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This list of alternative, speculative and disputed theories includes examples of fields of endeavor that are considered to be fringe or pseudoscientific by the mainstream scientific community. Included examples range from theories considered crackpot by all but their handful of followers and ending in respectable theories that are simply the minority view. Some of these practices are often quite popular outside the scientific community. Image File history File links Stop_hand. ... Fringe science is a phrase used to describe scientific inquiry in an established field that departs significantly from mainstream or orthodox theories. ... Phrenology is seen today as a classic example of pseudoscience. ... Mainstream is, generally, the common current of thought. ... Crank (or kook, crackpot, or quack) is a pejorative term for a person who writes or speaks in an authoritative fashion about a particular subject, often of a scientific or pseudo-scientific nature, but is perceived as holding false or even ludicrous beliefs. ...

Inclusion in the list is possible because that theory is:

1. Asserting claims without supporting experimental evidence;
2. Asserting claims which contradict experimentally established results;
3. Failing to provide an experimental possibility of reproducible results; or
4. Violating Occam's Razor (the principle of choosing the simplest explanation when multiple viable explanations are possible).

Many of these theories are considered pathological science: a psychological process in which believers in a theory, who may have originally conformed to the scientific method, unconsciously veer from that method and begin a pathological process of wishful data interpretation. The term ironic science was used by John Horgan in his book The End of Science to describe a "speculative, non-empirical mode" that mainstream science sometimes enters. Occams Razor (also spelled Ockhams Razor), is a principle attributed to the 14th-century English logician and Franciscan friar, William of Ockham. ... Pathological science is a neologism to pejoratively describe the pursuit of pseudoscientific claims as like a pathology, or Such claims are said to be distinguished from pseudoscience (itself a pejorative) in that they have a larger and more dogmatic following, and are asserted to be based in self-deception amongst... Scientific method as envisaged by one of its early exponents, Sir Isaac Newton, is fundamental to the investigation and acquisition of new knowledge based upon physical evidence. ...

Note that historically, the scientific community was less open to new ideas than today. Some currently respected theories, such as e.g. plate tectonics or the idea that stones could fall from the sky (meteorites) were rejected just because they contradicted popular belief amongst scientists, not because they were in conflict with known experimentally established results of that time. Thus, some theories that are regarded as pseudoscientific today may be rehabilitated as respected theories in the future. However, the reverse process happens more often: it is far more likely that a mainstream theory or hypothesis will be discredited in the future. Historical examples of such cases are luminiferous aether and polywater. Plate tectonics (from the Greek word for one who constructs and destroys, τεκτων, tekton) is a theory of geology developed to explain the phenomenon of continental drift, and is currently the theory accepted by the vast majority of scientists working in this area. ... A meteorite is a small extraterrestrial body that impacts the Earths surface. ... The luminiferous aether: It was hypothesised that the Earth was immersed in, and moves through, a medium (the aether) which was also the base carrier of light In the late 19th century the term luminiferous aether (light-bearing aether), or ether, was commonly used to describe the medium that, at... Polywater was a hypothetical polymerized form of water that was the subject of much scientific controversy during the late 1960s. ...

Theories

Biology

See also Medicine below.

• Creationism is the belief that the origin of everything in the universe is the result of a first cause, which was creation brought about by a creator God. 'Creationism' generally refers to the version of this concept of cosmology that is opposed to the theory of Evolution. See creation science.
  • Creation biology is the subset of creation science that tries to explain biology without Evolution. Its cladistics are known as baraminology.
• Erototoxin, a neurological chemical postulated by Judith Reisman, PhD, an anti-pornography activist. It is triggered in the brain by exposure to pornography, and "mimics the 'high' from a street drug". She considers erototoxins addictive substances which represent the alleged link between pornography and such things as serial murder, rape, child molestation, and erectile dysfunction.
• Intelligent Design scenarios hold that life and living things show signs of having been designed. ID's primary argument is that life is too complex to have simply "happened" or evolved via millions of years. (Intelligent Design is sometimes considered to be a form of Creationism, though many who advocate ID suggest it may be the other way around.)
• Irreducible complexity is a concept which considers that the generally accepted scientific theory that biological Evolution by natural selection alone is incomplete or flawed, and that some additional mechanism is required to explain the origins of life.
• Specified complexity is a concept which considers that modern information science can only deal with the probabilities of genetic evolution if it considers the context of the information contained within a gene.
• Biophotons, a postulated communication mechanism of cells by the means of light, sometimes claimed to be the scientific substrate of Qi.
• Vitalism, theories claiming that understanding of the living matter should be radically different from that of non-living matter, e.g. biodynamic agriculture.
• Odic force a theory that all life is permeated and bound together by a vital property.
• Morphogenetic fields supposedly cause things (particularly, but not exclusively, living organisms) to grow or behave in patterns laid down by previous similar things.
• Biological transmutation, see Corentin Louis Kervran, the hypothesis that organisms can convert chemical elements, e.g. copper to iron.
• Quantum evolution, the hypothesis that genetic mutation is directed through quantum effects.
• Quantum mind, includes various theories which invoke quantum phenomena to explain conciousness or to justify belief in free will.
• Vibration theory of smell, the hypothesis that the sensation of smell arises from the nose's sensing of the rate of electron tunneling into the scent molecule.

