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GhostsA 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. 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.Explore Ghosts

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Thomas Edison, eager to communicate with ghosts, tinkered with an apparatus called the 'spirit phone'The inventor was interested in developing a scientific method for communicating with the dead. He was not interested, though, in the occult figures who believed the dead could be reached through Spiritualism, which he found childish. He believed those kinds of people "permit themselves to become, in a sense, hypnotized into thinking that their imaginings are actualities." Atlas Obscura '1440 Explores' Episode 3: Why We See Ghosts and What Isn't ThereEvery culture has them—restless spirits, haunted houses, things that go bump in the night. But why do we believe in ghosts? Psychologist and skeptic Dr. Chris French joins host Sony Kassam to explore the science behind the supernatural, from sleep paralysis and hallucinations to the brain's pattern-making instincts. Together, they uncover why our minds see meaning—and sometimes ghosts—where none exist, and what that reveals about fear, memory, and our need to believe in something beyond the grave. 1440 Explores The science behind ghosts, exploredEvery culture has them—restless spirits, haunted houses, things that go bump in the night. But why do we believe in ghosts? Psychologist and skeptic Dr. Chris French joins host Sony Kassam to explore the science behind the supernatural, from sleep paralysis and hallucinations to the brain’s pattern-making instincts. 1440 Daily A 2020 poll found around 50% of Americans believe ghosts and demons are realGhosts are typically represented as sad and still retaining some of their humanity. Demons are more associated with evil and the devil, without any connection to being human. The Conversation Ghosts didn't say 'boo' until the 19th centuryThe word derives from Scotland in the early modern era and was often used to assert oneself. Eventually, it became a way to startle someone, and by the 19th century, was the go-to utterance of literary spirits. Mental Floss What ghosts eat around the worldThis Thrillist article compiles a rich assortment of cultural beliefs and practices surrounding food for the dead. From Bengali folklore to Ancient Greek mythology, peruse through the different ways in which cultures around the world use food to maintain connected to the deceased. Thrillist The history of ghosts, explainedThe afterlife has perplexed humans across different periods, cultures, and belief systems. The desire to understand what comes next is often explored through the telling of ghost stories. Learn more about the spooky phenomena here. 1440 19th-century Americans used technology to try to prove the existence of ghostsIn the 19th century, following technological advancements like the telegraph, phonograph, and others, efforts were made to capture proof of ghosts. These technologies seemed supernatural in their own right and emerged at the same time Spiritualism took off in the US, resulting in new approaches to connecting with the dead. Science History Institute Ghosts can work as powerful literary devicesNoteworthy American novels like Toni Morrison’s "Beloved" tell us how spirits help deliver information and greater truths unknown to the characters. Wondering about our souls is common in literature, and the phantoms in these tales offer a unique way of contemplating the complicated experience of being human. Literary Hub Former American President Abraham Lincoln is one of history’s most famous ghostsAbraham Lincoln, Anne Boleyn, Pausanias, and the Maharajah Duleep Singh are just a few of the notable phantoms found around the world. Several White House occupants and visitors have claimed to see Lincoln, including Theodore Roosevelt, Grace Coolidge, and Winston Churchill. HISTORY Photographer William Mumler claimed to photograph ghostsSpirit photographer William Mumler rose to prominence during the spiritualist movement in the United States. His photographs engrossed and bewildered both believers and nonbelievers. Though Mumler was tried for fraud, his methods were never discovered. Vox Clouds' subtle climate effects require significant computational power to simulateResponsible for reflecting sunlight and preventing thermal energy from entering the Earth system while also trapping energy and keeping it in the system, clouds are understood to substantially influence climate predictions. Because even supercomputers struggle to accurately model their dynamic behavior, researchers have used AI to indirectly incorporate clouds into climate models. Quanta Magazine New York mayor Ed Koch railed