Why ghosts cant be real

Part of the difficulty in investigating ghosts is that there is not one universally agreed-upon definition of what a ghost is. Some believe that they are spirits of the dead who for whatever reason get "lost" on their way to The Other Side; others claim that ghosts are instead telepathic entities projected into the world from our minds.

Still others create their own special categories for different types of ghosts, such as poltergeists, residual hauntings, intelligent spirits and shadow people. Of course, it's all made up, like speculating on the different races of fairies or dragons : there are as many types of ghosts as you want there to be.

There are many contradictions inherent in ideas about ghosts. For example, are ghosts material or not? Either they can move through solid objects without disturbing them, or they can slam doors shut and throw objects across the room. According to logic and the laws of physics, it's one or the other. If ghosts are human souls, why do they appear clothed and with presumably soulless inanimate objects like hats, canes, and dresses — not to mention the many reports of ghost trains, cars and carriages?

If ghosts are the spirits of those whose deaths were unavenged, why are there unsolved murders, since ghosts are said to communicate with psychic mediums, and should be able to identify their killers for the police? The questions go on and on — just about any claim about ghosts raises logical reasons to doubt it. Ghost hunters use many creative and dubious methods to detect the spirits' presences, often including psychics.

Virtually all ghost hunters claim to be scientific, and most give that appearance because they use high-tech scientific equipment such as Geiger counters, Electromagnetic Field EMF detectors, ion detectors, infrared cameras and sensitive microphones.

Yet none of this equipment has ever been shown to actually detect ghosts. For centuries, people believed that flames turned blue in the presence of ghosts. Today, few people accept that bit of lore, but it's likely that many of the signs taken as evidence by today's ghost hunters will be seen as just as wrong and antiquated centuries from now.

Other researchers claim that the reason ghosts haven't been proven to exist is that we simply don't have the right technology to find or detect the spirit world. But this, too, can't be correct: Either ghosts exist and appear in our ordinary physical world and can therefore be detected and recorded in photographs, film, video and audio recordings , or they don't.

If ghosts exist and can be scientifically detected or recorded, then we should find hard evidence of that — yet we don't. If ghosts exist but cannot be scientifically detected or recorded, then all the photos, videos, audio and other recordings claimed to be evidence of ghosts cannot be ghosts.

With so many basic contradictory theories — and so little science brought to bear on the topic — it's not surprising that despite the efforts of thousands of ghost hunters on television and elsewhere for decades, not a single piece of hard evidence of ghosts has been found. And, of course, with the recent development of "ghost apps" for smartphones, it's easier than ever to create seemingly spooky images and share them on social media, making separating fact from fiction even more difficult for ghost researchers.

Most people who believe in ghosts do so because of some personal experience; they grew up in a home where the existence of friendly spirits was taken for granted, for example, or they had some unnerving experience on a ghost tour or local haunt. Thanks for visiting Wonderopolis and sharing your thoughts about ghosts with us, Ava! We appreciate you, Wonder Friend. Thanks for providing your input, Liam. We hope you'll stick around the website to explore more Wonders.

Welcome back, haleigh! Check out Wonder for some tips for conquering your fear! Sorry you're going through a rough patch, gaby! Here are some of our favorite Wonders to check out! Hi, Haleigh! We hope you'll talk with your parents about how you're feeling.

They will help you to not feel scared. That sounds creepy, maxiiiiiiiiiiii! Check out Wonder for something spooky! Hey there, Jayden! We're glad you visited Wonderopolis. Don't worry, Five Nights at Freddy's is just a game -- no need to be scared!

Thank you for sharing, Hatapanta and Casacacalqc. It seems strange that you're both losing things around the house! That's pretty strange, Aidan! Thanks for sharing your experience, Keith. When you're feeling scared, we hope you'll tell an adult. They can help you feel better. Oooh, that sounds like a spooky show, Bonnie! Do you like ghost stories? You might like Wonder ! Thanks for commenting, landon. We hope you'll talk with an adult family member.

They might be able to help you understand what you're experiencing. Well, seems like if you have the stuffed animal you're kind of inviting it to come to life Thanks for adding your comment to the discussion, Dakari! We like to wonder about ghosts, too, Bradley. We hope you liked today's mysterious Wonder of the Day!

