Summer picks: the science of ‘weird shit’

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 August 2024

⏱️ 20 minutes

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Summary

The psychologist Chris French has spent decades studying paranormal claims and mysterious experiences, from seemingly impossible coincidences to paintings that purportedly predict the future. In this episode from April 2024, Ian Sample sits down with French to explore why so many of us believe in what he terms ‘weird shit’, and what we can learn from understanding why we are drawn to mysterious and mystic phenomena. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the Guardian.
0:09.0	Hello, it's Fern Cotton from a happy place here.
0:12.0	That's the podcast where I talk to
0:14.1	inspirational people about what happiness means to them. The podcast is
0:18.7	currently sponsored by British Airways holidays who want you to take your holidays more seriously.
0:25.2	But it's not just on the Happy Place podcast where British Airways holidays are
0:29.1	collaborating with us. They'll also be joining us this summer for our happy place festivals.
0:34.4	They'll be bringing audiences live recordings of the podcast and some special
0:39.6	surprises too. So whether it's your happy place festival experience or your next trip away
0:44.9	that you want to take more seriously, British Airways holidays have you
0:49.1	covered. To book your next adventure just just head to BA.com
0:53.0	forward slash holidays at all protected.
0:56.0	Hi, Ian here.
1:00.0	Science Weekly is on a break, but we'll be back with a new episode for you on Tuesday.
1:06.3	For now, we're revisiting an episode from April where I got to interview Chris French,
1:11.3	Emeritus Professor in Anomalistic Psychology, about interview Chris French, French, a meritor's professor in anomalistic psychology
1:14.4	about why so many people believe in so-called weird shit.
1:18.8	It was an eye-opening conversation about coincidence, conspiracy and the downright
1:24.3	unexplainable. We hope you enjoy it.
1:28.3	What's the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you?
1:35.0	For me it was seeing a cloaked figure at the end of my bed.
1:40.0	For you it might have been a ghost floating down the hall of an old stately manner,
	...

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