Investigating pseudo-science and the paranormal from a responsible scientific viewpoint

Author Archives: Richard

The Amazing Meeting Australia

Tweet The Amazing Meeting Australia (known to thousands on Twitter as #TAMoz) has been called a huge success by delegates and speakers alike. Although official events did not kick off until the evening of the 25th of November, the week leading up to TAM was abuzz with delegates from all over the world arriving in Sydney and … Read on »

TGA calls on Power Balance to withdraw claims and advertising

The promoters of Power Balance wrist bands are in trouble again. This time the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has ruled against them. In part the decision says: In reaching this conclusion, the Panel noted that the claims made in the advertisements were extraordinary to such a degree that no reasonable retailer could publish them on the … Read on »

Holographic Pharmacies

Richard Saunders discovers that in 21st Century Australia, one does not need to seek out witches in some dark coven in order to find magic potions and lucky charms with mystical powers. It seems all you need to do is “Ask your Pharmacist.” For many years Australian Skeptics have lamented the decline of the Australian Pharmacy … Read on »

Power Balance … or Placebo

Ah, the Power Balance band. You’ve probably heard of it. It was ubiquitous in this year’s AFL season and made headlines around the world when the likes of Shaquille O’Neal started wearing them. However, we here at Victorian Skeptics are nothing if not open to new ideas. So with that in mind, we would like to draw your attention … Read on »

Unbalancing The Power

Unbalancing The Power Written by Richard Saunders Sometime in the 1970s I saw a TV report on how colors could change your strength and balance. It was just, to use the word without permission, “amazing.” The subjects would have their strength tested by holding out their arms and resisting as best they could the downward pressure … Read on »

Stars are wearing the Power Balance – but does it really work?

Choice, the Australian consumer watchdog, has called the Power Balance bracelet a “$2 Shop Scam” and “A blatant con.” In a report featured in the Sept. 26 Sunday Telegraph, Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn has called for government action. See the full Telegraph report here. Read report on Choice web site. From The Age : Power band … Read on »

Are Power Balance bands just a con trick?

From the Mail Online UK with mention of test and videos from Australian Skeptics. From Rolex watches to Hermes bangles, celebrities have always liked to wear their status on their wrists. But the latest must-have symbol isn’t made from diamonds, or gold  —  it’s plastic. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1305593/Power-Balance-bands  –  A-listers-love-con.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0xV5e3W00 Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on … Read on »

AVN publicly humiliated

The Australian Vaccination Network, an antivax organisation fronted by Meryl Dorey, has long been an anti-science group devoted to spreading any kind of nonsensical rhetoric they can. The good news? Now they’re being called out on it. More at Bad Astronomy … Read on »

Power Balance TGA Complaint

The distributor of the Power Balance, a wristband supposed to interact with the “body’s natural energy flow” to improve strength, balance and flexibility, has been referred to the Therapeutics Good Administration (TGA). The complaint to the TGA was made by Dr Ken Harvey, a public health researcher at La Trobe University. It cites the fact that … Read on »

Radio Skeptics

On Saturday the 12th of June, NSW Skeptics Dr Rachael Dunlop and Richard Saunders headed for radio station 2GB 873AM in Sydney (MTR 1377AM in Melbourne) for a late night chat with host Glenn Wheeler. The conversation ranged from the TGA ruling on Biomagnetic underlays to Reflexology and the Power Balance wrist band with lots of … Read on »

Highlights…

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