Scientifically speaking, how do spirits produce EVPs?

Question

I ask this because there are some who are under the opinion that EVPs are scientifically credible. There is a host of reasons why they are not, pareidolia and apophenia being chief among them. But I would like to offer the opportunity to "scientific" investigators of the paranormal to try to rescue EVPs from the dustbin of pseudoscience by coming up with an explanation for how ghosts make these sounds.

Please be scientific. That is, your explanation has to be firmly grounded in established science, not conjecture. Here's some things to get you thinking:

If a ghost creates a sound, how does it mechanically create the pressure wave if the ghost doesn't have mass?

If you posit energy of some kind, define it, tell me where it comes from using mathematical equations or appeals to established science.

If a ghost doesn't have vocal cords, how does it make a sound just like a human voice?

Thanks and good luck!

Answer 1

I'm curious what kind of answers you're seriously expecting here. If the top "professionals" in this field can't give us a shred of a scientific explanation, why would someone on Y-Answers be able to?

Or are you just looking for the most whacked out response?

Answer 2

how does your stereo make a noise without vocal chords? energy. how does your computer make a noise? energy. yes you have to coils of wire, magnets, and air. But without energy to push they make no sound. And nobody has said ghosts lack mass. since ghosts are energy, they would have to have mass. All energy has mass. you cant see the air, but it has mass. you can see whats in the air, but not the air itself. When energy is pulsing through power lines, it makes noise without any vocal chords or mechanical help. a lightning strike produces thunder without vocal chords or mechanical help. Plants have been recorded making noise, they dont have vocal chords or speakers last time I checked. I could go on and on with a list of everything that has been recorded making sound without vocal chords or mechanical speakers, but you have a computer, you can look them up. science has already proven you dont need vocal chords or speakers to make sound occur.

Answer 3

Amansscientiae, I admire your enthusiasm, and you are most likely totally right in everything you say, except for the fact that there are no real paranormal investigators and no real reason for them.  As long as people believe this stuff, we need them.  There have been several good ones like James Randi.  Houdini was one of the first critical investigators, debunking spiritualist mediums.  Even Carl Sagan criticized paranormal beliefs in at least two of his books.  But he also pointed out the need to rationally challenge and investigate claims, even if they seem absurd.  I have done a couple of investigations, myself.  And yeah, they're absurd.  The skeptic/scientist must pursue the battle with good rational arguments and solid observational data.  I hate to put it this way, but we have to be the adults here.

Nuff said, you need a *mechanism*.  All the things you mentioned are well understood and the physics is in *this* world.  Just listing these things and claiming ghosts are like that, is silly.  (Okay TR, I hacked out about half of my post.)

Answer 4

I think it is done like we do that sort of thing.

people can not determine if something can happen with the mind, but to some degree we can control when.

an example is radioactive decay, lets say you have a block of something decaying and a meeter that tells you when each partial decays. if you set up everything so that your average rate of decay if one decay a second. then you compare that output to a timer that counts off once a second. if the decay comes in before the timer, you count one up, if after the timer, you count one down. the output should bounce up and down, but it should stay around 0. if you concentrate on it to go up or down, it will. I think that ghosts are doing the same sort of thing.

the quantum noise in a transistor is the same sort of random effect that you can influence with your mind.

so, I think that this is what the ghosts are doing to make the sounds that show up on your recorder.

an easy way to test this is to use a white noise generator made from a transistor gate biased backward instead of a microphone,

I can think of a few more ways that they could do it and the test to run to check if it is correct, but I cant type anymore, email me if you want more on my answer.

Answer 5

This is a paradox because you have used two mutually exclusive terms Science and Ghost.

Superstitious mumbo-jumbo is not science.

Answer 6

Nice question; well deserving of a response...and trust me, this IS the short answer.

I think first one actually has to accept the possibility of "ghosts" being real in order for what I'm about to say to make any sense. Given that I'm familiar with your take on things I'll remind you to take an objective view point for a moment and for this brief time; believe that they exist...then switch back after you're done contemplating the answer.

