hopefully genuine, for a witty send-up sidebar by Hester the meaning in life. ... I would hope Mundis, author of the new book Out on the next stage will be a deeper commit- a Broken Limb: 101 Ways to Avoid ment to understanding that the search Reincarnation, by Workman Books.) needs to be within oneself. If this step isn't taken, there could be a backlash against the whole movement." Health and healing remain strong New Age topics, and they are seen as its best avenue for moving into the main- stream. Bantam has had great success with Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field. The focus on the human "energy field" would appear to indicate that even though healing and health are mainstream concerns, New Age books are ready, as always, to exploit pseudoscientific concepts. Some New Age book industry people refer to a need to reconcile the New Age with scientific thinking. But first the authors are going to have to get their intellectual and scientific houses in order. Bethune notes correctly that New Age disciples have not generally applied scientific principles to their theories, preferring instead, in many cases, to simply reject science. "There has been very poor scientific follow-up and vali- dation of their use in healing," says one publisher, referring specifically to crystals. Harmony books has just published Ted Schultz's Fringes of Unreason (see Some Recent Books, this issue) to help

Summer 1989 351 Bantam, recognizing this, has serious (with Bill Moyers) Power of Myth, a scientific works like Heinz Pagels's Cos- highly praised work few would think of mic Code and Douglas Hofstadter's as New Age at all. And perhaps that's Metamagical Themas on its New Age list the point. The New Age certainly has (a matter Hofstadter noted with both pseudoscience and antiscience and non- amusement and bemusement at science at one end of its spectrum, and CSICOP's Chicago conference last those aspects are legitimate targets for November). Bantam even seriously scientific concern, especially in this age considered putting physicist Stephen of disturbing scientific and technical Hawking's best-selling book, A Brief illiteracy. At the other, the New Age deals History of Time, on its New Age list. "But with matters of basic human values and you will find it on the first page of our the universal quest for meaning and New Age catalogue," says a Bantam significance in an impersonal world. Not representative. "Cosmology at its ulti- so easy to pigeon-hole. mate reaches is a kind of religious quest "The New Age is really ideas," says too." one publisher. "Perhaps that is why there Ironically, the number-one book on is such an explosion in New Age the 1988 New Age bestsellers list, com- publishing." piled by the New Age Publishing & Retailing Alliance, is Joseph Campbell's —Kendrick Frazier

Time-Life 'Mysteries' Series something of the platitudinous reaction Brings Complaints, Criticism "I didn't come here to be insulted" upon receiving Time-Life's promotion mailing. HE BLATANTLY pro-paranormal "Particularly galling was that it was Tadvertising campaign for Time-Life addressed to me personally, Dear Ari- Books' "Mysteries of the Unknown" adne, with 'Ariadne' printed on it in big series, as noted in our review of the series capitals." in this issue, continues to offend Writes Ariadne: "Discover the facts scientific-minded people. Many readers that have been uncovered and why, even of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER have written after hundreds of years, the mysteries are us to share their concerns. Typical is this still unexplained, the letter said, an comment from Norman Cutler Smith of enticement that, in the words of Lord Asheville, North Carolina (he sent a copy Whitelaw, stirred up a lot of apathy, to the Editor of Time-Life Books): especially as I found that the mysteries "I have not read the current Time- are the tired old rubbish, so often Life Books series "Mysteries of the debunked, about the Bermuda triangle, Unknown." However, I object strenu- Atlantis, flying saucers, strange 'power ously to the tone of the television surges' felt near Stonehenge, signs carved advertising, which suggests that these into the Earth's surface and, for all I reported phenomena are true supernat- know, Conan Doyle's fairies, the angel ural happenings. I will not waste my of Mons and the Russians with snow on money or time to read this shameful their boots at King's Cross Station." exploitation of ignorant superstition by Ariadne refers to the free gift of "scien- a once-reputable publisher." tifically designed cards" to test yourself The Ariadne column of New Scientist and your family for ESP. "You can tell also fired a few rounds (January 28, they are scientifically designed because 1989). The columnist notes that he had one is a cross and another a star and

352 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 13 New Age Trends: What's In and What's Out

IKE ANY popular movement, LNew Age is susceptible to the whims and whimsies of fashion. Just when we'd located the perfect ame- thyst geode for our coffee table, we hear crystal objets d'art are out. To avoid further embarrassment, we asked Paul Zuromski, editor and publisher of Body, Mind & Spirit magazine (the largest-circulation New Age magazine in the country) and author of The New Age Catalog (Doubleday/Dolphin), to give us his admittedly selective list of what's currently hot and what's not in New Age.

