Category: Skeptical Article – vic skeptics

Fossil findings, news and controversy

Interested in the latest and greatest from the world of palaeontology?  

Fossilised Janjucetus skull
Source: Museum Victoria Photographer: Rodney Start
Join museum experts on a tour of Melbourne Museum’s Evolution Gallery, followed by a series of ‘vignettes‘ on what’s new, controversial and exciting, presented by leading international palaeontologists. Speakers will include top palaeontologists from around the world-Prof Jenny Clack, UK (early amphibians), Prof Zhu Min, China (spectacular feathered dinosaurs); Dr Ewan Fordyce, NZ (whale origins); Dr Stephen Godfrey, USA, (on evolution and creationism); Dr Steve Salisbury, Australia (new Australian dinosaurs).
To wrap up the evening, you are invited View More Fossil Findings

According to Astrology.com :

Date(s):

Venue:

QUESTIONS

1 What fraction of people would you expect to ‘correctly‘ guess their designated star sign if the results are purely random?

2 If the link between character traits and date of birth given by Astrology.com has any validity, what effect would this have on the fraction of “correct” guesses?

3 Can you evaluate our actual group results?

Horoscopes ? Class Exercise 1
You are provided with a model “all purpose” horoscope, aimed at the average year 8 child ? say 12 to 14 years old.
SUGGESTED USE:
1. Cut and paste this horoscope onto twelve separate pages.
2. Change the font, font colour and font size to your taste.
3. Modify the heading slightly so that you have a horoscope for each star sign.
4. Alter the font on each page View More Classroom Astrology Exercises

These character descriptions were taken from the popular on-line astrology site Astrology.com. Choose the one single KEY number with the PAIR of traits that you think best describes you. (It is OK to ask others for their impressions of you in making your choice).

The Australian Skeptics are saddened to see that Channel 10 has decided to screen “Sensing Murder“, a series in which self-proclaimed psychics attempt to solve unsolved murders. This is an insult as psychics have never solved a crime and families of victims have reported the stress of being pestered by useless “psychics” with a fountain of false leads. (See article Murders and Clairvoyants)
On the show, the psychics veer between “discovering” commonly known details, and providing useless “leads” for details that can never be checked on. It’s clear the “Sensing Murder” crew also provides them with some details, although we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they don’t tell everything. When the psychics “find” crime scenes, it’s not hidden that the crew drives them there and then guides them to the precise location.
Much is made of the psychics’ useless ability to relate already known facts about the case without being told them. Sure, this could look good at a carnival, but the show’s supposed to be about discovering new information! Fake psychics can use their common sense and Cold Reading to find already-known information. They might also View More Sensing Murder

This discussion about Intelligent Design is getting quite boring, with all parties seemingly stepping around key points.
The mystical “Intelligent Designer” person obviously has to be God, and that’s why it’s evangelical Christian groups who are promoting it in Australia. Both minister Brendan Nelson and Professor Graeme Clark are now on record saying that it’s not science.
Although it’s hidden under lots of big words, there is nothing more to the theory than saying “God created everything through magic“. Where’s the science in that?

Dr Long is known as an enthusiastic promoter of science appearing in tv shows, documentaries, childrens books and copious View More Creationism vs Education

“Intelligent Design” is a new name for Creationism. It is an attempt to make Creationism appear scientific by hiding their basic premise that the Bible is 100% scientifically accurate and a cosmic Intelligent Designer (God) created the world and all living things by superceding the laws of nature.
It is not science.
Science is about watching the world around us and making observations about how it appears to work, and making predictions based on those observations. If those predictions are wrong, it shows that we have to change our observations and make new predictions. This is a basic human instinct, although it can be seen in other animals as well.
The “Intelligent Designer” is a God who can do whatever he wants, without regard View More Intelligent Design

Just when the discussion in “The Age” over Intelligent Design seemed to have petered out, religion editor Barney Zwartz gave it another kick with a pro-ID article
“Let’s have a proper scientific debate” (18/08/05) http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/17/1123958129538.html
These replies were published in “The Age“. (Several replies were not published and are listed after them).
(also a subsquent article “Intelligent Design is Taking Us Backwards” (24/08/05) http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/23/1124562864552.html)

Cool heads and intelligent design

Barney Zwartz’s call for some cool heads in the intelligent design versus evolution debate (Opinion, 18/8) is timely and appropriate.
As an agnostic, I am fearful of the worldwide move towards fundamental View More Intelligent Design Letters 2