Skeptical Eye: News from NCAS July 2026

CSICon 2026

May 1st of this year marked the 50th anniversary of the modern skeptical movement, born near Buffalo, New York, on the second day of the American Humanist Association’s 35th annual conference.  The theme for that day’s talks was, “The New Irrationalisms: Antiscience and Pseudoscience.”  (Read more about this in James Alcock’s Skeptical Inquirer article, “Fifty Years of the Modern Skeptical Movement.”)

To commemorate this auspicious milestone, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry held its annual conference (CSICon) in Buffalo this June.  For those who were unable to attend, there are brief video recordings already available.  (Based on previous CSICons’ talks eventually showing up online, there may be more to come later.)  For example, on Friday morning, Kenny Biddle strolled through the venue, including the auditorium where Stuart Vyse was presenting “Welcome to the Burned-Over District!”  Susan Gerbic’s snippet of Thursday morning’s “CFI History & Mystery Tour” features Kenny, and she also posted video of Sunday morning’s CSICon Singers with Anthony Trecek-King.

In lieu of more videos becoming available, NCAS presents the following descriptions and commentary from several of its members who attended CSICon 2026.  (Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Capital Area Skeptics organization.)

Skeptical Eye: Frontline Reports from CSICon 2026

Note: With this, we are reviving our Skeptical Eye as the vehicle for news and other non-event announcements.

--Scott Snell

Rorschach Theatre: American Apparitions

Rorschach Theatre is a spunky, local theater company whose works for 25 years have often featured themes that are spooky and fantastical. They have mounted stage productions ranging from Toxic Avenger: The Musical to a delightful twist on Beauty & the Beast. Naturally, I’m a fan.

During the COVID lockdown, they conceived a brilliant idea to stay alive: Psychogeographies. If you can’t go to the theater, well, let the theater take you on adventures around town. Each month, subscribers receive a package and a map that lets them go to a location -- at a time of their choosing -- where examining the rest of the package unfolds a bit of a multi-chapter story.  After a few months, a whole new world has been opened. It was such a success that they have continued with new stories and are now in the 6th season. Grace and I have been on board for them all.

Two seasons ago, the story involved cryptids and a possible abduction. They even wove the National Capital Area Skeptics into the storyline! Other seasons involved time travel and even warping between worlds in a multiverse.

We just completed the first chapter of this season called American Apparitions. It is all about ghost hunting around DC. Our initial package included an investigator’s handbook from the “Red Room Society,” complete with suggestions for free ghost hunting apps to download. The map took us to the MLK Jr Library, Chinatown, and even down an alley behind Ford’s Theatre where we tried to record ghostly images and voices. It was a hoot!

It struck us that other skeptics might enjoy this as much as we do. Although chapters 2 and 3 are about to be released, it’s actually easy to join in late since the whole thing is done on your own schedule. They even provide online videos for those who want to “remote view” rather than venture out in person.

Saturday afternoon, July 11, is a special live Ghost Party event. It’s billed as a fundraiser for the company, with drinks, a paranormal scavenger hunt, and dessert. It is a stand-alone event, but thematically tied to American Apparitions. Subscribers get a free ticket. Grace and I share one subscription and just bought a single guest ticket with a subscriber discount for the party.

We would love to meet up with NCAS members for the party or any of the monthly adventures. I hope you will join us.

--Chip Denman

https://rorschachtheatre.com/american-apparitions/

https://rorschachtheatre.com/ghost-party/

Coming April 20 and April 25

Cryptocurrency.
Are you skeptical because you know too little? Or because you know too much? Either way...

EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU FOR MONEY is a documentary that asks a sobering question: Who benefits from the chaos, and who is left to clean up the damage?

NCAS exclusive interview with filmmaker Ben McKenzie:
https://youtu.be/J9cW5gylKpE?si=dJAVXaPdtVcHet-K
For more information on the film, or for showings in other cities, please see www.everyoneislying.com.

Join NCAS members at the AFI Silver in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, for special screenings on April 20 at 6:45 and April 25 at 6:15, both with Q&A with Ben McKenzie. Tickets are available in advance: https://silver.afi.com/movies/detail/0100005537/

Anchored by the stunningly restored 1938 Silver Theatre, the three-screen AFI Silver Theatre is a state-of-the-art film and digital media exhibition venue, which serves as a national model for preserving and honoring our shared film and filmgoing heritage. 

8633 Colesville Road

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Optionally, meet for a 5:00 PM pre-show dinner and good company:

Monday, April 20, Copper Canyon Grill

Saturday, April 25, J. Hollinger's Waterman's Chophouse

Please sign up here if you will be joining us so we can make a dinner reservation. Note: This is for dinner only; you are responsible for getting your own show tickets.

Skeptical Eye: News from NCAS April 2026

Thoughts on the way to the Moon

Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman (proud son of Baltimore, Maryland) took this photo of Earth after the crew put their ship on course for the Moon.

Except for a slight sliver of sunlight at upper left, the only illumination of Earth is from the full Moon behind the photographer.

Venus is at upper left.

[Artemis II pilot Victor Glover]
"... I think these observances are important, and as we are so far from Earth and looking back at, you know, the beauty of Creation.  I think, for me, one of the really important personal perspectives that I have up here is, I can really see Earth as one thing.  And you know, when I read the Bible, and I look at all of the amazing things that were done for us, who were created, it’s…you, you have this amazing place…this spaceship.  You guys are talking to us because we’re in a spaceship really far from Earth.  But you’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe, in the cosmos.  Maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special.  But we’re the same distance from you, and I’m trying to tell you, just trust me, you are special.  In all of this emptiness, this is a whole bunch of nothing; this thing we call the universe, you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together.  I think as we go into Easter Sunday thinking about, you know, all the cultures all around the world, whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not, um, this is an opportunity to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing in that we’ve got to get through this together."