راهنمای شک‌گرایان به پدیده‌های فراطبیعی

This work contains a rational explanation of 27 paranormal phenomena - from walking over hot coals to spontaneous combustion - that appear to defy the laws of science. Can a human being really burst spontaneously into flames? Just how deadly is the Bermuda Triangle? And what's the real story behind all those alien abductions? The answers to these and many more questions are within these covers. Guaranteed to liven up any dinner party, ''The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal'' offers explanations for many phenomena which appear to defy known science. Speaking directly to the reader, and always with respect for those who believe, Lynne Kelly presents the facts about the paranormal. Lynne Kelly has been teaching science and mathematics for over 30 years. She holds degrees in education and engineering and delights in debunking claims of the paranormal. She also delights in all things arachnid and is famous for her spider jewellery. Cover Page......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 ISBN 1741140595......Page 5 CONTENTS......Page 6 INTRODUCTION......Page 8 1 SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION......Page 10 Investigating the remains......Page 11 The candle effect......Page 12 Confirming the theory......Page 13 In the laboratory......Page 14 Do try this at home......Page 15 References......Page 16 2 WALKING ON HOT COALS......Page 17 The science......Page 18 The background......Page 21 The theories......Page 22 Eliminating theories......Page 24 Humans or aliens?......Page 25 Motivating the hoaxers......Page 27 References......Page 28 The clues......Page 29 The theories......Page 32 The history of the shroud......Page 33 Evaluating the theories......Page 36 References......Page 41 5 PSYCHIC READINGS......Page 43 What is a psychic?......Page 44 Are the psychics all lying?......Page 45 Cold and hot reading......Page 46 They’ll quote the hits......Page 49 DIY psychic reading......Page 50 Further reading......Page 56 References......Page 57 6 SPIRITUALISM......Page 58 At the séance......Page 59 The Fox sisters......Page 61 Daniel Dunglas Home (1833–86)......Page 66 Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831–91)......Page 69 Harry Houdini (1874–1926) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)......Page 70 Sexuality and the séance room......Page 71 Into the twentieth century......Page 73 Revisiting the séance room......Page 74 The ouija board......Page 77 Can there ever be contact with the spirit world?......Page 78 References......Page 79 7 GHOSTS AND POLTERGEISTS......Page 80 Check out the child......Page 81 Natural explanations......Page 82 The cynical view......Page 87 8 DIY GHOST PHOTOS......Page 89 DIY ghostly portrait......Page 90 References......Page 91 9 REINCARNATION AND PAST LIVES......Page 92 The case of Bridey Murphy......Page 93 Finding Bridey......Page 94 Jane Evans and the Bloxham tapes......Page 95 Dr Ian Stevenson collects cases, lots of them......Page 98 Testing the talk......Page 101 Cryptomnesia or hidden memories......Page 104 Hypnosis and past-life regression therapy......Page 106 The risks of instilling false memories......Page 108 Revisiting the evidence......Page 109 References......Page 110 10 ASTROLOGY......Page 111 Using the reading......Page 112 What is your star sign? Are you sure?......Page 113 Dates for the sun signs of the zodiac......Page 114 Double blind testing the zodiac types......Page 115 Evaluating astrology......Page 122 Reference......Page 123 Birthdates and the rhythms of the Earth......Page 124 Testing numerology......Page 125 Choose your numbers......Page 128 Checking the predictability factor......Page 131 Evaluating numerology......Page 132 References......Page 133 Anecdotes as ‘proof’......Page 134 Precognition......Page 136 Clairvoyance and clairaudience......Page 139 Telepathy......Page 144 Psychokinesis......Page 146 Parapsychology and the study of psi......Page 149 References......Page 151 Interpreting quatrains......Page 152 The Great Fire of London?......Page 153 World War II?......Page 155 