This collection of Skeptical Inquirer magazine columns by investigator and folklorist Benjamin Radford guides readers on a science-based (yet open-minded) examination of 70 fascinating and mysterious topics. Drawing on two decades of first-hand research, Big-If True separates fact from fiction using forensics, science, psychology, folklore, and more. Big-If True examines these and dozens more mysteries including Bigfoot, reincarnation, chupacabras, Icelandic elves, conspiracy theories, UFOs, miracles, the terrifying Goat-Man, crop circles, subliminal advertising, sea serpents, wandering trees, medical mysteries, and hypnotist thieves-plus a 1990 Elvis sighting. For mystery lovers and armchair investigators alike, this book offers a look behind the scenes at investigating oddities and curiosities, both ancient and modern.


Chapter One LEGENDS 5

A Skeptic's Guide to Ethical and Effective Curse Removal - Egging the

Equator - Detour: Elves Ahead - Mysteries of the Coral Castle - Is Elvis

Presley in Home Alone? - Searching to Noah Vale - The Bell Witch Mystery

- The Myth of the Walking Tree - Bailing in the Mummies - Might Fright

Cause White? - (and more)




Chapter Two MONSTERS 51

Cryptozoology and Global Warming - The Mystery of the Texas

Chupacabra - Texas Goat-Men and the Chupacabra - A Wakey Water

'Monster' - Globsters Ahoy! - Investigating Mothman's Red Eyeshine




Chapter Three GHOSTS 83

Do Einstein's Laws Endorse Ghosts? - 'M' is for Mysterious Marks -

Have I Ever Seen a Ghost? - Soul Scales - The Cockington Church Ghost

Photo - Can Electromagnetic Fields Create Ghosts? - Infrared Cameras

and Ghost Hunting - A Closer Look at Orbs - The Sweet Spirit Sounds

of Rosemary Brown - (and more)




Chapter Four MYSTERIOUS POWERS AND PLACES 121

A Time to Die? - Crop Circle Origins - The GIGO Problem: Crop Circle

Research Edition - Channeling Ancient African Wisdom-Or Not - Mystery

of the Paulding Light - Dowsing: Dubious and Discredited - Fatima

Miracle Claims All Wet - Uri Geller Revisited - Did Psychic Visions

Locate Missing California Boy? - Beware Mesmer Thieves! - Secrets of

Spectacularly Skewered Skin




Chapter Five UFOs 165

The Phantom Menace of UFO Revelation - The Mysterious Phoenix

Lights - The Mysterious, Invisible 'Rods'




Chapter Six HEALTH AND MEDICINE 175

Bodytalk: Boon or Bogus? - Exercising the Brain Gym - Kinoki Foot Pads

- Diving HeadOn Into Pseudoscience - Subliminal Advertising, Trumpian

and Otherwise - Freaky Feldenkrais - Measuring Near-Death Experience

- A 100C Grain of Truth to Homeopathy? - Battle Over the BMI - The

Mysterious Morgellons Malady - Childbirth-Natural or 'Unnatural'? -

Vegetable Oil or Snake Oil?: The Pseudoscience of "Oil Pulling" - The

Pseudoscience of Personalysis - Left Brain or Right Brain? - (and more)




Chapter Seven CONSPIRACIES 229

Sandy Hook School Shooting: The Adam Lanza Death Certificate Conspiracy

- Curious Contrails: Death From the Sky? - The Truth About the 9/11

Truthers - Is America a Sheeple Factory?




Chapter Eight SKEPTICISM 243

Legitimizing Woo - Just Asking Questions - Caught Between the Possible

and the Paranormal - Dealing With Believers in Skeptical Investigation -

Anomaly Hunting - Mystery Solved-According to Whom? - Paranormal

Qualifications