The magazine's mission is to distinguish pseudoscience from the real thing. Since the 6 th century, the myth of the Loch Ness Monster has captivated human imagination. In 1994, a deathbed confession discredited the best-known evidence for Nessie's existence. A sidebar describes cryptozoology, the search for unknown animals. 25 Urban legends are false stories set in the real world.
Suburban myths are false beliefs.
Urban legends often have a moral, but suburban myths do not. A sidebar challenges readers to distinguish fact from fiction. This article details the history, science, and controversy surrounding the practice of dowsing. A sidebar gives directions for constructing a divining rod. The companion article by James Randi, magician and demystifier of paranormal claims, offers a fortune to a successful dowser.