Biology is the branch of science dealing with the study of life. ... The Creation of Light by Gustave Doré. In Abrahamic religions, creationism or creation theology is the origin belief that humans, life, the Earth, and the universe were created by a supreme being or deitys supernatural intervention. ... The deepest visible-light image of the cosmos. ... Categories: Wikipedia cleanup | Stub | Philosophy of science | Religious Philosophy | Theology ... God is the divine being that created the omniverse. ... Cosmology, from the Greek: κοσμολογία (cosmologia, κόσμος (cosmos) world + λογια (logia) discourse) is the study of the universe in its totality and by extension mans place in it. ... Theory has a number of distinct meanings in different fields of knowledge, depending on the context and their methodologies. ... A speculative phylogenetic tree of all living things, based on rRNA gene data, showing the separation of the three domains, bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. ... Creation Magazine is a publication supporting young-earth creationist beliefs. ... Creation biology is the attempt by certain creationists to study biology from a young earth creationist perspective. ... A speculative phylogenetic tree of all living things, based on rRNA gene data, showing the separation of the three domains, bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. ... This cladogram shows the relationship among various insect groups. ... In creation biology, Baraminology is the effort to classify created kinds. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Judith Reisman. ... Judith A. Reisman, Ph. ... Pavonazzeto marble sculpture, see Erotic art in Pompeii Pornography (from Greek πορνογραφία pornographia — literally writing about or drawings of prostitutes) (also informally referred to as porn or porno) is the representation of the human body or human sexual behaviour with the goal of sexual arousal, similar to, but distinct from, erotica... Serial killers are individuals who have a history of multiple slayings of victims who were usually unknown to them beforehand. ... Sexual abuse is a relative cultural term used to describe sexual relations and behavior between two or more parties which are considered criminally and/or morally offensive. ... Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is a sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis for satisfactory sexual intercourse regardless of the capability of ejaculation. ... Intelligent design (ID) is the concept that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection. ... Irreducible complexity is a controversial concept invoked in support of intelligent design which claims that the generally accepted scientific theory that life evolved through biological evolution by natural selection is incomplete and flawed and that some additional mechanism is required to explain the origins of life. ... Specified complexity is a concept developed by intelligent design proponent William Dembski. ... Information science or informatics is the science of information. ... A biophoton (from the Greek βιο meaning life and φωτο meaning light) is a photon of light emitted in some fashion from a biological system. ... QI, standing for Quite Interesting, is a comedy panel game television show shown on BBC Two and BBC Four and hosted by Stephen Fry. ... Vitalism is the doctrine that life cannot be explained solely by mechanism. ... // General characteristics Biodynamic agriculture, or Biodynamics comprises an ecological and sustainable system of agricultural production, particularly of food for humans that claims to respect all creation. ... Also called Od [õd] and Odyle, Odic Force is the 19th century name given to a hypothetical vital energy or life force that proponents say permeates all living plants, animals, and humans. ... A morphogenetic field (a subset of morphic field) is a hypothetical biological (and potentially social) field that contains the information necessary to shape the exact form of a living thing, as part of its epigenetics, and may also shape its behaviour and coordination with other beings (see also morphogenesis). ... Transmutation is the conversion of one object into another. ... Corentin Louis Kervran (1901 - 1983) was a French scientist. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The quantum mind or quantum consciousness is a protoscientific hypothesis that posits a connection between consciousness, neurobiology and quantum mechanics. ... According to this theory the sensation of smell arises from the noses sensing of the rate of electron tunneling into the scent molecule. ...

Divination

• Astrology refers to any of several systems of understanding, interpreting and organizing knowledge about reality and human existence, based on the relative positions and movement of various real and construed celestial bodies.
• Cartomancy is a form of fortune telling -- divination -- using a deck of cards.
• Channeling supposed special ability of a person to receive information from a supernatural source.
• Chiromancy evaluates a person's character or future life by "reading" the palm of that person's hand.
• Dowsing divination method which dowsers say empowers them to find water, metals and hidden objects by carrying some form of stick and watching its motion.
• Fortune telling is the practice of predicting the future, usually of an individual, through mystical or supernatural means.
• Geomancy is a method of divination based on the interpretation of markings on the ground or the pattern of scattered dirt or pebbles. It also refers to a set of practices and theories based on the identification or manipulation of energies tied to the earth, including dowsing, feng shui, and ley lines / dragon lines.
• Numerology is an arcane study of the purported mystical relationship between numbers and the character or action of physical objects and living things.
• Ornithomancy is form of divination using the flight of birds to predict future events.
• Pyramid power theory states that pyramids have healing power and spiritual energy.
• Remote viewing is a form of clairvoyance by which a viewer is said to be able to perceive objects or events separated from the viewer in space or time
• Scrying is the name given to the ancient technique of gazing into an object for the purpose of clairvoyance.
• TRIZ is method of solving technical problems and predicting future technological changes based on "objective laws" ultimately governing technological evolution.

This man in Rhumsiki, Cameroon, tells the future by interpreting the changes in position of various objects as caused by a fresh-water crab through nggàm[1]. Divination is the practice of ascertaining information from supernatural sources. ... Astrology (from Greek αστρολογία = άστρον, astron, star + English suffix, -ology, study or discipline, derived from Greek λόγος, logos, which has a variety of meanings in English generally related to systematic thought or speech) refers to any of several traditions or beliefs in which knowledge of the apparent positions (as seen from earth) of... Cartomancy is a form of fortune-telling or divination using a deck of cards. ... This man in Rhumsiki, Cameroon, tells the future by interpreting the changes in position of various objects as caused by a fresh-water crab through nggàm[1]. Divination is the practice of ascertaining information from supernatural sources. ... Channeling can refer to Channeling (physics) Channeling (mediumistic), a term used in reference to the process of receiving messages or inspiration from invisible beings or spirits This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Chiromancy or cheiromancy, (Greek cheir, “hand”; manteia, “divination”), is the art of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as palmistry, palm-reading, or hand analysis. ... Dowsing is a controversial practice which proponents claim empowers them to find water, metals, gem stones, and hidden objects by carrying or waving a stick or other apparatus over a piece of land and watching for any movement. ... For prophecy in the context of revealed religions see Prophet. ... Geomancy (from Old French geomancie <Late Latin geōmantia <Late Greek geōmanteia< geo, earth + manteia, divination) from the eponymous ilm al-raml (the science of sand), is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground, or how handfuls of dirt land when you toss them. ... Numerology is the study of the purported mystical or esoteric relationship between numbers and the character or action of physical objects and living things. ... Pyramid power is a term coined by Dr. G. Patrick Flanagan in his 1973 book, Pyramid Power, to describe alleged supernatural properties of the ancient Egyptian pyramids and scale models thereof. ... Remote viewing (RV) is a procedure developed by parapsychologists at the Stanford Research Institute to perform clairvoyance under controlled conditions. ... Clairvoyance is defined as a form of extra-sensory perception whereby a person perceives distant objects, persons, or events, including seeing through opaque objects and the detection of types of energy not normally perceptible to humans (i. ... Scrying is the occult practice of using a medium, most commonly a reflective surface or translucent body, to aid perceived psychic abilities such as clairvoyance. ... TRIZ, (pronounced [treez]), is a Russian acronym for Teoriya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch (Теория решения изобретательских задач), a Theory of solving inventive problems or Theory of inventive problems solving (TIPS) (less known as Theory of Solving Inventors Problems), developed by Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues since 1946. ...

