welcome to
PARANORMAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH
FOUNDATION INC.
PO Box 84, Upper Sturt, 5156, South
Australia
Website:
www.paranormalphenomena.org
E-mail:
contact@paranormalphenomena.org
The term “paranormal phenomena” refers to phenomena that can be shown to exist
by accepted orthodox scientific methodology, but for which currently no
scientific explanations can be offered.
Aims and Objectives of the Foundation:
(1) To investigate the
reality of the existence of paranormal phenomena, to try to ascertain the
characteristic properties of such phenomena by scientifically acceptable means,
and to attempt to find scientific explanations for such phenomena.
(2) To promote research into paranormal
phenomena by fostering cooperation between the foundation and interested
individuals, or other research institutions dealing with paranormal phenomena.
(3) To render assistance to members of the
public with problems arising out of the real or perceived existence of
paranormal phenomena.
(4) To disseminate information on paranormal
phenomena through publications.
Investigations Undertaken by the Foundation:
Investigations into paranormal phenomena are possible only with the cooperation
of people possessing paranormal abilities. The investigations of the foundation
to date relied on the participation of around 50 such people, most of whom were
the residents of Adelaide in South Australia.
The paranormal phenomena dealt with by the foundation fall into three main
categories, namely:
(1) Extrasensory Perception, a term referring to the acquisition of information
by the human mind without reliance on any of the five senses, or reliance on any
other currently available scientifically explainable
means.
(2) Psychokinesis, a term signifying the ability of the human mind to exercise
direct influence on physical processes, without relying on any currently known
scientifically explainable means.
(3) Survival Related Phenomena, which involve scientifically acceptable
investigations into a range of phenomena suggestive of the survival of the human
mind beyond the death of the human body.
Investigations have also been carried out into the Human Aura that some people
claim to be able to see, and Corona Discharge (Kirlian) Photography which some
people believe to yield pictures of the aura. Further, since paranormal
abilities are often exhibited by people when in Altered States of Consciousness,
such states were also investigated, mostly via bioelectric variables, including
attempts to enhance paranormal abilities through biofeedback.
The reality of the existence of the first two categories of these phenomena,
namely Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis, may be proven by the same
statistical methods orthodox science employs in inexact areas, such as Biology,
Psychology, and Medicine.
If orthodox science finds some results for which 100% validity cannot be
claimed, but the calculated probability for the results having come about by
chance is 1%, or less, then orthodox science calls such results “highly
significant”, meaning that the results should be recognised as valid, even
though there is a 1% probability, or less, for the results having come about by
chance, and so be invalid.
An alternative way of stating that the probability is 1%, or less, is by saying
that the probability is 1 in 100, or more.
Some of the results obtained by the foundation yielded probability figures of
the order of 1 in a million, or more, in Extrasensory Perception; and 1 in a
billion, or more, in Psychokinesis. Such results would not be challengeable in
orthodox areas of science, but when it comes to paranormal phenomena, the
endlessly repeated notion is: “We know that such phenomena cannot exist, and
therefore the results must be false.”
At the dawn of the 20th century Guglielmo Marconi endeavoured to transmit radio
waves across the Atlantic. Prevailing science of the day claimed this to be
impossible, as radio waves were known to travel in straight lines, and so they
could not conceivably follow the curvature of the earth’s surface. But then in
1901 Marconi’s radio signals, transmitted from Cornwall in England, were picked
up across the Atlantic in Newfoundland. At that time, science knew nothing of an
ionosphere surrounding the earth in the upper atmosphere, which was able to
reflect radio waves back to earth. It seems that orthodox science has learnt
little from the Marconi incident, or from many others like it, and still insists
that what is not explainable in terms of currently accepted principles cannot
exist.
A More Detailed Description of the Foundation’s Work:
Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis:
Extensive tests for extrasensory perception (telepathy, clairvoyance,
precognition) and psychokinesis were carried out mostly by electronic means.
During the past 25 years a number of persons were found who were able to produce
statistically highly significant results under strictly controlled conditions,
in both extrasensory perception and psychokinesis. Also, spontaneous
psychokinetic phenomena in the presence of some psychics were observed at times
in the laboratory.
Altered States of Consciousness:
Persons exhibiting psychic abilities usually do so while in altered states of
consciousness, often involving activities by persons who are not consciously
aware of being responsible for such activities. The question arose whether
bioelectric variables correlated with the alterations in the states of
consciousness. Investigated variables included brain waves, muscle tension,
heart signal, galvanic skin response, and respiration. It appears from these
investigations that alterations in the states of consciousness are primarily
mental processes correlating with biological variables to a minor extent only.
Biofeedback:
Bioelectric variables monitored while subjects were in altered states of
consciousness were fed back to the subjects in the form of light, sound,
electric and magnetic fields in the hope of enhancing the altered states, and
associated psychic abilities. These attempts yielded minimal results only.
Aura:
Following the ideas and suggestions of earlier investigators, it was found that
the human aura is not electromagnetic radiation (visible light, ultraviolet or
infrared); that psychics do not have extended vision frequency-wise or
intensity-wise; and that the aura is not due to detectable particles emitted
from the skin absorbing or reflecting light. However, the skin does, in fact,
radiate visible light, but such radiation is three orders of magnitude below the
threshold of human vision. It seems that the aura is seen the same way as
apparitions are seen, the image being created by the mind and brain of the
observer in response to extrasensory signals exchanged between the subject and
the observer.
