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Antivaccine nonsense Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Popular culture Skepticism/critical thinking

The Disneyland measles outbreak continues apace, and a woman refuses quarantine

Brief Orac follow up note, January 21, 2015: Antivaccine pediatrician “Dr. Bob” Sears responds to his patients’ parents’ concerns about the Disneyland measles outbreak. Hilarity ensues. Last week, the self-proclaimed “happiest place on earth” wasn’t so happy. You’ve probably figured out that what I’m referring to is the latest measles outbreak. Some of you have […]

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Anti-Semitism Antivaccine nonsense Clinical trials Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery

Conspiracy theories: The dark heart of alternative medicine

If there’s one thing a budding skeptic quickly learns is that at the core of any good woo almost invariably lurks at least one conspiracy theory. At the risk of flirting a little too close to Godwin territory, this simple fact about pseudoscience, pseudohistory, and other non-evidence-based belief systems was first driven home to me […]

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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Complementary and alternative medicine

The death of “Too many too soon”: Not a moment too soon

There are some days when I know what my topic will be—what it must be. These are times in which the universe gives the very appearance of handing to me my topic for the day on the proverbial silver platter with a giant hand descending from the clouds, pointing at it, and saying, “Blog about […]

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Antivaccine nonsense Medicine

Thanks, antivaccinationists. Thanks again for the measles.

Thanks again, antivaccine activists. Thanks for the measles. Again: Last year was the worst year for measles in the U.S. in 15 years, health officials said Thursday. There were 222 cases of measles, a large jump from the 60 or so seen in a typical year. Most of the cases last year were imported — […]

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Antivaccine nonsense Entertainment/culture Homeopathy Humor Medicine Quackery Television Uncategorized

Say it ain’t so, Amy Farrah Fowler!

Mayim Bialik plays the neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on the geek comedy The Big Bang Theory. Unfortunately, in real life, Bialik is nothing like her fictional character Amy. In fact, Bialik is heavily into the woo and antivaccine enough to have become a celebrity spokeswoman for the Holistic Moms Network. Say it ain’t so!