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Claptrap!

24 Sep 2021

Back in the 18th century, a theatrical line that was delivered to shamelessly elicit or “trap” applause from the audience was referred to as “claptrap.”  The line usually didn’t have much meaning...

Is there any validity to the claim that some people are “human magnets,” with their bodies able to attract an assortment of objects?

24 Sep 2021

Leonid Tenkaev and his wife claim that the nuclear accident at Chernobyl in Ukraine transformed them into human magnets. Pictures of the couple show spoons, keys and even irons sticking to their...

The Pill That Promises to Delay the Grey

4 Sep 2021

The website has a subtle grey background. The banner image shows an elated young woman with dark hair streaked with reddish-brown, basking in the sunlight. The company’s proposition is bold: “delay...

You Should Have Your Head Examined!

30 Jun 2021

In the 18th century, Viennese physician Franz-Joseph Gall claimed that personality and intelligence were determined by the shape of the brain, which in turn was reflected by the shape of the skull....

The Upside-Down Doctor

4 Jun 2021

Dr. Joe Mercola, an osteopathic physician who has made an impressive fortune selling supplements through his online store, has a new book out about the COVID-19 pandemic, a book which he co...

Reflexology Research Doesn’t Put Its Best Foot Forward

7 May 2021

Imagine you have appendicitis. You are rushed to the hospital where a surgeon needs to operate on you to remove your appendix which is full of bacteria and ready to burst. Only, instead of a...

The Anti-Vaccine Propaganda of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

16 Apr 2021

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., does not want you to think of him as an anti-vaxxer. I have yet to meet an anti-vaxxer—someone who spreads misinformation about all vaccines being harmful—who is comfortable...

The Doomsday Prophecy of Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche

24 Mar 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has attracted a swarm of vocal contrarians like little else in the recent past. These public commentators, often bedazzled with advanced degrees, have painted themselves as...

The Tooth Fairy Science of Bite Mark Comparisons

4 Mar 2021

The idea of using teeth to identify someone has a long history. One of the earliest recorded cases (and perhaps the very first one) dates back to the first century. The wife of Roman Emperor...

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