Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.

We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.

A note about links

Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.


Baggini and Krauss on philosophy and science *

Sep 9th, 2012 | Filed by

There are important questions that remain unanswered when all the facts are in.… Read the rest



Curiosity Rover samples the air on Mars *

Sep 8th, 2012 | Filed by

The robot sucked the air into its big Sample Analysis at Mars instrument
to reveal the concentration of different gases.… Read the rest



Reform call as madrassa teacher guilty of child cruelty *

Sep 8th, 2012 | Filed by

They would still have the same curriculum though.… Read the rest



Rimsha Masih released, removed by helicopter *

Sep 8th, 2012 | Filed by

A Pakistani military helicopter plucked her from a prison yard on Saturday and flew her to a secret location after she was granted bail.… Read the rest



The myth that hijab protects women *

Sep 7th, 2012 | Filed by

Even if the only part of a woman’s body that shows is her shadow, harassers will sexualize and fetishize it.… Read the rest



Huge ugly cruise ships wrecking Venice *

Sep 7th, 2012 | Filed by

They are out of scale.… Read the rest



Arctic ice melting fast *

Sep 7th, 2012 | Filed by

“This is not some short-lived phenomenon – this is an ongoing trend. You lose more and more ice and it is accelerating.”… Read the rest



Canada closes Iranian embassy, kicks out diplomats *

Sep 7th, 2012 | Filed by

Foreign Minister’s statement said Canada viewed Iran “as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today”.… Read the rest



Pakistan: bail granted in “blasphemy” case *

Sep 7th, 2012 | Filed by

Blasphemy is not a bailable offence but her lawyers pleaded that she was a juvenile.… Read the rest



India: woman gives away daughters *

Sep 5th, 2012 | Filed by

Reporter is incredulous to discover poverty so desperate. Where’s he been?… Read the rest



California bans therapy aimed at ‘curing’ homosexuality

Sep 5th, 2012 | Filed by

The bill to prohibit children and teenagers from undergoing conversion therapy
was passed by a vote of 51 to 21.… Read the rest



Divorce and sharia *

Sep 5th, 2012 | Filed by

The husband says a second wife is allowed under sharia.… Read the rest



Hindu protests over McDonald’s near holy sites *

Sep 5th, 2012 | Filed by

Big Macs v sacred cows.… Read the rest



Tunisia: Salafists raid hotel bar for serving alcohol *

Sep 5th, 2012 | Filed by

Dozens of thugs smashed bottles and chased away customers at the Horchani
hotel, news agencies reported.… Read the rest



New 3-D image from Curiosity Rover *

Sep 4th, 2012 | Filed by

Between the rover on the right, and its shadow on the left, looms the rover’s
eventual target: Mount Sharp.… Read the rest



Muslim-majority countries bad on religious freedom *

Sep 4th, 2012 | Filed by

Violent religious persecution is present in every country with a Muslim majority with a population of more than 2 million.… Read the rest



Ben Goldacre researches the new health secretary *

Sep 4th, 2012 | Filed by

In parliament he has been a supporter of homeopathy, against abortion, and against hybrid stem cell research. In 2009 he called for the NHS to be dismantled.… Read the rest



Xians take ‘beliefs’ fight to ECHR *

Sep 4th, 2012 | Filed by

Andrew Marsh, of Christian Concern, told the BBC the four could have had their beliefs respected by their employers without harming the people they serve.… Read the rest



Speed-dating as new version of arranged marriage *

Sep 3rd, 2012 | Filed by

Chat for three minutes, move on. Better than not meeting at all…… Read the rest



Egypt’s sexual harassment of women is ‘epidemic’ *

Sep 3rd, 2012 | Filed by

Some women had education, and some men lagged behind; one way to equalise status is to shock women and force a sexual situation on them anywhere.… Read the rest