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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Sudden Doubling of Known Planet Population *

Jul 3rd, 2004 | Filed by

Hubble telescope has found nearly 100 new planets.… Read the rest



Guardian List of 101 Women ‘Intellectuals’ *

Jul 2nd, 2004 | Filed by

Desperate list includes singers, actors, novelists, fashion designers.… Read the rest



Tony Judt on Edward Said *

Jul 2nd, 2004 | Filed by

Frowned on overfamiliarity with “theory” at the expense of close textual reading.… Read the rest



EU Commissioner Nails Vatican ‘Bigotry’ *

Jul 1st, 2004 | Filed by

Opposition to condoms ‘hurting and bringing into great danger the lives of millions out there.’… Read the rest



Orders to Get Religion Get Blunter Every Day *

Jul 1st, 2004 | Filed by

‘If Kerry’s really secular, he’s abnormal.’… Read the rest



Polio Vaccinations can Resume in Nigeria *

Jul 1st, 2004 | Filed by

Confirmation that Kano will start vaccinating again is huge relief to WHO.… Read the rest



Letters to the Guardian on GM Food *

Jun 30th, 2004 | Filed by

‘If scientific evidence cannot be accepted as good grounds for decision-making, what can?’… Read the rest



It Takes a Big Brain to Make a Trickster *

Jun 30th, 2004 | Filed by

Machiavellian intelligence, complex social skills, large primate brains go together.… Read the rest



Carl Zimmer on Machiavellian Monkeys *

Jun 30th, 2004 | Filed by

Big brains and theory of mind are useful for lying and manipulating.… Read the rest



More than 4000 Scientists Protest *

Jun 29th, 2004 | Filed by

Scientists accuse Bush administration of twisting science for its own ideological ends.… Read the rest



Whither the US Public Intellectual? *

Jun 29th, 2004 | Filed by

Decline, advance? Better, worse? More insular, more public? Yes. Or no.… Read the rest



Dale Peck and Tom Eliot: Cool Pair *

Jun 29th, 2004 | Filed by

Criticism, gangster rap, extreme makeovers – all part of the entertainment industry.… Read the rest



The Guardian Considers ‘Presentism’ *

Jun 28th, 2004 | Filed by

How far off the hook should we let morally obtuse people who are long gone?… Read the rest



Problems With the Precautionary Principle *

Jun 28th, 2004 | Filed by

Our obsession with keeping safe can expose us to new dangers.… Read the rest



Cellphones and Actor-observer Paradox *

Jun 28th, 2004 | Filed by

Mobiles give delusions of grandeur and a segregating sense of superiority.… Read the rest



Politics, Religion, Profit Infect Health Policy *

Jun 27th, 2004 | Filed by

Ken Wiwa on the polio epidemic in Northern Nigeria.… Read the rest



Polio Epidemic in Northern Nigeria *

Jun 27th, 2004 | Filed by

Local government stopped giving vaccine last August.… Read the rest



WHO: Vaccination to Resume in Nigeria *

Jun 27th, 2004 | Filed by

Kano state to resume vaccinations after eight month boycott.… Read the rest



West and Central Africa at Risk of Polio *

Jun 27th, 2004 | Filed by

Officials announced a 22-country synchronized vaccination campaign for autumn.… Read the rest



Astronomer Martin Rees Considers the Future *

Jun 27th, 2004 | Filed by

Our Final Century says we are on thin ice.… Read the rest