Geology

• The Catastrophism theory is that Earth has been affected by sudden, short-lived, violent events that were sometimes worldwide in scope. Immanuel Velikovsky's theories fall under this category. (An exception, one specific type of catastrophism that is no longer significantly disputed, is the theory that the Earth has occasionally experienced collisions from astronomical objects such as asteroids and comets large enough to temporarily affect global climate and cause extinction events.)
• The Hollow Earth theory claims that the Earth is hollow, and its inside is possibly populated by a race of superbeings, humans or aliens, and possibly dinosaurs.
• Ley lines are alignments of a number of places of geographical interest, such as ancient megaliths.
• The Flat Earth theory is the idea that Earth is flat, as opposed to the view of modern science that Earth is very nearly spherical.
• Flood geology is the creationist form of geology that advocates most of the geologic features on Earth are explainable by a global flood.

Geology (from Greek γη- (ge-, the earth) and λογος (logos, word, reason)) is the science and study of the Earth, its composition, structure, physical properties, history and the processes that shape it. ... Catastrophism is the theory that Earth has been affected by sudden, short-lived, violent events that were sometimes worldwide in scope. ... Immanuel Velikovsky (June 10, 1895 (NS) – November 17, 1979) is best known as the author of a number of controversial books on pre-history, particularly Worlds in Collision 1950), Ages in Chaos 1952, and Earth in Upheaval 1956. ... An asteroid is a small, solid object in our Solar System, orbiting the Sun. ... Comet Hale-Bopp A comet (denoted by ☄) is a small body in the solar system that orbits the sun and (at least occasionally) exhibits a coma (or atmosphere) and/or a tail — both due primarily to the effects of solar radiation upon the comets nucleus, which itself is a... The phrase hollow earth refers to the esoteric idea that the planet Earth has a hollow interior, almost always associated with the idea that it has a habitable inner surface. ... Ley lines are alignments of a number of places of geographical interest, such as ancient megaliths. ... The notion of a Flat Earth refers to the idea that the inhabited surface of the Earth is flat, rather than curved (see Spherical Earth). ... Flood geology, creation geology and diluvial geology are terms used by creationists to describe the study of geologic phenomena with reference to the purported events of the Great Flood as described in Genesis. ... The Deluge by Gustave Doré The story of a Great Flood sent by God or the gods to destroy civilization as an act of divine retribution is a widespread theme in myths. ...

Medicine

• Acupuncture, in the traditional sense, is the practice of inserting very thin needles in particular points on the body to redirect qi thereby improving health and well-being. While acupuncture has documented theraputic effects, mainstream medical science attributes the mechanism for these effects to sources other than qi. This is one component of traditional Chinese medicine.
• AIDS reappraisal is the belief that the causal connection between HIV and AIDS should be reassessed, or in its more extreme form, that HIV does not exist.
• Applied kinesiology is a method of diagnosing malfunctioning organs and what the effect of substances on the body is or would be by testing whether certain muscles are weakened or not. See also Kinesiology.
• The Bates Method of vision improvement, based on a theories of accommodation and myopia pathogenesis which are not accepted by mainstream ophthalmology or biology.
• Biorhythm theory researches patterns of alterations in physiology, emotions, and intellect.
• Some Chiropractic theories that ascribe ailments unrelated to the spine to spinal maladjustments.
• Crystal healing theory states that crystals have alleged healing and mystical paranormal powers.
• Demon possession is a theory for explaining mental illness which was once widely held and has Biblical support which is now rejected in the mental health community.
• The Duesberg hypothesis claims that recreational and pharmaceutical drug use, rather than HIV, is the primary cause of AIDS. See also AIDS reappraisal.
• Food faddism refer to the tendency for idiosyncratic diets and eating patterns.
• Holonomic brain theory models cognitive function as being guided by a matrix of neurological wave interference patterns situated temporally between holographic Gestalt perception and discrete, affective, quantum vectors derived from reward anticipation potentials.
• Homeopathy is a system of alternative medicine involving the use of highly diluted substances with similar (i. e. homeo-) characteristics to the condition being treated. In many cases not a single molecule of the substance remains in the diluted solution.
• Iridology is the practice of examining the iris to evaluate systemic health. (See also eyology and sclerology.)
• Magnet therapy is an alternative medicine based on the concept that certain medical disorders can be effectively treated by exposure to magnetic fields.
• Orthomolecular medicine emphasizes the use of natural substances found in a healthy diet such as vitamins, dietary minerals, enzymes, amino acids, glyconutrients, and essential fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of diseases. (See also Vitamin C, below.)
• Psychic surgery is a type of apparent surgery performed by the healer with bare hands or unorthodox instruments.
• Reflexology claims that by massaging specific parts of the foot, one can improve the health of various other parts of the body.
• Scientology opposition to psychiatry
• Trepanation is the act of drilling a hole in one's head to release built-up pressure and move the person to a higher plane of consciousness.
• Vaccine theory of autism suggests that the dramatic worldwide rise in the diagnosis of autism can be attributed to an immunologic response of the vaccine or to the toxic effects of thimerosal, a preservative until recently used to preserve vaccines. It has been discredited by a report from the Institue of Medicine^[1].
• Vitamin C, according to some, perhaps most notably Nobel laureate chemist Linus Pauling, can prevent and cure various diseases (including heart disease and cancer) when taken in high doses. This may extend to the belief that the inability of humans to manufacture the vitamin is a "genetic disease" which harms our overall health.

