Thanks for reading my newsletter, even though it inflicts daily bullshit upon you. It’s about separating reality from bullshit in pop culture. Mondays are free; Tuesdays and Thursdays are for the paid subscribers who make it possible for me to sit up late and write this.
One gift that keeps on giving is a Google Alert I’ve had for years, which provides me daily news articles containing the term “Scientists Baffled” in the headline. I guess it must work, because my Google Alert is never empty — editors keep on using the silly phrase, because it always generates clicks.
It’s gotten to the point where if the headline says scientists are baffled, you can rest assured the truth is probably that scientists understand the reported phenomenon very well.
Here is a sample from today: Scientists are, evidently, “baffled” by these people with “superpowers” that “defy explanation.” Wow! Who are they? They are:
Natasha Demkina, a girl with “X-ray vision” who can diagnose anyone’s medical condition;
Stephen Wiltshire, who can take a quick glance at a complex cityscape then recreate it in his art with every detail;
Wim Hof, the “Iceman,” who can defy incredibly cold temperatures without discomfort; and
Daniel Browning Smith, the “rubberboy” who can contort his body into incredible positions.
Let’s see what scientists actually say about these individuals: