Ben Radford

Read the latest articles by Ben Radford at Seeker

Earth & Conservation

Baseball fans are celebrating the demise of a curse on the Chicago Cubs, who finally ended a World Series drought that began near the end of World War II.

Here's What Was Really Behind the Cubs' World Series Curse

Mass hysteria, also known as mass sociogenic illness, is likely responsible for several cases of people falling ill around the world, including incidents last week in a Vietnamese factory and on a British Airways flight forced to make an emergency landing.

Mass Hysteria Is Grounding Planes and Closing Factories

History

Zombies are all the rage these days - on television, in movies, books and now in the news.

A History of 'Real' Zombies

As presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump prepare for their final debate on Wednesday night, they will be just as aware of their body language as their verbal language: What they do - when they smile or shake their head or shimmy their shoulders - will be meticulously analyzed and dissected by amateur and expert body language decoders alike.

Debate Body Language Actually Reveals Very Little

Space & Innovation

Tonight's so-called "Black Moon" has many people wondering what, if anything will happen -- up to and including the end of the world.

Black Moon (Not) Rising: Appeal of the Apocalypse

Image: A classic view of the Loch Ness Monster, near Inverness, Scotland, that was taken in April 19, 1934.

Does New 'Loch Ness Monster' Photo Seal the Deal?

Ghost hunters and mystery buffs in Michigan's Upper Peninsula often seek out a lonely road at a remote spot in the woods near the Wisconsin border hoping to see a mystery known as the Paulding Light.

Mysterious 'Ghost Lights' in Forest Draw Thrill Seekers

Creepy clowns have recently been reported in Greenville, S.C., allegedly luring children into the woods behind a block of apartments.

Phantom Clown Reports: Real or Rumor?

Photo: Ryan Lochte poses with his gold medal after the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The Curious Case of Ryan Lochte's 'Robbery'

As if there weren't enough actual scary things going on in the world, creepy clowns have recently been reported in Wisconsin and Canada.

Creepy Clowns Scare Up Clicks and Controversy

News stories earlier this week have challenged the conventional wisdom dispensed by dentists for decades: that flossing your teeth regularly helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Is Flossing Your Teeth Worthless?

In medicine the benefits of childhood vaccination are widely accepted.

Ben Radford’s Recent Articles

Here's What Was Really Behind the Cubs' World Series Curse

With their first World Series win since 1908, Cubs fans are celebrating the demise of a curse on their team — but what's the psychology behind the belief?

Mass Hysteria Is Grounding Planes and Closing Factories

A psychological phenomenon is likely to blame for several recent incidents in which people mysteriously fell ill.

A History of 'Real' Zombies

They seem to be everywhere these days. But where do zombies come from?

Debate Body Language Actually Reveals Very Little

People love to speculate about what body language means — but how valid is the analysis?

Black Moon (Not) Rising: Appeal of the Apocalypse

From yesterday's Biblical prophecy to tonight's "Black Moon," why do people keep predicting the end of the world?

Does New 'Loch Ness Monster' Photo Seal the Deal?

A new photograph claimed to be of Nessie is making waves -- but is it a monster?

Mysterious 'Ghost Lights' in Forest Draw Thrill Seekers

Mysterious lights in the sky come in many forms ... but what causes them?

Phantom Clown Reports: Real or Rumor?

Creepy clowns have recently been reported luring children into the woods behind a block of apartments. But are they just a hoax?

The Curious Case of Ryan Lochte's 'Robbery'

Celebrated Olympian Ryan Lochte's claim of being robbed at gunpoint fits a pattern of false reports.

Creepy Clowns Scare Up Clicks and Controversy

Two recent reports of creepy clowns have circulated on social media -- and more are on the way.

Is Flossing Your Teeth Worthless?

News headlines across the country suggest that flossing is worthless, but that's not the whole story.

The Presidential Politics of Vaccinations

Vaccination is widely accepted in medicine but remains controversial in presidential politics. Here's why.