Skeptic (American magazine)

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For other similarly-named magazines, see Skeptic (disambiguation).
Skeptic
Premiere issue of Skeptic,
featuring a tribute to Isaac Asimov.
Editor-in-ChiefMichael Shermer
CategoriesSkeptical magazine
FrequencyQuarterly
Circulation50,000 subscribers[1]
PublisherThe Skeptics Society
First issueSpring 1992
CompanyMillennium Press
CountryUnited States
Based inAltadena, California
LanguageEnglish
WebsiteSkeptic.com
ISSN1063-9330

Skeptic, colloquially known as Skeptic magazine, is a quarterly science education and science advocacy magazine published internationally by The Skeptics Society, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting scientific skepticism and resisting the spread of pseudoscience, superstition, and irrational beliefs.[2] Founded by Michael Shermer, founder of the Skeptics Society,[3] the magazine was first published in the spring of 1992 and is published through Millennium Press. Shermer remains the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine and the magazine’s Co-publisher and Art Director is Pat Linse.[4] Other noteworthy members of its editorial board include, or have included, Oxford University evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, Pulitzer Prize-winning scientist Jared Diamond, magician and escape artist turned educator James “The Amazing” Randi, actor, comedian, and Saturday Night Live alumna Julia Sweeney, professional mentalist Mark Edward, science writer Daniel Loxton, Lawrence M. Krauss and Christof Koch. Skeptic has an international circulation with over 50,000 subscriptions and is on newsstands in the U.S. and Canada as well as Europe, Australia, and other countries.[1][5]

History, format and structure

The cover story of the magazine's very first issue paid tribute to scientist and science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. [6] As Asimov wrote a number of stories featuring robots and coined the term "robotics", the cover of volume 12, #2 (2006), which is devoted to the topic of artificial intelligence, depicts a robot sitting on a park bench reading that first issue.[7]

Every issue of the magazine opens with a description of The Skeptics Society and its mission statement, which is to explore subjects such as creationism, pyramid power, Bigfoot, pseudohistorical claims (as in the examples of Holocaust denial and extreme Afrocentrism), the use or misuse of theory and statistics, conspiracy theories, urban myths, witch-hunts, mass hysterias, genius and intelligence, and cultural influences on science, as well as controversies involving protosciences at the leading edge of established science, and even fads like cryonics and low-carb diets. In addition to publishing the magazine, the Society also:

  • sponsors lecture series at the California Institute of Technology
  • produces and sells tapes of the lectures, as well as other books on pertinent subjects
  • holds field trips to investigate and research such subjects
  • conducts social events to promote good-will
  • provides resources for the public, skeptic organizations (such as SkeptiCamp[8]) and the media, with which they may approach controversial subjects from a skeptical viewpoint

In 2011, the magazine had three regular columnists: James Randi wrote "’Twas Brillig…," Harriet A. Hall wrote "The Skep Doc" and Karen Stollznow wrote "Bad Language".[9] The magazine's page count was between approximately 100 and 110 pages until the 2010s. It was reduced to approximately 80 pages with Vol. 16 No. 3 (2011).[citation needed] As of 2018, the magazine had two regular columnists: Harriet A. Hall and Carol Tavris.[10]

Typical topics

Each issue features an editorial. In the past this was provided by James Randi, and was often a reaction to stories from mainstream news media such as the 2005 story by the ABC newsmagazine Primetime Live featuring a Brazilian faith healer, João Teixeira.[citation needed] Other times Randi wrote about topics he had investigated in the past, such as alleged dowsers,[11] alleged psychics like Sylvia Browne, and UFOs.[citation needed]

The magazine also features a large correspondence section called "Forum". This includes not only letters from lay readers but also in-depth comments and rebuttals from professionals, contributing to extended academic debate across issues raised in past editions.[citation needed]

The bulk of the magazine treats a variety of topics. Cover stories have ranged from examination of alleged UFOs in religious icons and theories of the likelihood of artificial intelligence to tributes to influential skeptics including Isaac Asimov[6] and Ernst Mayr.[12] Some editions feature special sections devoted to a particular topic or theme that is examined through multiple articles by different authors, such as intelligent design - a frequently recurring topic in the magazine, given the ongoing creation vs. evolution controversy.[citation needed]

