2025 RationalWiki 'Oregon Plan' Fundraiser

There is no RationalWiki without you. We are a small non-profit with no staff—we are hundreds of volunteers who document pseudoscience and crankery around the world every day. We will never allow ads because we must remain independent. We cannot rely on big donors with corresponding big agendas. We are not the largest website around, but we believe we play an important role in defending truth and objectivity.

Fighting pseudoscience isn't free.
We are 100% user-supported! Help and donate $5, $10, $20 or whatever you can today with PayPal Logo.png!
Donations so far: $10064.65Goal: $10000

Main Page

From RationalWiki
(Redirected from Main page)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Welcome to RationalWiki!
About RationalWiki

Our purpose here at RationalWiki includes:

  1. Analyzing and refuting pseudoscience and the anti-science movement;
  2. Documenting the full range of crank ideas;
  3. Explorations of authoritarianism and fundamentalism;
  4. Analysis and criticism of how these subjects are handled in the media.

We welcome contributors, and encourage those who disagree with us to register and engage in constructive dialogue.

We have 8,075 articles for your enjoyment.

Random featured article[What is this?]
Aristolochia‎
A. californica

Birthwort (Birthworts, Pipevine, or Dutchman's Pipe vine) is a common name for plants in the genus Aristolochia. Birthwort is notable for its use in Western herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic medicine, and many indigenous herbal traditions. This is despite causing cancer and kidney failure. Home run for evidence-based medicine!

Given the long and well-documented history of medical usage (since 300 BCE) and the extreme toxicity of birthwort, it could be argued that this is one of the best cases against the "appeal to tradition" and against the related "appeal to ancient wisdom", "appeal to nature", and "argument from authority" fallacies.

Aristolochia has been used for thousands of years in various cultures worldwide as a panacea for numerous diseases. Birthwort was especially thought to be beneficial for women giving childbirth; the name aristolochia derives from the Greek "άριστο λοχεία" for "noble birth" or "excellent birth". Aristolochia was commonly used in ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine pharmaceutical recipes for various conditions, including kidney ailments, peritonsillar abscess, bladder stones, edemas, gout, snakebite, and uterine complaints.

Participate in RationalWiki
RedditLogo.png
Twitter logo.png
Facebook logo.png
Discord logo.png
RationalWiki portal:
See our guide for newcomers!
A brief history of RationalWiki...
Share how you found RationalWiki!
For general chatter that doesn't fit anywhere else, the Saloon Bar is the place to go.
Essay portal:
Essays written by individual users covering a wide range of subjects. Comment on the talk pages or write your own.
Debate portal:
Informal debates covering political and philosophical issues. Participate freely or start your own.
Writing articles:
Read up on what a RationalWiki page is and our community standards.
Take a look at the help pages if you're having trouble.
We also keep a list of useful links.
Our to do list is where we pile up ideas for articles. See if anything piques your interest!
Featured Content
Need to know What Is Going On? We present regularly updated selections of the finest lunacy the Internet has to offer. Participate in the dialogue.

What is going on...

noframe
…in the world?(talk) "Actual" "news" from the "real world."
noframe
…in the Blogosphere?(talk) Quality blog posts, editorials, videos, and social media activities that relate to RationalWiki's mission.
noframe
…in the Clogosphere?(talk) Craziness from the clogged-up fringes of the Internet.
noframe
…with the Elections?(talk) News about elections from around the world.
noframe
…at RationalWiki?(*hic*) Our own main back-page.

Portals and Articles[See more content]

noframe
ScienceScientific methodSpeed of lightCommon descentFuturismTransitional fossilThe dose makes the poisonFAQ on radioactivity and nuclear technologyConservapedian relativityCharles DarwinScience
noframe
LogicThe Fine Art of Baloney DetectionArgumentum ad dictionariumDidit fallacyWeasel wordLewis TrilemmaStraw manPascal's wagerLogical fallacyNazi analogiesHow do you know? Were you there?
noframe
AtheismSecular humanismRational Response Squad debate with Way of the MasterAgnosticismMisotheismThe God DelusionPascal's wagerSophisticated theologyAtheist professor mythSecular religionsFAQ for the Newly Deconverted
noframe
CreationismBehe: The Edge of Evolution, InterviewIntelligent designEvidence against a recent creationBaraminologyFlat EarthAnswers Research JournalIslamicAwakening.comEyeCreationismRichard Lenski
noframe
PseudoscienceCryonicsAlt-right glossaryFlat EarthBiological determinismChiropracticClimategateCreationismMen's rights movementBanana argument2012 apocalypse
noframe
ConspiracyAnti-vaccination movementFreeman on the landClimate changeDesiree JenningsProtochronismObama citizenship denialComet EleninMoon landing hoaxAdolf HitlerGamergate
noframe
DenialismLeakegateArmenian genocide denialSugarClimategateNation of IslamPakistanTurkey2021 U.S. coup attemptHolodomorQAnon
noframe
ParanormalGhost HuntersSeán ManchesterElectronic voice phenomenonDeliverance ministryCraig WeilerExorcismBigfootSteve QuayleUnidentified flying objectDream interpretation
noframe
PoliticsMobocracyDictatorshipRecep Tayyip ErdoğanParty for FreedomSkyrailOverton windowCancel cultureSoviet UnionNarendra ModiEuropean Union