Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
@danielloxton.bsky.social
Author, illustrator, and researcher of misinformation and fringe claims. Former Editor (2002–2021) of Junior Skeptic, and author of Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be and other science books for kids and adults. https://www.danielloxton.com
Pinned
A very incomplete list drawn from accounts I follow:
go.bsky.app/DyXUn9n
go.bsky.app/DyXUn9n
Picturing a microbial ecosystem of anti-science, anti-reality groups and interests just probing and evolving, multiplying and chewing on the foundations of the modern science-based understanding of the world for decades—creationist orgs, the alt med industry, oil execs, anti-vaccine activists, etc…
November 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Picturing a microbial ecosystem of anti-science, anti-reality groups and interests just probing and evolving, multiplying and chewing on the foundations of the modern science-based understanding of the world for decades—creationist orgs, the alt med industry, oil execs, anti-vaccine activists, etc…
Normal default is, weird fringe beliefs are largely relegated to the fringes, where they are monitored & critiqued by small numbers of obsessive specialists, who get constantly eye-rolled by mainstream scientists, scholars, & journalists scoffing “what’s the harm?” This is total containment collapse
InFURiating that we all have to write/think/talk about vaccines this much, outside of celebrating new successes (HPV vax largely *eliminating* cervical cancer, my god), this shit was settled as one of the great scientific and public health triumphs EVER and now these dipshits are trying to ruin it
November 30, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Normal default is, weird fringe beliefs are largely relegated to the fringes, where they are monitored & critiqued by small numbers of obsessive specialists, who get constantly eye-rolled by mainstream scientists, scholars, & journalists scoffing “what’s the harm?” This is total containment collapse
The first many hours I ever spent in a university library were just wandering the stacks, taking it in, picking up whatever looked interesting. First time I ever tried any web search engines (in a different university library), I just started entering words at random to see where I’d end up
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Bookselling is like the most "people go to the store and buy what looks cool to them without a particular agenda" type business left, and your purchases have a huge influence on what is ordered, what is displayed, and what is recommended.
November 30, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The first many hours I ever spent in a university library were just wandering the stacks, taking it in, picking up whatever looked interesting. First time I ever tried any web search engines (in a different university library), I just started entering words at random to see where I’d end up
We’re plagued by the kind of “business idiot” bosses who regard questions like “what are we even trying to do here, and why are we doing it?” as shameful navel-gazing on the company dime
A study by Dayforce shows 87% of executives use AI for work, compared to 57% of managers and just 27% of employees.
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
Execs are embracing AI more than their employees are, new research suggests
Research from HR software company Dayforce suggests that executives are leaning into AI far more than their employees.
www.businessinsider.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
We’re plagued by the kind of “business idiot” bosses who regard questions like “what are we even trying to do here, and why are we doing it?” as shameful navel-gazing on the company dime
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Looks like it’s time to re-up this thread on the fascist genealogy of the seemingly pablum term “Americanism.”
November 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Looks like it’s time to re-up this thread on the fascist genealogy of the seemingly pablum term “Americanism.”
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Over and over and over again the people who have observed RFK Jr.’s anti-vax propaganda for decades have said he will not stop until he takes away as many vaccines as he can.
And the current U.S. government is aiding and abetting him.
And the current U.S. government is aiding and abetting him.
November 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Over and over and over again the people who have observed RFK Jr.’s anti-vax propaganda for decades have said he will not stop until he takes away as many vaccines as he can.
And the current U.S. government is aiding and abetting him.
And the current U.S. government is aiding and abetting him.
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Perfect gift for everyone on your list!
Little encyclopedia of fantastic myths
about amazing Nature
wonderfully illustrated and fun
Little encyclopedia of fantastic myths
about amazing Nature
wonderfully illustrated and fun
November 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Perfect gift for everyone on your list!
Little encyclopedia of fantastic myths
about amazing Nature
wonderfully illustrated and fun
Little encyclopedia of fantastic myths
about amazing Nature
wonderfully illustrated and fun
I hadn’t thought of this, but I should have. It’s obvious in retrospect: of course chatbots will cause false memories (potentially very consequential ones)
—why can’t a librarian find it?!
This lady was adamant. She definitely remembered because the chat thing her son showed her how to use reminded her.
It’s planting memories. Of course it is! Human memory is fallible, and she’s been led to believe this is a trustworthy thing.
This lady was adamant. She definitely remembered because the chat thing her son showed her how to use reminded her.
