Does Coffee Cause Cancer? Myths about the Food We Eat | Dr. Christopher Labos on Skeptical Inquirer Presents, Thursday, April 4
Skepticism
March 20, 2024 by

Does vitamin C really prevent the common cold? Was red meat really declared a carcinogen by the World Health Organization? Is red wine really good for your heart? Are eggs good for you or bad for you? There’s a lot of “conventional wisdom” about food and nutrition out there … and it’s hard to keep …

The Psychology of Misinformation and Its Remedies | David Myers on Skeptical Inquirer Presents, Thursday, March 28
Skepticism
March 20, 2024 by

In the battle against misinformation, having truth and facts on your side is often still not enough. People are stubbornly—and seemingly inexplicably—willing to believe things that are obviously not true. What are the underlying psychological reasons for this, and what can be done to address them? Join us on Thursday, March 28, at 7:00 p.m. …

The UFO Movie THEY Don’t Want You to See | Brian Dunning on Skeptical Inquirer Presents, Thursday, March 21
Skepticism
March 11, 2024 by

In an age when misinformation, alternative facts, and conspiracy theories have become mainstream, UFOs have become one of the most talked-about phenomena throughout popular culture. What is in our skies? What do we know, and how do we know it? And most importantly: Are we being visited? Join us on Thursday, March 21, at 7:00 …

Center for Inquiry Debuts Revised Secular Rescue Website for Endangered Atheists and Nonbelievers
Secular Rescue
Blasphemy
Equality for Nonbelievers
January 16, 2024 by

The Center for Inquiry (CFI) this week published a significant update to the website for its Secular Rescue program, which provides emergency assistance to secular rights advocates—specifically journalists, secular-freethought writers, and bloggers—in high-risk countries around the world who are under threat due to their beliefs or public statements. “More and more people the world over …

Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Elects Twelve New CSI Fellows
Skepticism
December 18, 2023 by

The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), a program of the Center for Inquiry and publisher of the long-running Skeptical Inquirer magazine, is pleased to announce the election of twelve new CSI Fellows for 2023. These newly elected fellows, chosen based on their distinguished contributions to science and skepticism, will serve as consultants and ambassadors for …

Science Education: What We Get Wrong and How to Do It Better | Carl Wieman on Skeptical Inquirer Presents, August 17
Skepticism
August 7, 2023 by

Science has advanced enormously in the past 500 years, guided by experimental tests of theory and practice.  In that same time, science teaching and education—guided primarily by tradition and dogma—has remained largely medieval.  Join us on Thursday, August 17, at 7:00 p.m. ET for a Skeptical Inquirer Presents livestream with Carl Wieman. The Nobel Prize-winner …

Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right | Cynthia Miller-Idriss on Skeptical Inquirer Presents, Thursday, August 3
Skepticism
July 24, 2023 by

Hate crimes. Misinformation and conspiracy theories. Foiled white-supremacist plots. The signs of growing far-Right extremism are all around us, and communities around the globe are struggling to understand how so many people are being radicalized and why they are increasingly attracted to violent movements.  Join us on Thursday, August 3, at 7:00 p.m. ET for …

Weird Earth: Strange Ideas about Our Planet | Donald Prothero on Skeptical Inquirer Presents, July 20
Skepticism
July 10, 2023 by

Many strange notions about Planet Earth are finding a foothold in the mainstream:  Flat-earthers, geocentrists, hollow earth, expanding earth, dowsing, crystal healing, and so many more. Thanks to the internet, these nonsensical theories get much more publicity—and many more believers—than they did just a few years ago. Join us on Thursday, July 20, at 7:00 …

Center for Inquiry Warns: 303 Creative Decision Gives Businesses ‘Ability to Exclude Customers on Religious Grounds’
CFI Legal
Equality for Nonbelievers
June 30, 2023 by

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court closed out its current term with a 6–3 decision in 303 Creative LLC vs. Elenis. The case was filed by a graphic designer, Lorie Smith, who wanted to expand her business offerings to include custom wedding websites. Smith claimed a religious objection to same-sex marriage and wished to state …

Center for Inquiry: New Legal Standard for Religious Accommodation Unfairly Shifts Burden to Nonreligous Americans
CFI Legal
Equality for Nonbelievers
June 29, 2023 by

The U.S. Supreme Court today issued its ruling in the case of Groff v. DeJoy. The unanimous decision changes the long-observed legal standard under which businesses are allowed to reject an employee’s request for religious accommodation. The case now goes back to the lower court, to see if Groff’s complaint succeeds under the revised standard. …