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The Association for Skeptical Enquiry

Casting a critical eye over suspect science, dubious claims and bizarre beliefs


Welcome to the ASKE website

ASKE was founded in 1997 in the UK by a small group of people from different professional backgrounds who were opposed to the promotion of irrational ideas and practices and the misrepresentation of science for purposes that deceive the public. The association was mainly funded by annual membership subscriptions and donations from people who support its Aims and principles. Its main activity was the circulation of a magazine, the Skeptical Intelligencer which ran from 1996/7 to 2023, and a newsletter, the Skeptical Adversia, which ran from 2000 to 2012, when it was amalgamated with the Skeptical Intelligencer. ASKE ceased collecting membership subscriptions at the end of 2023. However, this website remains active and now serves the following purposes:

New material

By arrangement, you may contribute material to this website, and even have a webpage for your own contributions (e.g. see below). Please email ASKE for further information.

Skeptical Linguistics: Mark Newbrook's Webpage

For many years Mark Newbrook had a regular column in the Skeptical Intelligencer on skepticism in linguistics (along with similar contributions) under the title 'Language on the Fringe' (back copies here). Now Mark has his own webpage on the ASKE Website where he continues to contribute papers on his field of expertise. Click on the link to view his latest papers.

Announcements

From Michael Heap:

'The title of my latest book (June 2025) is The Meaning of Universal Awareness: A Rational Foundation (Kindle Self-Publishing)'. This is a follow-up to the first (2011) and second (2022) editions of my book Universal Awareness: A Theory of the Soul. The expression 'universal awareness' (or, more commonly, 'universal consciousness') is used in different ways by different writers when describing their own ideas and beliefs about those profound questions that we ask ourselves; questions about our existence, our identity, and our ultimate fate. What I refer to as Universal Awareness is a carefully reasoned, materialistic account of how our self-awareness (our awareness of being the person we are) can be construed at the universal level. This involves no occult, religious or supernatural ideas or entities, and stays strictly within the bounds of existing scientific knowledge. Click here for further details.'




What is skepticism?

Perhaps the first thing to notice is the spelling of the word, which in the UK is usually 'scepticism' (similarly, sceptic and sceptical). In the USA it's spelt 'skeptic', etc. and this spelling has become universal in the present context. Whatever the spelling, in everyday usage saying that you're skeptical about something means that you're not convinced...
Read more...

Being a skeptical activist

Many people from all walks of life are now actively involved in some way in what has become known as The Skeptical Movement .....
Read more....

Practical guides for skeptics

Are you intending consulting 'a psychic'? Or perhaps you are considering testing someone who claims to have paranormal powers. Are you a journalist preparing a newspaper article on a sensational new treatment outside of mainstream medicine or science? Would you like to devise your own quack remedy and set up a successful paractice, even though there is no evidence that it works? Would you like to learn how to be a dowser? The articles in Practical guides for skeptics provide instructions and advice on how to do all of these things. And Other organisations and websites lists many online organisations and individual websites of skeptical interest.

Recommended Reading and Activities for June/July 2025


The pseudoscience of ghost hunting. A slideshow with 30 slides accompanied by a brief explanation.

For fans of the late James Randi, a much-improved video recording of his 1980 visit to Australia to test dowsers is now available online.

'As "John's" story shows, health misinformation about statins isn't just common; it can lead to harm.' Also read more about the work of Full Fact.

The organizing committee of the SkeptiCal 2025 Conference is inviting skeptics to participate in this year's 24-hour Global Skeptics in the Pub on August 22nd. 'It's informal. It's free. It's fun. It's on Zoom.'

Two recorded series currently on BBC's Radio 4: 'Marianna in Conspiracyland', on conspiracy theories, and 'More or Less' on the use and misuse of statistics.

'Donald Trump’s war on books is a threat to democracy across the world'.

More added regularly

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SKEPTICAL NEWS

Measles

Health officials have urged people to come forward for the measles vaccine if they are not up to date with their shots after a child at Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool died from the disease. The city has experienced a surge in cases among young people, with the hospital warning parents last week that the spike in infections was due to falling rates of uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Jimmy Swaggart

Jimmy Swaggart, wealthy US televangelist and sex pervert has died. From Swaggart Ministries spokesperson Megan Kelly: 'Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ. Today was the day he has sung about for decades. He met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory. At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day.'

Read about his sordid life in the Times, 2.7.25 and other online obituaries.

Vitamin B Supplements

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration has issued an interim report recommending removal supplements high in B6 from shelves as toxicity cases rise.