Issues 1-10
Volume Number Featured Topic
1 1 Tribute to Isaac Asimov
1 2 Cryonics
1 3 Revolution in Evolution?
1 4 Witches, Heretics & Scientists
2 1 Genius: Myth & Reality
2 2 Science, Religion & Cults
2 3 Fad Psychology
2 4 Pseudohistory
3 1 Pseudomedicine
3 2 AIDS
3 3 Race & IQ
3 4 Cosmology & God
4 1 Evolutionary Psychology
4 2 Evolutionary Ethics
4 3 Conspiracy
4 4 Carl Sagan Tribute
5 1 Environmental Science
5 2 The God Question
5 3 Anthropology
5 4 Pseudoscience
6 1 Science & Society
6 2 Taking God Seriously
6 3 Why Professors Believe Weird Things
6 4 JFK Facts and Fictions
7 1 Influence
7 2 Cloning & Genetic Engineering
7 3 Millennium Madness
7 4 Pseudoscience
8 1 Race & Sports
8 2 Science & Religion
8 3 Chaos & Complexity
8 4 Intelligent Design
9 1 Anthropology Wars
9 2 Environmental Skeptic
9 3 A.I. and Theology of UFOs
9 4 Stephen Jay Gould Tribute
10 1 Roswell Requiem
10 2 Stephen Wolfram’s Science
10 3 Evolution, Intelligent Design
10 4 Low Carb Craze
. . .
. . .
Issues 11-21
Volume Number Featured Topic
11 1 Medieval UFOs?
11 2 Nature vs. Nurture
11 3 Catastrophe. Collapse.
11 4 Ernst Mayr, 1904–2005
12 1 Debunking with KABOOM! Meet the Mythbusters
12 2 Artificial Intelligence
12 3 Religion
12 4 9/11 Conspiracies
13 1 The Legacy of Carl Sagan
13 2 Richard Dawkins & Religion
13 3 Medical Controversies
13 4 Quirkology
14 1 Global Warming
14 2 Evolution of Intelligence
14 3 The New Revisionism
14 4 Fooled by Ponzi (and Madoff
15 1 Christian Conspiracy Theory
15 2 2012 — The End of the World Again?
15 3 Mind Myths
15 4 Climate Skeptics
16 1 The Happiness Industry
16 2 The Origin of Life
16 3 Islam
16 4 The Man Who Invented Flying Saucers
17 1 Scientology
17 2 Climate Change Q&A
17 3 Christian Nation?
17 4 Alternative Cancer Cures
18 1 The Mass Murder Problem
18 2 Gender Differences
18 3 50 Years of JFK Conspiracy Theories
18 4 Ancient Aliens
19 1 Did Jesus Exist?
19 2 Boston Bombing Conspiracy Theories
19 3 The Multiverse
19 4 Diet Myths
20 1 Terrorism
20 2 Drug Policy
20 3 Alfred Russel Wallace
20 4 Robert Trivers
21 1 Confidence Scams
21 2 Uploading Your Brain

Junior Skeptic

Bound into most issues is a 10-page young-readers' section called Junior Skeptic. Heralded by a cover printed on glossy paper (the rest of the magazine is printed on non-glossy stock), Junior Skeptic focuses on one topic, or provides practical instruction written and illustrated in a style more appealing to children.

Daniel Loxton is the Editor of Junior Skeptic. He writes and illustrates most issues.

The first edition of Junior Skeptic appeared in volume 6, #2 of Skeptic (2000).

Junior Skeptic Topics
Volume Number Featured Topic
6 2 Emily Rosa vs Therapeutic Touch (volume 6, #2)
6 3 Bigfoot (volume 6, #3)
6 4 Aliens Among Us? (volume 6, #4)
7 1 Fortune telling (volume 7, #1)
7 2 Urban legends (volume 7, #2)
7 3 Halloween (volume 7, #3)
7 4 Television psychics (volume 7, #4)
8 1 Charles Darwin (volume 8, #1)
8 2 Pyramids(volume 8, #2)
8 4 Atlantis (volume 8, #4)
9 1 Moon landing hoax (volume 9, #1)
9 2 Magician’s Force (volume 9, #2)
9 3 Psychic surgery & snake oil (volume 9, #3)
9 4 Sea monsters (volume 9, #4)
10 1 Extraterrestrial life (volume 10, #1)
10 2 Yeti (volume 10, #2)
10 3 Bermuda Triangle (volume 10, #3)
10 4 King Tut’s Curse (volume 10, #4)
11 1 Loch Ness Monster (volume 11, #1)
11 2 Sasquatch Part 1 of 2 (volume 11, #2)
11 3 Sasquatch Part 2 of 2 (volume 11, #3)
11 4 Madman of Magic (volume 11, #4)
12 2 Pyramid power (volume 12, #2)
12 3 Alien abduction Part 1 (volume 12, #3)
12 4 Alien Abduction Part 2 (volume 12, #4)
13 1 Evolution Part 1 (volume 13, #1)
13 2 Evolution Part 2 (volume 13, #2)
13 3 Ancient astronauts Part 1 (volume 13, #3)
13 4 Ancient astronauts Part 2 (volume 13, #4)
14 1 Dragons (volume 14, #1)
14 2 Crystal skulls (volume 14, #2)
14 3 Great American Skeptics (volume 13,#3)
14 4 The Art of Cold Reading (volume 14,#4)
.
Volume Number Featured Topic
15 1 Skepticism from Scooby-Doo (volume 15,#1)
15 2 The Shocking Secret of Thetis Lake (volume 15,#2)
15 3 The Cottingley Fairies Hoax (volume 15,#3)
15 4 Top Ten Busted Myths (volume 15,#4)
16 1 The Origin of the Griffin (volume 16,#1)
16 2 Skeptical Investigation (volume 16,#2)
16 3 The Kraken! (volume 16,#3)
16 4 Fossil Fakes Part 1 (volume 16,#4)
17 1 Fossil Fakes Part 2 (volume 17,#1)
17 2 The Mighty Moa! (volume 17,#2)
17 3 Mokele Mbembe (volume 17,#3)
17 4 Dark Secrets of the Oracle-Monger (volume 17,#4)
18 1 Ghostbuster Girls! (volume 18,#1)
18 2 Alien Invaders (volume 18,#2)
18 3 Mermaids (volume 18,#3)
18 4 Ping-pong Planets and Velikovsky (volume 18,#4)
19 1 Carl Sagan (volume 19,#1)
19 2 Photographing Phantoms-Part 1 (volume 19,#2)
19 3 Photographing Phantoms-Part 2 (volume 19,#3)
19 4 Flat Earth?!(volume 19,#4)
20 1 Inside the Hollow Earth Part 1(volume 20,#1)
20 2 Inside the Hollow Earth Part 2 (volume 20,#2)
20 3 Bat-People On the Moon (volume 20,#3)
20 4 Space Brothers from Venus? (volume 20,#4)
21 1 Haunted Houses (volume 21,#1)
21 2 Man-Eating Plants (volume 21,#2)
21 3
21 4
22 1

