Continuing with “Sham Inquiry” Elbowing in on good science The Journal of Scientific Exploration is the published by the Society for Scientific Exploration which describes itself as “a professional organization […]
Ghost Hunting – Sham Inquiry
Thousands of eyewitnesses report ghostly encounters from ancient history to modern times. Contact with the dead is very much part of our modern culture. With the expansion of television content […]
Cryptozoology – Sham Inquiry
Cryptozoology is “the study of hidden animals” (called ‘cryptids’). More precisely, it is the pursuit of animals that science does not recognize as existing and, in some situations, be considered […]
Pretend science
Playing Pretend Science In order to be technical, like science, pseudoscientists engage in a method of data gathering that is not haphazard or lazy. Intricate collection and analysis is often […]
Weak evidence
Quality of evidence A frequent complaint from the fringe is that the scientific community is dismissive of the actual evidence for their extraordinary claim. Proponents of psi or UFOs will […]
Using Subterfuge
Using subterfuge to build a case Pseudoscience proponents may resort to desperate measures to support and preserve a beloved theory – another sure sign that the theory does not qualify […]
Irrefutable
Science doesn’t work by beginning with the premise and searching for evidence to support it or, holding onto the premise no matter what evidence contradicts it. This is true close-mindedness. […]
Fancy jargon
Fancy jargon and complexity Science is loaded with jargon which serves as an efficient way to get a complex idea across in a neat package. Scientists name everything and give […]
Immutable
Immutable and Closed to Criticism A half-century makes a huge difference in science these days. Consider physics, astronomy and medicine from just 50 years ago. Today’s great pseudosciences are ancient […]
Unorthodox and proud of it
The category of unconventional theories is labeled “maverick”, “fringe”, “frontier” and “exploration” in front of the word “science” to describe the work. (This community is featured on The Anomalist website […]
Sour Grapes
“If you aren’t trying to get to the truth, you aren’t really inquiring” -S. Haack [1] A case of sour grapes We live in a world of science. Because of […]
Mythic Creatures in NYC
I visited the Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids exhibit on Saturday at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. Here are my thoughts from it. I’ve been to […]
What might U Be?
Peruse this in the USA Today’s list of top 10 Haunted hikes. New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve/Wharton State Forest “Since 1735, hundreds have seen or heard a yellow-eyed creature with […]
Deconstructing ‘scoftic’
To preface, I’m not against new words. I’ve shared my love of witty neologisms such as the portmanteau words “blobjects”, “blobsquatch”, “blurfos” and the like. In those cases, we can […]
Fortean = anti-evolution? Shouldn’t be.
The topic of creationism nearly makes me retch. I hate arguing about it, I hate even acknowledging that the fight even exists because it shouldn’t. I must vent so indulge […]
Book Review: Ghost Hunters
A review of a popular treatment of psyhics and ghost hunters.
Whispers…Part 3 Anomalies and a new science
A wrapup of anomalous phenomena associated with earthquake precursors and an assessment of their predictive potential
Book Review: Lake Monster Mysteries
How many good books about the world of lake monsters are out there? If you discount the plethora of Loch Ness books, not many. One with a skeptical tone was absolutely needed.
Whispers…Part 2
Examining claims of earthquake weather and lights.
Whispers from the Earth
I examine ideas about natural indicators for coming earthquakes. Do animals (and plants) react? Are there other clues from nature.