The Cottingley Fairies and James Randi's Marionette Mystery

The Cottingley Fairies and James Randi's Marionette Mystery

Benjamin Radford investigates the claim that James Randi wrongly concluded the famous Cottingley Fairies were suspended as marionettes, tracing the allegation through decades of sources and finding no evidence that Randi ever made such a claim. Instead, the article shows how a tentative early image analysis by other investigators evolved into a persistent myth, illustrating how careful historical research can correct misconceptions—even about prominent skeptics. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/the-cottingley-fairies-and-james-randis-marionette-mystery/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/the-cottingley-fairies-and-james-randis-marionette-mystery/] About the Author: Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is a scientific paranormal investigator, a research fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, and author, co-author, contributor, or editor of twenty books and over a thousand articles on skepticism, critical thinking, and science literacy. His newest book is America the Fearful. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/]

Investigation into Hauntings at the McInteer Villa

Kenny Biddle investigates the alleged haunting of the McInteer Villa and finds that its ghost stories—from shadow figures to eerie laughter—are best explained by historical inaccuracies, psychological suggestion, and ordinary causes rather than paranormal activity. Using archival research and forensic analysis of photographs and audio, he argues that the villa is a compelling example of how folklore, misinterpretation, and sensational storytelling can transform a historic house into a celebrated haunted destination. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/investigation-into-hauntings-at-the-mcinteer-villa/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/investigation-into-hauntings-at-the-mcinteer-villa/] About the Author: Kenny Biddle is the Chief Investigator of Paranormal Claims for CSI. A former ghost hunter turned skeptic, he now examines various extraordinary claims, photographic & video anomalies, and "ghost hunting" gadgets to uncover the real-world explanations behind them. He is a CSI Fellow, columnist, producer, speaker, host of the CFI video series "Ghosts in the Machine," and host of The Skeptical Help Bar livestream. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/]

The Missing Catalyst

In the third of a multipart series, Massimo Polidoro recounts the behind-the-scenes struggle to create what would eventually become the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, showing how years of false starts, disagreements, and organizational uncertainty nearly derailed the modern skeptical movement. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/the-missing-catalyst/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/the-missing-catalyst/] About the Author: Massimo Polidoro is an investigator of the paranormal, author, lecturer, and co-founder and head of CICAP, the Italian skeptics group. His website is at www.massimopolidoro.com [https://www.massimopolidoro.com]. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/]

The Homeopathic Industry Is on the Ropes

Robyn E. Blumner explains how the homeopathy industry is facing growing legal and regulatory challenges as the FDA tightens enforcement against unapproved products and courts increasingly reject industry efforts to preserve special treatment. She argues that despite aggressive lobbying and proposed legislation to shield homeopathy from oversight, science-based regulation and consumer protection are finally beginning to hold the industry accountable for deceptive and unsupported medical claims. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/the-homeopathic-industry-is-on-the-ropes/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/the-homeopathic-industry-is-on-the-ropes/] About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry and executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science. She is a lawyer who previously held posts as a syndicated columnist and editorial writer at the Tampa Bay Times and as executive director of the ACLU of Florida and ACLU of Utah. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/]

News Bites: From the Tarot Card Reader's Defamation to the Artemis II Record

Julia Lavarnway, William Matthew London, Stephen Hupp, and Benjamin Radford round up notable developments in skepticism and science, from a multimillion-dollar defamation verdict against a self-proclaimed psychic and Tinder's embrace of astrology to political claims about UFOs, Bigfoot pop culture, and the latest space exploration milestones. The collection highlights how pseudoscientific beliefs continue to influence public life even as evidence-based investigations—from courtroom rulings to NASA's Artemis II mission—push back against misinformation and expand human knowledge. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/news-bites-from-the-tarot-card-readers-defamation-to-the-artemis-ii-record/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/06/news-bites-from-the-tarot-card-readers-defamation-to-the-artemis-ii-record/] About the Authors: Julia Lavarnway is managing editor of Skeptical Inquirer. William Matthew London is the editor of Consumer Health Digest, Quackwatch's free weekly electronic newsletter. Stephen Hupp is the executive director of CSI and editor of Skeptical Inquirer. Benjamin Radford is deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ [https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/]