Paranormal Technologies

The gadgets and devices used to detect, record, or communicate with paranormal entities, ranging from the classic EMF meter (measures electromagnetic fields, also measures microwaves, also measures nothing when ghosts aren't cooperating) to the more elaborate "spirit boxes" that scan radio frequencies (catching everything and nothing simultaneously). Paranormal technologies are beloved by ghost hunters because they beep and flash, creating the illusion of activity even when nothing's there. The most advanced paranormal technology remains the human imagination, which can see ghosts in any shadow and hear them in any creak.

Paranormal Technologies Example: "He invested $500 in paranormal technologies—a full spectrum camera, a digital voice recorder, and a laser grid that was supposed to reveal shadow figures. On his first investigation, the camera battery died, the recorder picked up only his own nervous breathing, and the laser grid revealed... a wall. He concluded the ghosts were technologically sophisticated and had jammed his equipment."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Paranormal Engineering

The practice of designing and constructing environments, devices, or protocols intended to facilitate, control, or prevent paranormal activity. This includes building "haunted" attractions that actually feel haunted (mostly just dark corridors and unexpected noises), creating ghost-hunting protocols that yield "results" (results being any anomaly, no matter how mundane), and designing "protective" measures against entities that may or may not exist. Paranormal engineering faces the challenge that its target phenomena are unreliable, unproven, and apparently quite shy, making quality control impossible.

Paranormal Engineering Example: "He was a paranormal engineer who designed a 'ghost trap' based on plans he found in an obscure forum. The trap consisted of copper wire, crystals, and a modified vacuum cleaner. He set it up in a reportedly haunted room and waited. The vacuum ran for an hour and then overheated. He caught no ghosts, but he did catch a lot of dust, which he considered a form of paranormal residue and therefore a success."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Paranormal Social Sciences

The study of how groups of people who believe in or investigate paranormal phenomena organize themselves, from local ghost-hunting clubs to international UFO organizations. It examines why these groups develop their own jargon (we don't say "nothing happened," we say "the entities were non-responsive"), how they establish credibility (the more equipment, the more serious), and the complex social dynamics of "proving" something that can't be proven. Paranormal social sciences reveal that ghost hunters are just like any other community: they have leaders, followers, drama, and annual conferences where everyone pretends their footage from last year is definitely not a bug on the lens.

*Example: "A paranormal social sciences study observed a ghost-hunting group for a year. It found that 90% of their 'evidence' was easily explained by natural causes, but the group's social cohesion depended on interpreting it as paranormal. When one member pointed out that their 'ghost orb' was actually just dust, he was gently exiled and had to start his own, more rational group, which lasted approximately three weeks before everyone got bored."*

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Paranormal Sociology

The specific analysis of group dynamics within paranormal communities, from the hierarchy of experience (the person who once saw a UFO outranks the person who only has blurry photos) to the social function of mystery (if we ever actually proved ghosts exist, the hobby would be over). It explores how these groups form around shared interpretations of ambiguous evidence, how they maintain enthusiasm despite decades of inconclusive results, and how they handle skeptics (poorly). Paranormal sociology suggests that the search for ghosts is really about community, belonging, and the joy of staying up late in spooky places with friends.

Example: "At the paranormal conference, a fascinating example of paranormal sociology occurred. Three different groups presented footage of the same supposedly haunted location. Group A saw a ghost, Group B saw an interdimensional portal, and Group C saw a trick of the light. All three left feeling validated, and none spoke to each other, preserving the beautiful diversity of paranormal interpretation."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Paranormal Philosophy

The branch of thought that asks what the existence of paranormal phenomena would mean for our understanding of reality, consciousness, and death. If ghosts exist, is there an afterlife? If UFOs are real, are we alone, and if they're here, why won't they land at the White House instead of hovering over cows in rural Ohio? And if Bigfoot is out there, why is he so camera-shy? Paranormal philosophy grapples with the implications of things that probably aren't true, preparing us for a future that likely won't arrive, which is either a profound exercise in open-mindedness or a massive waste of mental energy.

Example: "He sat in deep paranormal philosophy, wondering: if ghosts are real, why do they always appear in old, drafty buildings rather than modern, comfortable ones? Is the afterlife just really into Victorian architecture? And if so, does that mean our design choices determine our post-death experience? He then realized he was asking questions that assumed ghosts existed, which was a big assumption, but also, wouldn't it be cool if they did?"

by Nammugal February 14, 2026