against graffiti in the '70s and '80sKoch was outspoken in his hatred of the form and, during his three terms, launched an anti-graffiti campaign with the help of several New York celebrities. This 1984 BBC report documents some of the scorn graffiti artists had attracted, including from Grace Glueck, the New York Times' art critic, who said, "I don't consider it an art form on canvas at all." GHOST GALERIE 'Ghost towns' are rarely known for ghost sightingsInstead, they're places an industry has abandoned, leaving many of the town's buildings decrepit and abandoned. That doesn't mean they're completely empty; some folks prefer the pace and look of ghost towns, which often lean into their Old West aesthetics. The Vox documentary explores ghost towns in Nevada, which is home to more than 600. Vox I saw a ghost at 25. Now 52, I imagine myself as a ghost | Psyche Turning Points Psyche The word 'vampire' appeared in the English-speaking world in the 1730sHowever, earlier mentions of creatures with similar characteristics existed throughout Medieval Europe. For example, people often spoke of revenants—restless dead creatures who tormented the living. Historians believe these stories grew in popularity in part because of influence from the Catholic Church, which was emphasizing the idea of purgatory. These older revenant stories eventually influenced modern vampire folklore. Origins Langston Hughes solicited ghost stories from his readersHughes had a column in the Chicago Defender newspaper for two decades. In 1951, he asked readers to send him their ghost stories, promising that he'd reward them with autographed copies of his books. He spent the next several months dedicating the column to the stories he received. Literary Hub Radio DJ Casey Kasem was the voice of Shaggy on 'Scooby-Doo'He pioneered the "American Top 40" radio model, but his iconic voice also appeared on "Scooby-Doo Where Are You?," the long-running animated TV show. Interesting: Kasem once quit the role in protest after being pressured to do a Burger King commercial, though he eventually reprised it years later. Cartoon Research The Shed at Dulwich was a fake restaurant that became the top-rated eatery in LondonIn 2017, freelance writer Oobah Butler conducted an experiment in which he created a website claiming that his south London garden shed offered a unique fine-dining experience. Butler asked friends to write glowing reviews on Tripadvisor, made the restaurant open only by appointment, and allured audiences with mystery. As a result, hordes of people called and emailed to make a reservation at a restaurant that didn't exist. Payload App Components of the 'ghost gun' allegedly used by Luigi Mangione were 3D printedAlthough some "ghost guns" are firearms whose serial numbers have been removed, many others are built from pieces that can be printed using readily available online data files. Federal laws and some states do not prohibit the construction of these DIY firearms for personal use. WIRED View the abandoned town of Pripyat, a year after the Chernobyl nuclear disasterThe town's 50,000 residents were evacuated more than a day after the explosions at Chernobyl, leaving behind schools, apartments, and streets seemingly frozen in time. Most evacuees were resettled to Slavutych, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of the plant. CNN China has a ‘ghost town of abandoned mansions’This video shows how China’s property bubble deflated as new-home sales collapsed and more than 50 developers defaulted. In Shenyang, an abandoned “ghost town” reveals the fallout of a boom built on debt and overbuilding that could no longer be sustained. The Wall Street Journal Will-o'-the-wisps may be the result of microlightning between bubblesMethane and air bubbles moving through water can generate small sparks between them, which can ignite gas. The above-ground phenomenon may have historically been the result of passing travelers igniting swamp gas with their lanterns. (Some readers may experience a paywall.) Science News The first chili cook took place in a Texas ghost town"The Great Chili Confrontation" happened October 21, 1967, in Terlingua, Texas, a small ghost town near Big Bend National Park. The showdown was between journalists H. Allen Smith, who wrote an article titled “Nobody Knows More About Chili Than I Do,” and Wick Fowler, a Texas reporter. Texas Highways Watch the first-ever footage of a ghost sharkIn 2009, the pointy-nosed blue chimaera was filmed swimming in the deep sea. That same year, researchers first observed them off the coast of California and Hawaii, after they had previously been found only in the Southern Hemisphere. National Geographic See the world's first-known photo of a wild white Iberian lynxDescribed by the