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In a companion article titled `A Historic Choice I have outlined the significance of the Maharashtra Ordinance XIV of 2013 against black magic, and the need for concerted efforts of citizens to make sure that it is passed into a law. This emergency ordinance was cleared by the cabinet of the state of Continue reading Earlier this year, the All India Peoples Science Network (AIPSN) called for observing August 20 asNational Scientific Temper Day (NSTD), in order to commemorate the cold-blooded murder of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, well known campaigner against superstition and for scientific temper, on that day in 2013. To the horror of the nation, the original Continue reading If you believe in ghosts, you are far from alone. Around 45% of Americansbelieve in ghostsand as many as 18% of people will go so far as to say they have hadcontact with a ghost. I will also admit to spooking myself out on occasion when my dog has refused to stop barking Continue reading On Sunday February 3 theNew York Timesran anOpinion Editorial by David DeSteno, a professor of psychology at North-eastern University, Boston who studies the ways in which emotions guide decisions and behaviors fundamental to social living. The essay argues that scientists have much to learn from religious traditions because they offer a rich store Continue reading Blame your brain I like to think of myself as a rational person, but Im not one. The good news is its not just me or you. We are all irrational. For a long time, researchers and economists believed that humans made logical, well-considered decisions. In recent decades, however, Continue reading Humans love making up unbelievably-intriguing and mysterious stories about ghosts, sea monsters, animate objects, and alien invasions. The list goes on, and I must admit that I love reading these scary legends and stories myself, from time to time. However, what excitesme even more than scary stories is when I learn Continue reading In late November, the Justice Department unsealed indictments against eight people accused of fleecing advertisers of $36 million in two of the largest digital ad-fraud operations ever uncovered. Digital advertisers tend to want two things: people to look at their ads and premium websites i.e., established and legitimate publications on which to host Continue reading Susan Thompkins is somebodys Aunt Susan, and everyone has someone like her. Aunt Susan is a genuinely happy and loving woman, who buys gifts for her nephews and nieces whenever she shops for herself and her kids. Aunt Susan loves shopping at JCPenney. Shes been shopping there since she was a child, going Continue reading Rene Descartes was the first to speculate on rationalism in the seventeenth century, basing it upon the idea that the only thing that could ever be known is the mind. Descartes believed that it was possible that there are two worlds: one of the mind and one of the physical world. He further Continue reading In 21st century India, many people in rural as well as urban areas, would still rather consult a tantrik or an astrologer to cure their illnesses instead of approaching a doctor qualified for the job. In spite of the wide prevalence of superstition and irrational religious practices, including black magic, only three states Continue reading Context: Recently, the Maharashtra State Legislature passed the much publicized Anti- Superstition Bill. Maharashtra became the first state in the country to pass a bill to combat practices like black magic. The act criminalises practices related to black magic, human sacrifices, use of magic remedies to cure ailments and other such Continue reading Correlation is not causation but its really hard to set aside the fact that Indias ruling party has empowered a clutch of people to vocalise their pseudoscientific beliefs without fear of ridicule, leave alone consequence. When you hear a person in any kind of leadership position utter unscientific, ahistorical nonsense, you used to Continue reading |