WHAT'S IN WHAT'S OUT mysticism occult goddess worship witchcraft the millennium the harmonic convergence crystal jewelry crystal balls and geodes Joseph Campbell Edgar Cayce Sedona, Ariz. Findhorn, Scotland oat bran granola Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine Native Americans American Indians shamanic journeys L.S.D. trips white magic black magic creative visualization going with the flow Jung Fritz Perls channeling seances self-healing faith healing the Amazing Kreskin spoonbenders natal charts horoscopes wedding rings mood rings Ginseng Red Zinger near-death experiences past-life experiences spirituality religion runes Ouija boards psychic counselors psychotherapists The Hero with a Thousand Faces Zen and the Art of Unified Field Theory Motorcycle Maintenance tarot relativity rain forests palm reading paper deforestation self-hypnosis plastic Valium

Publishers Weekly, Oec. 16,1988. Reprinted with permission. so on. As a clincher, I can learn why ex- scientists who would like to cash in on U.S. President Jimmy Carter believes in such daydreams, and they certainly UFOs. The offer is perfectly resistable." should be forced to prove the authenticity Blair Macy, an award-winning small- of their 'examples' of magic, or visitors town newspaper editor in northern from outer space." Colorado, was equally disgusted. Refer- Macy then describes the SKEPTICAL ring to the TV commercials about INQUIRER, "in which authors challenge reportedly mysterious "happenings" all claims by pseudo-scientists of paran- around the world said to be surely "more ormal happenings. I allowed my subscrip- than coincidence," Macy, in a weekly tion to expire, but thanks to Time-Life column, writes: "Such magical claims I have hastily sent my renewal. ... I could lead to a wave of mass hysteria, think it deserves our support." when promoted by a firm as powerful Readers who wish to direct other as Time-Life, and we certainly don't need comments to Time-Life can write to this in our present nuclear age. I see George Constable, Editor, Time-Life nothing dangerous about people who like Books, Inc., 777 Duke St., Alexandria, to speculate about the paranormal, and VA 22314. perhaps allow their imagination to wander. But there are a lot of pseudo- —K.F.

Vitamin Dowsing: Sedona, Arizona. A First-Hand Report While shopping in a Sedona super- market, I observed with interest a well- HAT APPEARS to be a hitherto dressed young woman of about 20 Wunreported application of dows- making a selection of vitamins, minerals, ing has recently been observed by this and food supplements from the hundreds reporter in that hotbed of New Agers, of bottles lining the shelves in the health- food section. I noted with interest, and some surprise, that she was dowsing each bottle. Her dowsing aid consisted of a fine metal chain about 15 centimeters long, with a sharp-pointed crystal about 30 millimeters long dangling from one end. She would hold a bottle horizontally in her left hand, dangling the crystal on the chain from her right hand about 10 to 15 mm above the bottle. Sometimes she would hold two bottles in her left hand to compare the response from each. After dowsing 15 or 20 samples, rejecting most of them, she made her choices and headed for the checkout counter. I was unable to see the appar- ently subtle indications of the crystal that dictated her selections.

—Harner Selvidge

354 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 13 Columbo Gets His Psychic: A Rare TV Debunking

LAUDITS to all those responsible Falk) himself is able to duplicate the Pfor the season-premier episode of "psychic's" striking successes in the "Columbo" (ABC remote-viewing Mystery Movie, tests and then "Columbo Goes to reveals the trick by the Guillotine," which (in this fic- February 6, 1989). tional test anyway) The two-hour epi- the "matches" were sode revolved ^QUJMM Bft achieved. The around a power- S ^r Br rumpled detective seeking psychic, a also discovers how government-spon- the conjuror's ap- sored parapsychol- paratus was used ogy project in by the murderer to remote-viewing, make the death and an experi- appear to enced magician de- be a suicide. voted to exposing Unlike psychic fraud (and most tele- who was murdered vision mystery dra- for his trouble). The episode showed that mas with a parapsychological theme, this a highly entertaining yet intelligent drama one didn't resort to a cop-out ending can be made about a supposedly psychic implying that there might have been phenomenon without accepting or imply- something paranormal to it after all. It ing the reality of the paranormal (just the was entertaining "debunking" in grand opposite, in fact). With some help from style. a young magic buff, Columbo (Peter —K.F.

Gleason's Library Reveals tion was officially presented to the Devotion to Paranormal University of Miami Library by Gleason's widow, Marilyn, on October 25, 1988. HE LATE Jackie Gleason was a She gave the books to the school because Tmuch-beloved and successful come- she wanted them to stay in the area where dian. He was also a devotee of the the Gleasons had lived for many years. paranormal. As United Press Interna- "Some of these books are kind of tional reported, a look at Gleason's crackpot," said the university's librarian, personal library gives new meaning to the Jay Kalvan. "Things like / Rode in a phrase "To the moon, Alice." Spaceship. He went out of his way to Some 1,700 of the 3,700 books in collect books on the occult. He was just Gleason's collection dealt with UFOs, the personally interested in any unexplained occult, and parapsychology. The collec- phenomenon." •

Summer 1989 355