photographer as the "white ghost of the Mediterranean forest," the lynx is a vulnerable species. Catching the genetic anomaly on camera is a testament to conservation efforts that began in 2011. euronews Some North American bats can glow in the darkAfter examining 60 museum specimens from six different species, scientists found that all of them emitted light after being exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Researchers are perplexed by this natural phenomenon and are currently unable to deduce the reason behind it. ScienceAlert See a gallery of winning photos from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards for 2025The overall winner was “Ghost Town Visitor," which depicts an extremely rare brown hyena visiting an abandoned mining building in Kolmanskop, Namibia, by South African photographer Wim van den Heever. Other amazing shots include "Orphan of the Road," showing a longhorn beetle observing large machinery, and "Survival Purse," featuring the egg case of a swell shark. National History Museum Performance artist Thierry Mandon turns solitary domestic scenes into spectaclessSuspended in the air and attached to severed buildings, artist Mandon appears engrossed in his book while lying in bed or sitting at a table. Mandon satirizes our everyday habits while attracting and amusing passersby. Colossal Kurt Vonnegut's 'Cat's Cradle' was inspired by the bombing of HiroshimaThe writer fought in World War II and witnessed the firebombing of Dresden, which he recounted in 1969's satirical "Slaughterhouse Five." Six years earlier, though, he wrote about the bombing of Hiroshima in "Cat's Cradle," channeling some of the horror he witnessed in Dresden to write about the dropping of the atomic bomb. (Some users may experience a paywall.) The Atlantic England's sole World Cup win featured 'the Ghost Goal'The 1966 match is known for its controversial third goal scored by Geoff Hurst, called “The Ghost Goal.” Watch the original footage, including the legendary call from announcer Kenneth Wolstenholme, and decide for yourself if the ball went in. BBC Firefly Blue Ghost lands private craft on the moonOn March 2, 2025, Firefly Aerospace landed its Blue Ghost craft on the Moon. The private company then operated the craft for two weeks, conducting surface operations and becoming the first private space company to have a fully successful mission on the Moon. This short video captures pristine, dramatic footage of the mission's successful touchdown. Firefly Aerospace The billion-dollar ghost town in BaltimoreAs a Rust Belt city looking to revitalize its economic core, Baltimore, Maryland, sought big investments from developers and municipalities. The so-called Baltimore Peninsula is a billion-dollar neighborhood in south Baltimore initially prompted by the investment of Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank. In 2025, the glossy, grand urban neighborhood is still empty, with fully-built condos and retail spaces. Building Tales Ghost weddings used to be more commonGhost weddings are marriages between two deceased parties, or one living and one dead partner. They satisfy departed family members’ needs for companionship and peace in the afterlife, according to Chinese spiritual beliefs. Unfortunately, since ghost marriages are pricey and can include the mingling of mortal remains, murderers and grave robbers have, at times, sought to supply spouses through nefarious means. South China Morning Post Superstitious actors believe ‘Macbeth’ is cursedActors playing in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”—a story filled with ghosts, witches, and magic—call it the “Scottish play” out of superstition, a tradition since the play’s first production. Royal Shakespeare The coolest ghost towns in every US stateTrying to avoid crowds? This list from Thrillist compiles various ghost towns across the United States, highlighting their unique characteristics and explaining why they were abandoned. Peruse this comprehensive list to learn more about why people left these areas and what's still there. If you're looking for additional creepiness, explore and find out which of these spots are particularly haunted! Thrillist The ghost-hunting industry helps maintain historical buildingsThere’s no shortage of spirit-obsessed customers in America, with an estimate that ghost-themed tours generate about $300M annually in the country. Bloomberg Ancient ghost stories appeared in texts like 'The Odyssey'Sharing ghost tales has been around for centuries. Ancient Mesopotamia, Rome, and Greece each had their own chilling stories about encountering spirits. Find mentions of specters in some of history’s most famous writings like the "Epic of Gilgamesh" and "The Odyssey." TheCollector The Hungry