Corona Discharge (Kirlian) Photography:
It was found that the spectra of corona discharges from inanimate objects and
biological sources (including plant leaves and the fingertips of normal and
psychic subjects) are the same, and are almost solely due to nitrogen spectral
lines, predominantly in the ultra-violet region. Photography greatly distorts
these spectra, yielding intriguing, often beautiful, but largely useless
pictures. The many bright spots in some pictures are likely to be points of high
conductance. Attempts to replicate the phantom leaf effect, that is small
cutaway portions of a plant leaf still showing in the corona discharge
photograph, were unsuccessful.
Facilities:
The foundation possesses electronic test facilities for extrasensory perception
and psychokinesis; test facilities for the determination of the intensity and
spectral distribution of very low level radiation (visible, ultraviolet,
infrared); facilities for the analysis of bioelectric variables, in particular
the spectra of brain waves; and also facilities for the detection of physical
variables, including electric fields, magnetic fields, and minute changes in
temperature.
Needs:
The primary needs of the foundation are for psychic persons willing to
participate in experiments and undertake tests, in the hope of securing more
statistically significant and scientifically defensible results. Cooperation
from hypnotherapists for attempts to enhance psychic abilities by hypnosis could
be helpful. There is also a need for new equipment, difficult to acquire as the
cost for some items runs into tens of thousands of dollars.
Volunteers are invited to participate in tests
for extrasensory perception and psychokinetic abilities, or other experiments
coming within the areas listed above. All tests and experiments are run free of
charge. For further information, or appointment, please ring +61 (08) 83708539,
between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. If the call is not answered in the daytime,
please ring in the evening.
Publications:
A detailed account of the investigations carried
out by the Paranormal Phenomena Research Foundation Inc., over a period spanning
close to 25 years, is described in a book titled "An Excursion into the
Paranormal". The book was published in September 2003, by the Paranormal
Phenomena Research Foundation Inc., in Adelaide, South Australia. It consists of
an introduction, thirteen chapters, and appendices to five chapters, on 285
pages. The work of the foundation was carried out by the book’s author with
occasional help from associates. Much of the work was done at the University of
Adelaide, where the author lectured in Electrical Engineering for over 30 years,
and after the retirement of the author from that university, the work was
continued at the Paranormal Phenomena Research Foundation Inc.
Any undisputable results must be quantitative, the deduction of which could be
unfamiliar to some readers. The author attempted to maximise the readability of
the text partly by keeping the essential mathematics as simple as possible, and
partly by devoting Chapters 2, 3, and 6, to providing the necessary scientific
background in the simplest possible terms. Hopefully, this will enable most
readers to judge the results for themselves, without having to rely on orthodox
scientific opinion.
Copies of the book are available from the Paranormal Phenomena Research
Foundation Inc., PO Box 84, Upper Sturt, South Australia, 5156. The price of
the book in Australian dollars is $25, plus postage ranging up to $10
in Australia, and up to $20 outside Australia, depending on location.
E-mail:
contact@paranormalphenomena.org
The full text of the book
may be read free of charge on this website: (www.paranormalphenomena.org)
Some relevant information about the
book is:
AN EXCURSION
INTO THE PARANORMAL
By
George Karolyi
Published by
The Paranormal Phenomena Research Foundation
Inc.
PO Box 84, Upper Sturt, 5156, South Australia
2003
Printed in Australia by Peacock Publications
ISBN 1 876087 76 5
Contents:
To view the text of the book on this website,
the Adobe Acrobat reader must be installed in the system. If the Adobe Acrobat
is already installed, please ignore this paragraph. If the Adobe Acrobat reader
is not yet installed, it needs to be downloaded from the Adobe website first. To
do so, click
here to enter the Adobe website and follow the "download Adobe Reader"
instructions.
Working on-line, any Chapter or any of the Appendices may be read by clicking on
it in the contents table above. It is possible to open a Chapter and the
relevant Appendices at the same time. Opened chapters can be printed and/or
saved to the
hard drive, provided that the source is
acknowledged.
The whole book may be
downloaded to the hard drive, and/or printed. (10Mb, may take 1 hour).
Another way to download any Chapter, and relevant Appendices, or the whole book, to
the hard drive, is to right click on the underlined links above and choose:
“Save Target As…”. Having completed the downloading, the Chapters,
Appendices, or the whole book, may be read off-line.
In case of download problems or inability to
open chapters, please try the following:
-
Click the refresh button on the web
browser.
-
Delete all temporary internet files from
within the web browser. Users of Microsoft Internet Explorer can do
this, by executing the following steps: Go to Tools menu, Internet
Options, click on Delete Files button in the Temporary Internet files
section. When finished, close the Internet Options window.
-
The Adobe Acrobat Reader program might
have been damaged and need to be re-installed. Please go to the Adobe
website to download the latest version
(click
here to enter the Adobe website)
and follow the "download Adobe
Reader" instructions.
-
In case of experiencing problems with the
above steps, please seek professional computer assistance.
|