Michael Shermer on How to Think About the Bermuda Triangle

Dr. Shermer examines the claims about the Bermuda Triangle using the tools of skepticism, science, and rationality to reveal that there is no mystery to explain. Selective reporting, false reporting, quote mining, anecdote chasing, and mystery mongering all conjoin to create what appears to be an unsolved mystery about the disappearance of planes and ships in this triangular shape region of the ocean. But when you examine each particular case, as did the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and especially insurance companies who have to pay out for such losses, it becomes clear that almost all have natural explanations, and the remaining unsolved ones are lying on the bottom of the ocean beyond our knowledge.

This lecture is part of a course that Dr. Shermer teaches at Chapman University called Skepticism 101: How to Think Like a Scientist which covers a wide range of topics, from critical thinking, reasoning, rationality, cognitive biases and how thinking goes wrong, and the scientific methods, to actual claims and whether or not there is any truth to them, e.g., ESP, ETIs, UFOs, astrology, channelling, psychics, creationism, Holocaust denial, and especially conspiracy theories and how to think about them.

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[bradstewart]

You should do an episode of the "UFO" videos that were released by the US. Navy this past week. I'm curious as to what a professional skeptic has to say and possible explanations as to what they may be.

[thiennganguyen]

Great job telling the Bermuda Triangle events and I totally agree with your stance for telling and viewing facts as they are to better how things work

[thomasprice]

I read so many books on the Triangle when I was young, but the Kusche book changed everything for me.

[What]

Great lecture, Michael. I already have a few friends in mind I will be showing this to. There are a couple of the cases you mentioned that I had heard the true findings for (that they were just mistakes rather than some supernatural event.) Like the famous Taylor and squadron example.
Glad you called out those cable TV shows as well and pointed out how they are really just speculating on the subjects rather than making assertions. People seem to not understand that and take them at face value instead.

[williamrunner]

Awesome show Michael. I hope in the future that you do a show on the 5G and Bill Gates conspiracy theories! I'm so sick of hearing the woo on that topic!

[erniehudson]

Somewhere out there Dan Aykroyd, Joe Rogan and Alex Jones are crying...

[davidanderson]

I watched In Search Of in the 1970s as a kid. I thought it was REAL! The the incidental and theme song music were fantastic. Great class Prof Shermer. D.A., J.D. NYC

[Ploskkky]

I didn't even know that I had to think about the Bermuda Triangle. Even as a kid I didn't fall for all the Bermuda mythology. And that was 35 years ago.

[WWZenaDo]

I would love to see a legitimate survey of compass malfunctions which may have occurred on ships and planes, especially if it is overlain with magnetic anomalies and weather patterns at the time of the compass failures/malfunctions.

[DeconvertedMan]

Its a vortex to the universe where we are not on this wacky time line ;)

[smokeymcpot]

I notice that your desktop folders and not symmetrical.

[BrayTube]

Spatial disorientation, one of the possible reasons for downing flight 19, doesn't discriminate for experience. Kobe Bryant's helicopter pilot was actually an instrument instructer who still manahed to lose the horizon.

[alaskansummertime]

Ha ha 'they' are trying to start up about some 'Alaska Triangle'. Not only do I live in Alaska but I drove buses full of tourists at one point and what is really amazing to me is that tens of thousands of people don't go missing up here every year!

[DeconvertedMan]

Personal accounts. Ah yes, the most unreliable thing ever.

[djfrank]

I couldn't figure out what this pink dot was on my screen that wouldn't wipe off or go away. Then I realized at the end it was your damn pointer! 😣😁

[Templetonq]

Michael. Surely you understand time dilation? From their frame of reference decades have not passed for the navy men.

[TheUnatuber]

"The Bermuda Triangle used to be a Rectangle until changed it." - Donald Trump