If one believes "ghosts exists" the most reasonable and logical question is "How do they exist?" I am almost certain you are familiar with Einstein's theory of mass–energy equivalence where the concept that all objects with mass have an associated energy...if not, you can go read it.

So the basic bottom line is that every thing that exists is energy; electric and/or magnetic (electromagnetic energy).

It gets a little more complicated when you start taking into consideration that in association with the mass/energy gig you have to add the variables of the amount of visible light and audible sound that our human bodies are capable of interpreting...which in the whole spectrum is extremely limited.

How is it that we "accept" that dogs and cats can see more than humans? Science tells us that dogs, cats, and various animals have a wider visual spectrum. Why would that be necessary if all there was to see is what we humans are capable of viewing? And their hearing? Some dogs can hear up to 70kHz where as the "average" humans range tops out at 20kHz.

Take the those that are born deaf and blind (Helen Keller comes to mind); they can neither hear nor see us in OUR "normal" state...does this mean we do not exist? Or do we just not exist to those people?  

So if we can only hear to 20kHz and somebody is speaking to us but can only speak as low as 22kHz; are we going to hear them clearly? Will we perhaps hear part of the conversation or pick up a word now and again?

The understanding of Einstein comes into play when you consider that things of varying mass/energy exist; for example, scientists have discovered the the majority of the Universe is made up of dark matter which does not does not emit or reflect enough electromagnetic radiation to be observed directly, but whose presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter.

We can't see the wind either.

So if science can accept the existence of energy/matter which cannot be seen with the human eye; why not beings of dark matter? They are there; there is not enough electromagnetic radiation reflected to be directly visible.

However, I hold true with the theory that while our human eye doesn't pick up a "visual" our brain does. Have you ever turned around and gotten startled even though "nobody was there"? Odds are highly likely somebody was there; you just couldn't see them but your brain picked up the 'image' and the involuntary 'startle' is the end result.

The point I'm getting at is one has to understand the difference in existing in order to understand the concept of EVP. We humans cannot exist without oxygen; we can't enter into outer space...so how would we communicate with "people beyond" our form of existence?

One possibility is to send radio waves...or something similar; multiple frequency because we're not so arrogant to think that "aliens" only hear from 20kH to 20kHz like most humans.

EVPs do not sound just like a human voice; typically, they are somewhat flat and raspy...can sometimes 'drag' or 'skip' and take a huge amount of energy to 'send' on our (human) level.

Not only is the speech out of our "normal hearing" range; it also is much faster...at times it can be picked up by the human ear but it would only be perceived as a high pitch ringing; akin to fast forwarding an analog tape.

The majority of the 'speaking' is pretty much directly imputed into the human brain; like a download of software. Usually people perceive it as "talking to themselves"; particularly with moments of inspiration. However, if you can't understand yourself when you're "talking to yourself"; the odds are great that it isn't "yourself" you're talking to.

Most people are not aware of this nor are they willing to accept the possibility. This is typically how the "bad voices" tell people to do bad things...why people go 'crazy'. They keep listening and keep allowing it to continue; the more it continues the worse it gets because it is "allowed".

'Evidence' isn't just with EVP; but with photos if the being slows down enough (because they move faster) and you have a camera fast enough (because it is faster than your eye) there is the possibility of 'anomalies' (i.e. orbs, etc).

The most common physical reaction to the presence of such beings is often over looked or disregarded. Exposure to (some types/amounts) electromagnetic energy cause the tiny hairs to raise up or creates a 'tingly' sensation...goosebumps.

Rub an inflated balloon on your head until you build up the static charge; then put it close to your arm and see what happens...the effect is similar. This is the result of being "touched".

Answer 7

You must choose a question or problem that can be formulated in terms of hypothesis that can be tested.

Failure in investigative procedure needs to be addressed before any hypothesis may be formed.

Systematic errors arise from a flaw in the measurement scheme which is repeated each time a measurement is made. If you do the same thing wrong each time you make the measurement, your measurement will differ systematically from the correct result.