Even though there is no absolute scientific evidence ghosts are real, many people believe they are. What do you believe, Bradley Gong? Hi, Britlyn! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about ghosts! Oh no, Reema! We're sorry to hear that. We never wanted this Wonder to scare any Wonder Friends! We're sorry you didn't like our comment, Alex. We always try to support our Wonder Friends. We hope you understand and visit again soon!

Wow, Rainbows, that sounds very intense. We hope you'll talk with an adult family member or friend about what you are experiencing. My grandmas ashes are in my room and in the bathroom i heard tapping and the faucet turnes on randomly. I'm so scared. Perhaps in movies ghosts hunt but in real life we don't have to worry about that!

It sounds like you might like spooky things, bailey! Enjoy, Wonder Friend! I belive ghost are real. But my gmom aned gpop and my mom and dad tell me they are not real.

Thank you for sharing your perspective, Haleigh. We think your parents and grandparents probably don't want you to worry or be afraid. Hi, jordyn! Thanks for sharing your opinion about ghosts! We appreciate you stopping by Wonderopolis! I have this one spot in my house right outside of my door. Also I keep hearing weird sounds. Can anyone help or relate? Thanks, gravityfallsgirl Thanks for commenting, gravityfallsgirl Sometimes there are simple explanations for weird sounds like an animal outside or the creaks of an old house and sometimes we can't explain them.

We hope you'll try to investigate what's making the sounds and the cold draft! Hi, monica! We hope this Wonder was helpful! There is no real evidence to support ghosts, but many people strongly believe in them! It's up to you! Hi, Hirat! Thanks for sharing your question! Hi, Daniel! We also encourage you to go on your own Wonder Journey at your library and online! Hi, steven! The ghosts in the photos above are fake, but they are only showing an example for you.

Some people do claim to have ghosts showing in photos! Hi, Tierra! No one knows for sure! There is no scientific proof ghosts are real, but many people still report ghost sitings all the time! What do you think?

Hi, trynyn! Thanks for your question. We encourage you to talk to a professional who knows more about the topic. Also keep researching! Hi, jasmin! Thanks for joining the discussion! It depends Hi, Hugh! We're sorry to hear you do not care for Wonderopolis. We appreciate you sharing your opinion. There are currently more than 1, Wonders on the site and a new Wonder featured every weekday.

We know you can find one you love! Here are other Wonders that have this similar question type. Hi, Kitty! As of now, there is no scientific proof that ghosts are real. However, many Wonder Friends report seeing ghosts, just like you!

Thanks for sharing your opinion, Wonder Friend! It's interesting learning what our Wonder Friends think! Hi, Ryan and Aidan! That's an interesting question. There are many different theories and beliefs about ghosts.

We encourage you keep researching about them! Hi, Eleanor! Some Wonder Friends claim to have seen ghosts, while others say they are not real. You're very welcome, Bobby! We hope this Wonder wasn't too scary! Thanks for visiting Wonderopolis! Hi, lucas! Thanks for sharing your story. Many people share similar experiences of encounting lost loved ones and pets.

There is no scientific proof of ghosts, but it's important to talk to an adult about your fears, Maddie. Thank you for sharing your feelings! Thanks for joining he conversation, Corynne! Howdy, cray! Although there is no scientific proof of ghosts, it is hard to say ghosts aren't real because there are so many personal experiences, just like yours. Spooky, Nicole! That sounds scary. It is personal encounters and stories like yours that support the idea that ghosts are real.

Thanks for sharing your story! Welcome, Rori! That is why it is hard to prove whether or not ghosts are real. While there is no scientific evidence or proof ghosts exist, there are so many stories of human experiences with ghosts.

Thanks for sharing your story with us! That is what is hard about proving if ghosts are real or not. There is no scientific evidence, but people claim to have had personal experiences.

We don't know, either! Thanks for stopping by, Maddie! We think you'll enjoy it! Hey, shankar! The WONDER tells us this is a difficult question to answer because there is no scientific evidence to support ghosts are real.

Yet, so many people claim to have personal experiences with ghosts. Hi bohaney! It is hard to prove if ghosts are real because there is no scientific evidence to prove it, but people have personal experiences that say otherwise.

