Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.

We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.

A note about links

Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.


Francis Collins, evangelicals, and stem cells *

Aug 30th, 2010 | Filed by
Collins said that he was stunned by Judge Lamberth’s decision, as were most researchers.… Read the rest


Jane Mayer on libertarian billionaire Koch brothers *

Aug 30th, 2010 | Filed by
“They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation,” says Charles Lewis of the Center for Public Integrity.… Read the rest


“Past life regression therapy” *

Aug 29th, 2010 | Filed by

Woo has become mainstream; booyah.… Read the rest



Fewer men training as priests in Ireland *

Aug 29th, 2010 | Filed by

16 men are due to start training for the priesthood this autumn, compared to 39 last year.… Read the rest



Evan Harris on doctors, religion and medical ethics *

Aug 29th, 2010 | Filed by

A more appropriate headline would have been “Religious doctors less likely to ask your opinion on treatment option when you’re terminally ill”.… Read the rest



Erfana Bora explains why Dawkins is wrong *

Aug 28th, 2010 | Filed by

She teaches her students science then sends them off to learn the Qu’ranic version; they will then attempt to integrate two worldviews.… Read the rest



“Faith” schools and religion-and-science *

Aug 28th, 2010 | Filed by

What children are taught in science lessons is undermined by what is taught in religion classes, and by the overall emphasis on faith.… Read the rest



Nails removed from tortured Sri Lankan maid *

Aug 28th, 2010 | Filed by

Doctors say LP Ariyawathie was deeply traumatized and could not sit down or walk properly.… Read the rest



PZ Myers tells the CHE what he reads *

Aug 28th, 2010 | Filed by

A book every day or two, Nature, Science, and other journals, blogs by hard-edged godless science writers who don’t mince words.… Read the rest



Oh no I circumcised my baby! *

Aug 27th, 2010 | Filed by

 I didn’t want to, I knew better, I think it stinks, but but but blah blah blah so I did it anyway.… Read the rest



Jesus and Mo on something from nothing *

Aug 27th, 2010 | Filed by

Jesus asked her, what would a godless universe look like?… Read the rest



Image of toaster appears on Virgin Mary painting *

Aug 27th, 2010 | Filed by

Church officials report the toaster appears to be a KitchenAid KMTT200OB which is a medium quality four-slice toaster with a one year warranty.… Read the rest



Journal editor concludes Hauser fabricated data *

Aug 27th, 2010 | Filed by

The editor of Cognition has seen Harvard’s internal investigation. “The graph is effectively a fiction.”… Read the rest



Irshad Manji on that mosque and Imam Rauf *

Aug 26th, 2010 | Filed by

What will be taught about homosexuals? About agnostics? About atheists? About apostasy? Will Rushdie be lecturing there?… Read the rest



Hitchens on that “mosque” and Imam Rauf *

Aug 26th, 2010 | Filed by

I do not find myself reassured by the fact that Imam Rauf publicly endorses the most extreme and repressive version of Muslim theocracy.… Read the rest



Iran limits number of humanities students *

Aug 26th, 2010 | Filed by

Last year Khamenei said humanities “promotes skepticism and doubt in religious principles and beliefs.”… Read the rest



Ötzi may have had ceremonial burial *

Aug 26th, 2010 | Filed by

Researchers believe his many possessions were funerary items rather than camping gear.… Read the rest



Russell Blackford on confusion about freedom of religion *

Aug 26th, 2010 | Filed by

Religious freedom is likely to flourish in an environment where the various rival religions are not given any particular respect.… Read the rest



Susan Jacoby on multiculturalism *

Aug 26th, 2010 | Filed by

“I love you” isn’t the first thing that would come to mind if my father told me I had to marry a stranger.… Read the rest



Afghanistan: chemical gas poisons girls’ school *

Aug 26th, 2010 | Filed by

46 girls and their teachers were poisoned at the Tuteya Girls’ Primary School in Kabul.… Read the rest