The CDC’s ‘Autism and Vaccines’ Webpage and the Negative Evidence Principle by William Matthew London
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Release Date: 12/17/2025
Dilbert Dilemma: The Tragic Innumeracy of Scott Adams by Benjamin Radford
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Benjamin Radford shows how innumeracy and poor media literacy can amplify controversy—and why skepticism is a vital safeguard against such traps. Read this article and find accompanying references at: About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author, co-author, contributor, or editor of twenty books and over a thousand articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is America the Fearful. Subscribe to Skeptical...
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Get the Most Out of CSICon (Part 2): Celebrate Our History … Chart Our Future! by Stephen Hupp
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Stephen Hupp details the schedule for CSICon 2026, the 50th annviersary conference of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry held June 11-14, 2026, in this the second of a two part preview of the conference. Register now at . Read this article and find accompanying references at: About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is Executive Director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:
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It’s Time to Talk About Psychic Medium Dean by Susan Gerbic
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Susan Gerbic investigates UK performer “Psychic Medium Dean,” presenting detailed evidence that he relies on hot reading—researching ticket buyers through direct social media and payment interactions—rather than any paranormal ability. She argues that his methods exploit grief for profit and calls for greater public skepticism and controlled testing to expose such practices. Read this article and find accompanying references at: About the Author: Affectionately called the Wikipediatrician, Susan Gerbic is the cofounder of Monterey County Skeptics and a self-proclaimed skeptical...
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A Sympathetic Understanding of Paranormal Beliefs by Chris French
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Chris French reviews The Psychology and Science of Pseudoscience by Terence Hines. Rowman & Littlefield, 2025. Read this article and find accompanying references at: About the Author: Chris French is professor of psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London. His latest book is Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Beliefs & Experience. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquir
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Blind Victoria’s Secret by Eugenie Scott
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Eugenie Scott recounts an early Bay Area Skeptics sting in which she posed as a blind woman to expose faith healer W.V. Grant’s manipulative tactics and exploitation of vulnerable people. Reflecting on the success and limits of pre-internet skepticism, she argues that coordinated action and information sharing remain essential as skeptics confront enduring pseudoscientific scams in the decades ahead. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/blind-victorias-secret/ About the Author: Eugenie Scott, a physical anthropologist, is...
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My Memories of The Amazing Randi: Part One by Banachek
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
In this first installment of a two part article, Banachek traces his path to collaborating with Randi on Project Alpha, illustrating how poor scientific controls and investigator bias allowed simple magic tricks to masquerade as psychic phenomena—and why Randi’s skepticism mattered. Read this article and find accompanying references at: About the Author: Banachek was born in England on November 30, 1960. He was schooled in South Africa and the United States. It was while living in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, that Banachek saw his first magician at a high school function at the age...
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Revolutionizing Science: Jane Goodall and the Challenge to Conventional Wisdom by Bertha Vazquez
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Bertha Vazquez reflects on Jane Goodall’s revolutionary impact on science, highlighting how her patient, humane observation of chimpanzees shattered rigid behaviorist dogma and forced a rethinking of what separates humans from other animals. Framing Goodall alongside other once-dismissed scientific pioneers, the article argues that intellectual humility, openness to evidence, and outsider perspectives are essential drivers of scientific progress. Read this article and find accompanying references at: About the Author: Bertha Vazquez has been teaching middle school science in...
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The Red Planet Rumble: Claimer vs. Claimer by Craig A. Foster
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
This installment of The Time Warp revisits a late-1970s Skeptical Inquirer debate over the “Mars effect,” exploring how skeptics critically tested—and ultimately undermined—astrological claims while briefly giving claimants a voice. Craig A. Foster uses this historical case to reflect on an enduring tension within skepticism: when, if ever, skeptics should invite credulous viewpoints, and how remaining skeptical of skepticism itself helps keep the movement intellectually honest. Read this article and find accompanying references at: About the Author: Craig A. Foster is a CSI...
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Get the Most Out of CSICon: Celebrate Our History … Chart Our Future! by Stephen Hupp
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Stephen Hupp details the schedule for CSICon 2026, the 50th annviersary conference of the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry held June 11-14, 2026. Register now at . Read this article and find accompanying references at: About the Author: Stephen Hupp, PhD, is Executive Director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and editor of Skeptical Inquirer. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and professor of Clinical Child & School Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer:
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Ethical Issues in Ghost Investigation by Benjamin Radford
Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition
Benjamin Radford examines the ethical risks of ghost hunting. Drawing on established ethical frameworks, he contends that ghost hunting lacks accountability, incentives for skepticism, and safeguards for vulnerable people—making ethical reflection not optional but essential. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/12/ethical-issues-in-ghost-investigation/ About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and...
info_outlineWilliam Matthew London explains how recent CDC changes falsely cast doubt on the overwhelming scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism, misrepresenting evidence and reviving long-debunked claims under political pressure. London argues that applying the “negative evidence principle” shows that decades of rigorous research failing to find any association is precisely why we are justified in saying vaccines do not cause autism.
Read this article and find accompanying references at:
About the Author:
William Matthew London is a professor of public health at Cal State LA and the editor of the free weekly email newsletter Consumer Health Digest.
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