tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154546312026-06-03T06:51:58.326-04:00Promoting critical thinking and scientific understanding.Jim Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09379732137776658752noreply@blogger.comBlogger419125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-19025845833773665252026-04-15T07:54:00.005-04:002026-04-16T18:23:50.063-04:00

ROB EVON Rob Evon is an NCAS Life Member and a lifelong supporter of national skeptical and science organizations, including the Center for Inquiry and the Skeptics Society. He has been a frequent attendee of CFI’s CSICon and The Amazing Meeting (TAM), as well as a direct supporter of CFI initiatives such as Teacher Institute for Evolutionary

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-80414558931443213952026-04-08T17:18:00.023-04:002026-04-08T19:01:51.457-04:00

Cryptocurrency. Are you skeptical because you know too little? Or because you know too much? Either way...EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU FOR MONEY is a documentary that asks a sobering question: Who benefits from the chaos, and who is left to clean up the damage?NCAS exclusive interview with filmmaker Ben McKenzie:https://youtu.be/J9cW5gylKpE?si=dJAVXaPdtVcHet-KFor more information on the film, or for

Chiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15306371930932668669noreply@blogger.com8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA38.9965658 -77.027467510.686331963821154 -112.1837175 67.306799636178852 -41.8712175tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-35313750577993898452026-04-04T20:16:00.015-04:002026-04-04T20:51:17.342-04:00

Thoughts on the way to the MoonArtemis II commander Reid Wiseman (proud son of Baltimore, Maryland) took this photo of Earth after the crew put their ship on course for the Moon.Except for a slight sliver of sunlight at upper left, the only illumination of Earth is from the full Moon behind the photographer.Venus is at upper left.[Artemis II pilot Victor Glover]"... I think these observances are

Chiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15306371930932668669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-7696230985383740072026-03-20T16:06:00.010-04:002026-04-04T17:56:49.166-04:00

A Duality in Mission Regarding UAPs: the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)Dr. Sean KirkpatrickAARO was a Congressionally mandated organization with two missions: 1. organize, streamline, collate, and investigate current reports of military and government sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), and 2. Investigate the US Government's historical works and associated

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comCenter for Naval Analyses38.8858026 -77.094434110.575568763821153 -112.2506841 67.196036436178844 -41.9381841tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-91791532082991887652026-03-20T15:59:00.000-04:002026-03-20T15:59:00.704-04:00

Industrial Scale Renewable Energy: A Skeptic’s Scrutiny From The HinterlandsMark HaynesMark’s talk will be an examination of and a skeptic’s perspective of many of the claims about renewable energy from the rural, environmental, power grid, and “big picture” perspectives.  Mark retired in 2021 as President of Concordia Power, a small consulting firm focused on strategic services in the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4805 Edgemoor Ln, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA38.9851703 -77.096061310.674936463821155 -112.2523113 67.295404136178846 -41.9398113tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-59613130919213404332026-02-12T14:30:41.818-05:002026-02-13T14:06:00.164-05:00

No Blueprint for the Moon: Navigating the Unknowns of Extraterrestrial ConstructionDr. Caitlin AhrensThis presentation examines lunar architecture not as science fiction, but as an applied problem in risk management, engineering under uncertainty, and evidence-based design. We will explore what it would actually mean to plan and build structures on the Moon, where our geotechnical data are sparse

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4805 Edgemoor Ln, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA38.9851703 -77.096061310.674936463821155 -112.2523113 67.295404136178846 -41.9398113tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-33301690753950432822025-12-06T14:26:00.003-05:002025-12-30T10:51:25.763-05:00

"Everything you wanted to know about coronaviruses but were afraid to ask."Laura H. Kahn MD, MPH, MPP, author of One Health and the Politics of COVID-19Using an interdisciplinary One Health approach, Dr. Laura Kahn will draw upon material from her book, One Health and the Politics of Covid-19, to talk about the history, science, research, and politics of coronaviruses. One Health is the concept