Desperately seeking suitable quatrains......Page 157 Reference......Page 158 14 THE PROPHECY THAT IS KABUL KHAN......Page 159 15 PSYCHIC DETECTIVES......Page 163 Gerard Croiset (1909–80)......Page 165 The Yorkshire Ripper......Page 166 Australia’s Beaumont children......Page 167 Become a psychic detective......Page 168 References......Page 169 16 DIY TELEPATHY......Page 170 17 PSYCHICS ON STAGE......Page 173 Moving compass needles......Page 175 Resisting the pain of fire and ice......Page 176 Blindfolded yet seeing......Page 177 Psychic portraits......Page 179 Reading minds and signals......Page 180 Heart-stopping trances......Page 181 References......Page 182 Unprepared spoons......Page 184 Prepared spoons......Page 185 Reference......Page 186 19 UFO ENCOUNTERS OF THE FIRST KIND——SIGHTINGS......Page 187 Encounters of the ordinal kinds......Page 188 Reality check......Page 189 The first flying saucer......Page 190 Air Force involvement......Page 192 Unidentified aircraft......Page 193 Lighter-than-air technologies......Page 194 They don’t always look like planes.........Page 195 Weather conditions——mirages......Page 197 Venus and other celestial bodies......Page 201 Hazy influences......Page 202 More strange weather conditions......Page 203 Astronautical sightings......Page 204 References......Page 205 20 UFO ENCOUNTERS OF THE SECOND KIND——PHYSICAL EVIDENCE......Page 207 A science writer investigates......Page 208 Australia’s evidence in the Nullarbor Desert......Page 210 Conclusion......Page 214 References......Page 215 The story......Page 216 Roswell becomes famous......Page 218 Three become one......Page 219 The alien autopsy film......Page 223 References......Page 224 22 ALIEN ABDUCTIONS......Page 226 Betty and Barney Hill......Page 227 Travis Walton becomes a legend......Page 228 The aliens......Page 229 Have you been abducted?......Page 230 Hypnosis——the favoured tool......Page 231 Questions and concerns......Page 232 Reality check......Page 233 Reference......Page 234 23 THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE......Page 235 Flight 19......Page 236 geography......Page 238 The loss of the......Page 239 Rational explanations for the losses......Page 240 References......Page 241 24 LEVITATION......Page 242 Transcendental Meditation and levitation......Page 243 Finger lifting......Page 245 Levitating tables and mediums......Page 247 Levitating ladies......Page 249 The Indian rope trick......Page 250 References......Page 252 25 DOWSING AND DIVINING......Page 253 Testing dowsers......Page 254 Tools of the trade......Page 255 Testing the theory......Page 257 Underground water......Page 258 References......Page 259 The yeti, or abominable snowman......Page 260 Bigfoot......Page 261 Why the doubters doubt......Page 264 Prehistoric survival......Page 265 Sightings and blurry images......Page 266 The professionals join the search......Page 267 Monstrous manifestations in the loch......Page 268 Still, maybe . . .......Page 269 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 270 Back Page......Page 271 Cover Page 1 Title Page 4 ISBN 1741140595 5 CONTENTS 6 INTRODUCTION 8 1 SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION 10 Unknown to science 11 Investigating the remains 11 The candle effect 12 Confirming the theory 13 In the laboratory 14 Do try this at home 15 Combusted humans 16 References 16 2 WALKING ON HOT COALS 17 The science 18 3 CROP CIRCLES 21 The background 21 The theories 22 Eliminating theories 24 Humans or aliens? 25 Motivating the hoaxers 27 References 28 4 THE SHROUD OF TURIN 29 The clues 29 The theories 32 The history of the shroud 33 Evaluating the theories 36 References 41 5 PSYCHIC READINGS 43 What is a psychic? 44 Are the psychics all lying? 45 Cold and hot reading 46 They’ll quote the hits 49 DIY psychic reading 50 Further reading 56 References 57 6 SPIRITUALISM 58 At the séance 59 The Fox sisters 61 Daniel Dunglas Home (1833–86) 66 Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831–91) 69 Harry Houdini (1874–1926) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) 70 Sexuality and the séance room 71 Into the twentieth century 73 Revisiting the séance room 74 The ouija board 77 Can there ever be contact with the spirit world? 