Medicine is the branch of health science and the sector of public life concerned with maintaining human health or restoring it through the treatment of disease and injury. ... Acupuncture (from Lat. ... QI, standing for Quite Interesting, is a comedy panel game television show shown on BBC Two and BBC Four and hosted by Stephen Fry. ... QI, standing for Quite Interesting, is a comedy panel game television show shown on BBC Two and BBC Four and hosted by Stephen Fry. ... TCM shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... It has been suggested that Diagnostic kinesiology be merged into this article or section. ... Kinesiology is the study of the mechanics of exercise. ... The Bates Method is a method created at the beginning of 20 th century by Dr. William Horatio Bates, M.D. (1860-1931). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Chiropractic, also known as chiropractic care, is a world-wide health discipline that seeks to prevent and treat health problems utilizing spinal adjustments in order to correct subluxations. ... The vertebral column seen from the side Different regions (curvatures) of the vertebral column The vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of vertebrae situated in the dorsal aspect of the abdomen. ... Crystal healing is the belief that crystals have energies and properties that are able to improve health. ... Demonic possession is a form of spiritual possession; specifically, the act of one or more demons entering a living or dead human or animal body or an object with the intention of using it for a purpose, normally evil but sometimes instead as a punishment or test. ... The Duesberg hypothesis is the claim that chemicals from recreational and pharmaceutical drug use, and not HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), is the primary cause of AIDS. In this approach, AIDS is taken to be a name for a group of unrelated diseases caused by abuse of recreational drugs such as... Human immunodeficiency virus, commonly known by the initialism HIV (formally known as HTLV-III and lymphadenopathy-associated virus), is a retrovirus that primarily infects vital components of the human immune system such as CD4+ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. ... Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (or acronym AIDS or Aids), is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Food faddism and fad diet are terms which refer to the tendency for idiosyncratic diets and eating patterns. ... The holonomic brain theory, originated by Karl Pribram and initially developed in collaboration with David Bohm, suggests cognitive function is guided by a matrix of neurological wave interference patterns situated temporally between holographic Gestalt perception and discrete, affective, quantum vectors derived from reward anticipation potentials. ... In communications, interference is anything which alters, modifies, or disrupts a message; as it travels along a channel, between a source and a receiver. ... A holograph is a document written entirely in the handwriting of the person whose signature it bears. ... Gestalt is a German word meaning shape or form. ... The word quantum, pl. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Iridology is an alternative medicine practice in which patterns, colors and other characteristics of stromal fibers of the iris are examined for information about a patients systemic health. ... The human iris The iris is the grey-brown area. ... Eyology is a term that encompasses the various iridologies (physical iridology, personality iridology, etc. ... Sclerology is an alternative medicine practice in which the sclera is examined for information about a patients systemic health. ... Magnet therapy, or magnetic therapy, is a form of alternative medicine based on the claim that certain medical disorders can be effectively treated by exposure to magnetic fields. ... Orthomolecular medicine or optimum nutrition, emphasizes the use of natural substances found in a healthy diet such as vitamins, dietary minerals, enzymes, amino acids, glyconutrients, and essential fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of diseases. ... Psychic surgery is allegedly a paranormal surgical procedure, practiced chiefly in the Philippines and Brazil. ... Reflexology, or zone therapy, is the practice of stimulating points on the feet, hands, or ears (termed reflex zones), in the hopes that it will have a beneficial effect on some other parts of the body, or will improve general health. ... Scientologists regularly hold anti-psychiatry demonstrations, which they call Psychbusts Scientology is publicly, and often vehemently, opposed to psychiatry and psychology and offers itself as an alternative to psychiatry, which Scientologists believe to be a barbaric and corrupt profession. ... 18th century French illustration of trepanation Trepanation (also known as trepanning, trephination, trephining or burr hole) is a form of surgery in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the skull, thus exposing the dura mater. ... Consciousness is a quality of the mind generally regarded to comprise such key features as subjectivity, self-awareness, sentience, sapience, and the ability to perceive the relationship between oneself and ones environment. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Chemical structure of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient essential for life, used by the human body for many purposes. ... Linus Carl Pauling (February 28, 1901 – August 19, 1994) was an American quantum chemist and biochemist, widely regarded as the premier chemist of the twentieth century. ...

