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Paranormal challenges, often posed by groups or individuals who self-identify as skeptics or rationalists, publicly challenge those who claim to possess paranormal abilities to demonstrate that they in fact possess them, and are not fraudulent or self-deceptive. [2]
After establishing procedures and measures of success agreed upon beforehand between the challengers and the claimants, a challenge is usually divided into two steps, the first being a "preliminary test" or "pre-test", where claimants can show their purported abilities under controlled conditions before a small audience, before being admitted to the final test. Sometimes these pre-tests have a smaller prize attached to them. [4] Several local organisations have set up challenges that serve as pre-tests to larger prizes such as the JREF's One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge [1] [5] [6] or the 2012–2013 SKEPP Sisyphus Prize (for one million euros). [7] [8]
In 1922, Scientific American made two US$2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." [9] Harry Houdini was a member of the investigating committee. The first medium to be tested was George Valiantine, who claimed that in his presence spirits would speak through a trumpet that floated around a darkened room. For the test, Valiantine was placed in a room, the lights were extinguished, but unbeknownst to him his chair had been rigged to light a signal in an adjoining room if he left his seat. Because the light signals were tripped during his performance - indicating that he did leave his seat multiple times, sometimes for up to eighteen seconds - Valiantine was confirmed to be a fraud, and did not collect the award money. [2]
Since then, many individuals and groups have offered similar monetary awards for proof of the paranormal in an observed setting. [2] Indian rationalist Abraham Kovoor's challenge in 1963 inspired American skeptic James Randi's prize in 1964, [10] which became the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge. In 2003, these prizes were calculated to have a combined value of US$2,326,500. [11] As of December 2023, none of the prizes have been awarded, as no proof of paranormal has been provided.
In 2015, James Randi ceased to accept public applications directly from people claiming to have paranormal powers. [12] As of 2018, these prizes combine to approximately US$1,024,215. They take place in multiple countries and the conditions to be met may vary considerably. As of January 2024, none of the prizes have been claimed.
| Date | Location | Challengers | Offered prize | Equivalent in U.S. dollars | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014– | Czech Republic | Czech Skeptics' Club Sisyfos | 3,515,000 Czech koruna | $160,671 | To anyone who can prove to possess paranormal abilities in areas such as clairvoyance, telepathy, telekinesis, rhabdomancy, etc. [3] | Unclaimed |
| 1999– | China | Sima Nan | 1,000,000 Chinese yuan | $157,913 | "[T]o anyone who can perform one act of "special ability” without cheating." [13] | Unclaimed |
| 1984– | India | Tarksheel Society | 10,000,000 Indian rupees | $150,110 | To anyone who can perform any of 22 specified "miracles". The entry fee is 10,000 INR. [14] | Unclaimed |
| 2000– | United States | Center for Inquiry Investigations Group | 500,000 US dollars | $500,000 | "...to anyone who can demonstrate any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power under scientific test conditions." The person who refers a successful applicant to the CFIIG earns $5,000 as well. [15] | Unclaimed |
| 1980– | Australia | Australian Skeptics | 100,000 Australian dollars | $75,820 | For proof of the existence of extrasensory perception, telepathy, or telekinesis. [16] | Unclaimed |
| 1985– | India | Science and Rationalists' Association of India, Prabir Ghosh | 5,000,000 Indian rupees | $75,055 | Prabir Ghosh will award the prize "to any person of this world who can demonstrate his/her supernormal power by performing any one of the following activities without taking help of any hoax/trick at my designated place and circumstances." [17] | Unclaimed |
| 1994– | New Zealand | Stuart Landsborough, New Zealand Skeptics | 100,000 New Zealand dollars | $70,791 | "[T]o anyone who could prove by psychic ability that they can indicate the exact location" of two halves of a promissory note hidden within an area of 100 metres inside Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World. Over the years, the search area has been reduced from 5 kilometres to 100 metres and the prize doubled, but the note split in two to reduce the chance of winning by sheer luck. [18] Contestants have to donate NZ$1,000 to charity if they fail. [19] | Unclaimed |
