6 Paranormal Experiments Conducted By the Government
Man is programmed to be curious about and even fascinated by the unknown, and by extension the purported metaphysical and paranormal world – from ghosts to aliens. That curiosity translates by turns as a vehement and scientific denial of such worlds, or as a passionate faith in the existence of another plane of reality. Those who fall into the latter group will form networks and even paranormal teams dedicated to research and attempts to contact the spiritual world, regardless of the potential scrutiny. What was a socially acceptable habit and even a fun party trick one hundred years ago became a niche interest in the late 20th century, but these days the fringe groups involved in paranormal activity have become popularised again with reality TV shows like “Ghost Hunters”. Cynics still have a strong voice in this area, though, and many would be shocked to learn that even the world’s most respected institutions have had occasion to turn to the supernatural.
Governmental institutions from around the world have, in fact, been known to conduct various forms of paranormal research. When reports of this activity hit the press in the mid-twentieth century, unrest increased among conspiracy theorists who received a sort of validation of their fears of the unknown and the supernatural. One of the most mysterious government research programs is, of course, the space program. If they’re looking into the existence of alien lifeforms, surely the whole business must have some foundation in science and truth… Right?
Here, we’re presenting believers and cynics alike with six paranormal experiments conducted by authorised governmental bodies, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. Some of the experiments were conducted for the field of general scientific research while others had a more sinister motive, for use in warfare. Whether you’re a believer or a naysayer, the fact that some of the world’s most powerful governments saw the paranormal as legitimate field that warranted further study is a point of interest, at least. After all, those are your tax dollars and pounds at work…
#6. The Philadelphia Experiment (1943)
The Philadelphia Experiment is much more than just a 1984 movie: It was one of the military’s earliest studies of the paranormal, and this particular experiment sounds as farfetched and sinister as a chapter of a Lovecraft novel. While the military’s official line remains vague on the existence of the experiment, a few key people have come forward to confirm that it happened – allegedly…
The Philadelphia Experiment centered around the USS Eldridge, which reportedly ‘teleported’ from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Norfolk, Virginia. The experiment was looking into possible invisibility devices and manipulating electromagnetic fields around the vessel, but the military stumbled into the area of possible time travel and teleportation. However, the sailors that were inside the vessel during these experiments were not so lucky. Tales of mangled bodies and torn up flesh accompany tales of the Philadelphia Experiment.