Physics

• Alchemy, the attempt to turn various metals, such as lead, into gold. Probably no current adherents.
• Autodynamics is a theory proposed as a replacement for special relativity, which is claimed to have been based on erroneous assumptions.
• Bogdanov Affair
• Cold fusion (or cold nuclear fusion) is the claim that nuclear fusion can occur at temperatures and energies considerably lower than those usually considered necessary to bring nuclei together; one particular claim being that hydrogen can undergo nuclear fusion in palladium.
• Creationist cosmologies offered by Young Earth Creationists as alternative ideas about cosmology to allow for a universe that is only thousands of years old.
• Nikola Tesla's Dynamic theory of gravity that was never published.
• ECE theory, an alleged unified field theory,
• Electric Universe, an idea that electricity plays a larger role in the universe than is commonly accepted.
• Heim Theory (see also Burkhard Heim), a Theory of everything with small, mostly German and Austrian following.
• Hydrino theory proposes the hydrino, or miniature hydrogen atom with the electron pushed closer than usual to the nucleus.
• Kirlian photography is high-voltage contact print photography. Its existence is not disputed, but the paranormal interpretations of some images thus produced are.
• Luminiferous aether was the classical medium for the propagation of light, but after the early 20th century was seen as discredited by the mainstream physics community.
• Modern geocentrism, citing uniform gamma ray bursts distribution as evidence that we are at the center of the universe, and other ideas of this type.
• N-ray, an alleged new form of radiation first "observed" by René-Prosper Blondlot, and soon debunked by Robert W. Wood and others.
• Topological geometrodynamics, too new and developing to ultimately evaluate. One man theory of Matti Pitkänen. [2]
• Wilhelm Reich's Orgone energy is an unproven form of energy.
• Perpetual motion machines are a class of hypothetical machines in which the inputs of energy (including the energy equivalent of any fuel) are less than the outputs, a result that would violate the principle of conservation of energy. These should not be confused with energy processes that use various forms of latent energy (such as nuclear fission) and may to an untrained eye appear to be energy from "nowhere".
• Plasma cosmology is a sub-set of plasma physics that attempts to explain large-scale structure in the universe.
• Polywater is a supposed polymerized form of water.
• Polarizable vacuum is a supposed alternative to general relativity introduced by Harold Puthoff, which claims that gravitation is merely an electromagnetic phenomenon.
• Process physics by Reginald Cahill. "Process physics comes together with physics, automata theory, and cognitive science into a holistic area known as generative sciences, towards the unification of all systematic knowledge about the universe and the world."
• Reciprocal System of Theory purports to be a new system of theory based on motion as opposed to matter. See: RST Wiki
• Steady state theory holds that the universe has always existed, and will always exist, in the same macroscopic state. This theory was considered mainstream until experimental results began to support the (then-unpopular) Big Bang Theory in the mid-20th century.
• Scalar field theory is a set of theories in a model which posits that there is a basic mechanism that produces the electric field and the magnetic field and which normal electromagnetic theory does not acknowledge or account for.
• Scalar waves says there are electromagnetic longitudinal waves
• Synchronicity refers to the alignment of forces in the universe to create an event or circumstance. A coincidence that seems imbued with deep meaning. Coined by Carl Jung. Jung and Wolfgang Pauli wrote a book together on the topic.
• Red mercury, code name for a supposed energetic substance that could allow creation of hydrogen bomb without preceding fission explosion, promulgated by Samuel Cohen, sometimes claimed to be a ballotechnic substance such as hafnium-178m nuclear isomer.
• Time Cube, the idea that we live four actual days for every one perceived day, a fact not apparent to us because of a vast academic conspiracy.
• Zero Point Origin of Inertia, the theory of Bernie Haisch and Hal Puthoff that the rest mass of the electron comes from a Lorentz force drag on the massless electron from transverse random electromagnetic fields.

