Which paranormal phenomena are accepted as real, scientific issues?

Question

I'm trying do decide on a PhD topic, and I would just love to find some issue like "UFOs, Nessie, Aliens, the Chupacabras, crop circles" etc.

But unfortunately, all of these topics would immediately make me a funny-farm suspect.

Isn't there anything inexplicable or even paranormal whose research-worthiness is undisputed in the scientific community?

Something I could write about without becoming laughing stock?

Answer 1

Cryptozoology is the only one that really comes close. Some biologists and zoologists have been involved in investigations or attempts to debunk stories of sasquatch, chupacabra, loch ness monster, etc. Because of the fact that new mammals, fish, and birds are discovered from time to time, it's the only "paranormal" field that I can think of that at least a few scientists pay a little bit of attention to.  

Answer 2

I am doing a Ph.D in engineering and I have a passing interest in the paranormal.

Basically, unless you approach it from the point of view of asking why people believe it, then you will not get published.

Most fields in paranormal research attract cranks and first hand evidence is hard to obtain and there is always the possibility that people may (consciously or not) manipulate data to show that the event took place.

A lot of people in the field talk about cover-ups and misinformation. Logically, if you have perhaps hundreds of troops and agents covering up something as important as aliens visiting earth, then one of them at least is going to talk about it or take home a souvenir. Look how many leaks there are in government and how many spies they are and ask if they cannot keep national defence secrets safe, then how could they keep something like aliens covered up.

There is one other case you have to consider. There was a scientific study done of the possible "memory of water" which is the underpinnings of homoeopathy. The study did show an effect that was outside the realms of chance (but no where near as powerful as homoeopaths claim). The scientist was treated like a fraud and his lab was investigated not just by other scientists but by a magician looking for ways the results could have been faked. Despite being a prominent scientist in his field and there being no evidence of wrong doing his career was in tatters and he struggled to find work. I can't remember the scientists name.

I would approach this field with caution. When you come to do your Viva an academic from outside your university will have to decide to endorse your thesis. If they think it is controversial in the slightest they will back away as it can rebound back at them if you are discredited in the future.

Answer 3

the only thing realy paranormal to me is spirits and most disbelive in them but there here if ur in warwick rhode island try " The Atlantic Paranormal Socity" and get in the paranormal with them  

Answer 4

Well, since it is paranormal, I think you aren't going to find something concrete. It's not concrete and that is what fascinates us about it.

Answer 5

Look into the possibility that Electronic Voice Phenomenon might have some scientific worthiness.  It is something that you can prove to yourself and play for other people to hear.  However you will only believe it if you actually try it for yourself.  Do some research on it and check out its history.  See what you can find on Friedrich Jurgenson, and Dr. Konstantin Raudive.  Both are pioneers in the field of EVP.  I have done it.  There is something out there.  I will not tell you it is a ghost or the spirit of a dead person.  I do not know what answers you with 100% accuracy.  I just know I get answers when I do an EVP session in a known haunted location.  Again, you will only believe it if you try it.  Use a digital recorder, which you no doubt already have.   It certainly can't hurt to try.  And since schools are known to be haunted, you might even be able to do an EVP session in class in front of every one and prove your theory.  

Answer 6

Watch the skys very close.  And not even that far up in the sky do you have to look sometimes.  I have seen what I have always looked for everynight as I would sit and just stare up in the sky. I believe we cannot see them because of the reflector panels in which case reflect the color of night.  The one I saw was just at the top of a huge tree in my own yard. It had been foggy and raining and I was in my hot tub when out from the top of the tree behind a cloud which was orange because of the street lights glowing through them made them orange, came a huge craft of some sort which looked like it had millions of reflector panels all over it.  It almost reminded me of a stingray swimming in the ocean the way it swayed so gracefully in the night sky, and when it swayed so that u could only see the side of it.. all I could see was 1 little tiny thin orangish white line then when it swayed back down I could see the whole thing again. This went on as far as I could see, It followed a clearing with not clouds until i couldn't see it no more.  I don't watch the skys hardly ever anymore because I finialy got to see what I have always wanted to since I was very little. And I don't even care if anyone believes me because I know what I saw and thats what matters the most to me. This thing was beautiful!  It hovered very low, no noise at all, and went through the night very gracefully.  The Best!  And no I was not doing drugs. LOL I'm a very down to earth mom. (Incase ur wondering)

