Oracle of Delphi: Snake Death Gas or God’s Breath

By | May 5, 2021
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Oracle of Delphi, Spooky Geology

The colorful and dramatic accounts of the Oracle of Delphi in Greece spanning many centuries appear to be strongly related to the geological setting and seismic activity of the locale. The cultural and geologic history is long and complex. Over time, people have speculated on the explanation as being supernatural, psychic, geological, or a hoax. It took a multidisciplinary effort to reach the most probable proposed explanation we have so far, but there are still many details we’ll never know.

Fillmore underground fire

By | January 20, 2021
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spooky geology, underground fire

A thermal anomaly in Fillmore, California emits gases and heat that can burn the vegetation. A form of spontaneous combustion, the underground fire is difficult to extinguish.

The odd and clunky guide to researching the paranormal – Book Review

By | December 28, 2020
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Researching the Paranormal: How to Find Reliable Information about Parapsychology, Ghosts, Astrology, Cryptozoology, Near-Death Experiences, and More By Courtney M. Block, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2020. 342pp. There has not previously been a book specifically about how to research the paranormal. Academic librarian Courtney Block aims to help those who may feel embarrassed or confused… Read More: The odd and clunky guide to researching the paranormal –… »

Legends and science of bottomless holes

By | November 17, 2020
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bottomless pit, spooky geology

There are countless holes in the ground. Some have water. Some are just open void and darkness. When we can’t readily discern the depth, the hole begets additional legendary characteristics, including that of being bottomless. Let’s check out the legends of bottomless holes.

The “Hellmouth” Batagaika crater

By | August 1, 2020
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Hellmouth Batagaika

A megaslump is affecting the villagers of Batagay in Yakutia, Siberia. Local legend is that it’s a mouth to hell. The area of land continues to slump and sink, changing the landscape and creating a hazard for the village.

Pic de Bugarach: The mysterious mountain

By | July 17, 2020
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Pic de Bugarach

Pic de Bugarach in Aude, France, is a place that effortlessly combines natural wonder and legends. Add to its history a heaping portion of serious scientific misunderstandings, flavor with rumors and imaginative speculation, then bake for centuries, and the result is a bizarre mashup of fact and fiction that satisfies in our modern spooky times.

Faces in Places: Mimetoliths

By | May 17, 2020
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mimetolith, spooky geology

Rock formations that look like faces are called “mimetoliths”. Faces in rock can accrue great cultural significance as land marks. Societies place spiritual meaning into features that appear meaningful because they resemble a human form.

Ghost Studies and Lightforms: A review of two paranormal research books

By | April 28, 2020
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Long ago, my interest in paranormal topics became jaded because popular books were repetitive, full of the same information and stories as the last one. For decades, books written on cryptozoology and ufology advanced no closer to definitively documenting or explaining these phenomena. Some advocates are persuaded that the many similar stories and imaginative speculation,… Read More: Ghost Studies and Lightforms: A review of two paranormal research… »

Paranormal tourism paper shows themed tourism is popular and profitable

By | March 19, 2020
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I collaborated on a new paper now online for Cornell Hospitality Quarterly about paranormal tourism called “Paranormal Tourism: Market Study of a Novel and Interactive Approach to Space Activation and Monetization”. Abstract We review the premise, popularity, and profitability of paranormal tourism, which involves visits to any setting or locale for the explicit purpose of encountering… Read More: Paranormal tourism paper shows themed tourism is popular and profitable »

Copy-paste cryptozoology

By | February 17, 2020
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A review of Chasing American Monsters: Over 250 Creatures, Cryptids, and Hairy Beasts by Jason Offutt (2019). I’ve been thinking a lot about cryptozoology lately. While consuming content about many other subjects, I see excellent examples in cryptozoology to illustrate public attitudes towards and understanding of science, paranormal thinking, colonialist themes, misperceptions about evidence, media… Read More: Copy-paste cryptozoology »