It’s planting memories. Of course it is! Human memory is fallible, and she’s been led to believe this is a trustworthy thing.
November 29, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I hadn’t thought of this, but I should have. It’s obvious in retrospect: of course chatbots will cause false memories (potentially very consequential ones)
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
The natural default state for food, beverages, and medicine is ubiquitous adulteration of, and frequent danger from, any product anyone can buy. It took centuries of activism, science, and sprawling legal and legislative battles to get to this place where most products are what they say on the label
November 28, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The natural default state for food, beverages, and medicine is ubiquitous adulteration of, and frequent danger from, any product anyone can buy. It took centuries of activism, science, and sprawling legal and legislative battles to get to this place where most products are what they say on the label
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
“Another problem is that there’s no such thing as a surprise kitchen inspection at a prison.”
Every part of this is horrendous, but the part that touches subjects I’ve written about is food fraud. Through history, the incentive is always to adulterate food if customers can’t tell (or can’t opt out)
Every part of this is horrendous, but the part that touches subjects I’ve written about is food fraud. Through history, the incentive is always to adulterate food if customers can’t tell (or can’t opt out)
It’s not just that prison meals are bland and unappetizing — though they often are.
In lawsuits and news reports, kitchen workers at prisons in Arizona, Oregon, and elsewhere reported seeing boxes of food that were served to prisoners marked: “not for human consumption.”
In lawsuits and news reports, kitchen workers at prisons in Arizona, Oregon, and elsewhere reported seeing boxes of food that were served to prisoners marked: “not for human consumption.”
Prison Food Is a Growing Billion-Dollar Industry. Many Meals Are Inedible.
As private food providers' contracts grow, the meager and moldy portions behind bars have forced some people to eat toothpaste and toilet paper.
www.themarshallproject.org
November 28, 2025 at 1:37 AM
“Another problem is that there’s no such thing as a surprise kitchen inspection at a prison.”
Every part of this is horrendous, but the part that touches subjects I’ve written about is food fraud. Through history, the incentive is always to adulterate food if customers can’t tell (or can’t opt out)
Every part of this is horrendous, but the part that touches subjects I’ve written about is food fraud. Through history, the incentive is always to adulterate food if customers can’t tell (or can’t opt out)
“Another problem is that there’s no such thing as a surprise kitchen inspection at a prison.”
Every part of this is horrendous, but the part that touches subjects I’ve written about is food fraud. Through history, the incentive is always to adulterate food if customers can’t tell (or can’t opt out)
Every part of this is horrendous, but the part that touches subjects I’ve written about is food fraud. Through history, the incentive is always to adulterate food if customers can’t tell (or can’t opt out)
It’s not just that prison meals are bland and unappetizing — though they often are.
In lawsuits and news reports, kitchen workers at prisons in Arizona, Oregon, and elsewhere reported seeing boxes of food that were served to prisoners marked: “not for human consumption.”
In lawsuits and news reports, kitchen workers at prisons in Arizona, Oregon, and elsewhere reported seeing boxes of food that were served to prisoners marked: “not for human consumption.”
Prison Food Is a Growing Billion-Dollar Industry. Many Meals Are Inedible.
As private food providers' contracts grow, the meager and moldy portions behind bars have forced some people to eat toothpaste and toilet paper.
www.themarshallproject.org
November 28, 2025 at 1:37 AM
“Another problem is that there’s no such thing as a surprise kitchen inspection at a prison.”