Some sources of systematic error are:

Bias of the experimenter.

Incorrect measuring technique.

A single recorder is incorrect procedure.

2 digital

2 tape

2 battery powered

2 AC powered.

Tape should be opened and listened to right out of the wrap prior to  use.

Do not assume since it is in plastic wrap that there is nothing on it. These plastic shrinkwrap machines http://www.laminationplus.com/shrink1.sh...

are readily available for cd’s and tapes such as these.

The first listening and actually the whole procedure has to be done by multiple scientists, not a single paranormal investigator. Shrink wrap machines are also used by magicians to produce an unopened deck of cards, also producing a false assumption that they must be untouched  by human hands.

Since there is so much pressure upon investigators to produce some form of proof, and most of it comes in EVP form, I highly find it highly suspect and must be done in a true scientific manner.

Answer 8

i have seen a ghost before an at the same time 3 other people seen the same thing that sent us all running out of a house. it was clear as day. how can it be in 3 diffrent peoples head at the same time. this "ghost" was obvious an real an it wasnt a flash of light or something stupid. it seems 3 dimensional an we witnessed it for about 5 seconds before we scattered , it wasnt a reflection off the wall it was dead center of the room

Answer 9

A ghost makes sound just by vibrating the energy of the universe.  All it has to do is to think a word and it will simply come to pass.  Ghosts use more than the 10% of their brains like humans do.  If humans used more than 10% of their brain then they would be able to communicate without talking and move things around without touching them.  You just have to keep an open mind and realize that anything in the universe is possible if you want it to be bad enough.

I am curious to know why EVPs are only found in the language of the person who's looking for them.  Are ghosts, like airline pilots, required to speak in English only?

Answer 10

There are no "scientific investigators" of the paranormal because there is no paranormal. If you can see ghosts, they are only in your head. Other people can't see them. Instruments can't measure them and there are no good scientific reasons why they should exist in the first place.

And please keep in mind that there are no good religious reasons why ghosts should exist, either. No mainstream theologist will ever talk about ghosts in the sense you do in this post.

So science does not support ghosts, religion does not support ghosts. So why do you believe in them? That is the only relevant question.

Answer 11

First of all, i'm sorry that i'm not helping you, but what does EVPs stand for? And no offence, but I thought you didn't believe in ghosts. You seem like a very nice person.

Answer 12

I think paranormal investigators have the wrong idea here.They feel questions like these somehow ridicule them.What you're trying to do,in my opinion is open up a discussion.Something different then the usual ghost tales and telekinesis lessons.Honestly, I'd love to hear some serious answers.Paranormal investigators the ball is in your court.

Answer 13

This is very simple actually. Ghosts have mass and thus can cause vibrations in the air.

They don't have much mass, however they have enough to show up visually in a photograph if you use the flash and they happen to be very close to the lens. (aka orbs)

I would say they have about as much mass as a large particle of dust. This is why they can't be heard by human ears. Something that size cant produce a lot of sound, but they can get into the microphone and make enough sound to be picked up.

I estimate 2% of household dust is actually dead ghost corpses.

edit: Duh KBW3, of course I am making it up, thats what makes it psuedo-science.

However, you offer no answer to the question, only a critique of my answer. However, to my knowledge my answer is the only logical possibility with currently known physics.

edit again: I will give you credit TR for attempting to get an intelligent discussion going in this section.

edit once again: ok, sorry i got a little b--chy yesterday, but my wife is 9 month preggo and sleep around here is scarce.

Consider the needle of a record player. Its tiny, but by vibrating in certain patterns it produces human speech. Even without the speakers, you can hear the sound if you listen closely. In the same way, a dust sized ghost could vibrate near a microphone and get its message through.

However, to do this, it would have to have mass.

Answer 14

First off this is not done by audible voices; or the person recording the sessions would hear the voices while they are recording the session.

I think the spirits do this by directing their consciousness to affect the magnetic media.