Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition

The ABC's of Belief: Aliens, Bigfoot, and Chupacabra

Benjamin Radford examines public beliefs about aliens, Bigfoot, and chupacabra through recent polling data, finding that belief varies widely between these legendary creatures. Read this article and find accompanying ref

The Commodification of Science: "The Last da Vinci" Offers Insights about Aspartame

Nick Tiller argues that modern science communication risks becoming science commodification when evidence is transformed from a process of inquiry into a product designed for attention, profit, and influence. Read this a

A Visit to the Center of the Spiritualist World

Stuart Vyse visits Lily Dale —the world's largest Spiritualist community—to explore the history and enduring appeal of Spiritualism while examining the methods behind famous mediumistic phenomena such as slate writing, s

When the Doctor Says Stop, But the Fight Goes On

Nick Tiller argues that a recent UFC fight in which medical advice was effectively overridden illustrates the dangerous erosion of respect for expert judgment, especially when entertainment and a culture of performative

Percival Lowell and the Canals on Mars

Terence Hines reviews The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Captured Turn-of-the-Century America. By David Baron. Liveright Books/W. W. Norton, 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: h

The Lost Art of Scientific Inquiry

Aymen I. Idris reflects on how modern academia has transformed scientists from hands-on experimenters into grant writers, managers, and administrators, eroding the craft of direct inquiry that once defined scientific dis

Investigation into Hauntings at the McInteer Villa

Kenny Biddle investigates the alleged haunting of the McInteer Villa and finds that its ghost stories—from shadow figures to eerie laughter—are best explained by historical inaccuracies, psychological suggestion, and ord

The Missing Catalyst

In the third of a multipart series, Massimo Polidoro recounts the behind-the-scenes struggle to create what would eventually become the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal , showing how

The Homeopathic Industry Is on the Ropes

Robyn E. Blumner explains how the homeopathy industry is facing growing legal and regulatory challenges as the FDA tightens enforcement against unapproved products and courts increasingly reject industry efforts to prese

News Bites: From the Tarot Card Reader's Defamation to the Artemis II Record

Julia Lavarnway, William Matthew London, Stephen Hupp, and Benjamin Radford round up notable developments in skepticism and science, from a multimillion-dollar defamation verdict against a self-proclaimed psychic and Tin

What Did the So-Called 'Lying Monk' Really See?

Matthew J. Sharps and Jana L. Price-Sharps examine the legend of the so-called "Lying Monk," Fray Marcos de Niza, arguing that psychology—not deception—best explains the myths surrounding his expedition to Cibola. Using

Exploring Robben Island: How the Ghosts of the Past Haunt the Researchers of Today

Malorie Mackey recounts her experiences conducting penguin conservation research on South Africa's Robben Island, exploring how its haunting history, eerie landscape, and lack of environmental control can make even skept

Boosting Facts and Busting Myths about Mythbusting

Stefan T. Siegel examines six common misconceptions about mythbusting, arguing that effectively countering misinformation requires more than simply correcting facts—it demands evidence-based strategies that address emoti

The Fine Art of Baloney Detection—Sagan's Essay Three Decades Later

Massimo Pigliucci revisits Carl Sagan's classic "Baloney Detection Kit" thirty years after its publication, arguing that its core principles remain valuable but require updating to address modern challenges such as socia

Optimizing the Tools of Our Trade

Stephen Hupp previews the next issue of Skeptical Inquirer, Volume 50, no. 4, titled "Optimizing the Tools of Our Trade". Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/optim

A Skeptical Approach to Flying Saucers and Aliens

Terence Hines reviews Neil DeGrasse Tyson's new book, Take Me to Your Leader. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/a-skeptical-approach-to-flying-saucers-and-alie

Houdini and Niagara Falls: How Legends Attach Themselves to Great Men

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Freshpet Chews on Astrology

Benjamin Radford uses a humorous Freshpet commercial about zodiac signs and pet compatibility to explore the persistence of astrology in popular culture. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://ske

Right, Let's Talk about AG1

Surviving the Information Chaos Storm

David Weinberg reviews The Certainty Illusion: What You Don't Know and Why It Matters (2025). By Timothy Caulfield. Allen Lane, 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2