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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Just Focus and You Can Do Anything *

Jan 11th, 2009 | Filed by

Provided you have the ideal body type for what you want to do, but let’s not mention that.… Read the rest



Richard John Neuhaus 1936-2009 *

Jan 11th, 2009 | Filed by

The conservative Catholic theologian helped build an influential coalition of right-wing Protestants and Catholics. … Read the rest



Unhealing Touch *

Jan 10th, 2009 | Filed by

Feeling a tad listless? Perhaps your DNA is insufficiently activated.… Read the rest



Mississippi Considers Antievolution Bill *

Jan 10th, 2009 | Filed by

Every textbook that discusses evolution would include a disclaimer calling evolution ‘a controversial theory.’… Read the rest



Deepak Chopra is Cross With Steve Salerno *

Jan 10th, 2009 | Filed by

He and Weil are ‘highly trained MDs with almost 40 years of clinical-experience’ so shut up.… Read the rest



Choprabollocks *

Jan 10th, 2009 | Filed by

Integrative health care, high-tech medicine, blind allegiance, mainstream, vast field, empower, right to choose.… Read the rest



NY Times Transcript of Caroline Kennedy Interview *

Jan 10th, 2009 | Filed by

Says ‘you know’ 144 times. Substance noticeably absent.… Read the rest



2008 Counterknowledge Prize Goes to… *

Jan 10th, 2009 | Filed by

The person or institution that has done most to spread bogus science or history: Prince Charles wins.… Read the rest



Unprecedented Rise in Measles *

Jan 10th, 2009 | Filed by

The Health Protection Agency says too few children are receiving both doses of the MMR vaccination.… Read the rest



Maggiore’s Cause of Death Does Not Matter *

Jan 9th, 2009 | Filed by

Regardless of why she died, her denialism has caused much harm.… Read the rest



Living and Dying with HIV/AIDS Denialism *

Jan 9th, 2009 | Filed by

HIV/AIDS denialism is not ‘skepticism’ or ‘rethinking’ any more than creationism is a ‘skepticism’ of evolution.… Read the rest



Quackometer Best Books of 2008 *

Jan 9th, 2009 | Filed by

Ben Goldacre, Richard Wilson, Rose Shapiro, Damian Thompson, Edzard Ernst.… Read the rest



Review: Richard Wilson’s Don’t Get Fooled Again *

Jan 9th, 2009 | Filed by

Wilson explains the psychology of pseudoscience and other flawed thinking.… Read the rest



Jesus and Mo Take a Nice Detox Bath *

Jan 9th, 2009 | Filed by

Then they stimulate their lymphatic systems with a detox brush. Mmmmm.… Read the rest



Telegraph Misquotes Scientist, Refuses to Correct *

Jan 9th, 2009 | Filed by

Hey, who’s the expert here, some pesky scientist or a newspaper editor?… Read the rest



AI Appeals for Release of Mukoko and Takawira *

Jan 8th, 2009 | Filed by

Mukoko is being held at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.… Read the rest



Zimbabwe Court Rules Against Rights Activists *

Jan 8th, 2009 | Filed by

Defence lawyers had argued that the activists had been abducted, not legally arrested.… Read the rest



Zimbabwe Court Orders Probe of Alleged Torture *

Jan 8th, 2009 | Filed by

Lawyers on Wednesday told the court that the activists were ‘severely tortured’ by police.… Read the rest



WHO Says Zimbabwe Cholera Deaths Over 1700 *

Jan 8th, 2009 | Filed by

The World Health Organisation is reporting over 1,700 deaths out of more than 34,000 cholera cases.… Read the rest



Philippe Sands on a Legacy of Torture *

Jan 8th, 2009 | Filed by

Torture is an international crime, which any nation can prosecute.… Read the rest