Wales and Scotland reject GM crops.… Read the rest
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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Seeing Desire Defeat Skepticism 
Feb 9th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Never forget: we are more likely to ‘know’ what we want to know than what we don’t want to know… Read the rest
Scientists Criticise Tissue Law
Feb 8th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Law requiring written consent for tissue samples from dead will undermine reseach, say scientists.… Read the rest
New York Review of Books on Dawkins
Feb 8th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Discussion of religion unfortunately evasive.… Read the rest
Another ‘Not a Bright Idea’
Feb 8th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Surprise: hardly anyone wants to be called a ‘Bright’.… Read the rest
Where Do Oranges Come From?
Feb 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What does it mean that George Monbiot has a bowlful? Are they the only fruit?… Read the rest
He’s Not Making This Up
Feb 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
David McKie reviews Francis Wheen’s How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World… Read the rest
Deepak, Oprah, Merlin, Chicken Soup and All
Feb 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The sleep of reason begets people who pay attention to gurus.… Read the rest
Amateur Cultural Revolution
Feb 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Someone is killing off Iraq’s educated class – doctors, intellectuals, human rights workers.… Read the rest
Kennewick Man Can Be Studied
Feb 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Federal appeals court rules: skeleton should be released for study by archaeologists.… Read the rest
‘Science Wins Ancient Bones Battle’
Feb 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Native Americans want to bury bones; court rules relationship impossible to establish.… Read the rest
Conviction Quashed in Abuse Case
Feb 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
More than 100 doubtful cases being investigated by Historic Abuse Appeals Panel.… Read the rest
What is ‘Occidentalism’?
Feb 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ian Buruma on dreams of local authenticity and cultural uniqueness.… Read the rest
Peer Review and Politics
Feb 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Chris Mooney looks at a wolf in sheep’s clothing.… Read the rest
‘Conservative Lysenkoism Redux’
Feb 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Chris Mooney attends Congressional hearing on ‘sound science’ – which isn’t.… Read the rest
New Rhetorical Tricks by Antievolutionists
Feb 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientific controversy is not the same as political: there is no middle ground.… Read the rest
Hubble Telescope May Be Saved
Feb 4th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Protests from star-gazers may win reprieve for indispensable window on cosmos.… Read the rest
Who Needs Hubble When We Have Astrology?
Feb 4th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What’s the New York Times doing publishing astrology on the Op-ed page?… Read the rest
Top Ten Modern Delusions
Feb 4th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Francis Wheen’s list: God is on our side, the market is divine, astrology is harmless fun.… Read the rest
Question Authority – But Which One?
Feb 4th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Denis Dutton reviews Doubt and notes insufficient skepticism about Freud among others.… Read the rest
