Evolution Deniers Mexican Organ Theft Legend Steven Pinker on September 11 T H E M A G A Z I N E FOR -SC IENCE AND REASON sir Volume 27, No. 4-July/August 2003 THE RORSCHACH TEST RECOVERED MEMORY Fortunetellers, and Cold Reading TECHNIQUES CAN MINDS LEAVE BODIES? A Cognitive Science Perspective A Cognitive Science Perspective Published by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION of Claims off the Paranormal AT THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY-INTERNATIONAl (ADJACENT TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO) • AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION Paul Kurtz, Chairman; professor emeritus of philosophy, State University of New York at Buffalo Barry Karr. Executive Director Joe Nicked. Senior Research Fellow Massimo Polidoro, Research Fellow Richard Wiseman, Research Fellow Lee Nisbet. Special Projects Director FELLOWS James E. Alcock," psychologist, York Univ., Toronto Saul Green, PhD, biochemist president of ZOL James E. Oberg, science writer Jerry Andrus, magician and inventor, Albany, Consultants, New York. NY Irmgard Oepen, professor of medicine (retired). Oregon Susan Haack. Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts Marburg, Germany Marcia Angell, M.D.. former editor-in-chief, New and Sciences, prof, of philosophy, University Loren Pankratz. psychologist, Oregon Health England Journal of Medicine of Miami Sciences Univ. Robert A. Baker, psychologist Univ. of Kentucky C. E. M. Hansel, psychologist, Univ. of Wales John Paulos. mathematician, Temple Univ. Stephen Barrett. M.D.. psychiatrist, author, Al Hibbs, scientist. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Steven Pinker, cognitive scientist, MIT consumer advocate, Allentown, Pa. Douglas Hofstadter. professor of human Massimo Polidoro, science writer, author, execu­ Barry Beyerstein,* biopsychologist, Simon Fraser understanding and cognitive science, tive director CICAP, Italy Univ., Vancouver, B.C., Canada Indiana Univ. Milton Rosenberg, psychologist. Univ. of Chicago Irving Biederman, psychologist, Univ. of Southern Gerald Holton. Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics Wallace Sampson. M.D., clinical professor of medi­ California and professor of history of science. Harvard Univ. cine, Stanford Univ., editor, Scientific Review of Susan Blackmore. Visiting Lecturer, Univ. of the Ray Hyman.* psychologist, Univ. of Oregon Alternative Medicine West of England. Bristol Leon Jaroff, sciences editor emeritus, Time Amardeo Sarma. engineer, head of dept. Henri Broch, physicist. Univ. of Nice, France Sergei Kapitza, former editor. Russian edition, at T-Nova Deutsche Telekom, executive Jan Harold Brunvand, folklorist, professor emeri­ Scientific American director, GWUP, Germany. tus of English. Univ. of Utah Philip J. Klass,* aerospace writer, engineer Evry Schatzman, former president French Physics Vern Bullough, professor of history, California Lawrence M. Krauss. author and professor of Association State Univ. at Northridge physics and astronomy. Case Western Reserve Eugenie Scott physical anthropologist, executive Mario Bunge, philosopher, McGill University University director, National Center for Science Education John R. Cole, anthropologist, editor. National Edwin C. Krupp, astronomer, director. Griffith Robert Sheaffer, science writer Center for Science Education Observatory Elie A. Shneour, biochemist, author, Frederick Crews, literary and cultural critic, profes­ Paul Kurtz/ chairman, Center for Inquiry director. Biosystems Research Institute, sor emeritus of English. Univ. of California. Lawrence Kusche. science writer La Jolla, Calif. Berkeley Leon Lederman, emeritus director. Fermilab; Dick Smith, film producer, publisher, Terrey Hills, F. H. C. Crick, biophysicist, Salk Inst, for Biological Nobel laureate in physics N.S.W., Australia Studies, La Jolla, Calif; Nobel laureate Scott Lilienfeld, psychologist Emory Univ. Robert Steiner, magician, author. El Cerrito, Calif. Richard Dawkins, zoologist. Oxford Univ. Lin Zixin, former editor. Science and Technology Victor J. Stenger, emeritus