A black hole concept drawing by NASA. Physics (from the Greek, φυσικός (physikos), natural, and φύσις (physis), nature) is the science of the natural world dealing with the fundamental constituents of the universe, the forces they exert on one another, and the results produced by these forces. ... For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... This article is about the chemical element. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... Autodynamics is a replacement for special relativity and general relativity proposed by physicist Ricardo Carezani, in the early 1940s. ... Special relativity (SR) or the special theory of relativity is the physical theory published in 1905 by Albert Einstein in his article On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies. It replaced Newtonian notions of space and time and incorporated electromagnetism as represented by Maxwells equations. ... Igor and Grichka Bogdanov The Bogdanov Affair is a controversy regarding the merit of a series of theoretical physics papers written by French twin brothers Igor and Grichka Bogdanov (or Bogdanoff). ... Charles Bennett examines three cold fusion test cells at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA // Cold fusion is the name for a claimed nuclear fusion reaction occurring well below the temperature required for thermonuclear reactions (millions of degrees Celsius) in a relatively small table top apparatus. ... The deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion reaction is considered the most promising for producing fusion power. ... General Name, Symbol, Number hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 1. ... General Name, Symbol, Number palladium, Pd, 46 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 5, d Appearance silvery white metallic Atomic mass 106. ... Creationist cosmologies are pseudoscientific arguments by various creationists that a significant portion of the observable universe is a few thousands of years old, and as such, run contrary to the Big Bang Theory, which states that all of the universe is billions of years old. ... Nikola Tesla (July 10, 1856 – c. ... Nikola Teslas dynamic theory of gravity is reported to be Teslas attempt to formulate a theory relating gravity and electromagnetism, i. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... In physics, unified field theory is an attempt to unify all the fundamental forces and the interactions between elementary particles into a single theoretical framework. ... A sunspot. ... This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. ... Burkhard Heim. ... A theory of everything (TOE) is a theory of theoretical physics and mathematics that fully explains and links together all known physical phenomena. ... Hydrino theory is a colloquial term for one aspect of a controversial new hypothesis of atomic chemistry and physics developed by Randell Mills, termed Classical Quantum Mechanics. The hypothesis has drawn skepticism from most observers. ... Kirlian photography refers to a form of contact print photography, theoretically associated with high-voltage. ... The luminiferous aether: It was hypothesised that the Earth was immersed in, and moves through, a medium (the aether) which was also the base carrier of light In the late 19th century the term luminiferous aether (light-bearing aether), or ether, was commonly used to describe the medium that, at... The term modern geocentrism refers to a belief currently held by certain groups that the Earth is the center of the universe and does not move. ... The so-called N rays (or N-rays) were a phenomenon described by French scientist René-Prosper Blondlot but subsequently shown to be illusory. ... René-Prosper Blondlot (July 3, 1849 - November 24, 1930) was a French physicist, best remembered for his mistaken identification of N rays, a phenomenon that subsequently proved to be illusory. ... Robert Williams Wood (May 2, 1868 - August 11, 1955) was a physicist. ... Dr. Wilhelm Reich Wilhelm Reich (March 24, 1897–November 3, 1957) was a Jewish-Austrian psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and author, who was trained in Vienna by Sigmund Freud. ... Dr. Wilhelm Reich Wilhelm Reich (March 24, 1897–November 3, 1957) was an Austrian psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, who was trained in Vienna by Sigmund Freud. ... This article or section should include material from Parallel Path See also Perpetuum mobile as a musical term Perpetual motion machines (the Latin term perpetuum mobile is not uncommon) are a class of hypothetical machines which would produce useful energy in a way science cannot explain (yet). ... Conservation of energy is possibly the most important, and certainly the most practically useful of several conservation laws in physics. ... An induced nuclear fission event. ... Plasma Universe and plasma cosmology. ... A Plasma lamp In physics and chemistry, a plasma is an ionized gas, and is usually considered to be a distinct phase of matter. ... Polywater was a hypothetical polymerized form of water that was the subject of much scientific controversy during the late 1960s. ... The Polarizable Vacuum (PV) refers to papers by Harold Puthoff and his followers, which allegedly present an alternative to General relativity. ... General relativity (GR) is the geometrical theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915. ... Harold E. Puthoff, PhD, is an American physicist. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... Rendering of human brain based on MRI data Cognitive science is usually defined as the scientific study either of mind or of intelligence (e. ... In cosmology, the steady state theory (also known as the Infinite Universe Theory or continuous creation) is a model developed in 1948 by Fred Hoyle, Thomas Gold, Hermann Bondi and others as an alternative to the Big Bang theory (known, usually, as the standard cosmological model). ... According to the Big Bang theory, the universe originated in an infinitely dense and physically paradoxical singularity. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... For the quantum mechanical scalar field theory which is a field theory of spinless particles, see Scalar field (physics) Scalar field theory (SWT) is a set of fringe theories in a model which posits that there is a basic mechanism that produces the electric field and the magnetic field. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Longitudinal waves, also referred to as compressional waves or pressure waves, are waves that have vibrations along the their direction of travel. ... Synchronicity is a word coined by the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung to describe the temporally coincident occurences of acausal events. Jung also spoke of synchronicity as being an acausal connecting principle (ie. ... Carl Gustav Jung (July 26, 1875 – June 6, 1961) (IPA:) was a Swiss psychiatrist and founder of Analytical Psychology. ... Wolfgang Pauli Wolfgang Ernst Pauli (April 25, 1900 – December 15, 1958) was an Austrian physicist noted for his work on the theory of spin, and in particular the discovery of the Exclusion principle, which underpins the whole of chemistry. ... Red mercury is a discredited substance that was thought to be used in the creation of nuclear bombs (some believed that red mercury was a ballotechnic material). ... In general fission is a splitting or breaking up into parts. ... Samuel T. Cohen is a physicist who is known for inventing the neutron bomb. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... General Name, Symbol, Number hafnium, Hf, 72 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 4, 6, d Appearance gray steel Atomic mass 178. ... A nuclear isomer is a metastable or isomeric state of an atom caused by the excitation of a proton or neutron in its nucleus so that it requires a change in spin before it can release its extra energy. ... -1... Harold E. Puthoff, PhD, is an American physicist. ... In physics, the Lorentz force is the force exerted on a charged particle in an electromagnetic field. ...

Psychology

• Characterology method of character reading developed in the 1920's.
• Couéism, or the Coué Method, method of healing and self-improvement through autosuggestion.
• Engrams, a phenomenon claimed by Dianetics (see Scientology), are claimed to be mental patterns connected through activation at the same time.
• Enneagram is a classification of personality characteristics claimed to give insight into intra- and interpersonal relationships.
• Graphology is the study of handwriting and its connection to behavior, personal information and other human traits.
• Parapsychology is the branch of science concerned with the study of mental phenomena, whether actual or purported, that are not currently explainable within the framework of mainstream, conventional science.
• Pathognomy is the study of passions and emotions.
• Phrenology claims to be able to determine personality traits and criminality on the basis of the shape of the head.
• Photoreading is "mentally photographing" printed pages.
• Physiognomy is based upon the belief that the study and judgement of a person's outer appearance, primarily the face, reflects the contents of their personality.
• Recovered memory is the act of discovering repressed memories and therapy to achieve such ends.
• Sentience Quotient is a concept invented by Robert A. Freitas Jr.. The theory defines sentience according to a relationship between information processing rate and brain mass, yet there is no evidence that such a relationship is in any way related to the measure of sentience.

