Everything in science is paranormal until it isn't

Luis Elizondo for Medium: What comes to mind when you think of the word “paranormal”?

Probably poltergeists, ghost hunters or little gray aliens. Or maybe you imagine movies like The Blair Witch Project or Ghostbusters. The idea of ​​the paranormal remains a central theme in thrillers and science fiction films, often taking viewers on a wild but highly speculative journey. Talking about the word paranormal in any context other than the entertainment industry usually results in raised eyebrows and smiles.

But isn't everything in science paranormal until we finally accept it as normal?

To answer this question, let's look at the origins of the word “paranormal.” The prefix “para” simply means above, next to, or beyond. We exploit the word “parachute” to describe a life-saving device that deploys above your head and hopefully helps you hit the ground with a bang rather than a splat. Similarly, the word “paramedic” usually brings to mind the image of a lifeguard or paramedic working on or next to you. In both cases, each word is used to describe something positive and beneficial.

In fact, the English language is full of words in which the prefix “para” is used as an integral part of the word's meaning.

So why does the prefix “para” used before the word “normal” automatically assume elements of fringe science, taboos and witchcraft? After all, the meaning of the word paranormal is relative – what is paranormal today may be considered commonplace tomorrow.

Allowing ourselves to make these types of assumptions about the paranormal at best limits our ability to conduct grave research and at worst paralyzes us completely with fear of stigmatization and ridicule from our peers.

Here's how to avoid these pitfalls and dig deeper:

What we consider “paranormal” is often just a fact of nature.
When I was studying microbiology in college, I remember my professor telling the class the celebrated story of Anton van Leeuwenhoek's discovery of protozoa.

As the story goes, he looked through the microscope and shouted, “Little beasts, little beasts!” and ran out of the room. For him and many people at the time, the discovery of microorganisms was a paranormal moment. But these were living organisms, just below the threshold of our ability to observe and perceive. We now consider microorganisms to be a normal part of science, and in many cases even a useful part. In fact, scientists discover as many as 20,000 recent species every year.

Much of what is now considered normal aspects of the observable universe was once considered paranormal.

For example, the antique Maya and Aztecs throughout Latin America viewed solar eclipses as paranormal phenomena, just as Halley's Comet was considered paranormal for several centuries throughout Europe. When the concept of electricity was in its infancy last century, it was common to read newspaper headlines proclaiming “a true miracle of science,” “a miracle of modernity,” and “a miracle of physics!” Likewise, the introduction of the telegraph, wireless technology, and even antibiotics were met with the same surprise and astonishment, yet suspicion and wariness.

Of course, we now realize that all these achievements were simply a natural development of science.

The truth is that “paranormal” really refers to anything that we do not yet have a solid scientific understanding of at this time. Even today, a remote Amazonian tribe may still suspect that a uncomplicated photograph has soul-stealing powers.

The United States has a long history of engaging in phenomena considered paranormal

Historically, the United States has been a world power in part because it embraced – if often grudgingly – the weird and the bizarre.

In the early days of the Manhattan Project, many scientists and lawmakers balked at the thought of spending taxes on diminutive, hidden packets of matter called “atoms” that would one day be used to end a war. After all, if you can't even see the atom, how do we know it even exists? During the 1960s and 1970s, the US and Soviet military invested millions of dollars in parapsychological research, psychotronics, and mind control experiments. Already today, the United States Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are developing technology that allows pilots to fly planes using brain waves.

Without explaining the benefits of each, suffice it to say that paranormal research sometimes leads to a greater understanding of the natural universe in areas such as quantum mechanics, electromagnetic energy, and human biology.

In the case of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), the stigma of anything that could be considered paranormal acts as a deterrent to our nation's ability to address a potential threat to national security. It also severely limits the development of human knowledge. Technological advances have led to credible and reliable evidence of the existence of UFOs – far beyond the uncomplicated anecdotes contained in the reports of untrained observers in previous decades. Slowly but surely, the facility is moving away from the outer edges of paranormal categorization as highly trained observers provide analysis of advanced aerial technology.

But even though the evidence overwhelmingly supports legitimate research into these phenomena with potentially high combat capabilities, we prefer to simply look in the opposite direction because the topic is too taboo. It is perilous to assume that a paranormal area is not worth exploring because of the stigma.

In this case we need more information, not less.

Changing our perception of the paranormal takes time, but we have to start somewhere.
Today's media is plagued by the phenomenon of “fake news,” which complicates our ability to receive recent information.

Labeling the media as bogus becomes a political weapon that can concealed truths and spread lies. In particular, information regarding the UAP is usually associated with unbalanced conspiracy theorists, and tabloid publications quickly worsen their negative reputation.

However, if we strip away the misinformation, deception, scams, money-making schemes, egotism, and wishful thinking, some truths cannot be denied.

When it comes to UAP, it will likely take some time to overcome the stigma and preconceived notions of the truth.

We must be careful not to give in to our human nature and reject what is “para” – that is, above, next to, or beyond – our understanding just because we do not have an explanation for it at the moment.

According to recent research, most of Earth's species are still waiting to be discovered. Mother Earth is only one of eight unremarkable planets orbiting our Sun, and our Sun is only one of approximately 250 billion (250,000,000,000) stars in our Milky Way galaxy, and our galaxy is only one of an estimated 2 trillion (2 000,000,000,000) galaxies in the observable universe.

This means that there are many things that we do not yet understand that may be “paranormal” today but quite “normal” tomorrow.

Author: Luis Elizondo, former US Army counterintelligence special agent, source Mediocre