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7400 Arlington Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA38.9833033 -77.09892599999999212.077286085322534 -112.25517599999999 65.889320514677479 -41.942675999999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-22227537287133267352025-11-16T22:39:00.010-05:002025-12-06T12:44:16.503-05:00

Nate Pedersen on his book Pseudoscience: An Amusing History of Crackpot Ideas and Why We Love ThemFrom the easily disproved to the wildly speculative, to straight-up hucksterism, Pseudoscience is a romp through much more than bad science—it’s a light-hearted look into why we insist on believing in things such as Big Foot, astrology, and the existence of aliens. Did you know, for example,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-6147220793941048432025-10-24T14:52:00.038-04:002025-10-31T21:29:43.389-04:00

MESMERIZEDAn Immersive Experiment in Science & MagicSaturday, November 15 at 8 p.m.Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20036The field of experimental psychology arose during a time steeped in wonder and mystery. Spiritualism gained widespread influence, proposing that death was not an end but a transition. Mesmerists claimed to heal all ailments through the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1001 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA38.9032196 -77.035717110.592985763821154 -112.1919671 67.213453436178838 -41.8794671tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-14591232132828473922025-10-17T09:31:00.021-04:002025-10-22T14:16:57.072-04:00

"I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost" SkepTour 2025Wednesday, October 22 (rain date October 23) at 7 p.m.What is the origin of the "Demon Cat of DC?"Where in Washington did Houdini hang upside-down, while escaping from a straitjacket?Where was the skeleton of a prominent Bigfoot researcher–and his dog–on display?The National Capital Area Skeptics will answer these questions and more on our (approximately)

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-24535631505070446912025-10-05T08:37:00.027-04:002025-10-17T09:28:39.399-04:00

"So Late Into The Night"Sunday afternoon, October 12 at 3 p.m.It's the weekend when Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. Join her and friends at the seance table for a theatrical rock opera retelling of history.Our friends at Rorschach Theatre commissioned this world premiere and are offering NCAS members and friends a 40% discount for the show on Sunday afternoon, October 12 at 3 p.m. More

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-42621445142114931062025-10-04T09:51:00.006-04:002025-10-04T11:13:36.489-04:00

 October 2025NCAS Public Lecture SeriesA Skeptic's Guide to Mythbusting AI James E. Harris, Jr.,  CISSPVirtually every product and service advertised today claims some use of “AI,” but what is AI, how does it work, and how can it be “de-mythed”? Jim Harris, a Distinguished Engineer and accredited Model Risk Officer, provides a Skeptic’s take on how Large Language Models (LLMs) work

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-64451974423996214992025-09-18T20:50:00.019-04:002025-10-05T13:24:38.835-04:00

[updated title]A Skeptic's Guide to Mythbusting AIOctober 4, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.James E. Harris, Jr.,  CISSPVirtually every product and service advertised today claims some use of “AI,” but what is AI, how does it work, and how can it be “de-mythed”? Jim Harris, a Distinguished Engineer and accredited Model Risk Officer, provides a Skeptic’s take on how Large Language Models (LLMs) work, why

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-85570801220977236392025-09-06T13:00:00.011-04:002025-09-24T17:59:55.687-04:00

What is SkepTours?Thursday, September 18, 8pm US/ETNCASVideo YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/live/cKKfu6RCx4o?feature=shareChip Denman, Grace Denman, and Scott Snell will discuss the history of SkepTours, NCAS's long-running project to create a SkepTours Google Map featuring places of interest related to science, pseudoscience, folklore, and just plain weirdness. From time to time, NCAS

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-70719968311357684242025-02-12T15:20:00.003-05:002025-02-12T15:24:17.036-05:00

 YouTube Live Event for Q and A  Recent Research on the Foundations of Fingerprint Comparison Decisions Presented by Heidi Eldridge, PhD Assistant Professor of Forensic Science and Director of Graduate Studies in Crime Scene Investigations The George Washington University

