Is There A Science To Ghosts?
The Scientific Explanations For ‘Ghosts’
With Halloween just around the corner, we’re approaching that time of year when spooky Jack’o lanterns illuminate our quiet, suburban neighbourhoods. Ghosts, horror movies and Halloween programming dominate our TV channels, and we get to face our fears or scepticism about the existence of ghosts. While I can’t categorically answer the question of ghosts or no ghosts one way or the other, I thought it would be interesting to see if there are any scientific explanations behind ghost sightings or paranormal experiences. Here’s what I found!
Low-frequency Sound Can Create An Unexplained ‘Spooky Feeling’
Humans can’t hear infrasound, which is sound at a frequency below 20 hertz. However, we are still affected by these sounds. A 2003 study of concert attendees exposed to sound at 17 hertz found that they felt “uneasy, sorrowful, had chills, and experienced a nervous feeling of revulsion and fear.” Other sources of infrasound include lightning, seismic activity, animals like elephants, wind turbines, and diesel engines. So, that spooky feeling in a supposedly haunted house might not be due to a ‘ghost’, but rather an explainable occurrence of infrasound! Convinced? No? Let’s try the next one.
Toxic Mould-induced Hallucinations
Researchers at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York State, have noted that hauntings are often reported in old buildings with poor air quality. Their theory is that the air in these buildings is contaminated with spores from toxic moulds, such as rye ergot fungus, which is known to alter human perception. In such a neuroactive environment, a cold draft, a movement in the corner of the room, or anxious thoughts can easily develop into auditory or visual hallucinations, which could be mistakenly interpreted as ghosts. This seems fairly plausible to me.
Carbon-Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
If you see a ghostly apparition at home, one of the first things you should check is your house’s carbon monoxide (CO) detector. Many ghost sightings have been linked to CO poisoning. A famous case from 1921 involved a family who heard footsteps, felt weak, experienced headaches, and saw apparitions. The house wasn’t haunted—the source of their symptoms was a faulty furnace that was releasing CO into their home.
Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis is a condition where people wake up in a state of paralysis. This state is normally induced by hormones during sleep to prevent us from physically acting out dreams. However, sometimes the wake-up process malfunctions, and you might wake up while still sleep-paralyzed, experiencing hallucinations. Dr. Priyanka Yadav, a sleep specialist at the Somerset Medical Sleep for Life Center in Hillsborough, refers to these experiences as “waking dreams.” They can involve seeing serpents, spiders, intruders, and even ghosts. This phenomenon, which used to happen to me, can be alarming. Experts suggest that sleep paralysis has been occurring for centuries, possibly explaining not only ghost sightings but also reports of demonic visitations in the Middle Ages and today’s accounts of bedside ‘alien visitations and abductions’.
It’s usually safe to say there’s a scientific explanation, then. Usually.
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I am a practising HR consultant working with several start-ups on an ongoing and ad-hoc basis in the London and M4 area, and am a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development or CIPD. I am the Director of thecareercafe.co.uk; thecareercafe.co.uk is a resource for start-ups and small business. It includes a blog containing career advice, small business advice articles, HR software reviews, and contains great resources such as HR Productivity Apps.