More Cancer Quackery

'Gabriel and Sebastian Shemirani watched with concern as their mother Kate rose to notoriety during the pandemic, eventually getting struck off as a nurse for promoting misinformation about Covid-19. Then, their sister Paloma was diagnosed with cancer. Doctors told her she had a high chance of survival with chemotherapy. But in 2024, seven months later, she died - having refused the treatment. The brothers blame their mother's anti-medicine conspiracy theories for Paloma's death at 23 - as cancer doctors tell BBC Panorama these beliefs are becoming more mainstream.' (Provides links to video and audio recordings of the programme.)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

'In a Wall Street Journal op-ed column Monday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would restore faith in vaccines by firing all the experts on a panel that sets vaccine recommendations. The Health and Human Services secretary said he will fire all 17 members of the panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines. As Politico reported, "Nearly two hours after Kennedy's column was published, members of the panel received termination notices from the CDC, according to a copy of the email seen by Politico."'

And, predicably...

'Who are RFK Jr.’s new vaccine advisers? Panel of 8 includes COVID skeptics (and) conspiracy theorists.'

Disposable Vapes

'Why is the UK banning disposable vapes?. Shop shelves stacked high with nearly every colour and flavour of disposable e-cigarettes have become a common sight in the UK's town centres. But from 1 June 2025, single-use vapes will be illegal to sell across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.'

Cancer Quackery

From the Times, 3/6/25 (available online): 'Cancer patients are dying due to misinformation on social media, turning down life-saving treatment in favour of "radical diets" and natural "cures", oncologists have said. Doctors gathered in Chicago for the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) general meeting said that some patients are delaying the start of their treatment until their cancer becomes metastatic, or incurable. Some patients are choosing alternative treatments such as diets and essential oils instead of life-saving medicines, the doctors said, with patients falling victim to those who "deliberately push unproven treatments or ideas". The oncologists said that the field was "losing the battle for communication" in the age of misinformation. England's chief doctor added that the rates of misinformation around cancer seen by the NHS had become "alarmingly high" recently.'

Clinical Trial Registration

'The UK Medical Research Council has released an audit report showing that 100% of the clinical trials it funded were registered, and that 91% had published their results. MRC's successes in improving trial registration and reporting illustrate how funders can effectively curb research waste.

The Wellness Industry

'This is FRESH AIR. I'm Tonya Mosley. Today, we are diving into the trillion-dollar machine that is the wellness industry. From what we eat and how we sleep to how we age, move and think, wellness promises to optimize every corner of our lives. Writer Amy Larocca asks what's really behind all the promises of this industry in her new book, "How To Be Well: Navigating Our Self-care Epidemic, One Dubious Cure At A Time." In it, she dives into detoxes, colonics, infrared wraps, sweat lodges, wellness apps and supplements to figure out what is real and what's really just good marketing. What she uncovers isn't just a collection of trends but a vast and revealing system shaped by our beliefs about health, status, gender and worth. She's asking, who does this culture of wellness really serve? Who does it leave behind? And why, even when we see through the sales pitch, we still buy in.'

The Harding Prize

Just announced: The 2024 Harding Prize for Trustworthy Communication. 'Is snake meat the solution to global demand for a high-protein but environmentally sustainable diet? Is stem cell therapy about to cure Parkinson's? This year's Harding Prize winners cut through the hype and showed that we can be excited and genuinely inspired by scientific innovations without raising false hopes or making overblown promises of what they will deliver.'

Measles in the US

From Science Vs: 'Measles is spreading in the U.S., with hundreds of cases across more than 20 states. And tons of people online are arguing over how we should feel about it. Some say this is bad because measles is SO contagious — and not enough people get the vaccine. But others say that measles isn't such a big deal, so why are we freaking out?? Didn't basically everyone get this virus back in the day and live to tell the tale? So we’ll find out — what is measles doing to our body (and our brain)? And how can we stop this outbreak ... and possibly rid the world of measles. We hear from New Scientist reporter Grace Wade, Prof. Peter Kasson, Dr. Meru Sheel and Dr. Katherine Gibney'. Free audio recording.

UFOs and the Vatican

'The Vatican should finally reveal the truth about alleged links between UFOs and the church, a top UFO lobbyist has urged. Steve Bassett, executive director of the Paradigm Research Group, said the "truth is coming" - but it might not be the next Pope who releases any bombshell files....'

Online Psychics in the US

'The U.S. online psychic reading market is experiencing significant growth, driven by advancements in technology, evolving consumer preferences, and the increasing acceptance of alternative forms of spirituality. With a projected market value of USD 338 million by 2024, the industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% from 2024 to 2031, reaching USD 521 million by the end of the forecast period. This growth is being propelled by a combination of emerging digital platforms, AI-powered tools, and an evolving consumer base seeking personalized and accessible psychic services.'

Final QED

'After fifteen years of running the UK's largest celebration of science, reason and critical thinking, 2025 will see the final QED conference. As organisers of QED, it has been our pleasure and our privilege to share in those memories. And while the curtain may be coming down, we hope you'll join us one last time as we take over the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel for the weekend of October 25th-26th, with a free Skepticamp event on Friday 24th October. Tickets will go on sale from 3pm UK time on May 6th, 2025.'