"Science and the paranormal" a talk by Joe Schwarcz

Since the dawn of civilization humans have been fascinated by phenomena which appear to lie outside the scope of science. Our history is peppered with accounts of psychics predicting the future, mediums conversing with the dead, and aliens in UFO's abducting earthlings. Today the likes of Deepak Chopra confuse people with their quantum psychobabble and there is widespread belief that the moon and planets influence our behavior, that "psychic surgeons" can remove tumors without making incisions and that Uri Geller bends spoons with the power of his mind.

Do these effects really lie outside the scope of modern day science? This lecture examines paranormal phenomena and describes how many of the effects can be explained by perfectly "natural" means. The presentation is highlighted by a number of "demonstrations" aimed at increasing the awareness of the need to evaluate "paranormal" phenomena by critical scientific methods.



"Science and the paranormal", a talk by Dr. Joe Schwarcz

Rachel Maddow Blasts National Security System TOO BIG over Aaron Alexis' Police Report

Washington Gunman Recently Told Cops He Was Being Bombarded By Microwave Signals That Kept Him Awake At Night.



(CNN) -- Aaron Alexis -- the man authorities say is responsible for killing 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard -- told Newport, Rhode Island, police last month that an individual "had sent three people to follow him and to talk, keep him awake and send vibrations into his body," according to a police report. According to that report, which is related to an investigation into a harassment complaint at a Marriott hotel in Newport, Aaron Alexis said he first heard the people "talking to him through a wall" at a Residence Inn in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he'd been staying. He packed up and went to an unidentified hotel on a Navy base in Newport where he heard the same voices talking to him. Aaron Alexis moved to a third hotel, the Marriott, according to the police report. There, Aaron Alexis first told authorities that the three individuals spoke to him through the floor and then the ceiling. Aaron Alexis said the individuals were using "some sort of microwave machine" that sent "vibrations through the ceiling, penetrating his body so he cannot fall asleep." Aaron Alexis told authorities, according to the police report, that "he does not have a history of mental illness in his family and that he never had any sort of mental episode."

BREAKING: Official: Navy Ignored Warning Last Month About Shooter

How to Squash a Paranormal Claim

The James Randi Educational Foundation has never met a "psychic" it couldn't discredit—easily. Still, Randi understands why such frauds appeal to people.

From Witch Burning to God-men: Supporting Skepticism Around the World

Belief in pseudoscience and the paranormal can cause harm all over the world. In this workshop from TAM 2012, Nigerian skeptical activist Leo Igwe, Australian skeptical activist Eran Segev, and JREF Outreach Coordinator Brian Thompson teach you how to help promote evidence-based thinking from a distance.



"From Witch Burning to God-men: Supporting Skepticism Around the World"

Video from TAM 2012

ABC Nightline Beyond Belief Psychic Power

I New York Psychic Jesse Bravo took this Psychic Challenge on behalf of ABC, I told them before the test, that it is rigged. I told them that as a medium, I require a live person but Banachek knew he would lose, so they gave me pieces of paper. As you can see, all of the other psychics had live people for thier test, except me. They ran the piece anyway and tried to make everyone look bad.

Watch on youtube

Watch the full program here

Trystan Swale on Righteous Indignation 97

Trystan Swale spent the best part of half a decade actively immersing himself in paranormal and Fortean investigations. For his efforts he emerged with headaches, lots of enemies, a sideline in hoaxing and invaluable experience of how wishful thinking can affect us all. He sat down with Hayley to talk about crop circles at a recent ‘skeptics in the pub’ talk.