CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.csicop.org/news/","20150905152056","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1441466456"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta name="revised" content="2009"/> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=EmulateIE7"/> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20150905152056cs_/http://www.csicop.org/css/screen.css"/>   <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/img/favicon.png"/> <meta name="title" content="The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry"/> <meta name="description" content="The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry promotes science and scientific inquiry, critical thinking, science education, and the use of reason in examining important issues. It encourages the critical investigation of controversial or extraordinary claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and disseminates factual information about the results of such inquiries to the scientific community, the media, and the public."/> <style type="text/css">@import url(https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056cs_/http://www.google.com/cse/api/branding.css);</style> <style type="text/css">body {background-image: url(/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/img/ask-the-dust.jpg);}</style> <title>News - CSI</title> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="CECWrLNmS2I5Dsw0UQuTkeTsxg8DjJQnrhgKSuZdCdw"/> </head> <body> <div id="fb-root"></div> <script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script> <script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056js_/https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js"></script> <div id="header"> <ul class="orgs"> <li id="csi"><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/"></a><a href=""><span> </span></a></li> <li id="cfimark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.centerforinquiry.net/"></a><a href=""><span> </span></a></li> </ul> <ul class="kwicks"> <li id="kwick4"><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about/about_csi"><span> </span></a></li> <li id="kwick1"><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/resources"><span> </span></a></li> <li id="kwick2"><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/publications"><span> </span></a></li> <li id="kwick3"><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news"><span> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="moreoptions"><p><span class="mag"><a href="#footer">More Options</a></span></p></div> <div id="quotespacer"></div> <div id="wrapper"> <div id="sidebar"> <div id="subscribeSI"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://csi-store.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/si"><img src="/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/img/subscribesi.png" alt="Subscribe to SI" style="border:none;"/></a> </div> <h3 style="margin-top:-5px; margin-bottom:25px;"> </h3> <a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/donate" class="img_link"><img src="/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/img/csi-donate-today.png" alt="Donate Today"/></a> <div id="search"> <h3 style="border:none;">Search CSI:</h3> <script> (function() { var cx = '001833901238129012569:pyvfrjzkeyy'; var gcse = document.createElement('script'); gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; gcse.async = true; gcse.src = (document.location.protocol == 'https:' ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=' + cx; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); })(); </script> <gcse:searchbox-only resultsurl="http://www.csicop.org/search"></gcse:searchbox-only> </div> <ul class="subnav"> <li class="inactive"><h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/events">Events</a></h4></li> <li class="inactive"><h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/coverage">Press Coverage</a></h4></li> <li class="inactive"><h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases">Press Releases</a></h4></li> <li class="active"><h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news">Recent News</a></h4></li> </ul> <a class="twitter-timeline" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/https://twitter.com/SkeptInquiry" data-widget-id="286527152260780033">Tweets by @SkeptInquiry</a> <script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script> <h3>News & Announcements</h3> <dl> <dt><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/show/deniers_are_not_skeptics">Deniers are not Skeptics</a></dt> <dd> <p class="date">December 5, 2014</p> <p>Public discussion of scientific topics such as global warming is confused by misuse of the term “skeptic.” </p> </dd> <dt><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/show/skeptical_inquirer_is_now_available_digitally">Skeptical Inquirer Is Now Available Digitally</a></dt> <dd> <p class="date">July 3, 2013</p> Skeptical Inquirer is now available digitally on Apple Newsstand and on all other major platforms through the Pocketmags app. </dd> <dt><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/show/skeptic_authors_steven_salzberg_and_joe_nickell_to_receive_balles_prize">Skeptic Authors Steven Salzberg and Joe Nickell to Receive Balles Prize in Critical Thinking</a></dt> <dd> <p class="date">June 14, 2013</p> <p><em>Forbes</em> columnist Steven Salzberg and author-investigator Joe Nickell will each be awarded the 2012 Robert P. Balles Prize in Critical Thinking, to be presented by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry at the CFI Summit in October. </p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="content"> <h1>CSI News</h1> <p> Recent news about and collected by CSI </p> <div class="article-single bigger"> <div class="thumbnail thumbleft"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/uploads/images/Screen Shot 2015-08-28 at 3.08.20 PM_thumb.png"/></div> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/mystery_of_the_daedalus_sea_serpent_solved_in_skeptical_inquirer">Mystery of the Daedalus Sea Serpent