78 References 79 7 GHOSTS AND POLTERGEISTS 80 Check out the child 81 Natural explanations 82 The cynical view 87 8 DIY GHOST PHOTOS 89 DIY ghostly portrait 90 References 91 9 REINCARNATION AND PAST LIVES 92 The case of Bridey Murphy 93 Finding Bridey 94 Jane Evans and the Bloxham tapes 95 Dr Ian Stevenson collects cases, lots of them 98 T. Lobsang Rampa and his third eye 101 Testing the talk 101 Cryptomnesia or hidden memories 104 Hypnosis and past-life regression therapy 106 The risks of instilling false memories 108 Revisiting the evidence 109 References 110 10 ASTROLOGY 111 Using the reading 112 What is your star sign? Are you sure? 113 Dates for the sun signs of the zodiac 114 Double blind testing the zodiac types 115 Evaluating astrology 122 Reference 123 11 NUMEROLOGY 124 Birthdates and the rhythms of the Earth 124 Testing numerology 125 Choose your numbers 128 Checking the predictability factor 131 Evaluating numerology 132 References 133 12 ESP——EXTRASENSORY PERCEPTION 134 Anecdotes as ‘proof’ 134 Precognition 136 Clairvoyance and clairaudience 139 Telepathy 144 Psychokinesis 146 Parapsychology and the study of psi 149 References 151 13 NOSTRADAMUS 152 Interpreting quatrains 152 The Great Fire of London? 153 World War II? 155 Nostradamic myths 157 Desperately seeking suitable quatrains 157 So did Nostradamus see the future? 158 Reference 158 14 THE PROPHECY THAT IS KABUL KHAN 159 15 PSYCHIC DETECTIVES 163 Gerard Croiset (1909–80) 165 The Yorkshire Ripper 166 Australia’s Beaumont children 167 Psychics and the American police 168 Become a psychic detective 168 References 169 16 DIY TELEPATHY 170 17 PSYCHICS ON STAGE 173 Bending spoons and keys 175 Moving compass needles 175 Resisting the pain of fire and ice 176 Starting watches 177 Blindfolded yet seeing 177 Hidden messages 179 Psychic portraits 179 The hot foil trick 180 Reading minds and signals 180 Heart-stopping trances 181 Conclusion 182 References 182 18 DIY BENDING SPOONS 184 Unprepared spoons 184 Prepared spoons 185 Reference 186 19 UFO ENCOUNTERS OF THE FIRST KIND——SIGHTINGS 187 Are there aliens? 188 Encounters of the ordinal kinds 188 Reality check 189 Close encounters of the first kind 190 The first flying saucer 190 Air Force involvement 192 Unidentified aircraft 193 Lighter-than-air technologies 194 They don’t always look like planes... 195 Weather balloons 197 Weather conditions——mirages 197 Venus and other celestial bodies 201 Meteors and space debris 202 Hazy influences 202 Lenticular clouds 203 More strange weather conditions 203 Flocks of birds 204 Astronautical sightings 204 Conclusion 205 References 205 20 UFO ENCOUNTERS OF THE SECOND KIND——PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 207 A science writer investigates 208 Australia’s evidence in the Nullarbor Desert 210 Conclusion 214 References 215 21 UFO ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND——ALIEN CONTACT 216 The story 216 Roswell becomes famous 218 Three become one 219 The alien autopsy film 223 Reality check 224 Evaluating other alien contact reports 224 References 224 22 ALIEN ABDUCTIONS 226 Betty and Barney Hill 227 Travis Walton becomes a legend 228 The aliens 229 Have you been abducted? 230 Hypnosis——the favoured tool 231 Questions and concerns 232 Reality check 233 Reference 234 23 THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE 235 Reality check 236 The facts 236 Flight 19 236 The and a problem with 238 geography 238 Christopher Columbus and the Bermuda Triangle 239 The loss of the 239 Rational explanations for the losses 240 References 241 24 LEVITATION 242 Transcendental Meditation and levitation 243 Finger lifting 245 Levitating tables and mediums 247 Levitating ladies 249 The Indian rope trick 250 Conclusion 252 References 252 25 DOWSING AND DIVINING 253 Testing dowsers 254 Tools of the trade 255 DIY divining 257 Testing the theory 257 Underground water 258 Why it ‘works’ 259 References 259 26 YETI, BIGFOOT AND OTHER APE-MEN 260 The yeti, or abominable snowman 260 Bigfoot 261 Other ape-like creatures 264 Why the doubters doubt 264 27 THE LOCH NESS MONSTER 265 Prehistoric survival 265 The loch 266 Sightings and blurry images 266 The professionals join the search 267 Monstrous manifestations in the loch 268 Nessie biology 269 Still, maybe . . . 