# Credible/Governmental Research of the Paranormal **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2001, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credible-governmental-research-of-the-paranormal/88791 "2001-10-22T02:58:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Humble\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ce7236/32.png) [@Humble\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Ice)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credible-governmental-research-of-the-paranormal/88791/1 "2001-10-22T02:58:10Z")
Is there any documented research regarding the authenticity of paranormal existance? I am looking for credible investigations which, to a high degree, prove or disprove the existance of ghosts. I am looking for governmental studies in particular. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credible-governmental-research-of-the-paranormal/88791/2 "2001-10-22T03:54:22Z")
It’s impossible to _disprove_ something like this (you might want to think about this for a minute, because it’s important). But since there has never been any credible evidence for anything paranormal, nor any well-done research that shows positive results, most rational people have accepted that the “paranormal” doesn’t exist. [The James Randi Educational Foundation](http://www.randi.org) will pay a million dollars for proof of anything paranormal, so if you find anything, be sure to let them know. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credible-governmental-research-of-the-paranormal/88791/3 "2001-10-22T05:35:41Z")
As CurtC says, it’s difficult to prove something doesn’t exist. But the total evidence for the paranormal, including ghosts, is exactly the same as for Santa Claus, fire-breathing dragons and the tooth fairy i.e. none. I don’t believe in Santa Claus, so why should I believe in the paranormal? I do believe that many people are gullible, wishful and thus exploited by hucksters who claim to have paranormal powers. ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credible-governmental-research-of-the-paranormal/88791/4 "2001-10-22T08:58:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Humble Ice \* > \*\*II am looking for credible investigations which, to a high degree, prove or disprove the existance of ghosts. I am looking for governmental studies in particular. Thanks \*\* According to Cecil(s little helper), CIA and Pentagon spent about $20million, looking at this. (quoting from [Did the U.S. government fund psychic research?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpsychicfed.html) > [@](#): > > Over a period of more than 20 years, the CIA and Pentagon spent approximately $20 million to study and employ numerous “psychics.” They were supposed to help track down terrorists, find hostages, help anti-drug activities, etc. Experiments were conducted on precognition, clairvoyance, and remote viewing. > … > Indeed, a former CIA technical director who monitored these programs said on Nightline that he wasn’t aware of any significant results from the “psychics.” So, the US government spent USD 2M, and found nothing. (I could have done that for half the money!) ---
**Author:** ![buddy1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy1)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credible-governmental-research-of-the-paranormal/88791/5 "2001-10-22T13:25:47Z")
First, the Duke University USED to have a department of Parapsychology-this was founded by the late Dr. JB Rhine. He was the guy who ran those experiments with the goofy “zener” cards. After testing huge numbers of innocent students, he somehow convinced himself that a few people were able to guess the correct cards (at a slight level above chance). Back in the early 1980’s, his heir apparent (I forget the man’s name) was found to have falsified his experimental results, after this the University stopped funding the institute. The last university to have done ESP research was UNLV, and that has stopped as well.The concnsus seems to be that “ESP” has no credibility, and I don’t know of anyone who is persuing it at this point. Too bad, life coul have been so cool if ESP was real!