SOLVED in Skeptical Inquirer</a></h4> <h4 class="date">August 28, 2015</h4> <p>For generations, the mystery of the “sea serpent” witnessed by the captain of the HMS Daedalus in 1848 remained unsolved. But in the latest issue of Skeptical Inquirer, the magazine for science and reason, new evidence points to a definitive answer: No monster or dinosaur, but a particular kind of surface-skimming whale. </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="article-single bigger"> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/cosmos_joe_schwarcz_win_skeptics_critical_thinking_prize">Cosmos, Joe Schwarcz Win Skeptics’ Critical Thinking Prize</a></h4> <h4 class="date">July 2, 2015</h4> <p>The 2014 Balles Prize in Critical Thinking, an award for excellence in the promotion of science and reason, was given this year to the creators, producers, and writers of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, and to Dr. Joe Schwarcz for his book Is That a Fact? The Balles Prize is given annually by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), publisher of the magazine Skeptical Inquirer. </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="article-single bigger"> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/skeptics_dare_heartland_institute">Skeptics Dare Heartland Institute to Take Up $25,000 Climate Challenge</a></h4> <h4 class="date">June 15, 2015</h4> <p>A leading science advocacy group is throwing down the gauntlet to the Heartland Institute, a group that claims that global warming stopped in 1998, with a stark, simple challenge: If the 30-year average global land surface temperature goes up in 2015, setting a new record, the Heartland Institute must donate $25,000 to a science education nonprofit. </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="article-single bigger"> <div class="thumbnail thumbleft"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/uploads/images/Screen Shot 2015-06-09 at 2.08.40 PM_thumb.png"/></div> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/charles_darwin_superstar_the_rise_of_the_celebrity_scientist_in_skeptical_i">Charles Darwin Superstar: The Rise of the Celebrity Scientist, in ‘Skeptical Inquirer’</a></h4> <h4 class="date">June 9, 2015</h4> <p>The unprecedented availability of scientific data does not necessarily make for greater public understanding, as a celebrity-obsessed media turns to a handful of compelling scientific personalities to help us sort it all out. From Darwin to deGrasse Tyson, the rise of the “celebrity scientist” is explored in the latest issue of Skeptical Inquirer. </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="article-single bigger"> <div class="thumbnail thumbleft"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/uploads/images/SI MJ 15 cover PF_thumb.png"/></div> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/peddlers_of_medical_misinformation_exposed_in_a_special_skeptical_inquirer">Peddlers of Medical Misinformation Exposed in a Special ‘Skeptical Inquirer’</a></h4> <h4 class="date">April 15, 2015</h4> <p>Misinformation in medicine has reached a fever pitch in the media, in public policy, and even within respected medical institutions. A new special edition of <em>Skeptical Inquirer</em> delves deep into a problem that includes—and goes far beyond—the anti-vaccination movement, with quack health gurus,    scientific journals, and even entire governments promoting dangerous pseudoscience as medicin </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="article-single bigger"> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/deniers_not_skeptics">Scientists to Media: Stop Calling Climate Change Deniers “Skeptics”</a></h4> <h4 class="date">December 10, 2014</h4> <p>Prominent scientists, science communicators, and skeptic activists, including Bill Nye “the Science Guy,” physicist Lawrence Krauss, Cosmos co-creator Ann Druyan, and many others are calling on the news media to stop using the word “skeptic” when referring to those who refuse to accept the reality of climate change, and instead refer to them by what they really are: science deniers. </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="article-single bigger"> <div class="thumbnail thumbleft"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/uploads/images/deniers-are-not-skeptics_thumb.jpg"/></div> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/show/deniers_are_not_skeptics">Deniers are not Skeptics</a></h4> <h4 class="date">December 5, 2014</h4> <p>Public discussion of scientific topics such as global warming is confused by misuse of the term “skeptic.” </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="article-single bigger"> <div class="thumbnail thumbleft"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/uploads/images/Screen Shot 2014-12-03 at 2.57.07 PM_thumb.png"/></div> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/why_people_believe_in_conspiracies_and_the_supernatural_new_insights_in_ske">Why People Believe in Conspiracies and the Supernatural: New Insights in ‘Skeptical Inquirer’</a></h4> <h4 class="date">December 3, 2014</h4> <p>To the great frustration of rationalists, it seems that no amount of education or evidence can dissuade people from clinging to beliefs in gods, ghosts,    and conspiracies. But why? The newest edition of <em>Skeptical Inquirer</em> magazine explores the latest science and research behind the intractability of   irrational beliefs. </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="article-single bigger"> <div class="thumbnail thumbleft"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/uploads/images/sind_thumb.png"/></div> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/44_doctor-bashing_arguments_demolished_in_skeptical_inquirer">44 Doctor-Bashing Arguments Demolished in Skeptical Inquirer</a></h4> <h4 class="date">October 10, 2014</h4> <p>Defenders of dubious alternative medicine often make their case by attacking doctors and the larger Western medical profession, accusing them of such things as being in the pocket of “Big Pharma” or