Telepathy…what’s the evidence?

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 938 Ratings

🗓️ 21 January 2025

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A podcast promoting claims that non-verbal autistic children can read minds briefly knocked Joe Rogan off the top of the charts this month, which made the Science Weekly team wonder, how has science attempted to prove or disprove the existence of mind reading? To find out, Ian Sample speaks to Chris French, emeritus professor of psychology at Goldsmiths University. They discuss how scientists have tested this phenomenon, what else could be behind the apparent ability of some people to read minds, and why the idea is still so popular. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:45.2	Junction at platform.
0:46.3	Passengers.
0:48.6	Airport, please stay on board.
0:51.0	Next stop, road station.
0:54.9	iOS helps you control which apps you share your exact location with.
0:56.7	There's more to iPhone.
1:06.3	I probably don't have to tell you what this episode is about.
1:09.5	If I could transmit my thoughts into your head or if I could read your thoughts and know what
1:11.8	you're thinking about, that would be telepathy.
1:14.8	Chris French is an emeritus professor of psychology who has spent his career investigating
1:20.2	and debunking paranormal claims. He's also the author of the book The Science of Weird
1:26.8	Shit,
1:33.5	which I spoke to him about last year on the podcast when he tested our own telepathic abilities.
1:38.7	I'm going to see if I can transmit a message from my mind into your minds.
	...

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