Michael Shermer : Science is the best tool ever devised for understanding how the world works.

迈克尔·舍默： 科学，是有史以来发明的、理解世界如何运转的最好工具。

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"The default condition in brain is that all patterns are real," Shermer said. "it's just what we do."

在缺乏环境的条件下，大脑的默认为一切都是真实的，谢默说，这也就是我们所要揭示的。

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Shermer suggests calmly explaining to your mother that urban legends are usually untrue - "but I'm not optimistic," he admits.

Shermer建议向母亲好好解释这些城市神话通常是假的——但结果并不乐观，他承认。

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Surprised when the interior of the mothership turns out to closely resemble a General Motors motorhome, Mr Shermer consents to lying down.

ECONOMIST: A medley of aliens and conspiracy theories

Mr Shermer is aware of this risk, and is at pains to reassure readers that his conclusions apply to everyone, even himself.

ECONOMIST: A medley of aliens and conspiracy theories

That experience gives one useful definition of a sceptic, as Mr Shermer understands the term: one who is aware of the fallibility of intuitions, and willing to take steps to minimise them.

ECONOMIST: A medley of aliens and conspiracy theories