| 2000– | Italy | Alfredo Barrago's Bet, CICAP | 50,000 Euro | $60,737 | "[...] shown at least a 'phenomenon' produced by 'medium, seers, sensitive etc.' of paranormal nature." [20] | Unclaimed |
| 2002– | Belgium | SKEPP Sisyphus Prize | 25,000 Euro | $30,368 | The original Sisyphus Prize was €10,000. Between 2012 and 2013, for the duration of one year, an anonymous Antwerp businessman raised the prize €1,000,000, while several European skeptical organisations attached their pre-tests to it. [8] [21] Afterwards, the regular Sisyphus Prize was continued and raised from €10,000 to €25,000. [4] | Unclaimed |
| 2013– | Great Britain | Association for Skeptical Enquiry | 12,000 British pounds | $16,535 | For proof of psychic powers. [2] | Unclaimed |
| 2015– | Russia | Harry Houdini Prize | 1,000,000 Russian rubles | $16,096 | The prize is awarded for demonstrating paranormal or supernatural abilities under conditions scientifically valid experiment. [22] [23] | Unclaimed |
| 2001– | United States | North Texas Skeptics | 12,000 US dollars | $12,000 | "[T]o any person ... who can demonstrate any psychic or paranormal power or ability under scientifically valid observing conditions." [2] [24] | Unclaimed |
| 1997– | Great Britain | Lavkesh Prasha, Asian Rationalist Society of Britain | 10,000 British pounds | $13,779 | "[T]o any person who could prove to possess magical powers before the media and scientists." The initial amount of £2,000 was increased fivefold in 2006 to attract more applicants. [25] [26] | Unclaimed |
| 2008– | Estonia | Eesti Skeptik | 10,000 Euro | $12,147 | To anyone who can prove paranormal abilities. [27] | Unclaimed |
| 2004– | Germany | GWUP | 10,000 Euro | $12,147 | To anyone who can prove paranormal abilities. [28] [29] | Unclaimed |
| 1989– | Finland | Skepsis ry (Finnish Association of Skeptics) | 10,000 Euro | $12,147 | For anybody in Finland who can produce paranormal phenomena under satisfactory observing conditions or prove that she/he/it is an extraterrestrial by providing a DNA (or equivalent) sample for investigation. Money partially from astronomer Hannu Karttunen and magician Iiro Seppänen. [30] | Unclaimed |
| 1988– | Netherlands | Stichting Skepsis | 10,000 Euro | $12,147 | To anyone who wants their "alternative diagnoses" (including applied kinesiology, electroacupuncture, bioresonance therapy, Therapeutic Touch, observing auras, clairvoyance, iridology, pendulum dowsing, astrology) to be tested; winning the pre-test earns €500. [31] Skepsis' first challenge in March 1988 was ƒ10,000 to any "psychic surgeon" who could remove chairman Cornelis de Jager's appendix. [32] | Unclaimed |
| Unknown– | Sweden | Swedish Humanist Association | 100,000 Swedish krona | $11,550 | To anyone who can demonstrate a paranormal or supernatural ability for which no scientific explanation can be found. [33] | Unclaimed |
| 1996– | Canada | Les Sceptiques du Quebec | 10,000 Canadian dollars | $7785 | "Just a small fact, observable or verifiable through experiment" of a paranormal phenomenon. [5] | Unclaimed |
| 2012– | Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan Rationalist Association | 1,000,000 Sri Lankan rupees | $6341 | Professor Carlo Fonseka renewed Abraham Kovoor's challenge. [34] | Unclaimed |
| Unknown– | United States | Fayetteville Freethinkers | One goat | undetermined | "Offering a reward for a fulfilled Biblical prophecy!" [35] | Unclaimed |
| 1976– | India | Indian Skeptic , Indian CSICOP | 100,000 Indian rupees | $1501 | Formerly moderated by Basava Premanand, deceased in 2009. Offered after Abraham Kovoor fell ill with cancer in 1976. [36] Premanand's magazine and organization have continued the challenge after his death in 2009. [37] | Unclaimed |
| 1995– | India | Indian Rationalist Association, Sanal Edamaruku | 100,000 Indian rupees | $1501 | To anyone who could prove the 1995 "Hindu milk miracle" was, in fact, a miracle. [38] Since 2002, it includes "anyone who can provide scientific evidence for iridology". [39] | Unclaimed |
| 2011– | Mexico | Daniel Zepeda | 20,000 Mexican pesos | $1074 | "To anyone who can show, under proper observational and replicable conditions, evidence of a paranormal, supernatural or occult power for which science has no answer." [40] | Unclaimed |
| 1989– | United States | Tampa Bay Skeptics | 1000 US dollars | $1,000 | "[T]o anyone able to demonstrate any paranormal phenomenon under mutually agreed-upon observing conditions." [2] [41] | Unclaimed |
| Date | Location | Challengers | Offered prize | Equivalent in dollars | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964–2015 | United States | JREF, One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge | 1,000,000 US dollars | $1,000,000 | Launched by James Randi as $1,000 in 1964, [42] raised to $10,000 by 1980, [43] to $100,000 by 1989, [44] and finally to a million in 1996. [45] Since the launch of the James Randi Educational Foundation, applications were processed and tests prepared and conducted by a committee. [42] In 2015 the challenge was officially terminated.[ citation needed ] | Unclaimed. [lower-alpha 1] |