favoring the treatment of an illness’s symptoms over its root causes. But retired Air Force surgeon and skeptical activist Harriet Hall is having none of it. </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="article-single bigger"> <div class="thumbnail thumbleft"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/uploads/images/SI SO 14 cover PF_thumb.jpg"/></div> <h4><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/ann_druyan_on_bringing_cosmos_to_life_i_was_the_decider">Ann Druyan on Bringing COSMOS to Life: “I Was the Decider”</a></h4> <h4 class="date">August 12, 2014</h4> <p>Ann Druyan faced constant resistance in her quest to bring the landmark series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey into being, dismissed by television executives and academics alike for her age, her lack of formal scientific credentials, and insistence on creative control. In two special interviews for Skeptical Inquirer magazine, she recounts how she persevered and succeeded in creating what turned out t </p> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <p>Page 1 of 5 pages  <strong>1</strong> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/P10/">2</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/P20/">3</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/P10/">></a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/P40/">Last »</a></p> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div id="footer"> <a name="footer"></a> <img src="/web/20150905152056im_/http://www.csicop.org/img/csi-logo-new.png" alt="CSI logo" style="display:none"/> <div id="about"> <h2><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about">About</a></h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about/about_csi/">About CSI</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about/csicop/">Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP)</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about/csi_fellows_and_staff/">CSI Fellows and Staff</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about/donate_to_csi/">Donate to CSI</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/skeptical_programs_for_generation_y_and_beyond/">Educating Youth</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about/policy_on_hostile_conduct_harassment_at_conferences/">Policy on Hostile Conduct/Harassment at Conferences</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about/privacy_policy/">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/about/the_pantheon_of_skeptics/">The Pantheon of Skeptics</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="resources"> <h2><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/resources">Resources</a></h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://csi-store.myshopify.com/">CSI Store</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/resources/us_organizations">Skeptical Organizations in the United States</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/resources/international_organizations">International Network of Skeptical Organizations</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/resources/cfi">Centers for Inquiry</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/resources/free_i_doubt_it_decal">Free ‘I Doubt It’ Decal</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www.centerforinquiry.net/forums" rel="external">CFI Forums</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="publications"> <h2><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/publications">Publications</a></h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://csi-store.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/si">Subscribe</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/si">Skeptical Inquirer</a> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/si/archive">Archive</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/si/archive/category/volume_39.4">Latest Issue</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/sb">Skeptical Briefs</a> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/sb/archive/category/sb_25.1">Latest Issue</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles">Special Articles</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/publications/guide/">Guide for Authors</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="news" style="border:none;"> <h2><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news">News</a></h2> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/events">Events</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/coverage">Press Coverage</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases">Press Releases</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150905152056/http://www.csicop.org/news">Recent Announcements</a></li> </ul> </div> <p class="legal">Content copyright <acronym title="Committee for Skeptical Inquiry">CSI</acronym> or the respective copyright holders. Do not redistribute without obtaining permission. Thanks to the <acronym title="European Space Organisation">ESO</acronym> for the image of the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090303.html">Helix Nebula</a>, also <acronym title="National Aeronautics and Space Administration">NASA</acronym>, <acronym title="European Space Agency">ESA</acronym> and the Hubble Heritage Team for the image of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2007/36/">NGC 3808B (ARP 87)</a>.</p> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.4.2/jquery.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20150905152056js_/http://www.csicop.org/js/jquery.biggerlink.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20150905152056js_/http://www.csicop.org/js/jquery.kwicks.js"></script> <script src="/web/20150905152056js_/http://www.csicop.org/js/csi-master1.js?1" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/https://ssl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20150905152056/http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5311668-5"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}</script> </body> </html>