Science embraced the study of the supernatural more than 150 years ago and a number of scientific research units around the world continue the work. These scientists push the boundaries of human belief and understanding, experimenting with the unknown and unusual.
Parapsychologists investigate a wide range of paranormal phenomena including clairvoyance, telepathy, healing and the occult, but with a healthy dose of skepticism and science.
The Koestler Unit
The Koestler Parapsychological Unit was established in Edinburgh, Scotland, through the wills of noted writer Arthur Koestler and his wife Cynthia. After their deaths in 1983, the unit was founded to further objective scientific research into the paranormal. Many of the subjects that the unit investigates are usually disregarded by mainstream science and yet the unit has the respect of many psychologists in the world. The clear purpose of the unit is to make parapsychology a serious study and undertake unusual experiments.
In the first years of establishment there was a lot of derision within the scientific community, but now there are five similar university research centers across Britain, with many other centers opening around the world.
The Koestler Unit remains at the forefront of parapsychological research and has obtained interesting results and conclusions. In 1999, the unit published papers that concluded with the existence of telepathy or psychokinesis. The fierce debate continues today about the papers and the unit's work.
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