Every part of this is horrendous, but the part that touches subjects I’ve written about is food fraud. Through history, the incentive is always to adulterate food if customers can’t tell (or can’t opt out)
Every part of this is horrendous, but the part that touches subjects I’ve written about is food fraud. Through history, the incentive is always to adulterate food if customers can’t tell (or can’t opt out)
We share the world with animals, and sometimes unusual things happen. If you know Victoria, BC, you’ll know my neighborhood near the Parliament Buildings is a pretty dense residential area, surrounded by other urban areas. But every once in a while cougars randomly show up, as in this case from 2015
Dramatic cougar chase in Victoria, B.C. ends with tranquilizer dart
Conservation officers have managed to shoot a large cougar with a tranquilizer dart -- ending a terrifying chase through the streets near the edge of the provincial legislature grounds in Victoria.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 27, 2025 at 11:12 PM
We share the world with animals, and sometimes unusual things happen. If you know Victoria, BC, you’ll know my neighborhood near the Parliament Buildings is a pretty dense residential area, surrounded by other urban areas. But every once in a while cougars randomly show up, as in this case from 2015
I don’t know how I missed hearing this terrifying story last week, about a grizzly attack on a grade school field trip. I had many grizzly encounters as a young man working sheep in remote country, and this is an *extremely* unusual, tragic event—an attack on a well prepared, bear aware large group
B.C. students, teacher injured in Bella Coola grizzly attack
YouTube video by CBC News
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I don’t know how I missed hearing this terrifying story last week, about a grizzly attack on a grade school field trip. I had many grizzly encounters as a young man working sheep in remote country, and this is an *extremely* unusual, tragic event—an attack on a well prepared, bear aware large group
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
The utility of dissonance theory is that it gives us a general framework to understand patterns that folk wisdom identified long before Festinger (like, people are more receptive to congenial claims) and allows us to plan interventions to bypass or disarm some of the common pitfalls (ego threat etc)
November 26, 2025 at 11:11 PM
The utility of dissonance theory is that it gives us a general framework to understand patterns that folk wisdom identified long before Festinger (like, people are more receptive to congenial claims) and allows us to plan interventions to bypass or disarm some of the common pitfalls (ego threat etc)
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Interesting! When Prophecy Fails is a fascinating read, but it’s obviously messy to have observers embedded within a fringe group for an extended period, actively interacting with members.
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Interesting! When Prophecy Fails is a fascinating read, but it’s obviously messy to have observers embedded within a fringe group for an extended period, actively interacting with members.
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Just got wrecked by this so here, wreck yourselves ❤️
![Comic. Panels up to the 10-year point are grayed out. New panels since the Ten Years comic, which chronicles the first ten years of PERSON 1's journey with cancer: (1) [two people in bed] PERSON 1 (woman): One more chapter? PERSON 2 (man): Don’t we both have to get up early? PERSON 1: Nnnnnggggh PERSON 2: Sure, good point. (2) [many people wearing masks, walking while looking at graphs on their phones] (3) [birds landing on people] PERSON 2 in beanie and scarf: Hah! They like *my* seeds best. PERSON 1 in scarf holding phone with a bird sitting on it: Wait, how do I take a picture of this one? (4) [two people rowing boats with tree landscape] (5) [Person 1 carries overflowing stack of things to Person 2 in bed] PERSON 1: I brought you honey lemon tea, more pillows, a cinnamon roll, Tylenol, another blanket, a– PERSON 2: It was just Appendicitis, I’m really– PERSON 1: *It is my turn to take care of you and I am going to do it right!* (6) [Two people in car] (7) [still in car) PERSON 1: Oh my god. PERSON 2: Oh my god. (8) [car driving] PERSON 1: Pull over! PERSON 2: I am! (9) [both people get out of car] (10) [Large colored panel of aurora borealis over water with both people looking on] (11) [Person 1 sits against tree while Person 2 lies on the ground] PERSON 1: Fifteen years. No sign of the cancer. (12) I *am* having some weird symptoms. Joint pain. Fatigue. I think I’m losing my close-up vision. PERSON 2: Yeah. Me too. (13) PERSON 2: I think we’re getting old. (14) PERSON 1: I guess that’s okay. PERSON 2: It’s all I wanted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihwhjblp5lyiwp63ouar7ocfea7evmckytoeo7rkfuoo4gw5rnrra@jpeg)
November 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Just got wrecked by this so here, wreck yourselves ❤️
With breaking news, it’s almost always a good idea to wait for facts to emerge and then get checked and confirmed by people in a position to do so. Unfortunately the incentives and our instincts usually urge us to rush
There will be a flood of conspiracy theories from both sides about what the DC National Guard shooting "really" was. Except nobody knows exactly what happened or if anyone died, and there are no details about the shooter. Sometimes the proper response is not to respond for a while.
November 26, 2025 at 9:57 PM
With breaking news, it’s almost always a good idea to wait for facts to emerge and then get checked and confirmed by people in a position to do so. Unfortunately the incentives and our instincts usually urge us to rush
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
I used to host an extremely weird nightly show called ZeD and I 💯 agree with this post.
I think if Canada wants to have a strong cultural identity we need to go back to doing what we're best at, making the weirdest fucking TV shows you've ever seen
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I used to host an extremely weird nightly show called ZeD and I 💯 agree with this post.
