PhACT - Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking

Website http://www.phact.org We are the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT). Our difference? We are not afraid to admit we don't know.

We love tough questions, but we maintain that there is only one way to find trustworthy answers: to use reason and to experiment. We reject wishful thinking, anecdotes, revelation, unsupported authority, and "everybody knows." We ask only, "What are the facts and what can we deduce from them?"

Of course, we don't know all the answers; nobody does, whatever they may claim. There are many question

08/08/2026

Dry needling is a growing treatment in physiotherapy, barely different from the quackery of acupuncture. But is it different enough to warrant recommendation? It allegedly provides short-term pain relief, but no more than could be achieved with exercise. https://theconversation.com/dry-needling-is-different-to-acupuncture-so-whats-involved-and-is-it-effective-286321?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20ugly%20truth%20of%20online%20racism%20-%203901839733&utm_content=The%20ugly%20truth%20of%20online%20racism%20-%203901839733+CID_a96a3d8d276f489eac5209ac43a1e9b2&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Dry%20needling%20is%20different%20to%20acupuncture%20So%20whats%20involved%20And%20is%20it%20effective

Covid Conspiracies and the Fauci Farce | Skeptical Inquirer

08/05/2026

Comprehensive and good look at much ado about nothing.

https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/covid-conspiracies-and-the-fauci-farce/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTgWtFwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6_yDFfX_POAy67ep1lL5o3CyoWgVxLslbdHxiGv4_212kGA0YmC6NqV0slew_aem_EBwIvVwSH3bUwSZJu2o0lw

Covid Conspiracies and the Fauci Farce | Skeptical Inquirer The recent grilling of Dr. Anthony Fauci in a Senate hearing was notable for several things, among them the promotion of dangerous conspiracy theories again ...

08/02/2026

What next???

Russian psychics offer 'witchcraft' to help motorists cut fuel consumption. Some Russian psychics and self-proclaimed clairvoyants are reportedly offering paid "witchcraft" services that claim to reduce a vehicle's fuel consumption.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/russian-psychics-offer-witchcraft-to-help-motorists-cut-fuel-consumption-23640447

08/02/2026

South Australian primary school students will soon learn how to spot deepfakes, scams and online misinformation. Most adults were never taught how to spot it, but it has become increasingly important to be more discerning about what we see on the internet.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/education/2026/07/19/primary-school-fake-news-test

08/02/2026

GRAB BAG TIME on Squaring the Strange! Episode 285 has our thoughts on Jimothy as a cryptid, the attempted scapegoating of Dr. Fauci, conspiracy cocktails, and more — plus a visit from Richard and Lara of the Australian Skeptics!

07/31/2026

Americans don't believe all extraordinary claims equally.

Aliens? More than half say probably.
Bigfoot? Around one in four.
Chupacabra? We're losin' 'em.

Benjamin Radford looks at what those numbers can (and can't) tell us about how people form beliefs:
https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-abcs-of-belief-aliens-bigfoot-and-chupacabra/