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Metaphysics & Psychology

Group offers $11,700 for proof of superpowers

By T.K. Randall
September 18, 2018 · Comment icon 68 comments

Do psychic powers exist ? Image Credit: YouTube / CarrieNYC
The Society for the Scientific Investigation of Para-Sciences is looking for proof that psychic abilities exist.
Consisting of psychologists, physicists and biologists, the Germany-based group maintains that people who claim to possess psychic abilities should be given the opportunity to prove themselves.

Each year, candidates are invited to the University of Wurzburg to demonstrate their talents under laboratory conditions and there is even a prize of $11,700 on offer to anyone who succeeds.

So far at least 60 people have taken up the challenge, however despite claiming to possess abilities ranging from telekinesis to telepathy, none have managed to prove that psychic powers exist.

"We're not here to make people look ridiculous," said researcher Rainer Wolf who oversees the testing. "We just want to show that many such claims are nonsense."
Last year, one of the candidates who turned up claimed that he was able to move objects around with his mind. The test he was given involved moving a piece of paper contained inside a glass lid.

He spent several hours attempting to move the paper before eventually admitting defeat.

According to Rainer, most of the candidates genuinely believe that they possess special powers. In many cases, it is a belief that has been built up over the course of many years.

In many ways, the group's research is less about validating the existence of such abilities and more about understanding the psychology behind why people believe they possess them in the first place.

Source: myjoyonline.com | Comments (68)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #59 Posted by Avalanche 6 years ago
That is also some sort of superpower
Comment icon #60 Posted by internetperson 6 years ago
I'm not criticizing you just my 2 cents is keep this to yourself. For 1 you gotta admit it's a bit tiring when someone makes an extraordinary claim without any evidence whatsoever and 2 it's a good habit to keep the mouth shut in general. Pen is mightier than the sword but the tongue quickly gets you in trouble.
Comment icon #61 Posted by acute 6 years ago
I was relaying a personal experience, not making a claim. Most users on UM would have heard of a Psi Ball before I mentioned it. Therefore, it is not an unknown phenomenon, and my example cannot be the first.
Comment icon #62 Posted by XenoFish 6 years ago
It's not a validated phenomena. I used to make them all the time. Got to the point where I could generate a visual hallucination and see them. Also called Flaring. As in flaring a psi-ball. I've built many a construct as well. But, there is absolutely no way to prove it's real. Unless it's tested. 
Comment icon #63 Posted by internetperson 6 years ago
Assuming you've seen the infamous chi karate guy who was exposed on...some cable show (don't remember)? It's on youtube I post it here often. They make psi balls in it.  I don't go after these folks cause (in part) frankly I'm a nice guy. I know christians that are absolutely awesome folks and great friends so I don't try and point out the holes in their beliefs. Same thing I guess. That being said I do not like 'psi balls' or whatever in karate or anything related to martial arts cause that is harmful for kids and anyone open to this type of belief system. 
Comment icon #64 Posted by XenoFish 6 years ago
That's all well and good, but the good christians keep to themselves. The good/casual/experimenters in the occult and paranormal tend to keep to themselves as well. Hell I wouldn't even be a member of UM if it wasn't for a thread asking what certain sigils meant. But if you're going to claim some supernormal ability. Know full well you'll be challenged on it.
Comment icon #65 Posted by TripGun 6 years ago
How can I enjoy my money after I have been dissected.... Unless I have the power of restructuring meat. 
Comment icon #66 Posted by Senkoujin 6 years ago
Meh, it's not worth bothering compared to the ole one-million dollars offer.
Comment icon #67 Posted by ChrLzs 5 years ago
If you are referring to the James Randi/JREF offer, it has now been (sort of) discontinued, as they were sick of all the claimants wasting their time - when tested using their own criteria, all claimants failed the tests that they helped design, and that they agreed to as a fair preliminary test.. Apparently JREF may continue with it at a later date, but the way in which people apply/get nominated will change.. http://web.randi.org/home/jref-status
Comment icon #68 Posted by Emma_Acid 5 years ago
If these abilities actually existed it would change the world. Isn't that enough?  


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