North Texas Skeptic - Vol 18 No 06 - 2004

Magazine Overview

The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 18, Number 6, published in June 2004, is a publication from The North Texas Skeptics, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) scientific and educational organization. The magazine focuses on skepticism, science, and the critical examination of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims.

Computer Evolution

This section, authored by John Blanton, delves into the concept of "computer evolution" and its parallels to biological evolution. Blanton addresses the creationist argument, particularly from proponents of "Intelligent Design" like William Dembski, that evolution by genetic mutation and natural selection cannot generate novelty. Dembski's argument, summarized as "No Free Lunch: Why Specified Complexity Cannot Be Purchased Without Intelligence," posits that novelty requires an intelligent input. Blanton counters this by explaining how computer scientists have been using genetic algorithms since the 1950s to guide machine-based invention. These algorithms employ mutation and selection to develop new designs and solve complex problems, a process that has become more feasible with the advent of high-performance computers.

The article uses the analogy of finding the highest point on a wavy line (Figure 1) to illustrate the problem. A simple algorithm might get stuck on a local peak (like points B, C, or D), failing to find the true highest point (A). Blanton explains that genetic algorithms can overcome this by "looking beyond the next peak" and "shaking things up" to explore the solution space more broadly. The dimensionality of this search space is likened to the size of an organism's genome, with mutations potentially leading to beneficial changes that help offspring climb the "hill" of reproductive success.

Blanton highlights the success of computer scientists in co-opting nature's evolutionary approach. Problems with numerous variables, like designing an internal combustion engine, can be tackled by simulating performance based on design parameters. The article cites examples summarized by Adam Marczyk: Edward Altshuler and Derek Linden designed a "weird" and "counter-intuitive" antenna using a genetic algorithm, and Kumar Chellapilla and David Fogel developed a neural network that plays checkers at a high rating.

Dembski's counter-argument is that the intelligence in these computer programs is "smuggled in" by their designers. Blanton acknowledges that the programs are designed to succeed and are predictable once coded, but argues that designers cannot predict the optimal results in advance. He concludes that "intelligence," if it exists, is a manifestation of the need to survive, a product of evolution, nature, and chemistry.

Has Science Found God?

Authored by Prasad Golla, this article discusses Victor Stenger's book, "Has Science Found God? The Latest Results in the Search for Purpose in the Universe." Stenger, a physicist and adjunct professor of philosophy, argues against the idea that science validates supernatural beliefs. The article criticizes the media's tendency to distort scientific findings, citing a Newsweek cover proclaiming "Science finds God." Stenger contends that as science explains the mechanics of the universe, it reveals no evidence for paranormal or supernatural beliefs, and in fact, provides counter-evidence.

The article explains the "God of the Gaps" concept, where belief in God is placed in the shrinking gaps of scientific ignorance. It also refutes the argument from design used by Intelligent Design creationists, stating it is flawed and lacks scientific basis. The common creationist claim that evolution violates the second law of thermodynamics (entropy) is addressed, with Stenger explaining that the universe's expansion outpaces the increase in messiness, allowing for natural designs.

Stenger's key points include: no laws of physics were violated at the origin of the universe; science requires no hypothesis of God or the supernatural; natural laws are not intentionally fine-tuned for life; biological complexity can be generated by natural processes; religious behavior's connection to health likely has a natural explanation; there is no experimental evidence for prayer or supernatural healing; no verification of paranormal powers exists; and quantum mechanics does not support the supernatural.

What's New

This section, compiled by Robert Park, presents several short news items:

Placebo Effect: Use of Alternative Remedies Continues to Grow

A survey indicates that 36% of adult Americans use complementary or alternative therapies, with the number rising to 62% when prayer is included. Echinacea is noted as the most popular herbal supplement, despite studies failing to uncover any benefit for colds.

Homeopathy: Demonstrators in Belgium Resort to Mass Suicide

In protest of Belgian insurance companies covering homeopathy costs, 23 skeptics committed mass suicide by drinking a cocktail of lethal poisons. The attempt, described as a "30C solution" of the cocktail, was a failure.

Open-Access Journals: Does Anyone Care Who Pays the Bills?

This item introduces "Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM)," a new journal that seeks rigorous research in complementary and alternative medicine. The funding for the journal comes from the "generous support of Ishikawa Natural Medicinal Products Research Center."

Skeptic Ink

This comic by Prasad Golla and John Blanton humorously depicts the perceived benefits of a supplement, contrasting the user's belief in enhanced intelligence with the observation that it might just be tap water.

Web News

This section provides links to skeptical news items:

Zambia: Traditional Healers Called in to Treat HIV/AIDS

Plans were announced in Zambia to test traditional medicines as an alternative treatment for HIV/AIDS, as orthodox medicines have failed to contain the rising death toll. This marks a debate on combining modern and traditional medicine.

Crazy For Kabbalah

This item discusses the trend of celebrities endorsing Kabbalah, including "positive energy" Kabbalah water, which claims to cure cancer and is sold for $3 per 1.5 liters.

Dietary Supplements: Consumer Reports Lists the "Dirty Dozen."

A cover story in Consumer Reports identified 12 supplements that should be banned, increasing pressure to amend or repeal the 1994 Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently promotes a rational, evidence-based approach to understanding the world. The magazine champions scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and skepticism towards claims lacking empirical support. It actively debunks pseudoscience, paranormal phenomena, and creationist arguments, advocating for a worldview grounded in natural laws and observable evidence. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science and anti-pseudoscience, encouraging readers to question extraordinary claims and to rely on scientific methodology for reliable knowledge. The publication also serves as a platform for disseminating information about skeptical events and resources.