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Special Halloween Bulletin: Ghost Hunting Gadgets |
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Dr. Samuel Says -
Weirdness
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Written by Dr. Samuel Centralia, Ph.D., D.D.S., Esq.
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Wednesday, 31 October 2007 |
As a dedicated Man of Science, I am hesitant to get into this area. But then again, it is Halloween, and it's not like I categorically deny the existence of ghosts. I'm agnostic on the issue, essentially, and I keep an open mind. We're pretty sure there's a poltergeist here at Dyscern World HQ Labs, and I've long suspected that my personal hyperbaric chamber is haunted by the ghost of Chester Arthur.
 If you're looking to get off the ground, as it were, as a ghost hunter,
the first thing you'll want is an EMF meter, which measures
electromagnetic radiation. This proceeds from the assumption, spurious
some might say, that ghosts and paranormal entities emit an
electromagnetic field, or at least cause fluctuations in that area.
Regardless of their efficacy, EMF meters certainly look impressively
scientific when you wave them around in the haunted cupboard or
whatever. Bear in mind that any electric device or wiring will likely
generate some sort of EMF reading. Proving once again that you can find
anything online, here is a comparative chart of EMF meters for the
discerning paranormal investigator.
Other gadgets in the ghost hunter's arsenal are really just variations
on thermostats and typical audio and video recording devices. Surface
and ambient temperature sensors can be used to detect the "cold spots"
often associated with hauntings and apparitions. Wide-spectrum
photographic devices are a good idea, especially for capturing infrared
and thermal artifacts. Some go so far as to incorporate negative ion
detectors and even Geiger counters, to detect those dearly departed who
are decaying both physically and radioactively. Motion detectors are
often used when staking out multiple locations in a haunted location.
All told, you could work up a pretty convincing collection of ghost
hunting equipment for a few thousand dollars. Principled researchers,
employing rigorous skepticism, could certainly use this equipment to
practice legitimate science. Thrill seekers and hobbyists could have a lot of fun
exploring the old asylum grounds at night. Less scrupulous
sorts could team with psychics and mediums, charge for their ghost
hunting services (many do), and win back their investment within a short
period of time. It is, as they say, a free country. Besides, new
research indicates that as of 2006, there is now a sucker born every 46.7
seconds.
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