Thanks for sharing your opinion! Thanks for being brave and exploring this Wonder with us! We hope you learned more about ghosts so to calm some of your worries! Hi Frank Attikson! Like you, many people believe in ghosts because of their personal experiences. Thanks for sharing your opinion,?!

Lots of people claim to have had personal experiences with ghosts. Many people believe ghosts are real, Matthew. Do you think you could capture evidence of ghosts to convince others? Good morning, daniel! Scientists are still trying to find more evidence to prove and support the idea that ghosts are real.

What do you think ghosts are real? We haven't found any scientific evidence that that can happen, Christain. Thanks for such a thoughtful comment, Jack! Have an awesome day! Certainly, Jack! We can't wait to read your nomination! Hi, Jack!

Thanks for submitting your Wonder, and for your patience! We receive many nominations each day, so sometimes there is a lag between the time you submit a nomination and the time when it is posted to our website.

Also, because there are many submissions, you may need to flip to the next page or so to find yours. We're really glad you submitted your nomination!

I submitted a wonder a few days ago What is going on? Thank you for sharing your thoughts about ghosts, Lacey! We haven't found proof that ghosts are real yet, Coleton! We haven't decided yet if we think ghosts are real -- we're waiting to see what scientific evidence comes about! Thanks for sharing your opinion about ghosts with us! We're glad you enjoyed today's Wonder of the Day, Gabe! Thanks for explaining your thoughts about ghosts, Jabin! Many people ask this same question, Darrel!

Based on experiences and other reasons, some people believe ghosts exist and some do not. It's all up to you what you believe! That's a good question, Brody, but it's one that we can't answer because we aren't sure. However, we did a little extra digging, and found that some paranormal investigators believe that the presence of ghosts drains an area of warmth and energy, creating "cold spots. That's a great question, Lance!

This belief is held by some people that follow certain religions. However, here in Wonderopolis, we're not sure if it's true or not. Until scientific evidence detects ghosts, we feel it's up to each person to decide their beliefs about ghosts.

Thanks for sharing your comment with us, Ashton! We hope you'll submit your Wonder question on this page! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kaylon! We're glad you stopped by Wonderopolis to learn something new with us! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Maz!

We agree, this is a very debatable topic! We think individual beliefs are based on a variety of influences, including religion and what you are raised to believe. That's a great question, Wesley! We suspect that the idea of ghosts has been around as long as humans have! Humans have always tried to explain the unexplainable sensations we have and phenomena we witness.

Thank you for leaving such a nice comment, Trudy! That's a really good point, Mikayla. We can't always believe what's on TV. Those are interesting thoughts, Alma! We haven't found research on these methods. If you find research, we hope you'll come back to Wonderopolis and share it with us! Thanks for sharing your personal connection to this Wonder of the Day, Caroline! Sometimes we hear noises in our houses that we can't explain, and that can make us feel like a ghost is in the house!

We're glad you enjoyed today's Wonder of the Day, Diego! Thank you for sharing what you learned with us! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about ghosts, Katherine! We're really glad you stopped by Wonderopolis today! There may not be hard evidence proving ghosts exist, Robert F, but that doesn't keep people from believing.

Some people spend money on equipment so they can capture documented evidence and prove to others that ghosts are real. What kind of evidence would convince you that ghosts really exist? Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Janie. There are cases where people have used technology and tricks to fool others into believing they've seen a ghost. Do you think every case is a trick, or could it be that some ghost stories actually are true? If ghosts are mental, spiritual, and physical, then why hasn't anyone had REAL proof?

This does not mean I don't think supernatural things aren't real but seriously, wheres the proof? Thanks for commenting, Jabin J! That's a tough question to answer, Emily, though many people throughout history have tried answering it. Hi, Jasmine! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You're right, sometimes believing isn't seeing! Hi connor! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. According to the article there is no scientific proof of ghosts, but many people claim to have had personal experiences with ghosts.

There are lots of ghosts on TV, Adam, but that doesn't prove ghosts are real. A lot of TV shows and movies use special effects to make incredible--even impossible--things seem like they're really happening.

Sometimes it's hard to tell what's real and what's just "movie magic. Thanks for joining the discussion, Marco! In your comment above, you mentioned that you don't think ghosts are real. We think it's OK to change your opinion as you consider new information!