Official podcasts

In April 2006, an independent, skeptical talk program called Skepticality was relaunched as Skepticality: The Official Podcast of Skeptic Magazine. New episodes of the show are released on a biweekly basis. The show is produced by the original, continuing show hosts (Robynn McCarthy and Derek Colanduno) in collaboration with staff of Skeptic magazine.[13]

In 2009, a second official podcast was added. MonsterTalk critically examines the science behind cryptozoological and legendary creatures, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and werewolves.[14] Monster Talk is hosted by Blake Smith, Ben Radford and Dr. Karen Stollznow. Blake Smith produces the show.[15]

Collections

  • Paranormal Claims: A Critical Analysis, 2007, edited by Bryan Farha, University Press of America, ISBN 978-0-7618-3772-5. Several of the chapters are reprints of Skeptic articles.
  • The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience, a collection of articles that discuss the Skeptics Society's scientific findings of investigations into popular pseudoscientific and supernatural claims.

Editorial Board

The editorial board is composed of the following people:[16]

Masthead

Officers Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Co-publisher & Art Director Director of Development Senior Editor Jr Skeptic Editor
Michael Shermer Michael Shermer Pat Linse Steven Ridley Frank Miele Daniel Loxton
Pat Linse
Sr Scientists Contributing Editors Editorial Assistants Photographer Database Circulation Office Manager Webmaster
David Naiditch Tim Callahan Gene Friedman David Patton Jerry Friedman Nickole McCullough William Bull
Bernard Leikind Harriet Hall Sara Meric
Claudio Maccone Donald Prothero Julie Riggott
Liam McDaid Carol Tavris
Thomas McDonough

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Contribution Guidelines". Skeptic. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  2. ^ "What We Do". Skeptic. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  3. ^ "Meet Michael Shermer". Skeptic. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  4. ^ "Masthead, Skeptic Magazine". Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  5. ^ "Making a living of bullshit detecting". VUE Weekly. August 27, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  6. ^ a b "Vol. 1 No.1 (Premiere Issue) Tribute to Isaac Asimov". Skeptic. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "Vol. 12 No. 2 Artificial Intelligence". Skeptic. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Skepticamp". Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  9. ^ "Table of Contents". Skeptic. Vol. 16, no. 2. Skeptics Society. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  10. ^ "Skeptic: CURRENT ISSUE: VOLUME 23 NUMBER 1". skeptic.com. Skeptic Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ "A Report from the Paranormal Trenches". Skeptic.com. Skeptic Magazine. 2011-08-31. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  12. ^ Sulloway, Frank J. (February 2005). "Ernst Mayr, 1904–2005Remembrances & Tribute". Skeptic.
  13. ^ Campling, Chris (August 9, 2008). "Podcast of the week: Skepticality offers the 'truth'". The Times. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  14. ^ "About MonsterTalk". Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  15. ^ "About the Hosts of MonsterTalk". Skeptic. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  16. ^ "Editorial Board". Skeptic Society. Retrieved 31 May 2016.

External links

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