Anomalous phenomenon

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An anomalous phenomenon is an observed phenomenon for which there is no suitable explanation, according to analysis from a specific body of scientific knowledge (for example, astronomy or biology).

Examples

Anomalous phenomena seem to lack a clear scientific explanation, and thus are the subject of much controversy, debate, mystery, and potentially fear. However, at the same time, most of them are simply not widely accepted as real phenomenon by mainstream scientists, who view them as hoaxes, lies, or conspiracies, perhaps going so far as to call their study pseudoscience.

In other cases, the occurence of a phenomenon is acknowledged as being real, but the methods used to describe, study, or interpret it is what causes controversy. For example, many believe that the phenomenon of UFOs is real, but their speculations differ as to exactly what such objects actually are.

Some common examples of anomalous phenomena:

As the body of knowledge regarding such phenomena expands, some anomalies are explained logically, losing their status as unexplained phenomena. For instance, while the idea of stones falling from the sky was long ridiculed, meteorites are now acknowledged and well understood.

Though actually a subcategory of anomalous phenomena, paranormal phenomena are studied in the field of parapsychology, and can be divided into three main classes:

Mental phenomena: unusual mental states or abilities, such as telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition

Physical phenomena: unusual physical occurrences that may be controlled by a conscious entity, as in the cases of psychokinesis, poltergeists, stigmata or materializations
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and near-death experiences (NDEs)

Written works

Classical civilization included unique signs and prodigies of nature in works of paradoxography such as The Phaenomena (240 BC) by Aratus of Soli.
Inoue Enryo, a Japanese educator and philosopher, authored the six-volume The Study of Yōkai (妖怪学). As a result, he was best known as Dr. Ghost (お化け博士) or Dr. Yōkai (妖怪博士).
Charles Fort, in his four works on anomalies, lambasted and ridiculed the scientists of his day for their shortsightedness. Some of the anomalies listed in his work have been explained and incorporated into modern science (e.g. meteors), while others continue to be unexplained.
William R. Corliss' Science Frontiers has covered reports in the scientific literature regarding anomalies for years. He, through his Sourcebook Project, has published a large body of reports collected in many of the scientific disciplines.
Leonard George, a psychologist who specializes in anomalous phenomena, compiled an authoritative encyclopedia of unusual experiences, activities, and beliefs in his 1995 book Alternative Realities.
Fortean Times, a British monthly magazine, continues in the spirit of Fort's work by publishing reports of anomalous phenomena and longer investigative articles.
The Anomalist, edited by Patrick Huyghe and Dennis Stacy, is another magazine/journal devoted to the study of anomalies (which may be called anomalistics).
The Paranormal Magazine, an online magazine exploring paranormal phenomena and the unexplained, including ghosts, psychic phenomena, UFOs, earth mysteries, and many more bizarre occurrences.
Strange Magazine is another magazine devoted to the study of anomalies in the spirit of Fort's work.
Adventures Unlimited, edited by The World Explorer's Club, is another magazine dedicated to exotic travel, lost cities, ancient mysteries and other anomalous phenomena.

External links

Anomalous phenomenon

Examples

Written works

Further reading

See also

External links