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The paranormal refers to unexplained phenomena such as ghosts, ESP, cryptozoology, and UFOs. Skeptics argue that many sightings can be explained, but some experiences remain unexplained.
The paranormal can be defined as anything that is outside the realm of what we can explain using scientific methods. The word itself is made up of the Latin word para, meaning “outside” and normal. This term can be used to describe different types of phenomena, including ghosts, ESP, cryptozoology, and UFOs.
When people think of the paranormal, the topic of ghosts usually comes to mind immediately. Most cultures believe in some form of afterlife, with the idea that a person is composed of a spirit body as well as a physical body. A ghost is a manifestation of a person’s energy or spirit seen after their death.
Skeptics say the ghosts aren’t real and that there are other explanations for the reported sightings. They point to the power of suggestion that plays a role in the paranormal and that people are more likely to report seeing a ghost while visiting a place where similar events have occurred. Although ghost sighting investigations often point to an alternative explanation, there are a number of experiences that cannot be easily explained. These remain in the realm of the paranormal.
ESP, or extrasensory perception, refers to receiving information from sources other than the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. It is sometimes referred to as a “sixth sense”. People with psychic abilities use them to access information about the past, present, or future that others are unable to. These skills are bundled with the paranormal, although some people feel they are something everyone is born with and just need to be practiced to be more fully developed.
Cryptozoology is the research and study of animals whose existence has not been confirmed by science. Creatures like the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot fall into this category. Several animals that were originally thought to be legendary or fake have turned out to be very real, and this is something cryptozoologists point to when they defend their work. For example, the duck-billed platypus was thought to be a joke when the first carcass was sent to England to be examined by scientists. We now know that this unusual animal is very real.
UFOs, or unidentified flying objects, are another subject that is part of the realm of the paranormal. People have reported seeing strange lights in the sky, and some reports report seeing actual craft that are very different from any known aircraft. Many of these reports are explained away as weather balloons or other benign objects, but there is still a small percentage of sightings that cannot be easily explained by science.
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