• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise

Sensor Tips

Sensor Product News, Tips, and learning resources for the Design Engineering Professional.

  • Motion Sensing
  • Vision systems
    • Smart cameras
    • Vision software
    • Lighting
    • Optics
  • Pressure
  • Speed
  • Temperature
  • Suppliers
  • Video
    • EE Videos
    • Teardown Videos
  • EE Learning Center
    • Design Guides
    • Tech Toolboxes

How does sensing help in paranormal research?

June 20, 2023 By Randy Frank

Paranormal does not usually imply a scientifically sound phenomenon. However, when science is used to verify the observation, the situation changes. This is where a variety of sensors come into play. After all, it is called extra sensory perception (ESP).

In the United States, a push in the scientific community to empirically study paranormal experiences led to the creation of the Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke University in 1930. Today, several universities offer degrees in parapsychology in their psychology departments. For a Ph.D. in parapsychology, course studies could include quantitative experimental methods and research design. As the root of behavioral psychology, experimentation courses for parapsychology offer focused training in provable detection programs as well as statistical analysis and report-writing.

For those who consider parapsychology a pseudoscience, proponents note that few people believed in the germ theory of disease until scientists like Snow and Pasteur investigated and developed what became rigorous proof of the unseen phenomena in the 1850s.

The study of parapsychology typically includes five key areas:

  • Telepathy                            sharing or receiving thoughts or feeling directly
  • Clairvoyance                      accessing information about events distant in time or space
  • Precognition                      predicting future events before they occur
  • Psychokinesis (PK)           manipulating objects or physical systems using mental powers
  • Survival studies                 continuing to exist in some form and communicating after death

Among the phenomena/measurements that researchers want to observe for paranormal activities are electromagnetic fields (EMF), temperature, audio, infrared and ultraviolet images, motion detection, and more.

EMF meters measure fluctuations in electromagnetic fields that may result from paranormal occurrences. Temperature guns measure the air for the cold spots but a forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera could also be among the items in a paranormal researcher’s toolbox to detect a drop in temperature or a cold spot that is often associated with paranormal activity.

Ultimately, like any other modern technology, enterprising companies will integrate different technologies into a single product. The Paranormal Puck is an example of this integration. The Paranormal Puck 2 monitors EMF, temperature, humidity, light levels, barometric pressure, movement, and ionization / static levels. It works with smart phones and tablets.

The Spirit Box

Perhaps the most intriguing or controversial measurement tool is the ghost or spirit box. Falling into the broader classification of instrumental trans-communication (ITC) devices, the theory is that a spirit can communicate with people using white noise. Research has shown that sounds other than spoken language can be captured on a ghost box.

One of the more widely known devices is the P-SB7 Spirit Box®.  First demonstrated on Ghost Adventures “LIVE” show on October 30, 2009, the spirit box provided “real time” responses to an investigator’s questions for over 40 minutes. The device uses a millisecond adjustable Forward or Reverse frequency “sweep” technique coupled with a proprietary high frequency white noise distributed between frequency steps.

With the goal of facilitating communications, the Ovilus 5 also converts environmental readings into words. In the dictionary mode, words are voiced from the on-board dictionary based on environmental readings. However, there are other modes that a researcher can use including draw mode, energy mode (to visualize dynamic energy fields similar to an oscilloscope readings), log mode, motion mode (that uses a built-in accelerometer to visualize small movements), phonetic mode, and a true/false mode (based on high or low energy levels.

For those who are skeptical of or interested in the use of these devices, they can all be found and ordered on Amazon or through a Google search.

 

References

Early Studies in Parapsychology at Duke

Frequently Asked Questions About Parapsychology

Paranormal Puck 2b

The P-SB7 Spirit Box®

Ovilus 5B

Filed Under: Featured, Frequently Asked Question (FAQ), Image sensing, Magnetic sensor, Temperature Tagged With: duke university

Primary Sidebar

Featured Contributions

Integrating MEMS technology into next-gen vehicle safety features

Fire prevention through the Internet

Beyond the drivetrain: sensor innovation in automotive

Sensors in American football can help the game

Select and integrate sensors into IoT devices

More Featured Contributions

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE LEARNING CENTER

EE Learning Center
“sensor
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

RSS Current EDABoard.com discussions

  • Electrochemical Front End do we need dual voltage rails and split ground
  • What tool can I use to draw circuit diagrams like this?
  • Microsoft Teams sound not working
  • BF999 Input and output impedance
  • floating node warning in LTSpice

RSS Current Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • How to make string LEDs?
  • PIC KIT 3 not able to program dsPIC
  • Display TFT ST7789 (OshonSoft Basic).
  • Remote Control By Location Part 2
  • Raise your hand if your car had one of these:

EE ENGINEERING TRAINING DAYS

engineering
“bills

RSS Featured White Papers

  • 4D Imaging Radar: Sensor Supremacy For Sustained L2+ Vehicle Enablement
  • Amphenol RF solutions enable the RF & video signal chains in industrial robots
  • Implementing Position Sensors for Hazardous Areas & Safety

DesignFast

Component Selection Made Simple.

Try it Today
design fast globle

Footer

EE WORLD ONLINE NETWORK

  • 5G Technology World
  • EE World Online
  • Engineers Garage
  • Analog IC Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDA Board Forums
  • Electro Tech Online Forums
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips

SENSOR TIPS

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • About us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy