Monthly Archives: November 2009

Boots Loses Credibility Over Homeopathy Admission

No doubt UK readers will be aware that the country’s largest pharmacy chain, “Boots” (formerly Boots the Chemists) admitted two days ago that they sold homeopathic remedies for no other reason that they were popular. Speaking to the House of Commons … Continue reading

7 Comments

Filed under In the News, supernatural

Fat Chance It’s the Fountain of Youth: Update

One of the world’s most valuable industries is rejuvenating cosmetics. This business is estimated to be around £6.4 billion in the United Kingdom alone. The average British woman will spend £186,000 on cosmetics in her lifetime, and a large proportion of … Continue reading

10 Comments

Filed under Essentialism, In the News

Ariane Does it Again

Yesterday, Ariane Sherine revealed the final phase of the atheist bus campaign with the new billboard. The campaign, scheduled to coincide with the Universal Children’s Day (Nov 20th), draws attention to Richard Dawkin’s point that some adults readily label children … Continue reading

24 Comments

Filed under atheism, In the News

The Cardigan Professor

Last month , the Bishop of Norwich gave a presidential address concerning my work and the recent tour of the religious relics of St. Thérèse de Lisieux in the UK. He began his address, “Bruce Hood must be a rather … Continue reading

7 Comments

Filed under book publicity, In the News

Sick Psychics

There is so much to blog this week but I thought I would report something about money-grabbing, attention-seeking, bloody psychics. Not the nice deluded psychics who contact me and really believe they have powers. No, I’m talking about the ones … Continue reading

15 Comments

Filed under supernatural

Happy Birthday Sesame Street

With events at Fort Hood likely to cast a shadow over the coming days, I thought I would direct your attention to something more light-hearted. Today marks the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street. In a world of darkness and cynicism, … Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under Research

Dowsing for Death

With the release of “The Men Who Stare at Goats” this week in the UK, one might be forgiven for thinking the US army are complete knuckleheads when it comes to dismissing woo. That of course, would be a sweeping … Continue reading

26 Comments

Filed under In the News, supernatural

My Own D-Day

  One of the most important books to influence me becoming a behavioural scientist was “The Selfish Gene” written 25 years ago. Today I finally got to meet the author who changed my worldview. It’s not the first time I … Continue reading

15 Comments

Filed under atheism