From Extrasensory Phenomena to Unidentified Flying Objects

Some believers have suggested that such phenomena as mental telepathy and telekinesis (moving distant objects) might be explained by some form of radiation given off by the brains of people concentrating on a particular thought. But no proof has ever been found for this theory. Indeed, when people familiar with the tricks traditionally used by magicians have observed those who claim extraordinary psychic powers, they have exposed many as fakers. One such skeptic is professional magician James Randi, who has often uncovered deceptions that mystify less sophisticated observers.

A common technique is to create a distraction so that the audience fails to notice the sleight of hand involved in apparently pulling a rabbit out of a hat - or bending a spoon. With such help, a skilled magician's hand is indeed quicker than the eye. And "mindreaders" often do preliminary research on the lives of people they plan to interview, or have associates circulate among the crowd before a performance to eavesdrop on conversations, so that their guesses about the subjects' thoughts will not be shots in the dark.

Psychic performers also use "multiple outs" - ambiguous statements that can be interpreted in various ways. They fine-tune their remarks as the subjects volunteer further information (people often give away far more than they realize). If the psychics miss the mark, they are ready with alternative interpretations - some of which would seem extremely far-fetched to listeners who were not predisposed to believe or distracted by the tricksters' rapid-fire delivery.

The "one-ahead" ploy is another standby. A performer asks people to submit questions in sealed envelopes, which he will then "read" without opening them. Secretly, he has opened one envelope and memorized its contents before the session starts. Then he holds up a second envelope, pretends to read its contents, but actually recites the remembered message. When he opens the second envelope, supposedly to confirm that his reading was correct, he repeats the procedure, and continues to read one message ahead.

Why are so many people convinced that extrasensory perception is genuine?

The idea that some people have supernatural mental or spiritual abilities is naturally appealing. Among others, it has attracted detective-story writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and scientist Michael Faraday.

Perhaps the most exhaustive studies of ESP, or extrasensory perception, were carried out at Duke University. There, J. B. Rhine and his colleagues tried to eliminate cheating by setting up careful experiments such as one in which a deck of cards was shuffled, then subjects were asked to predict the order in which certain cards would be turned up. They found that many subjects were able to predict correctly more often than would be expected by chance. But independent investigators have been unable to duplicate Rhine's findings in other laboratories - an essential condition for proving the scientific validity of an experiment. Some speculate that Rhine's group, who hoped to prove that ESP was real, may have unconsciously influenced the subjects by giving them subtle visual cues.

Is there any validity to psychics' claims that they can predict the future?

Since time immemorial, people have tried to predict coming events by various arcane techniques, from conjuring up spirits through mystical incantations to consulting the bones or entrails of sacrificial animals. Psychics still claim to be able to see into a spirit world where the future and the present are one.

Skeptics who have investigated some highly publicized predictions of psychics that came true point out that the many inaccurate predictions psychics make are rarely remembered. Among published but forgotten predictions for the years 1981and 1982 were the following: "Startling new evidence of pyramids and massive statues on Mars will convince scientists that life flourished there millions of years ago. Cuban president Fidel Castro is overthrowing in a major uprising. An impeachment effort will be launched against one or more Supreme Court justices. A controversy will break out when it's discovered that a man-made explosive device sank theTitanic."

How can we explain eyewitness accounts of UFO's and extraterrestrial beings?

When the first UFO reports appeared shortly after World War II, the U.S. air force started investigating them in case they represented hostile foreign activities. But the program was stopped when no evidence of enemies was found. Some people, unconvinced by the Air Force’s denials, insist that it is suppressing facts. Several private groups still investigate UFO reports, but they have different and sometimes debunk one another’s findings. Some early believers in UFO’s have become skeptics.

Although a few UFO stories remain unexplained, scientists insist that the burden of proof should be on those who claim to have seen the mysterious objects. They are especially skeptical of claims of “close encounters of the third kind” – actual contacts with extraterrestrial beings, or rides aboard their spaceships.

After all, why should an alien visitor appear to only one individual? Why have no clear photographs been taken or corroborating witnesses found? In contrast, writes one skeptic, when a real fireball (a meteorite) streaked through the earth’s atmosphere over the Rocky Mountains one afternoon in 1972, it was seen by thousands of people and recorded in countless still photographs and at least two motion-picture sequences, even though it appeared unexpectedly over a sparsely populated area and was visible for only two minutes.

Alien visitors are often described as highly intelligent and friendly toward earthlings. Some investigators suspect that this reflects public fears about nuclear war and wishes for a refuge in outer space.

On the Lookout for visitors from outer space

Many alleged UFO sightings have explained as airplanes or satellites seen from an odd angle, or as natural phenomena. Light striking clouds can create visual effects that inexperienced observers could mistake for UFO's. Comets and meteor showers have also been misread. Ball lightning, pulsating electrical charges in the air, is rare enough to be totally unfamiliar, hence suspect. Even the aurora borealis seen for the first time might be misinterpreted.

then too, science fiction is so much a part of our lives (think of Star Wars and Star Trek), it's hardly surprising that some people are ready to interpret any strange phenomena as invaders from space.