Answer 7

The first guy is right - if it were something that you could investigate and get a result for, it wouldn't be paranormal - it would be something in the range of reality.  So your best bet is either investigating the people who make these claims, or proving some of them wrong - but that's so easy a 9-year old once got published for doing so (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Rosa)...  So I don't know if that would count for a PhD topic.  

UFOs are people misinterpreting common things you see in the sky (notice how you never see astronomers reporting UFOs, and they spend more time looking up than anyone - that's because they know what they're looking at), crop circles are easily created by drunken idiots with a piece of wood and some rope, so no need to assume aliens, the actual distances involved pretty much rule out aliens showing up, not to mention the extensive satellite network that would all have to miss them somehow - and so on and so on.

Answer 8

I think a good topic would be 'why' people believe this stuff.  It would be an excellent exercise in human psychology.  You could also talk about where people go wrong in their thinking... all of the logical fallacies people fall victim to, like "Confirmation Bias", "Argument from Personal Incredulity", "Post-hoc ergo propter hoc", etc.

Good luck!  

Answer 9

well you could try hauntings and spirit people(ghosts).

Answer 10

The second, no, the split second you use the word paranormal you will lose your audience.  And your PhD.

Try a psycological aim and look into the brain changes of people that claim to have been abducted by aliens that might get you somewhere.

Answer 11

no, now with that said...Nessie and Cryptozoology really aren't paranormal, not that your advisers will know that. You might try something in the field of cryptozoology claiming that you're "exploring the possibility of the existence of a _______________________...because you feel that data gathered from ____________ and ______________ warrant further investigation into ___________________________"

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there's a lot more to the paranormal and cryptozoology then people think, try doing some digging for an unexplainable case or a witness of unimpeachable character (such President Cater, who reported seeing a UFO), but it will be difficult to be taken seriously....

Answer 12

If you delve deeply into science and philosphy you will realise that everything become theory...evolution, the big bang, what holds atoms together and why. Once you get beyond that the mind boggles at infinate possibilities. We cannot be sure of anything if we understand that the brain is just a collection of cells made from atoms made from energy and matter (whatever that is) and that brain tells us that this reality is real and can be put into rules and pockets. The fact is that we might not be here the way we perceive we are. Eventually science hits a wall beyond which there is nothing but a big "?". As long as you delve into science and then beyound you could talk about anything. Just because human scientists can't see what's between the atoms doesn't mean there is nothing there...such as a soul.

As far as UFO's is concerned. It's not an interest of mine but logically is the universe is infinate then it makes it both likely and unlikely that there could be an alien visit. In all the infinate Galxies surely one will be able to reach us and yet, it would surely be a long way. But that's my reason for time travel. If time goes on forever, as some point someone must discover the secret...who knows....who knows anything.

If any scientist thinks what I am saying is mad I ask only that you open your minds and aswer me this "what's beyond the universe...how can it be infinate...there has to be an end point...but what's beyond that. Mind boggling stuff eh, and no one will ever figure it out.  

Answer 13

The simple answer is no.You could go at from the other side.Why so many believe in these things.

I'm curious what field is your prospective PHD in?How would the paranormal fit in as  a topic?

Answer 14

Yes- death bed visions and near-death experiences are fascinating, legitimate topics.

Check out "Life After Life" by Dr. Raymond Moody.

Answer 15

There are none...that's why they are PARAnormal

You could write a thesis on why people believe these completely implausible and unproven things, why do people cling so tightly to odd beliefs.  You could write about the cost of useless investigation and study over the years (The NIH has spent 100's of millions on "alternative medicine" in the last 20 years, and not a single new drug/treatment to show for it from the sCAM crowd.  How many new treatments from legitimate science?  Too many to list)