I’m a writer and a skeptical investigator. I used to be a video game programmer. I focus on investigating and explaining unusual theories such as UFOs, Chemtrails, 9/11 controlled demolition, false flags, pseudoscience, flat earth, and doing technical video and photo analysis. Email: mick@mickwest.com
My Web Sites, Podcast, and Writing:
- Metabunk.org – My primary site where I post and discuss various investigations. A polite forum of and about skeptical investigation. Metabunk gets 10,000 visitors a day and has an active discussion community.
- ContrailScience.com – About contrails and the “chemtrail” conspiracy theory
- Tales From The Rabbit Hole – My Podcast, currently on Hiatus
- CowboyProgramming.com,– Where I write about games programming and post some of the experimental code I have written.
- Skeptical Inquirer – Where I write a column called “The Practical Skeptic”
My Social Media, etc.
- Twitter: @MickWest Where I engage my audience and perform and promote skeptical investigation
- Substack: @MickWest Where I write what I think
- YouTube: @MickWest (and my old account Epoxynous), where I post various skeptic related videos
- Facebook: Metabunk – Metabunk.org’s official Facebook page.
- Amazon: Mick West – About me and my book
- Wikipedia: Mick West – My entry on Wikipedia
- Reddit: u/MickWest – Formerly u/Metabunk
Escaping the Rabbit Hole:
Based on my experiences interacting with conspiracy theorists, my book: Escaping the Rabbit Hole, was published by Skyhorse Publishing on September 18, 2018. Escaping the Rabbit Hole examines the full spectrum of conspiracy theories from 9/11 to Flat Earth and looks at how people get into them, how they get drawn down the rabbit hole, how they get out, and how you can help. Interviews with former conspiracy theorists show that there is hope even for the most deeply entrenched conspiracist. I explain the key flaws of popular conspiracy theories and how to talk to people who believe in them.
TV Appearances
https://twitter.com/cuomoprimetime/status/1395924723721285638
CBS Evening News, November 2010
I helped explain a “mystery missile launch” off the coast of Los Angeles. My related page on Contrail Science got over a million views.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVqk5rc_eOQ
CNN, November 2010
Explaining the “mystery missile” and another contrail UFO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsualTDjeVo,
America’s Most Secret Structures, Discovery Channel, 2014
I was profiled as a “Contrail Expert”, and explained the science of Contrail formation relating to the “Chemtrails” conspiracy theory.
https://vimeo.com/166268186
Joe Rogan Questions Everything, SyFy, 2013
I appeared in two segments on this show hosted by Joe Rogan. In one segment I discussed the “Chemtrails” theory, and in the other, I helped Joe debunk a machine that was supposed to affect clouds by simulating the HAARP research radio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWo10JE0Fb4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWHgrY-TRrg
Documentaries
Overcast, Dedal Films, 2016
Several minutes of me explaining the “chemtrail” theory in an award-winning documentary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8JoR7u1rDE
Radio
KPCC, Nov 2010
Interview regarding the Mystery Missile
http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/11/11/20923/mystery-solved-mystery-missile-just-jet/
Pat Walsh KFBK, 2015
35-minute segment discussing the “Chemtrails” theory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vo0LaEVu1c
Radio New Zealand, 2016
“Mick West is a science writer and is dedicated to the art of debunking wild theories that circulate online and helping other people do the same, with his website, Metabunk.“
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201817013/the-man-who-debunks-conspiracy-theories
Podcasts
The Jordan Harbinger Show #363, June 2020
http://jordanharbinger.com/363
“On this episode, we enlist the help of Mick West, himself no stranger to locking horns with conspiracy theorists as the creator of debunking websites Contrail Science and Metabunk, and author of Escaping the Rabbit Hole: How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories Using Facts, Logic, and Respect. Flat Earthers, 9/11 “truthers,†and chemtrail believers hate this guy in spite of his efforts to patiently set them straight, so he must be doing something right. Listen, learn, and enjoy!”
Joe Rogan Experience #959, May 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvitm0bMHyA
A two-hour podcast discussing the “Flat Earth” conspiracy theory. This was very popular, having over half a million views on YouTube alone. Several people made detailed response videos.
