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Scientists' Telepathy Experiments Offer Eerie Ideas To Ponder

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By KEVIN WALKER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 29, 2009

"Unbelievable," by Stacy Horn (Ecco, $25)

In the 1930s, a group of scientists led by J.B. Rhine opened a laboratory at Duke University that focused on one purpose, at least initially. That purpose was to finally answer the "survival question" - whether there is actually any sort of life after death. Seeking an answer led members of the Duke Parapsychologist Lab to conduct experiments involving telepathy, poltergeists and psychic powers.

For their efforts, they won the scorn of their scientific brethren.

Horn, a contributor to National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and author of "The Restless Sleep," does an admirable job of documenting the details of the lab's opening in the 1930s, its removal from the Duke campus in the 1960s and its ultimate closing in 1980.

Among the many fascinating facets of the book is the fact that although derision was heaped upon the lab's findings, many notable scientists agreed some results from the experiments could not be explained without accepting the idea of telepathy. But as the years wore on - even as the world of quantum physics challenged accepted perceptions of reality - the derision got worse.

The bulk of the book discusses the experiments, including some fairly creepy cases of paranormal activity. But this is not like watching the latest breathless History channel show about ancient aliens or some such - Horn focuses on the experimental results. Some of them may surprise you, but needless to say scientists continue to argue over the validity of the results to this day.

Kevin Walker edits Friday Extra and the Books pages for the Tampa Tribune.

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