The reason is that in a group, individual errors on either side of the true figure cancel each other out.

PubliMichael Shermerd works

Shermer is the author of several books that attempt to explain the ubiquity of irrational or poorly substantiated beliefs including UFOs Bigfoot and paranormal claims. Shermer states he was once a fundamentalist Christian but converted from a belief in God during his graduate studies and has described himself as an agnosticnontheistatheist and advocate for humanist philosophy as well as the science of morality. The Skeptics Society currently has over 55000 members.

Shermer also engages in debates on topics pertaining to pseudoscience and religion in which he promulgates the need for scientific skepticism. Shermer is also the producer and co-host of the 13-hour Fox Family (now ABC Family) television series Exploring the Unknown. Michael Brant Shermer (born September 8 1954) is an American science writer historian of science founder of The Skeptics Society and Editor in Chief of its magazine Skeptic which is largely devoted to investigating pseudoscientific and supernatural claims.