Joe Rogan Experience #388, Sept 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pongryYlH3Q
A three-hour podcast where I discuss chemtrails and all kinds of conspiracy theories with Joe Rogan and guest Bryan Callen
The Mad Scientist Podcast, 2017
” a sit-down interview with Mick West, founder of Metabunk.org, Contrailscience.com, and overall debunker extraordinaire. “
https://audioboom.com/posts/5929191-episode-17-an-interview-with-mick-west
Critical Wit, 2011
“Mick West is a pilot and creator of the website, ContrailScience.com. We talk about the history and science of contrails; how they are formed, how they take on a variety of shapes, and why they can last for short or long durations. And we’ll also discuss Mick’s criticsm of the chemtrail conspiracy. We also discuss another website he’s developed recently on how to debunk called Metabunk.org.”
Podcast UFO, (UK) 2017
“Our First Guest: Mick West of Metabunk to talk about the Chilean UFO”
http://podcastufo.com/show-notes/tonights-mick-west-and-micah-hanks/
Polly and Grant (Australia), 2016
“We talk to Mick West for Anti-Conspiracy “
http://player.fm/series/polly-and-grant-podcast/polly-grant-podcast-21-november-2016
Other Interviews
CSICOP: “From Chemtrails to CSICon: An Interview with Mick West.”, 2017
Mick West Presenting a Paper on Chemtrails at CSICON 2016
An interview regarding my presentation of the “Expert Elicitation” paper.
http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/from_chemtrails_to_csicon_an_interview_with_mick_west
Articles and Publications
I study UFOs – and I don’t believe the alien hype, The Guardian, 11 Jun 2021
Quantifying expert consensus against the existence of a secret, large-scale atmospheric spraying program, Environmental Research Letters, Volume 11, Number 8, 2016
A peer reviewed study I co-authored on expert opinions of the evidence put forward supporting the “chemtrails” conspiracy theory. This was the most popular article in the history of Environmental Research Letters and got a top 5% Altmetric score. There was extensive media coverage of this paper, and I presented it at CSICon 2016.
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/11/8/084011
https://iop.altmetric.com/details/10396896/news
Curated Crowdsourcing in UFO Investigations, Skeptical Briefs Volume 27.1, 2017
A detailed article on how I solved a UFO case that baffled the Chilean Navy for two years.
http://www.csicop.org/sb/show/curated_crowdsourcing_in_ufo_investigations
Other Media Mentions (incomplete list)
Daily Express, UK, 2018
“Sceptics at debunking website Metabunk.org have been analyzing the footage to see if it does in fact “defy physics†as claimed. Mick West, administrator of Metabunk.org, who has poured cold water on many previous claims of evidence of UFOs, came to the conclusion it could just be a misidentified plane in the far distance.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/904005/Pentagon-UFO-real-truth-US-navy-aliens-may-exist
Daily Express, UK, 2017
“Mick West, administrator of Metabunk.org, a website which investigates and exposes hoax UFO and alien sightings, concluded the alleged lizard was simply a dust removal device at the head of the rover.“
http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/791700/Mars-NASA-Curiosity-Rover-lizard-debunked-Metabunk-org
“Similar videos have also been examined by Mick West of the metabunk.org website.”
http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/802865/Mystery-planet-sun-Nibiru-Cleveland-Texas-YouTube
“But, now Mick West, an administrator for the Metabunk.org website, based in Sacramento, California, claims to have solved the case.”
http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/752804/UFO-Chilean-Navy-identified-CEFAA
Daily Mail, UK, 2017
“The amazing rainbow contrails are a result of these ice crystals, according to Contrail Science.”
