Big-If True / Paranormal (ePub)

This collection of Skeptical Inquirer magazine columns by investigator and folklorist Benjamin Radford guides readers on a science-based (yet open-minded) examination of 70 fascinating and mysterious topics. Drawing on two decades of first-hand research, Big-If True separates fact from fiction using forensics, science, psychology, folklore, and more. Big-If True examines these and dozens more mysteries including Bigfoot, reincarnation, chupacabras, Icelandic elves, conspiracy theories, UFOs, miracles, the terrifying Goat-Man, crop circles, subliminal advertising, sea serpents, wandering trees, medical mysteries, and hypnotist thieves-plus a 1990 Elvis sighting. For mystery lovers and armchair investigators alike, this book offers a look behind the scenes at investigating oddities and curiosities, both ancient and modern.

Chapter One LEGENDS 5

A Skeptic's Guide to Ethical and Effective Curse Removal . Egging the

Equator . Detour: Elves Ahead . Mysteries of the Coral Castle . Is Elvis

Presley in Home Alone? . Searching to Noah Vale . The Bell Witch Mystery

. The Myth of the Walking Tree . Bailing in the Mummies . Might Fright

Cause White? . (and more)

Chapter Two MONSTERS 51

Cryptozoology and Global Warming . The Mystery of the Texas

Chupacabra . Texas Goat-Men and the Chupacabra . A Wakey Water

'Monster' . Globsters Ahoy! . Investigating Mothman's Red Eyeshine

Chapter Three GHOSTS 83

Do Einstein's Laws Endorse Ghosts? . 'M' is for Mysterious Marks .

Have I Ever Seen a Ghost? . Soul Scales . The Cockington Church Ghost

Photo . Can Electromagnetic Fields Create Ghosts? . Infrared Cameras

and Ghost Hunting . A Closer Look at Orbs . The Sweet Spirit Sounds

of Rosemary Brown . (and more)

Chapter Four MYSTERIOUS POWERS AND PLACES 121

A Time to Die? . Crop Circle Origins . The GIGO Problem: Crop Circle

Research Edition . Channeling Ancient African Wisdom-Or Not . Mystery

of the Paulding Light . Dowsing: Dubious and Discredited . Fatima

Miracle Claims All Wet . Uri Geller Revisited . Did Psychic Visions

Locate Missing California Boy? . Beware Mesmer Thieves! . Secrets of

Spectacularly Skewered Skin

Chapter Five UFOs 165

The Phantom Menace of UFO Revelation . The Mysterious Phoenix

Lights . The Mysterious, Invisible 'Rods'

Chapter Six HEALTH AND MEDICINE 175

Bodytalk: Boon or Bogus? . Exercising the Brain Gym . Kinoki Foot Pads

. Diving HeadOn Into Pseudoscience . Subliminal Advertising, Trumpian

and Otherwise . Freaky Feldenkrais . Measuring Near-Death Experience

. A 100C Grain of Truth to Homeopathy? . Battle Over the BMI . The

Mysterious Morgellons Malady . Childbirth-Natural or 'Unnatural'? .

Vegetable Oil or Snake Oil?: The Pseudoscience of "Oil Pulling" . The

Pseudoscience of Personalysis . Left Brain or Right Brain? . (and more)

Chapter Seven CONSPIRACIES 229

Sandy Hook School Shooting: The Adam Lanza Death Certificate Conspiracy

. Curious Contrails: Death From the Sky? . The Truth About the 9/11

Truthers . Is America a Sheeple Factory?

Chapter Eight SKEPTICISM 243

Legitimizing Woo . Just Asking Questions . Caught Between the Possible

and the Paranormal . Dealing With Believers in Skeptical Investigation .

Anomaly Hunting . Mystery Solved-According to Whom? . Paranormal

Qualifications