News Briefs 11-11-2009

If ET prays in an alien forest, does Jesus hear him?

• The Vatican joins the search for extraterrestrial life.
• Close encounters of the faked kind: UK skeptic Chris French explains why he believes The Fourth Kind is "dangerously misleading twaddle". And more criticism.
• Extraterrestrial rafting: hunting off-world sea life.
• Will the Rosetta probe's upcoming Earth fly-by reveal an exotic physics anomaly?
• Triple delight at the centre of our galaxy.
• The power of psychic spying.
• A new release from Anomalist Books that looks fascinating. Dark Intrusions: An Investigation into the Paranormal Nature of Sleep Paralysis Experiences, by Louis Proud. Available from Amazon US and UK.
• Robert Bigelow purchases HBCC UFO Research from Brian Vike.
• Magic may be the best way forward for autism treatments, say scientists. You see what I did there?
• Giant asteroid stirred the Earth's oceans.
• The map that changed the world.
• The Spider Awards. I'd like to thank the Arachademy…
• Stone Age humans crossed the Sahara in the rain.
• Newly discovered ancient artworks reveal how the Maya lived.
• Plant experts unveil DNA barcode.
• Music improves brain function.
• Michael Shermer just made up a fresh batch of Kool-Aid. Here, have some.

Thanks Kat.

Quote of the Day:

Under controlled conditions remote viewers have never succeeded in finding a hidden target with greater accuracy than random guessing.

Michael Shermer