Ghost Festival in Asia honors the deadA tradition in East and Southeast Asia, the Hungry Ghost Festival primarily involves offering food and other treats to the dead. The festivals' practices uphold the Buddhist ideals of generosity and compassion, directed even toward specters. Alan Peto There are psychological benefits to believing in spiritsA number of psychologists believe religion helps subdue our fears of death by giving us a sense of what’s to come and, therefore, a sense of control over how to ensure the best possible outcome. Psychology Today Halloween originated with the Celtic festival of SamhainHalloween, a holiday primarily popular in the US and Canada, originated 2,000 years ago with the Celtic people. The Celts interpreted this transition as when ghosts returned to the land of the living, leading to rituals like feasts, bonfires, and wearing costumes made of animal body parts on Oct. 31. History Ghost stories across cultures often trace back to traumatic eventsFrom a bat-like demon in Tanzania to a malevolent woman figure hovering above your sleeping body, the four disturbing tales outlined in this NPR article offer a glimpse into how happenings from WWII or the Aztec Empire haunt people’s memories. NPR The oldest recorded ghost drawing comes from ancient BabylonAn ancient Babylonian clay tablet in the British Museum presents a curious image of a ghost being led back to the afterlife. This artifact is believed to be the oldest known drawing of a spirit. According to Dr. Irving Finkel, this image is part of a guide to exorcise ghosts. Smithsonian Magazine Ghost stories can help us process deathScholar Coya Paz’s research into ghost stories indicated that people often use them to grieve and remember tragic histories. Paz notes that specters in stories almost always demand to be acknowledged. She also shares the three most common types of ghosts we hear about are either vengeful, unwelcoming, or comforting. TEDx Talks More than half of American adults believe in the afterlifeIt’s hard to find actual data regarding ghosts, but a survey conducted by Pew Research Group in 2023, revealed that around half of the US adult population believes ghosts can interact with the living, with most thinking that spirits can help rather than harm us. Pew Research Center NASA captures image of ghostly cosmic handNASA's X-ray space telescopes, Chandra and the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, have joined forces to study a hand-shaped structure in space, revealing the magnetic field "bones" of a pulsar wind nebula. Pulsars are rotating neutron stars with strong magnetic fields, creating extreme physics conditions. The combined data from these telescopes provide insight into how pulsars inject particles into space and shape their environment, with the magnetic field playing a crucial role. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ghost hunting in the 19th centuryThis 40-minute podcast explores what it meant to hunt ghosts during the 19th century, when studying the paranormal was considered a mainstream scientific field. In 1847, a pair of sisters reportedly communicated with the spirit of a dead man... Science History Institute The ghost of Bobby DunbarIn 1912, a four-year-old Louisiana boy went missing for eight months. Contemporary accounts differed in his mother's reaction upon seeing him; some claimed she was overjoyed, others that she didn't recognize him. Shortly after, a second woman claimed the child was hers, though he remained with the first woman. In 2004, DNA analysis determined the child had not been related to the family, suggesting the kidnapping was never solved. This American Life The ‘Bullshit Bombers’ of the Vietnam War and their mountain ghostArmed with marketing insight and leaflets, these US soldiers tried to use propaganda to get the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese military to abandon their weapons and leave the war. But what’s more effective than a leaflet’s promise of a decent cup of coffee amid bombing? Ghostly threats from the great beyond. Learn more about weaponized superstition in this 42-minute podcast episode. Radiolab Ancient Romans on divorce: Have you tried ghosting them?Many may say it's polite to let your spouse know you're leaving them, but notifying the other party wasn't required in ancient Rome. This article explores how divorce worked in ancient Rome and what modern people can learn from the practice. To get a divorce in ancient Rome, one (or more) of the involved parties simply had to decide they were no longer married. No public authorities were involved, and there was no requirement to let the other party know that their marriage was over. Stanford University

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