professor of physics Geoffrey Dean, technical editor, Perth, Australia Daily (China) and astronomy, Univ. of Hawaii; adjunct profes­ Daniel C. Dennett University Professor and Austin Jere Lipps. Museum of Paleontology, Univ. of sor of philosophy, Univ. of Colorado B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy, Director of California, Berkeley Jill Cornell Tarter, astronomer, SETI Institute, the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts Elizabeth Loftus. professor of psychology. Univ. of Mountain View, Calif. University California. Irvine Carol Tavris, psychologist and author. Los Angeles, Cornells de Jager, professor of astrophysics, Univ. Paul MacCready. scientist/engineer, Calif. of Utrecht the Netherlands AeroVironment Inc., Monrovia. Calif. David Thomas, physicist and mathematician, Paul Edwards, philosopher, editor, Encyclopedia John Maddox. editor emeritus of Nature Peralta, New Mexico of Philosophy David Marks, psychologist Oty University, London. Stephen Toulmin. professor of philosophy, Univ. of Kenneth Feder. professor of anthropology, Mario Mendez-Acosta, journalist and Southern California Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and director. Central Connecticut State Univ. science writer, Mexico City, Mexico Hayden Planetarium, New York City Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading Univ.. U.K. Marvin Minsky, professor of media arts and Marilyn vos Savant Parade magazine contribut­ Andrew Fraknoi. astronomer. Foothill College. Los sciences, MIT. ing editor Altos Hills. Calif. David Morrison, space scientist. NASA Ames Kendrick Frazier,* science writer, editor. SKEPTICAL Research Center Steven Weinberg, professor of physics and astron­ omy. Univ. of Texas at Austin; Nobel laureate INOUMEB Richard A. Muller. professor of physics, Univ. of E.O. Wilson. University Professor Emeritus, Yves Galifret vice-president. Affiliated Calif., Berkeley Harvard University Organizations: France H. Narasimhaiah, physicist president. Bangalore Richard Wiseman, psychologist University of Martin Gardner.- author, critic Science Forum, India Hertfordshire Murray Gell-Mann, professor of physics, Santa Fe Dorothy Nelkin, sociologist. New York Univ. Marvin Zelen. statistician. Harvard Univ. Institute; Nobel laureate Joe Nicked. * senior research fellow, CSICOP Thomas Gilovich. psychologist Cornell Univ. Lee Nisbet* philosopher, Medaille College * Member. CSICOP Executive Council Henry Gordon, magician, columnist Toronto Bl Nye, science educator and television host Nye Labs (Affiliations given for identification only.) • • • Visit the CSICOP Web site at http://www.csicop.org "I"he SkfFTU..M IMJTIWR (ISSN0I94-6',30) is published bimonthly bv the (.ommutcc for thr and on page 60 of the January/I'ebruary 2003 tssuc. Or you may send a tax request to the editor. Scientific Investigation of CUinu of the Paranormal. 1310 Sweet Home Rd.. Amherst, NT Ankles, reports, reviews, and letters published in the SKEPTHLAI INQL'IRFR represent the 14228. Printed in U.SA Periodical* postage paid at Buffalo, NT. and at additional mailing view-* and work of individual authors- Their publication does not necessarily constitute an offices. Subscription prices: one year (sii issues). $35; two years. $60; three years. $84: single endorsement by CSICOP or its members unless so stated. issue. S4.95. 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COLUMNS Skeptical Inquirer EDITOR'S NOTE 4 July/August 2003 • VOL 27, NO. 4 NEWS AND COMMENT Harris Poll: The Religious and Other Beliefs of Americans 2003 / CHASING CHAMP Biology Professor Alters Evolution Statement for Recommend­ ations; Justice Ends Probe / DOE Seeks Polygraph Program Con­ 18 INVESTIGATIVE FILES tinuance Despite Objections by National Academy / Organ Theft Legend Resurfaces in Mexico Border Slayings / Study Shows How Complex Functions Can Originate by Random Legend of the Lake Champlain Mutation. Natural Selection / Skeptical Inquirer Subject Index Monster Improved, Online / Longevity, Clonaid Receive Silver Fleece Awards for 2003 / CSICOP and PhACT Attend National Science The creature