| 1987–2002 | France | Gérard Majax, Henri Broch, Jacques Theodor, International Zetetic Challenge | 200,000 Euro | $242,949 | Mediums and clairvoyants were challenged to show their powers, but all 275 candidates allegedly failed. [48] | Unclaimed |
| 1928–1995 | United States | Joseph Dunninger, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame | 31,000 US dollars | $31,000 | To anyone who can cause a suspended pencil in a sealed box to write a message on a pad of paper, also in the box. [49] [50] | Unclaimed |
| 2012 | India | Tarksheel Society | 1,000,000 Indian rupees | $15,011 | To anyone who could correctly predict the election results in five Indian state assemblies. [51] | Unclaimed |
| 2014 | India | Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations | 1,000,000 Indian rupees | $15,011 | Correctly answer 21 out of 25 questions relating to future election results. Intended for astrologers, but open to anyone. [52] | Unclaimed |
| 1985–1988 | United States | Paranormal Investigating Committee of Pittsburgh | 10,000 US dollars | $10,000 | "[T]o anyone who can demonstrate successfully a psychic claim in a controlled examination." [53] [54] | Unclaimed |
| 2007–2009 | United States | Sanad Rashed, Ahmed Khaled Tawfik | 5000 US dollars | $5000 | For proof ouija boards function as claimed.[ citation needed ] | Unclaimed |
| 2008 | India | Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations | 200,000 Indian rupees | $3002 | Correctly answer 21 out of 25 questions relating to future election results. Intended for astrologers, but open to anyone. [55] | Unclaimed |
| 1922 | United States | Scientific American | 2500 US dollars | $2500 | Two $2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, or (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." [2] [9] | Unclaimed |
| Unknown–2005 | United States | New York Area Skeptics | 2000 US dollars | $2000 | Awarded to the successful completion of the JREF One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge.[ citation needed ] | Unclaimed |
| 1963–1978 | India & Sri Lanka | Abraham Kovoor | 100,000 Sri Lankan rupees | $634 | Kovoor initiated the Abraham Kovoor's challenge starting in 1963. He inspired others like Randi and Premanand. He died in 1978. [10] | Unclaimed |
| 2012–2013 | Estonia | Eesti Skeptik | 500 Euro | $607 | Awarded to anyone who passed the Estonian preliminary test to the Belgian Sisyphus Prize. [56] | Unclaimed |
| 2012–2013 | Great Britain | Association for Skeptical Enquiry | 400 British pounds | $551 | Awarded to anyone who passed the British preliminary test to the Belgian Sisyphus Prize. [7] | Unclaimed |
James Randi was a Canadian-American stage magician, author and scientific skeptic who extensively challenged paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. He was the co-founder of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), and founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Randi began his career as a magician under the stage name The Amazing Randi and later chose to devote most of his time to investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims. Randi retired from practicing magic at age 60, and from his foundation at 87.
James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is an American grant-making institution founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. As a nonprofit organization, the mission of JREF includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled scientific experimental conditions. The organization announced its change to a grant-making foundation in September 2015.
Scientific skepticism or rational skepticism, sometimes referred to as skeptical inquiry, is a position in which one questions the veracity of claims lacking empirical evidence. In practice, the term most commonly refers to the examination of claims and theories that appear to be beyond mainstream science, rather than the routine discussions and challenges among scientists. Scientific skepticism differs from philosophical skepticism, which questions humans' ability to claim any knowledge about the nature of the world and how they perceive it, and the similar but distinct methodological skepticism, which is a systematic process of being skeptical about the truth of one's beliefs.
A debunker is a person or organization that exposes or discredits claims believed to be false, exaggerated, or pretentious. The term is often associated with skeptical investigation of controversial topics such as UFOs, claimed paranormal phenomena, cryptids, conspiracy theories, alternative medicine, religion, or exploratory or fringe areas of scientific or pseudoscientific research.
