New England Skeptical Society

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The New England Skeptical Society (NESS) is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting science and reason. It was founded in 1996 (originally as the Connecticut Skeptical Society).

The NESS produces a weekly science podcast — The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe — featuring discussions of myths, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience and the paranormal from a scientific point of view. The show also features discussions of recent scientific developments in laymen's terms, and interviews authors and other famous skeptics. As of September 20, 2006, James Randi joined the podcast providing a weekly commentary segment.

In addition the NESS hosts local lectures on the full spectrum of skeptical topics. They also conduct investigations into local paranormal claims and screen local applicants for the James Randi Educational Foundation million dollar psychic challenge. They publish a newsletter of original skeptical articles, that can be found on their website.

The President of NESS is Dr. Steven Novella, an academic neurologist at Yale, author of the Weird Science column in the New Haven Advocate, and an associate editor of the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine and a contributing editor of Quackwatch. He has appeared on several programs (such as Penn and Teller: Bullshit!) advocating the skeptical position.