Ghosts, Terminal Lucidity, and the Fun in Horror

A primer on ghosts

A ghost is the perceived spiritual form of a deceased human or animal, believed to continue existing among the living as an animate being. While there is no scientific evidence that ghosts are real, proving or disproving their existence is generally considered impossible.

Mentions of the living dead go back to ancient times, and ghost tales have been explored universally across cultures, continents, and periods, with rituals that still exist in efforts to connect with them and ward them off. The places most commonly reported as haunted are sites like burial grounds, asylums, hotels, castles, and buildings where tragedy struck (see gallery).

The idea of the soul, immortal and separate from the body, is held across different religions. Some psychologists believe that religion evolved to soothe common anxieties related to death and the afterlife.

... Read what else we learned here. 

Also, check out ... 

> More than half of Americans believe spirits interact with the living. (More)

> A 3,500-year-old Babylonian tablet (possibly) holds world's oldest ghost drawing. (More)

> William Mumler was a 19th-century ghost photographer. (More)

> Abraham Lincoln tops this list of history's most famous ghosts. (More)

👻  Episode 3 of our podcast "1440 Explores" is out now. This time, we’re diving into the science behind ghosts: why we see something that isn’t there, and what that reveals about the human mind. Listen on: Apple | Spotify | YouTube 

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Near-death experiences, 101

A near-death experience usually occurs in the wake of a traumatic physical event or a reversible clinical death, such as when someone is revived after a heart attack. While the experience varies, NDEs commonly feature a feeling of detachment from the body, visions of bright lights, a warped sense of time, or religious experiences.

Records of NDEs go back to the ancient Greeks and are found across cultures all over the world. The first known clinical observation was recorded in 18th-century France. In the 1970s, psychiatrist Raymond Moody pioneered the academic study of NDEs as medical events after an acquaintance relayed his own near-death experience.

Roughly 5% of the population is estimated to have a memory of an NDE, with common reports of a feeling of peacefulness (80%), followed by bright lights (69%) and encountering other people or spirits (64%).

... Read our full explainer on NDEs here.

Also, check out ... 

> An avowed rationalist discusses his near-death experience. (More)

> A look at the connections between religious experience and NDEs. (More)

> The nation's premier NDE research institute is in Virginia. (More)

> "Terminal lucidity" describes the clarity experienced during NDEs. (More)

What are trusts?

Trusts are estate planning tools used to designate assets to specific beneficiaries (read 101). They can hold a wide range of assets, including cash, real estate, stocks, businesses, and more. If a trust holds cash, that pool of cash is often considered a “trust fund,” although the definition of “trust funds” in particular is nebulous. See the many kinds of trusts here.

The concept of trusts dates back to ancient Rome, though they were further developed in medieval England. During the Crusades, when crusaders left for battle, they would often leave their land and other assets behind to “trusted” friends.

Trusts are often associated with the ultrawealthy, though many personal finance experts argue that individuals of various net worths should consider establishing a trust. The median trust fund contains roughly $285K.

... Read our full write-up on trusts here.

Also, check out ... 

> The pet owners leaving behind trusts for their pets. (More)

> Trusts can reduce tax liability on estates. (More)

> Social Security is handled through two trust funds. (More)

> Infamous scammer Anna Sorokin lied about having a $67M trust fund. (More)

PS—Want to learn more about finance each week? Sign up for our weekly Business and Finance newsletter here.

Best of the Week

We added 222 resources this week to our knowledge collective—here are some of our favorites.

The average cost of workplace family health plans has tripled in two decades to roughly $35K.

Explaining the absurdly straight line across Scotland's Great Glen.

Bioluminescence produces new light, while biofluorescence re-emits absorbed light.

Normal fevers help fight viruses and bacteria and support immune cells. 

"Viscoelasticity" allows muscles to elongate briefly after stretching.

The British captured Philadelphia in 1777 (and took over Ben Franklin's house).

Mapping all 30,000 Transatlantic slave voyages. 

Listen to this extended history of Berkshire Hathaway's origins. 

Why horror is so fun for some viewers. 

Visualizing the most challenging marathons in the world. 

On the strange art of thinking about math without words. 

Autograph hunters form secret networks to trade celebrity access tips.

Only 34% of Americans supported the Apollo program in 1967.

Over 100,000 art pieces are stolen each year, with less than 10% recovered. 

Credit for inventing the laser was fought over for nearly three decades.

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Historybook: Marie Antoinette born (1755); Nobel Prize-winning playwright George Bernard Shaw dies (1950); First president of South Vietnam Ngô Đình Diệm assassinated (1963); Indian actor and "King of Bollywood" Shah Rukh Khan born (1965); Martin Luther King Jr. Day is created in the US (1983).