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-68536257796008588092025-02-12T15:20:00.002-05:002025-02-12T15:20:55.668-05:00

 NCAS Public Lecture Series Recent Research on the Foundations of Fingerprint Comparison Decisions  YouTube Live Event for Q and A  Heidi

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-7924674720543212042025-02-12T15:11:00.005-05:002025-02-12T15:17:54.162-05:00

 Lecture February 2025 - How Much is Enough? How Sure are You? Recent Research on the Foundations of Fingerprint Comparison Decisions - Dr. Heidi EldridgeFebruary Bay Area Skeptics Lecture  Dr. Mohamed Noor, a professor of biology at Duke University, will discuss his book, Live Long and Evolve: What Star Trek Can Teach Us about Evolution, Genetics, and Life

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-41592883500921142702024-11-20T16:55:00.000-05:002024-11-20T16:55:40.921-05:00

 YouTube Live Event for Q and A  Marty McGuire Amateur Astronomer ("Backyard Astronomy Guy") Thursday, December 5, 7pm US/Eastern (UTC-05:00) NCASVideo YouTube Channel:   https://youtube.com/live/xcNV2uQiUrA?feature=share A

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-43037558735115793892024-11-07T10:24:00.001-05:002024-11-07T10:24:46.542-05:00

 November 14, 2024 NCAS Public Lecture Series Steven Hassan Discusses His Book, The Cult of Trump  YouTube Live Event with Q and A  Steven Hassan, PhD Thursday, November 14, 7pm US/Eastern (UTC-05:00)

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-59281750490076285512024-08-06T17:21:00.005-04:002024-08-28T09:55:56.725-04:00

 Presented byBruce Behrens, PhD YouTube Live Event with Q and A  Wednesday, August 21, 7pm US/Eastern (UTC-04:00) NCASVideo YouTube Channel:https://youtube.com/live/US-Pu_Oq-dc?feature=share  Are science museums skeptical? Science museums are great at presenting scientific facts, but what about the scientific

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-91219222302179936132024-05-01T13:58:00.000-04:002024-08-05T15:16:45.267-04:00

 Lecture May 4 - The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories, presented by Prfessor Emerita Zelda GilbertEldrich investigations and a discount for NCASMay NCAS Lecture -Zelda Gilbert will present the "Psychology of Conspiracy Theories".May Bay Area Skeptics LectureThe [San Francisco] Bay Area Skeptics will host their next online event on Thursday, May 9 at

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-78907058943144366932024-05-01T13:52:00.000-04:002024-08-05T15:17:03.052-04:00

 May 2024 NCAS Public Lecture Series The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories Zelda Gilbert, PhD Professor Emerita of Psychology, Woodbury University

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-79580635182179309802024-04-19T15:59:00.007-04:002024-07-29T12:11:01.673-04:00

Presented by Zelda Gilbert, Retired professor of psychologyMay 4, 2024, 1:30pmCentral Library Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium 1015 North Quincy Street Arlington, VA [map] [directions] (Virginia Square-GMU Metro station) FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members  Also a YouTube Live Event with Q and A 

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-90814276759965559712024-04-02T10:34:00.000-04:002024-04-02T10:36:49.930-04:00

Presented by Edward J. Calabrese, Professor of Toxicology at the University of Massachusetts, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst.April 13, 2024, 1:30-3:00pmOn YouTube, (https://youtube.com/live/3R8YuZXUklI?feature=share) The historical foundations of cancer risk assessment were based on fundamental scientific errors that were never corrected, all

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15454631.post-66824912216981432572024-04-01T13:48:00.000-04:002024-08-05T15:17:15.966-04:00

 Lecture April 13 - Cancer Risk Assessment, presented by Edward J. Calabrese, PhDEldrich investigations and a discount for NCASMay NCAS Lecture -Zelda Gilbert will present the "Psychology of Conspiracy Theories".April PhACT Lecture Our skeptical neighbors to the north, the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT), will host their next online

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com