MASS DELUSIONS
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Are our brains wired for delusions? In a special 21-page report, COSMOS explores delusional behaviour, from the global financial crisis to alien abductions. We look at the strange phenomena of sleep paralysis and the placebo effect. Plus, find out why presidents fear NASA’s James Hansen; why gamma-ray bursts are the biggest bang since the big one; why New Zealand is a ticking bomb; and read the article that got Simon Singh sued by chiropractors.
MASS HYSTERIA
From wild speculation in financial markets to believing that aliens are visiting us, humans are prone to all sorts of personal and mass delusions – and have been for centuries, says Wilson da Silva.
GRAND DELUSIONS
Crop circles, alien abductions, psychic surgery and homeopathy – many people harbour a secret belief in these strange phenomena, despite a lack of evidence, says Lauren Monaghan. And it has more to do with human psychology than with reality.
MADNESS OF CROWDS
Mass delusions and hysterical outbreaks have plagued humanity throughout history. Robert E. Bartholomew and Erich Goode show us the variety, the longevity and the effects of the best documented delusions.
THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES
Sleep paralysis creates a very real waking nightmare – conjuring up images of aliens and evil entities – but it’s all a trick of the mind, finds Bruce Bower.
THE PLACEBO EFFECT
It’s the most fascinating and misunderstood aspect of human healing, says physician Ben Goldacre – it’s counterintuitive, it’s strange, it’s the true story of mind-body healing: welcome to the placebo effect.
DEATH STAR
First detected by spy satellites, then reported as evidence of intergalactic alien warfare and now held responsible for a mass extinction on Earth. What, asks Robin McKie, is a gamma-ray burst?
PROFILE: MESSENGER OF DOOM
Studying the hellish conditions on Venus led James Hansen to realise Earth could one day suffer a similar fate. He is now the world’s most respected climate scientist, and the most outspoken one, too – even presidents fear his wrath.
The value of critical thinking in a modern world; a note from the editor, Wilson da Silva.
Letters from COSMOS readers and the latest photo entries to the popular competition ‘Where in the COSMOS?’
Satellite images of the disasters that change the landscapes on Earth.
When political leaders fail to understand science, they put the health of democracy at risk, argues Lawrence M. Krauss.
Lying on the Pacific Ring of Fire, New Zealand is a ticking time bomb. The daring Heather Catchpole visited its slumbering supervolcano.
The recent discovery of an ancient complex device, the farcical tale of the discovery of nitrous oxide, a research psychologist trying to change the conventional wisdom about addiction, and more of the latest science books reviewed.
Saturn hung overhead, a great pastel yellow ball. It took a special kind of imagination to see the planet for what it really was. Original new fiction by Karl Bunker.
“Some practitioners claim it is a cure-all, but the evidence suggests otherwise.” Read the article for which Simon Singh is being sued by chiropractors.
