Paranormal facts for kids
Paranormal events are things that people believe exist but cannot be explained by normal science. These ideas are often found in popular culture and old stories.
Some well-known paranormal beliefs include things like extrasensory perception (like telepathy, which is mind-reading). It also includes ideas about spiritualism and activities like ghost hunting, cryptozoology (the study of hidden animals), and ufology (the study of unidentified flying objects or UFOs).
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What Does 'Paranormal' Mean?
The word paranormal has been used in the English language since at least the 1920s. It has two parts: "para" and "normal."
- "Normal" means what we usually expect or what science can explain about the world.
- "Para" means "beyond," "above," or "contrary to."
So, paranormal means something that is beyond or different from what is considered normal scientific understanding.
Exploring Paranormal Topics
Ghost Hunting: Looking for Spirits
Ghost hunting is when people investigate places that are said to have ghosts. A ghost-hunting team usually tries to find proof that paranormal activity is happening.
In old stories and books, a ghost is often seen as the spirit or soul of a person who has died. Some people also believe in the ghosts of animals. While "ghost" can sometimes mean any spirit or demon, it usually refers to the spirit of a person who has passed away.
The idea that ghosts are the souls of the dead is a very old belief. Many ancient cultures believed that a soul was like a copy of the body, even down to the clothes a person wore. For example, old Egyptian art, like the Book of the Dead (around 1550 BCE), shows people in the afterlife looking much like they did when they were alive.
Ufology: The Mystery of UFOs
The idea of extraterrestrial life (life from other planets) itself is not always paranormal. Many scientists are looking for tiny life forms in our Solar System, like on Mars. Projects like SETI even listen for radio signals from intelligent life far away.
However, the paranormal part of extraterrestrial life mostly focuses on unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and the strange events people say happen with them.
When UFO culture first started, people who believed in them had different ideas:
- Some people, called "ufologists" in the 1950s, thought UFOs were real but unexplained events that needed serious study. They believed that studying reports of sightings could prove that aliens were visiting Earth.
- Other people linked UFOs with older spiritual or mysterious beliefs. They often believed in things like occultism or other secret teachings. Today, some of these ideas are part of New Age spiritual groups.
Both groups of believers say that UFOs can do things that seem impossible based on our current understanding of aerodynamics and physical laws. It's hard for scientists to study UFOs because the sightings happen quickly and can't be repeated in a lab. Also, many hoaxes (fake stories) about UFOs make it harder for the scientific community to take them seriously.
Cryptozoology: Searching for Hidden Animals
Cryptozoology is a field that tries to find proof of creatures from old stories and folklore. These creatures are called cryptids. Some famous cryptids include Bigfoot, chupacabras, and Mokele-mbembe.
What People Believe About the Paranormal
Even though scientists often debate if paranormal things are real, surveys can show us what people believe. These surveys don't prove if paranormal events exist, but they do show how many people think they do. It's thought that about 3 to 4 billion people worldwide believe in some kind of paranormal power.
A survey from 2006 by researchers in Australia asked people about their experiences. Over 2,000 people from all over the world took part. The results showed that about 70% of them felt they had an unexplained paranormal event that changed their life, often in a good way.
See also
In Spanish: Paranormal para niños