269 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 270 Back Page 271 A rational explanation of 27 paranormal phenomena - from walking over hot coals to spontaneous combustion - that appear to defy the laws of science. Lynne Kelly's Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal is a lovely book. It covers a wide range of paranormal mythconceptions in an entertaining and comprehensive way. The fascinating topics include the Bermuda Triangle, UFOs, Astrology, Nostradamus and Spoon Bending. The Universe around us is magnificent enough to fill us with awe and wonder - and this book shows us that we don't have to rely on second-rate re-hashed myths.' Karl Kruszelnicki, Julius Sumner Miller Fellow, University of Sydney We find ourselves in a society which erroneously believes it has undergone an Enlightenment, but has only experienced a certain degree of Brightening. Lynne Kelly's informative book should never have been needed, but obviously is. Telling people what they already know - that there is no Tooth Fairy, magic is a subject for children's story books and immortality, ESP and astral projection belong in fantasy stories - is made a more acceptable and communicable message via this book. Kudos and applause to the author. Let's have more ' James Randi, President, James Randi Educational Foundation, www.randi.org Can a human being really burst spontaneously into flames? Just how deadly is the Bermuda Triangle? And what's the real story behind all those alien abductions? The answers to these and many more questions are within these covers. Guaranteed to liven up any dinner party, The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal offers explanations for many phenomena which appear to defy known science. Speaking directly to the reader, and always with respect for those who believe, Lynne Kelly presents the facts about the paranormal. Did you know that you too can bend spoons and read minds? This book will show you how. Can a human being really spontaneously burst into flames? Just how deadly is the Bermuda Triangle? And what's the real story behind all those alien abductions? The answers to these and many other questions lie within the covers of The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal . Guaranteed to liven up any dinner party, this delightful, highly readable book offers color photographs and scientific case-by-case explanations for twenty-seven phenomena that appear to defy known science, including ghosts and poltergeists, the predictions of Nostradamus, and yogic levitation, among many others. Speaking directly to the reader, and always with respect for those who believe, Kelly gives us a bite-size, nonacademic approach to debunking hugely popular superstitions and mysteries. Did you know that you, too, can bend spoons and read minds? This book will show you how. Contains an explanation of 27 paranormal phenomena - from walking over hot coals to spontaneous combustion - that appear to defy the laws of science. This work presents facts about the paranormal and answers questions such as - Can a human being really burst spontaneously into flames? Just how deadly is the Bermuda Triangle? And more. This book is a good start but if you want a detailed analysis of various paranormal scams you have to look else where, I wish there was more substance to this book , it started with a bang but fizzled toward the end, and UFO/alien treatment was tad bit too long. This book offers explanations for twenty-seven phenomena that appear to defy known science, including ghosts and poltergeists, walking over hot coals, telepathic spoonbending, yogic levitation, and many others A humorous debunking of 27 paranormal phenomena that appear to defy the laws of science - from walking over hot coals to spontaneous combustion - with rational explanations provided for each