List of topics considered to be pseudoscience

This is a list of topics that have been characterized as pseudoscience by some scientists and researchers.^[1]

Physical sciences

Physics

• Autodynamics
• Bogdanov affair - In 2002, the Bogdanoff twins pursued doctorates. Their PhD theses were considered pseudoscience.
• Einstein–Cartan–Evans theory
• Electrogravitics
• Hongcheng Magic Liquid
• Hydrinos
• Perpetual motion - Theory pertaining to the belief that objects can move endlessly, which violates the second law of thermodynamics.
  • Free energy - Theory that endless energy can be created from perpetual motion machines, which violates the second law of thermodynamics.
  • Water-fuelled cars

Astronomy and space sciences

• 2012
• Ancient astronauts - A belief that aliens were involved in human evolution/ancient societies.
  • Anunnaki from Nibiru (Sitchin)
  • Ancient astronauts from the Sirius star-system (Temple)
• Astrology (see also astrology and science)
• Dogon people and Sirius B
• Electric universe and Plasma cosmology - Belief that stars consist of electricity
• Lunar effect
• Moon landing conspiracy theories - Some people believe the moon landing was faked.
• Nibiru cataclysm - A belief that a mythological planet named Nibiru would crash into Earth in 2012.
• Worlds in Collision (Velikovsky)

Earth science

• 366 geometry or Megalithic geometry
• The Bermuda Triangle - A location that supposedly has caused many plane and boat crashes.
• Flat Earth - A belief that the Earth is secretly flat, and governments are hiding it.
• Hollow Earth - A theory that the interior of the Earth is hollow.

Applied sciences

Biology

• Biodynamic agriculture
• Lysenkoism, or Lysenko-Michurinism

Psychology

• Attachment therapy
• Conversion therapy - A theory that gay people can be converted to being straight.
• Freud's psychoanalytic theories
• Graphology
  • Hypnotherapy
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
• Memetics - Belief that the mind has its own version of genes, named memes
• Near death experiences
• Neurolinguistic programming
• Parapsychology
• Phrenology
• Polygraphy ("lie detectors") - The practice of using devices to determine whether or not someone is lying.
• Primal therapy
• Reincarnation

Health and medicine

• 5G and COVID-19 - The belief that 5G causes COVID-19
• Alternative medicine
• Anthroposophic medicine, or anthroposophically extended medicine
• Applied kinesiology (AK)
  • Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET)

• Vaccines and autism - A belief that vaccines cause autism

• Maharishi Ayurveda
• Bates method for better eyesight
• Biorhythms
• Body memory
• Brain Gym
• Chiropractics
  • Vertebral subluxation
• Colon cleansing (colonics, colon hydrotherapy)
• Craniosacral therapy
• Crystal healing
• Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS)
• Faith healing
• Homeopathy
• Iridology
• Leaky gut syndrome
• Lightning Process
• Magnet therapy
• Naturopathy, or Naturopathic Medicine
• Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) or osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
• Radionics
• Reflexology, or zone therapy
• Therapeutic touch
• Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
  • Acupuncture
    • Acupressure
    • Acupuncture points or acupoints
  • Cupping therapy
  • Meridians
  • Moxibustion
  • Qi
  • TCM materia medica
  • Zang-fu
• Classical social evolution
• Urine therapy
• Vitalism

Racial theories

• Scientific racism
  • Aryanism
  • Melanin theory

Technology

Paranormal and ufology

Paranormal or supernatural subjects have been subject to criticism from many of sources including the following claims of the paranormal:

• Animal mutilations
• Channeling
• Crop circles - Belief that aliens leave markings in fields.
• Divination
• Dowsing
• Electronic voice phenomenon
• Extra-sensory perception or ESP - Belief in psychic powers.
• Fortune-telling and palm reading - The practice of determining one's future using a palm, tarot cards or other means.
• Ghosts or spirits
• Levitation
• Magic (Apotropaic magic, Black magic and Witchcraft)
• Pseudoarchaeology
• Psychokinesis
• Rumpology
• Séances
• UFOs and Aliens

History

• Fomenko's chronology
• Holocaust denial

Religion and Science

Spiritual and religious practices and beliefs, according to astronomer Carl Sagan, are normally not classified as pseudoscience. Some of the ideas are:

• Biblical scientific foreknowledge (Judaism and Christianity)
• Koranic scientific (Islam)
• Christian Science

Creation science

Creationism is the belief that the origin of everything in the universe is the result of the Christian God.

• Creationist cosmologies - Cosmologies that allow for, among other things, Earth to be only a couple thousand years old
• Baraminology
• Creation biology
• Flood geology
• Searches for Noah's Ark
• Modern geocentrism - Belief that the Earth is the center of the solar system
• Intelligent design
  • Irreducible complexity
  • Specified complexity

New age and eastern religions

• Feng shui
• Quantum mysticism

Scientology

• Dianetics
• Scientology's Purification Rundown and Narconon programs
• Touch assist

Consumer products

• Cosmetics and cleaning products frequently make pseudoscientific claims about their products.
  • Anti-aging creams
  • Laundry balls
• Fan death - Belief that sleeping next to a fan can cause death, typically in Asian countries

Ideas not commonly referred to

The following concepts have only a very small number of supporters, but have become notable:

• Lawsonomy
• Morphic resonance
• Penta Water
• Polywater
• Timewave zero
• Torsion field
• Welteislehre
• Cryonics

Parody pseudoscience

The following are parodies of other pseudosciences:

• Dihydrogen monoxide hoax
• The Endochronic Properties of Resublimated Thiotimoline
• Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, also called "Pastafarianism"
• Intelligent falling

Finance

• Technical analysis