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

Author Archives: Tim

Ken Harvey, the Consumer Champion

Choice (The Australian Consumers Association) has named Dr Ken Harvey as its Consumer Champion for 2012. The organisation says that “Ken really put himself on the line when he went up against weight loss company SensaSlim last year. When he lodged a complaint about their ads with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), SensaSlim threatened to sue him … Read on »

Cold fusion technical article

For those wishing to find out more of the Skeptics’ investigation of Andrea Rossi’s ECAT fusion technology, a technical paper from The Skeptic magazine is available here. … Read on »

Sydney dinner —  Prof John Dwyer & FSM

[ Saturday, March 31, 2012; 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. ] PLUS your chance to win free tickets to the Richard Dawkins/ Lawrence Krauss lecture in Sydney Professor John Dwyer, AO, is Emeritus Professor of Medicine at UNSW, founder of the Australian Health Care Reform Alliance, and clinical consultant to the NSW Government’s Inter-Agency Committee on Health Care Fraud. He also has the distinction of having a … Read on »

AVN not off the hook

The NSW Supreme Court has ruled today that the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) had no justification in accepting and processing complaints against the Australian Vaccination Network. While it is possible that the AVN will tout this as vindication of its position as Australia’s leading source of ‘information’ on vaccination, Australian Skeptics president, Eran Segev, … Read on »

Update — Inventor Rejects Dick Smith Million Dollar Offer

Australia’s most famous businessman, Dick Smith, offered $1,000,000, with no strings attached, to an Italian inventor if he could prove his cold fusion invention works. But despite being given a week to think it over, the inventor, Bologna-based Andrea Rossi, rejected the offer immediately, and in no uncertain terms. Rossi publicly described the offer as “clownerie”. “If this guy wants to … Read on »

Dick Smith offers $1 million for proof of cold fusion technology

Australian Skeptics patron, Dick Smith, will give $1,000,000, with no strings attached, to an Italian inventor if he can prove his cold fusion invention works. “I do not want to know how the unit operates, nor to have a share in the profits from any sales,” Smith says. “My satisfaction will come from knowing that if the … Read on »

“Cold fusion” tests misled scientists

All around the world, thousands of people have been heralding the introduction of the Rossi E-CAT energy catalyzer device which claims to generate more energy output than is input due to low energy nuclear reaction. What makes this claim different is that at least fifteen scientists from around the world, including from NASA, have lent some support … Read on »

2012 Skeptics convention – Melbourne Nov 30-Dec 2

For your diary: the Australian Skeptics Convention for 2012 will be held on November 30 to December 2 at the University of Melbourne. The November 30 component will be an evening meet-and-greet cocktail event. The convention proper will be on December 1  –  2 at the Spot Theatre in the Economics and Commerce Building. There will be a dinner on the … Read on »

Peter Doherty full-length convention video

Nobel Prize winner Prof Paul Doherty recorded an exclusive presentation for the recently-held 2011 Australian Skeptics convention. While that presentation was considered one of the highlights of the event, because of time constraints the version shown was necessarily edited for length. For the benefit all, the full length version (with very minor edits for interruptions) is now available. We … Read on »

Bent Spoon to RMIT; Skeptic of the Year to Loretta Marron

At the recent national convention of Australian Skeptics, held in Sydney at the Australian Museum on November 19, the not-so-coveted Bent Spoon Award was given to RMIT University “for having a fundamentalist chiropractic education program  –  if the word education can be used in this way  –  and for endorsing the practice by targeting children and infants in their … Read on »

Highlights…

“The Skeptic” Magazine

Subscribe to the world’s second oldest skeptical magazine! Released quarterly and packed with fascinating stories of a skeptical bent.
More »

Shopping Cart

Your shopping cart is empty

Visit the shop