North Texas Skeptic - Vol 24 No 05 - 2010

Magazine Overview

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, dated May 2010, Volume 24, Number 5, focuses on various topics related to science, skepticism, and public discourse. The cover story highlights 'Web news,' detailing a local schoolboard election issue concerning the teaching of Creationism.

Web News: Creationism in Schools

The 'Web news' section, authored by John Blanton, delves into the controversy surrounding the teaching of Creationism in science classes. Reporter Jeffrey Weiss of The Dallas Morning News questioned Richardson schoolboard member Karen Holburn about her stance on teaching Creationism or Intelligent Design. Holburn's initial response emphasized focusing on the district's curriculum and providing teachers with necessary resources, stating that the State Board of Education sets the curriculum. When pressed further by Weiss, Holburn reiterated that her job as a Trustee is to ensure teachers have resources to teach the curriculum and that the issue of teaching Creationism in science classes has not been voiced by the community. Darryl Smyers, another candidate, offered a clear stance: "Creationism is not a scientific theory so it cannot be taught in a science class." Weiss found Holburn's responses evasive.

Events Calendar

The 'Events Calendar' section outlines upcoming programs for May. This includes a meeting on May 15th at 2 p.m. to discuss 'Darwin's Dilemma,' a video presented by creationists that critiques the Cambrian Explosion as a flaw in Darwinian theory. The Skeptics planned to critique this video. Additionally, an NTS board meeting and social dinner was scheduled for May 22nd.

Poor Results on Evolution and Big Bang Questions Omitted From NSF Report

This article, referencing a report from Science and the Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog, discusses the omission of data on Americans' knowledge of evolution and the Big Bang from a National Science Foundation (NSF) report. The NSF chose to exclude this data because the survey questions forced respondents to choose between factual knowledge and religious beliefs. The article notes that Americans lag behind other countries in accepting that humans evolved from earlier species and that the universe began with the Big Bang. For instance, only 33% of Americans agreed the universe began with the Big Bang, compared to 78% in Japan, 70% in Europe, 69% in China, and 64% in South Korea. The article also points out that a significant portion of Americans accept pseudoscientific beliefs, indicating a lack of understanding of scientific methodology and critical thinking skills.

Simon Singh Wins Key Battle in Alternative Medicine Libel Case

Authored by Stephen Adams, this piece reports on science writer Simon Singh's legal victory in a libel case in Britain. Singh, co-author of 'Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine,' had written an article mentioning that the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) promoted bogus medical treatments. The BCA sued Singh in British courts, which place a heavier burden on writers than U.S. libel laws. Although an initial ruling by Justice Eady was critical of Singh, a three-judge panel later overruled Eady, agreeing that Singh's statements were expressions of opinion and that the litigation had a chilling effect on public debate. The judges recommended that scientific debates be resolved using science, not libel writs, and suggested renaming 'fair comment' to 'honest opinion.'

Latest Prize Bolsters Templeton's Shift to Mainstream

This article discusses the Templeton Foundation's annual $1.5 million prize, awarded this year to Francisco Ayala, a biologist and priest who advocates against teaching creationism and ID in science classrooms. The article notes that the Templeton Foundation aims to support 'spiritual discoveries' using scientific methods. It also mentions that the foundation previously supported the Discovery Institute, an ID think tank, but later disavowed that support. Daniel Dennett, a philosopher, criticizes the Templeton Foundation's approach, arguing it creates a false perception of equality between scientists and theologians.

Sheldrake Revisited

Written by John Blanton, this section revisits the work of Rupert Sheldrake, a researcher known for his ideas on 'morphogenetic fields' and his book 'A New Science of Life.' The article discusses Sheldrake's 'sense of being stared at' experiment, which was tested by the North Texas Skeptics at a previous meeting. The experiment involves participants trying to guess if they are being stared at. The article notes that an attempt to run an online version of the test during a meeting failed due to a technical issue with the website's script. The author also references Sheldrake's book 'Seven Experiments That Could Change the World,' which proposes various unconventional experiments.

Skeptic Ink

This editorial cartoon by Prasad Golla and John Blanton satirizes the advancement of technology, the use of advanced processes, and the concept of 'psychic energy' in a 'fab line.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently promotes scientific literacy, critical thinking, and skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims and the encroachment of non-scientific beliefs into public education and discourse. The publication actively debunks pseudoscience, advocates for evidence-based reasoning, and engages with current events through a skeptical lens. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of established science and against the promotion of creationism, alternative medicine without rigorous evidence, and unverified phenomena. The organization itself is presented as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt entity focused on exploring paranormal and pseudoscientific claims from a responsible and scientific viewpoint, emphasizing the need for fair and systematic testing of such claims.