National Capital Area SKEPTICAL EYE

Magazine Overview

Title: National Capital Area SKEPTICAL EYE
Issue: Vol. 4, No. 1
Date: Winter 1990

This issue of the National Capital Area Skeptics' publication delves into various aspects of skepticism, critical thinking, and the investigation of paranormal claims. It features prominent figures in the skeptical community, discusses scientific methodology versus pseudoscience, and highlights the organization's activities and goals.

Hyman Psyches Out Skeptical Audience—and CBS News Crew

This article by Stephen R. Dujack details a lecture given by Ray Hyman, a psychology professor and prominent skeptic. Hyman, who headed a U.S. government research team that declared paranormal phenomena unproven, shared his background in magic and palmistry, explaining how he discovered that people would accept his readings regardless of their accuracy, indicating a predisposition to believe. His lecture, attended by an overflow crowd and filmed by a CBS News crew for the program '48 Hours,' explored 'Why Are We Fooled?' using mind-boggling tricks and explanations. Hyman demonstrated how easily people can be deceived, using examples like a scarf trick and an 'F' counting illusion, concluding that "once we jump to a conclusion, it's too late."

Do Weird Stuff, Win Valuable Prizes!

This section announces a $1000 challenge from the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) to any individual in the Washington, D.C. area who can scientifically prove just one psychic or paranormal ability. The challenge aims to identify and confirm such abilities under controlled scientific test conditions. Winning would not only award the claimant $1000 but also historical recognition. Successful claimants could also be referred to James Randi for his $10,000 challenge. Specific rules would be formulated for each claimant, and participants must live or work in the D.C. area. Interested individuals are instructed to send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for further details to NCAS.

Opening a Channel to Critical Thinking

By Chip Denman, President of NCAS, this article describes a university course he designed and taught called "Science vs. Pseudoscience: An Investigative Approach." The course aimed to equip students with critical thinking skills to discern scientific methodology from pseudoscience. Through readings and discussions, students examined topics like spiritualism, parapsychology, ancient cosmologies, and New Age claims. Denman emphasizes that the goal was not to provide pat explanations but to develop an understanding of scientific proof and evidence. The course involved students proposing hypothetical experiments and writing research papers on topics such as telepathy, astrology, and UFO belief. Guest speakers, including Jamy Ian Swiss and Phil Klass, contributed to the students' skeptical education. A particularly impactful moment was when a student remarked that a psychic guest "did more to debunk this psychic stuff than anyone else."

President's Column: The Coolest Skeptics in the News

In this column, Chip Denman highlights NCAS's success in becoming an information resource for the public and media since its formation in 1987. He notes that NCAS has been frequently sought out by various media outlets for commentary on paranormal and fringe-science topics, from alleged sea monsters to ghosts. Denman cites examples of NCAS's media involvement, including interviews and articles in the Annapolis Sunday Capital, Journal Newspapers, Washington Post, and Science Update radio program. He also mentions the visibility gained through Penn & Teller's association with NCAS. Denman encourages NCAS members to contribute by writing letters to newspapers and magazines to promote critical and responsible media coverage of relevant topics.

Magician Bends Minds at Joint Meeting

Sean O'Neil reports on a joint meeting between NCAS and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, featuring magician Jamy Ian Swiss. Swiss, a skeptic in the tradition of James Randi, entertained an audience of 150 with tales of the paranormal and demonstrations of legerdemain to show how extraordinary feats can be achieved by exploiting human credulity. He discussed the history of Spiritualism and magicians' attempts to debunk fraudulent claims. Swiss emphasized that science is a reliable way of detecting patterns, while magicians and fraudulent psychics use conditioning to create seemingly genuine results through trickery. He challenged the audience to work for education in critical thinking, a responsible media, and the popularization of scientific ideas.

Hack in the U.S.S.R.

This short piece discusses reports of alien visitors in Voronezh, Soviet Union. Whitley Strieber, author of 'Communion,' is quoted in a letter to the New York Times, suggesting that the Voronezh alien descriptions (huge bodies, tiny heads) are absurd and anomalous compared to typical U.S. alien sightings (huge heads, tiny bodies), implying the reports may be fabricated or have a prosaic explanation. The author suggests this should teach Tass a lesson about responsible journalism.

SETI: Joining the 'Galactic Club'

This article by Stephen R. Dujack covers a presentation by Howard University Geologist David Schwartzman at an NCAS meeting. Schwartzman discussed the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), a program searching for extraterrestrial intelligence for three decades with no results yet. He argued that the endeavor is not worthless, citing the scientific value of the search regardless of outcome and the potential for new astronomical discoveries. Schwartzman noted that SETI's cost is minimal compared to potential benefits, which could include uniting humanity with a common purpose. He concluded that if an advanced civilization exists, humanity is not currently a member of the 'Galactic Club' and suggested that future efforts might involve channeling resources from military spending into interstellar communication.

Book Review: Creative Theory

Mike Hoffman reviews "Evolution from Space" by Sir Fred Hoyle and N. Chandra Wickramasinghe. Hoffman critiques the book for its "fantastic thesis" supported by "sloppy reasoning and selective use of evidence." The authors argue that life originated in space and that evolution is driven by new genes arriving from space, requiring a "higher intelligence." Hoffman points out the lack of direct evidence and criticizes their dismissal of terrestrial origins and the Darwinian theory. He notes that the book attacks conventional evolution and mentions the "punctuated equilibria" theory only indirectly. The review also touches on the book's appendixes, one of which is seen as an attempt to discredit Darwin, and the other on interstellar grains, which is technical.

Call for Skeptics Volunteers

This section encourages NCAS members to get more involved by suggesting program ideas, publicizing events, assisting at lectures, and clipping relevant articles. It lists contact information for Gary Stone, the Volunteer Coordinator, and provides a mailing address.

NCAS Board of Directors Needs You

This announcement calls for nominations for eight positions on the NCAS Board of Directors. It provides contact information for the Nominating Committee chair, Karen M. Gray, and specifies that candidates should submit a brief statement and that the deadline for nominations is March 31.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism, critical thinking, the scientific method, and the debunking of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of rigorous scientific inquiry and evidence-based reasoning, as demonstrated by the organization's name, its activities, and the content of its articles. NCAS positions itself as a resource for accurate information and a counterpoint to sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims, particularly in media coverage. The publication actively promotes education in skepticism and encourages members to participate in these efforts.