Psychology (ancient Greek: psyche = soul or mind, logos/-ology = study of) is an academic and applied field involving the study of the mind and behavior, both human and nonhuman. ... Characterology is a method of character reading developed in the 1920s that attempted to combine revised Physiognomy, reconstructed Phrenology, and amplified Pathognomy with ethnology, sociology, and anthropology. ... Émile Coué (born in Troyes, France, 26 February 1857 of old noble Breton stock; died 2 July 1926 in Nancy, France) was a French psychologist and pharmacist who introduced a method of psychotherapy, healing, and self-improvement, based on autosuggestion or self-hypnosis. ... An Engram is a term for the (hypothesized) means by which memory traces are biologically stored as physical or biochemical change in the brain (and other neural tissue) in response to external stimuli. ... Dianetics is a therapeutic method and a set of ideas about the nature and structure of the human mind developed primarily by L. Ron Hubbard in the late 1940s. ... Scientology is a belief system popularized in 1952 by author L. Ron Hubbard. ... The Enneagram Figure The Enneagram (or Enneagon) is a nine-pointed diametric figure which is used to indicate the dynamic ways that aspects of things and processes are connected and change. ... Graphology is the study of handwriting and its connection to behavior, and related data points. ... This article or section may contain external links added only to promote a website, product or service — otherwise known as spam. ... Pathognomy is the study of passions and emotions. ... A 19th century Phrenology chart Phrenology (from Greek: φρην, phrēn, mind; and λογος, logos, study) is a theory which claims to be able to determine character, personality traits, and criminality on the basis of the shape of the head (reading bumps). Developed by German physician Franz Joseph Gall around 1800, and... PhotoReading is a purportedly whole-mind system which it is claimed, allows people to read books at speeds exceeding 25,000 words per minute. ... Physiognomy (Gk. ... A repressed memory, according to some theories of psychology, is a memory (often traumatic) of an event or environment which is stored by the unconscious mind but outside the awareness of the conscious mind. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Robert A. Freitas Jr. ...

Sociology

• Eugenics is a theory that argues that, without proper intervention, genetically "less fit" members of society will "out breed" the "more fit" members of society, with fitness expressed variously in terms of latent intelligence, race, or moral qualities. Eugenics has also included a number of social techniques for the "genetic improvement" of the human species, ranging from the mild to the genocidal.
• Memetics is what proponents argue a scientific approach to evolutionary models of information transfer based on the concept of the meme.
• Social Darwinism is a set of theories which proponents argue govern the natural sociological relations of humanity; these theories are putatively an application of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection to society as a whole.

Social interactions of people and their consequences are the subject of sociology studies. ... Eugenics is the self-direction of human evolution: Logo from the Second International Congress of Eugenics, 1921, depicting it as a tree which unites a variety of different fields. ... Memetics is an approach to evolutionary models of information transfer based on the concept of the meme. ... Social Darwinism is a term used to describe a style or trend in social theory which holds that Darwins theory of evolution of biological traits in a population by natural selection can also be applied to human social institutions. ...

Xenology

• Cryptozoology is the study of rumored or mythological animals that are presumed by many to exist, but for which proof does not yet exist.
• Pseudoarchaeology refers to the ideologically-driven, usually sensational interpretation of the past outside of a critical, scientific framework. Pseudoarchaeology also includes forms of protosciences.
• Ufology is the term describing the study of the UFO (unidentified flying object) phenomena, including claims that some UFOs are extraterrestrial vehicles manned by aliens.
• Vril - A worldview involving Nazi mysticism, and an interpretation of Ufology relating to a Hollow earth and subterranean Nazi-friendly super beings, rather than "space" aliens.

Cryptozoology is the study of animals that are presumed (at least by the researcher) to exist, but for which conclusive proof is missing; the term also includes the study of animals generally considered extinct, but which are still occasionally reported. ... Pseudoarchaeology is an aspect of pseudohistory. ... Ufology is the study of unidentified-flying-object (UFO) reports, sightings, and other related phenomena. ... Vril is a word from a science-fiction novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton titled Vril: The Power of the Coming Race and published in 1870. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and to make a clear distinction between fact and fiction, this article may require cleanup. ... Ufology is the study of unidentified-flying-object (UFO) reports, sightings, and other related phenomena. ... The phrase hollow earth refers to the esoteric idea that the planet Earth has a hollow interior, almost always associated with the idea that it has a habitable inner surface. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Nazism. ... In popular fiction and conspiracy theories, life forms, especially intelligent life forms, that are of extraterrestrial origin, i. ...

Miscellaneous

• Alpha Curio Bet claims each of the letters in the English language has its own mystical meaning which can be used to decipher words.
• Bible codes research states that the future can be predicted by examining statistics of the Biblical text in various skips.
• Biblical scientific foreknowledge, which asserts that the Bible makes predictions about science.
• Facilitated communication is viewed alternative means of expression for people who cannot speak, or whose speech is highly limited (e.g. echoed, limited to one or a few word utterances), and who cannot point reliably. Critics charge that actual communication is only done by the facilitator.
• Laws of Form, to the extent that it is claimed to be anything more than an unorthodox presentation of propositional logic
• Materialization creation of matter from nowhere and out of nothing by somebody's will power or concentration.
• New Chronology consists of various competing theories which claim that currently accepted chronology presents a history that lasts either much longer or much shorter than it should (e.g., that Jesus was born around 1000 years ago or that he was the pharaoh Akhenaten).
• Novelty Theory An eschatology-like theory proposed by its creator, ethnobotanist Terence McKenna to have a firm mathematical basis (McKenna is not a mathematician), although its rationale and sources are primarily numerological, for example the Maya Calendar and a list of numbers from the I Ching. Its main feature is a plotted waveform McKenna calls "Timewave Zero," which he claims shows that "something" significant will happen in the year 2012, which corresponds to an abbreviated form of the date which marks the end of the Maya Calendar.
• Technological singularity is the theory, largely a subset of Transhumanism, that smarter-than-human intelligences will be created, and improve themselves and the world in ways that present-day humans cannot predict.
• Welteislehre is the theory developed by Hanns Hörbiger in the early 20th century. It states that the universe is based on a constant struggle between ice and fire.