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Honestly, it’s why I fell in love with science. As a kid, I was surrounded by people who’d never admit when they were wrong, and it really frustrated me. I was also a terrible perfectionist. So the idea that you could be wrong and admit it, and that was a GOOD THING, was beautiful and novel to me.
November 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Honestly, it’s why I fell in love with science. As a kid, I was surrounded by people who’d never admit when they were wrong, and it really frustrated me. I was also a terrible perfectionist. So the idea that you could be wrong and admit it, and that was a GOOD THING, was beautiful and novel to me.
Interesting! When Prophecy Fails is a fascinating read, but it’s obviously messy to have observers embedded within a fringe group for an extended period, actively interacting with members.
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Interesting! When Prophecy Fails is a fascinating read, but it’s obviously messy to have observers embedded within a fringe group for an extended period, actively interacting with members.
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
"ppl are really sick to the back teeth of concentrated corporate power. & I think that while they havent put their finger on it, there is a sense that a lot of our problems—genocide, climate inaction, xenophobia, authoritarianism, worsening labor conditions—are all downstream of concentrated power"
Cory Doctorow Explains Why Everything is Getting Shittier
The author and tech activist sits down with Current Affairs to discuss his new book, “Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What To Do About It”
www.currentaffairs.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:38 PM
"ppl are really sick to the back teeth of concentrated corporate power. & I think that while they havent put their finger on it, there is a sense that a lot of our problems—genocide, climate inaction, xenophobia, authoritarianism, worsening labor conditions—are all downstream of concentrated power"
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Funny thing is, there are “gravity ‘skeptics’” in the sense that there are cranks who deny gravity, just as there are cranks who deny vaccines, climate science, and germ theory. The big difference is, we haven’t put the “scientists are wrong about so-called gravity” cranks in charge of NASA!
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Funny thing is, there are “gravity ‘skeptics’” in the sense that there are cranks who deny gravity, just as there are cranks who deny vaccines, climate science, and germ theory. The big difference is, we haven’t put the “scientists are wrong about so-called gravity” cranks in charge of NASA!
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Incidentally, “gravity isn’t real” type claims were part of the impetus for launching modern organized skepticism 50 years ago. Scientists & editors of science magazines were plagued with crank correspondence—pseudo-physics, UFOs, ESP, etc. They welcomed volunteer specialists to refer stuff to
November 25, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Incidentally, “gravity isn’t real” type claims were part of the impetus for launching modern organized skepticism 50 years ago. Scientists & editors of science magazines were plagued with crank correspondence—pseudo-physics, UFOs, ESP, etc. They welcomed volunteer specialists to refer stuff to
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
If ghosts are real, what are they made of? No idea. Do they represent the lingering spirits of the dead, or some sort of “psychic memory,” or bleed through from some parallel dimension, or what? There’s no agreed upon theory of ghosts, just competing unverified stories
November 25, 2025 at 9:30 PM
If ghosts are real, what are they made of? No idea. Do they represent the lingering spirits of the dead, or some sort of “psychic memory,” or bleed through from some parallel dimension, or what? There’s no agreed upon theory of ghosts, just competing unverified stories
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Taken collectively, paranormal beliefs are very ordinary. Basically half of respondents affirm a belief in this one claim, and huge majorities will affirm a belief in at least one claim from a short list of common paranormal claims (ghosts in particular are always widely accepted)
Do Americans think aliens have ever visited Earth?
% who think they definitely or probably have …
Ever
U.S. adult citizens 47%
Democrats 51%
Republicans 41%
In recent years
U.S. adult citizens 42%
Democrats 45%
Republicans 39%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% who think they definitely or probably have …
Ever
U.S. adult citizens 47%
Democrats 51%
Republicans 41%
In recent years
U.S. adult citizens 42%
Democrats 45%
Republicans 39%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
![A chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Americans are split on whether aliens have visited Earth in recent years ."
The chart's sub-headline is: "How likely do you think it is that aliens have [ever visited Earth / visited Earth in recent years]? (%)."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ke6f766al4swdugyvmvyipuo/bafkreidud3naabaljgrtc7u6kgcsh3lgvpzcjkg3dkrtu2o3p4rqqvqj54@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Taken collectively, paranormal beliefs are very ordinary. Basically half of respondents affirm a belief in this one claim, and huge majorities will affirm a belief in at least one claim from a short list of common paranormal claims (ghosts in particular are always widely accepted)