Thanks for your question, gabby! No one knows for sure because there is no physical evidence of ghosts, yet many people report seeing them. What are your thoughts about ghosts? We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature.

Thanks for your patience. Drag a word to its definition. You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is:. Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together. We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply. Follow Twitter Instagram Facebook. Are ghosts real? How many people believe in ghosts? Is there any scientific evidence of ghosts? Wonder What's Next? Try It Out Boo! If you're not too scared already, check out the following activities with a friend or family member: Could a library be haunted?

You can read more about their history and even become a ghost hunter yourself by checking out the webcams that show live shots around the library. Take a look. Can you spot the Grey Lady? Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not? Write down some of your thoughts about ghosts, including any personal experiences you may have had with paranormal phenomena. Share your thoughts with a friend. Can you convince your friend that ghosts do or do not exist?

How might you go about proving your beliefs? Think of some ideas and give a few a try if you have the courage! Up for a challenge?

Take a deeper look at possible reasons why some people claim to experience paranormal phenomena. Jump online and read through 10 Scientific Explanations for Ghostly Phenomena. Do these scientific explanations make sense to you? Share what you learn with a friend or family member. What do they think? Do they believe in ghosts? Did you get it? Test your knowledge. What are you wondering? Wonder Words ghost pale scare haunt solid basis ghoul figment imagination personal experience paranormal apparition gamut prevalent genre technological infrared Take the Wonder Word Challenge.

Join the Discussion. Tim K. Mar 23, Kailey Feb 17, Caroline Feb 13, Feb 13, We're so glad you liked it Caroline! Riley Feb 11, Last year freshman year of highschool I saw a creepy man in a black suit in my living room waving at me at 2 in the morning is this normal? Feb 12, John Cena Feb 11, Charles Feb 7, That scared me a lot. Jakob Jan 27, Sahibjot Jan 23, I once was upstairs trying to sleep, when I heard a bang. I went downstairs I was home alone and I saw a broken plate!

I never slept that day, thinking about that. Coke Feb 11, Ghots are real but we need ghotsbusters. Jan 26, Sylvar Fisher Jan 10, Jan 16, Ghosts Dec 16, Why are they here? Jan 27, Thanks for sharing, Jakob! Dec 16, Sounds like you're ready for a Wonder Journey, Ghosts! Let us know what you learn! Dec 10, That's a bit creepy, ryan! It's okay to not go to sleepovers. Lyla Nov 4, I have encountered ghosts many times starting from 3 up until now.

Try and get help from investigators to see if they are attached to you. Nov 4, Spooky, Lyla! Emily Nov 4, I love the ghost janitor video with the story. That's awesome, Emily! Thanks for sharing. David Oct 30, I think the ghost of my grandma's dog is haunting me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nov 5, Ryan Oct 29, Nov 11, Hey, bella-- It seems to be working fine now. Let us know if you have more issues.

Summer Oct 7, We haven't, David. Tell us more! I think ghosts are real but many think it is just because I am a kid. Nov 12, That's okay, patience. You're allowed to have an opinion! Oct 15, Thanks for sharing, Summer! Oct 3, Great thoughts, chase. Thanks for stopping by. Robert Lombardo Sep 15, Sep 16, Anna Sep 6, You can here crying sometimes. Sep 9, We bet that would be scary! Bilal Aug 29, Thought : I was on the verge of deciding whether Ghosts exist or not, now i do believe it because paranormal activity seems real.

L Stine, because horror is among one of my favorite genre Prediction : I think will be about what happens when someone is buried in their grave i know its random. Aug 30, Hi Bilal! Great thought process. I experienced this before and its was the most scariest thing that ever happen to me. When I was little I was visiting an egg farm and I fall asleep. I dreamt of a white lady,she was standing the street and she was about to try to snatch,then I woke up.

It felt so real,since then I started praying every night. Thanks for sharing your opinion, akibul! Hameerat Albright Aug 29, Thought: i think ghost are spiritual being and that's why we can't see them with mere scientific devices.

Connection: In every ghost movies I watch ghost are most likely scary and spiritual. Guest Neil deGrasse Tyson checked whether Professor Cox was really claiming that the particle accelerator had actually disproved the existence of supernatural spirits.

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Recommended Atom smasher could be about to see a new, revolutionary particle. Already subscribed? Log in.