Alpha Curio Bet is a theory put forward in the writings and lectures of the Emin Society, an esoteric school of thought. ... Bible codes, also known as Torah codes, are words, phrases and clusters of words and phrases that some people believe are meaningful and exist intentionally in coded form in the text of the Bible. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Bible (Hebrew תנ״ך [tanakh], Greek η Βίβλος [hÄ“ biblos] ) (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Good Book, Word of God, The Word, or Scripture), from Greek (τα) βίβλια, (ta) biblia, (the) books, is the classical name for the Hebrew Bible of Judaism or the combination of the Old Testament and New Testament of Christianity... Facilitated communication (FC) is a method that purports to help people with speech or expressive problems to point to spell out words and sentences. ... The phrase Laws of Form refers to either of two things: The book, hereinafter abbreviated LoF: G. Spencer-Brown, 1979. ... A propositional calculus is a formal, deduction system, or proof theory for reasoning with propositional formulas as symbolic logic. ... A materialization is the creation or appearance of matter from nowhere and out of nothing. ... The New Chronology of Anatoly Timofeevich Fomenko is an attempt to rewrite world chronology, based on his conclusion that world chronology as we know it today is fundamentally flawed. ... Chronology is the science of locating events in time. ... Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus the Nazarene (8-4 BC/BCE – 29-36 AD/CE), is the central figure of Christianity, in which context he is known as Jesus Christ (from Greek Ιησούς Χριστός) with Christ being a title meaning Anointed One or Messiah. The main sources regarding Jesus life and... Pharaoh (Hebrew פַּרְעֹה (without niqqud: פרעה), Standard Hebrew ParÊ¿o, Tiberian Hebrew Parʿōh, Arabic فرعون) is a title used to refer to the kings (of godly status) in ancient Egypt. ... Bust of Pharaoh Akhenaten. ... A screenshot of the Timewave Zero software. ... Ethnobotany is the study of the relationship between plants and people: ethno is the study of people and botany is the study of plants. ... Terence Kemp McKenna (November 16, 1946 – April 3, 2000) was a writer and philosopher. ... The Maya calendar is actually a system of distinct calendars and almanacs used by the Maya civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. ... Alternative meaning: I Ching (monk) The I Ching (Traditional Chinese: 易經, pinyin y jīng; Cantonese IPA: jɪk6gɪŋ1; Cantonese Jyutping: jik6ging1; alternative romanizations include I Jing, Yi Ching, Yi King) is the oldest of the Chinese classic texts. ... The Maya calendar is actually a system of distinct calendars and almanacs used by the Maya civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. ... When plotted on a logarithmic graph, 15 separate lists of paradigm shifts for key events in human history show an exponential trend. ... Transhumanism (sometimes abbreviated >H or H+) is an intellectual and cultural movement analyzing and supporting morphological freedom and the use of new sciences and technologies to overcome human limitations and improve the human condition. ... Welteislehre (also known as Glazial-Kosmogonie) is a theory first published by the Austrian Hanns Hörbiger, a refrigeration engineer, in 1913. ...

See also

• Anomalous phenomenon
• List of misconceptions
• Obsolete scientific theories
• Occam's razor
• Paradigm
• Pathological science
• Philosophy of science
• Pseudoscience / protoscience
• Non-standard cosmology
• What the Bleep Do We Know?! (2004 film covering unorthodox views on quantum physics and medicine)

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This is a list of uncontroversial, undisputed clarifications to common misconceptions. ... An obsolete scientific theory is a scientific theory that was once commonly accepted but (for whatever reason) is no longer considered the most complete description of reality by mainstream science; or a falsifiable theory which has been shown to be false. ... Occams Razor (also spelled Ockhams Razor), is a principle attributed to the 14th-century English logician and Franciscan friar, William of Ockham. ... Since the late 1800s, the word paradigm (IPA: ) has referred to a thought pattern in any scientific discipline or other epistemological context. ... Pathological science is a neologism to pejoratively describe the pursuit of pseudoscientific claims as like a pathology, or Such claims are said to be distinguished from pseudoscience (itself a pejorative) in that they have a larger and more dogmatic following, and are asserted to be based in self-deception amongst... The philosophy of science is the branch of philosophy that studies the philosophical assumptions, foundations, and implications of science, including the formal sciences, natural sciences, and social sciences. ... Phrenology is seen today as a classic example of pseudoscience. ... --203. ... A non-standard cosmology is a cosmological framework that fundamentally contradicts one of the basic aspects of the big bang model of physical cosmology. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... Fig. ... Medicine is the branch of health science and the sector of public life concerned with maintaining human health or restoring it through the treatment of disease and injury. ...

Further reading

• Abell, George O. and Barry Singer, Science and the Paranormal: Probing the Existence of the Supernatural, Charles Scribner's, 1981, ISBN 0683178206
• Collins, Paul S. (2002) Banvard's Folly: Thirteen Tales of People Who Didn't Change the World. Picador. ISBN 0312300336
• Gardner, Martin, Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science
• Gardner, Martin, Science, Good, Bad, and Bogus
• Randi, James, Flim-Flam: Psychics, ESP, Unicorns and other Delusions, Prometheus, 1982, ISBN 087975-198-3
• Schick, Theodore and Lewis Vaughn. (1998) How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age. Mayfield. ISBN 0767400135
• Shermer, Michael. (2002) Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time. Owl Books. ISBN 0805070893

Martin Gardner (born October 21, 1914) is an American recreational mathematician, magician, skeptic, and author of the long-running but now discontinued Mathematical Games column in Scientific American. ... James Randi (born Randall James Hamilton Zwinge, August 7,1928 in Toronto, Canada), more often known as The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician, a skeptic, best known as a debunker of pseudoscience. ...

External links

• Baez, John, "The crackpot index : Method for rating potentially revolutionary contributions to physics.".
• Kruger, Justin, and David Dunning "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments". Department of Psychology, Cornell University.
• National Council Against Health Fraud