Allison DuBois is an American author and purported medium. DuBois claims she used her psychic abilities to assist U.S. law enforcement officials in solving crimes, forming the basis of the TV series Medium. Those officials deny it.
The Amazing Meeting (TAM), stylized as The Amaz!ng Meeting, was an annual conference that focused on science, skepticism, and critical thinking; it was held for twelve years. The conference started in 2003 and was sponsored by the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Perennial speakers included Penn & Teller, Phil Plait, Michael Shermer and James "The Amazing" Randi. Speakers at the four-day conference were selected from a variety of disciplines including scientific educators, magicians, and community activists. Outside the plenary sessions the conference included workshops, additional panel discussions, music and magic performances and live taping of podcasts including The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. The final Amazing Meeting was held in July 2015.
The New England Skeptical Society (NESS) is an American organization dedicated to promoting science and reason. It was founded in January 1996 as the Connecticut Skeptical Society, by Steven Novella, Perry DeAngelis and Bob Novella. The group later joined with the Skeptical Inquirers of New England (SINE) and the New Hampshire Skeptical Resource to form the New England Skeptical Society.
Douglas James Grothe is an American skeptic who has served in leadership roles for both the Center for Inquiry (CFI) and the James Randi Educational Foundation. While he was at CFI, he hosted their Point of Inquiry podcast. After leaving Point of Inquiry he hosted the radio show and podcast For Good Reason. He is particularly interested in the psychology of belief and the steps involved in deception and self-deception. His writing has been published by both Skeptical Inquirer magazine and The Huffington Post. He also co-edited On the Beauty of Science, about the worldview and life's work of the Nobel laureate Herbert Hauptman.
Banachek is an English mentalist, magician, and "thought reader".
Stichting Skepsis is a Dutch organisation dedicated to the promotion and practice of scientific skepticism. It is a member of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO).
Skeptics in the Pub is an informal social event designed to promote fellowship and social networking among skeptics, critical thinkers, freethinkers, rationalists and other like-minded individuals. It provides an opportunity for skeptics to talk, share ideas and have fun in a casual atmosphere, and discuss whatever topical issues come to mind, while promoting skepticism, science, and rationality.
Chip Coffey is an American self-proclaimed psychic from Elmira, New York, currently living in Atlanta, Georgia. He appeared as a medium on various paranormal television programs, primarily Paranormal State and Psychic Kids. On Psychic Kids he acts as a mentor towards children who claim to have psychic abilities, primarily seeing ghosts. Coffey's claims of being able to communicate with the dead have been subject to criticism by skeptics. In 2019 it was announced that Coffey will be joining Travel Channel's Kindred Spirits as the third official cast member alongside Adam Berry and Amy Bruni for the fourth season in 2020.
The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge was an offer by the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) to pay out one million U.S. dollars to anyone who could demonstrate a supernatural or paranormal ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. A version of the challenge was first issued in 1964. Over a thousand people applied to take it, but none were successful. The challenge was terminated in 2015.
The 10:23 Campaign (stylized as 1023) is an awareness and protest campaign against homoeopathy organised by the Merseyside Skeptics Society, a non-profit organisation, to oppose the sale of homoeopathic products in the United Kingdom. The campaign has staged public "overdoses" of homoeopathic preparations.
James "Jim" Underdown has been the executive director of The Center for Inquiry (CFI) West in Los Angeles since 1999. The Center for Inquiry is a non-profit educational organization with headquarters in Amherst, New York, whose primary mission is to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values. CFI West is the largest facility in the organization outside Amherst.
SKEPP is an independent Belgian organization which promotes scientific skepticism. The organization’s name is a backronym for Studiekring voor de Kritische Evaluatie van Pseudowetenschap en het Paranormale.
The Comité Para, in full Comité belge pour l'Analyse Critique des parasciences, is a Francophone Belgian skeptical non-profit organisation. Founded in 1949, the Comité Para regards itself as the originator of the modern skeptical movement. The group's motto is Ne rien nier a priori, ne rien affirmer sans preuve.
The European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO) is an umbrella of organisations defending scientific skepticism in Europe.
The Association for Skeptical Enquiry (ASKE) is a skeptical organisation in the United Kingdom.
CFIIG will work with applicants to design the test protocol and define the conditions under which the test will take place. In most cases, the applicant will be asked to perform an informal demonstration of the claimed ability or phenomenon; if the demonstration is successful, it will be followed by a formal test, which will be administered by CFIIG representatives.