Huffington Post, 2014-2017
“Mick West of Metabunk.org, a site devoted to investigating and debunking “mysteries†of this sort, maintains it’s boat wake, “
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/21/loch-ness-monster-apple-maps_n_5185690.html
” Mick West, a retired video game programmer who now runs Metabunk.org, an online site, “dedicated to the art and pastime of honest, polite, scientific investigating and debunking.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/01/loch-ness-ufo-photo-debunked_n_7675456.html
” While it initially appeared the FBI had just released the photos, conspiracy-debunking website Metabunk uncovered evidence indicating they were released to the public as early as 2011, “
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fbi-new-911-photos_us_58de752ae4b0ba359594701f
The Guardian, UK, 2017
“I play Tammi and Rob a YouTube video by Mick West, who runs the conspiracy theory-debunking blog Metabunk. Going through 70 years of books on the science of clouds, West explains why …”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/22/california-conspiracy-theorist-farmers-chemtrails
NBC News, 2015
“Metabunk.org’s Mick West says it looks like the weird effect that’s created when someone walks through your line of sight while you’re taking an iPhone panorama. On his website, he demonstrates“
Vice.com, 2014, 2015
“In the US, Mick West runs the website metabunk.org, pulling in 10,000 unique visitors a day. He reckons the Charlie Hebdo rumors were predictable.”
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/the-psychology-and-economy-of-conspiracy-theories-890
“Mick West—editor of anti-conspiracy theory website Metabunk, which published an article explaining why Chris’s video was a hoax—explained the history of the chemtrails theory to me. …”
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/i-tricked-chemtrail-conspiracy-theorists-947
Gazette Review, 2017
“the skeptical website Metabunk claimed to have been contacted by one of the boys in the picture”
http://gazettereview.com/2017/01/top-10-mysterious-photographs/
Dive Photo Guide
“Over on the de-bunking website, Metabunk.com, a bunch of very smart people have gotten together to discuss why this technology is just not in our near future.”
News.com.au, 2015
“As the well-informed sceptics of metabunk.org point out, if you fiddle with the zoom 5feature a little, the dots will suddenly materialise.”
Inquisitr, 2016
“But as the online fact-checker Metabunk noted, although Trump gave a speech in Richmond, Henrico County, on October 14, 2016, he did not mention 9/11 during the speech. “
Christian Science Monitor, 2015
“But the website metabunk.org says the shadows in the first video are exactly as they should be and demonstrates why the shadows converge. “
Slate, David Weigel, 2014
“Metabunk has done a number on this, and to be fair, our Colorado candidate doesn’t seem to have bought into the exciting sequel to the Sandy Hook conspiracy.”
Cafemom, 2014
“I recently found Metabunk, a website devoted to debunking various conspiracy theories, misunderstood natural phenomena, and flat-out weird beliefs. “
http://thestir.cafemom.com/bizarre_news/174292/7_spinetingling_true_stories_scarier
Daily Star, UK, 2014
“Sci-fi expert Mick West, of website Metabunk.org, said: “There is not a lot in the original video that can be pointed to as an automatic fake.”
International Business Times, 2013
“At Metabunk.org, a user named Mick set up his own experiment to show that an object can be moved around by vibration. “
http://www.ibtimes.com/spinning-egyptian-statue-physics-behind-object-walking-museums-1320983
La Presse, Canada, 2015
“The appearance of “paranoid” theories of this nature does not surprise Mick West, a programmer based in California who has run a blog for several years, Metabunk, trying to thwart this type of speech.”
Discover Magazine, 2014
“Mick West, who runs the debunking website Metabunk.org, also convincingly argues that the object is a digital byproduct.
“The answer is that Google stores multiple resolution image tiles, and uses a different set of tiles depend on how much you are zoomed in,†West explained.”
Scientific American, 2010
“The airplane explanation was put forth rather quickly by Contrail Science, which demonstrated how an airplane flying horizontally toward a viewer can, from certain perspectives, mimic the appearance of a rocket flying vertically into the sky. “
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mystery-missile/
None-Debunking
I’ve published several technical articles in Game Developer magazine where I was a contributing editor. Some are republished here:
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/authors/32717/Mick_West.php
Game Development
- My articles on Gamasutra. These are a mix of Game Developer Articles, and some articles from Cowboy Programming
- My gameography on Mobygames. All the games I worked on. This was mostly programming and design up to Tony Hawk’s Underground. Then consulting on some games. The last programming I did there was the AI for World Series of Poker back in 2005.
Historical Writing
- My old blog. Which I have not updated in years
- Flying Lessons Journal – Back in 2004 I took flying lessons, up to long-distance solo
A game I helped make.