Ben Radford
Benjamin Radford is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author or co-author of five books and hundreds of articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is Tracking the Chupacabra: The Vampire Beast in Fact, Fiction, and Folklore. Radford is also a columnist for Discovery News and LiveScience.com.
Secrets of Spectacularly Skewered Skin
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.6, November / December 2008
Skeptical Inquiree
What explains the ability of some people to insert sharp spikes into their skin without bleeding or pain?
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The Amazing Randi Strikes Again
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.5, September / October 2008
News & Comment
The Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas was the site of the sixth Amaz!ng Meeting, James Randi's more-or-less annual...
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The Sweet Spirit Sounds of Rosemary Brown
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.5, September / October 2008
Skeptical Inquiree
Whatever happened to Rosemary Brown, who claimed to take down dictation from Liszt, Schubert, and other dead composers?
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Psychic’s False Sex Abuse Claim Threatens Family
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.5, September / October 2008
News & Comment
Psychics are wrong about things all the time; that's no news to our regular readers...
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Hoax Led to Polygamist Sect Raid
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.5, September / October 2008
News & Comment
False reports can have serious consequences. Time and resources spent on hoaxers and liars are diverted from real crime victims.
The Mysterious Phoenix Lights
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.4, July / August 2008
Skeptical Inquiree
In April 2008, residents of Phoenix called police and local news media to report four bright, red lights hovering over the city.
Reality Check: Ghost Hunters and ‘Ghost Detectors’
June 2, 2008
Ghosts are big business. For entities that may or may not exist, they seem to be everywhere, especially during Halloween.
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NASA’s Mysterious ‘Man on Mars’ Photo
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.3, May / June 2008
News & Comment
The idea that there may be life on Mars has been around for centuries, but the theory got a boost from photos taken by...
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Bark at the Moon
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.2, March / April 2008
Skeptical Inquiree
"My local newspaper runs a weekly column about planting flower and vegetable gardens by the phases of the moon and the signs..."
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Bad Journalism Misleads Public about Psychics
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.2, March / April 2008
News & Comment
Ada Wason and Mary Ellen Walters vanished, seemingly into thin air. The pair left their Warren County, Ohio, retirement home...
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Natalee Holloway Disappearance Unsolved; Case Closed
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.2, March / April 2008
News & Comment
Despite the efforts of searchers and psychics, police on Aruba closed the case on missing teenager Natalee Holloway.
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The Science of Chemistry
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.1, January / February 2008
Skeptical Inquiree
I have an inquiry about Internet dating and relationship Web sites. At least one claims in its advertising to use science to...
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Haunting Evidence Follow-Up: TV Psychic Detectives Fail Again
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.1, January / February 2008
News & Comment
How many of the ... cases featured in the first season of Haunting Evidence did the team solve? Not a single one.
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How to ‘Haunt’ A House
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 32.1, January / February 2008
Feature
When a terrified family sought information about the ghosts they believed haunted their home, they found only...
The Other Side of the Story: Ghost Hunting
Skeptical Briefs Volume 17.4, December 2007
Interviews
Interview with filmmakers Andy and Tonya Keyser
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A Time to Die
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.6, November / December 2007
Skeptical Inquiree
On the Montel Williams show, Sylvia Browne recently stated that most people die within three months of...
Interview with Roy Richard Grinker
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.6, November / December 2007
Interview
Author of Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism
Investigating a Haunted House – Buffalo, New York
September 18, 2007
Note: Respecting a request for anonymity, names have been changed. Except for the cat.
The (Non)Mysterious Orbs
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.5, September / October 2007
Skeptical Inquiree
People keep showing me pictures that have "orbs" in them. They usually look like round spots of light.
Santa Fe ‘Courthouse Ghost’ Mystery Solved
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.5, September / October 2007
Special Report
A mysterious white blob was captured on videotape June 15, 2007, by a security camera at a courthouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Might Fright Cause White?
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.4, July / August 2007
Skeptical Inquiree
Can hair turn white overnight, from stress or from fright?
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Philadelphia Psychics Shut Down, Then Allowed to Reopen
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.4, July / August 2007
News & Comment
In April 2007, citing a state law banning fortune-telling for profit, Philadelphia's Department of Licences and Inspections...
Superhero Science
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.4, July / August 2007
Feature
Spasibo. It means thank you. I know only a few words Russian, but what little I do know I learned about twenty years ago.
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Randi’s Amazing Meeting Returns
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.3, May / June 2007
News & Comment
James "The Amazing" Randi's fifth annual conference, dubbed "The Amazing Meeting", was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, January...
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The Nonsense and Non-science of Sasquatch
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.3, May / June 2007
Book Review
Review of Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science by Jeff Meldrum.
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Measuring Near-Death Experience
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.3, May / June 2007
Skeptical Inquiree
While researching near-death experience, I came across a so-called Greyson Scale, which is claimed to be...
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Secrets and Lies
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.3, May / June 2007
Special Report
Last year, Rhonda Byrne discovered the secret of the universe. It is based on a principle of quantum mechanics and lies in a...
Sylvia Browne’s Biggest Blunder
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.3, May / June 2007
News & Comment
The tragic consequences of listening to psychic advice were brought into sharp focus in January 2007.
Secrets and Lies
Special Report
March 29, 2007
Last year, Rhonda Byrne discovered the secret of the universe.
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Male Pregnancy
Skeptical Inquirer Volume 31.2, March / April 2007
Skeptical Inquiree
"I came across a news story and Web site about a pregnant man. Can this be true?"