New Scientist’s popular segment, Feedback, never fails to entertain with its humorous take on the latest science and technology news. In a recent edition, the spotlight was on online psychics who believe in extrasensory perception (ESP) and telepathy.
The Global Telepathy Study, as described on its website trueesp.com, is an initiative that aims to demonstrate the phenomenon of extrasensory perception on a global scale through crowd-scale ESP testing. Participants can download the True ESP app and take part in 4-minute telepathy tests where they transmit or receive images chosen from a set of nine cards. The study is reminiscent of Joseph Rhine’s experiments with Zener cards in the 20th century, but with a modern twist of using an app for testing.
Organized by Mark Freeman, with a team of scientists including Dean Radin, who was allegedly part of the CIA’s Stargate program in the 1980s and 1990s, the Global Telepathy Study also delves into "Quantum ESP Research" claiming that brain neurons create consciousness through quantum entanglement.
Moving on to a lighter note, Feedback also shared an amusing incident involving the late Vice President Cheney, where his name was censored in an article on Yahoo News, hinting at some phobia. The article was a call for President Donald Trump to undergo another medical assessment due to his tendency to fall asleep during meetings.
In a surprising turn of events, Griffith University in Australia announced an honorary professorial chair for Dr. Bandit Heeler, a fictional animated dog from the TV show Bluey. The university praised Bandit for his imaginary fieldwork and research achievements, which turned out to be a nod to Bluey’s creator Joe Brumm, receiving an honorary doctorate.
Lastly, the demise of cultivated meat companies like Meatable and Believer Meats raised eyebrows, with reader Hue White humorously attributing the failure of Believer Meats to the CEO’s name, Gustavo Burger.
With a mix of science, humor, and quirky anecdotes, Feedback never fails to provide a light-hearted take on the latest happenings in the world of science and technology. Stay tuned for more amusing stories and updates in the next edition.
If you have a story for Feedback or want to share your thoughts, you can email feedback@newscientist.com. Don’t forget to include your home address for a chance to be featured in the next edition. Check out past Feedbacks and more on the New Scientist website.
