Paranormal Magnetism
Wednesday February 13, 2008 8:23 AM
Magnetometers are relatively simple in concept — an instrument measuring the strength and/or direction of surrounding magnetic fields. They're often used by scientists and surveyors to find deposits of iron and ore, as well as archeological sites and other buried objects.
So what do magnetometers have to do with paranormal research? To understand their potential use, we must first better comprehend magnetism. Earth's magnetic field, which may be produced by the motion of the molten iron core, can be different across the planet, affected by seismic activity, thunderstorm electrical activity, and solar or stellar radiation from space. These geomagnetic fields have often been found to be stronger at reputed haunting sites.
Electromagnetism, on the other hand, describes magnetic fields produced artificially by electrical power currents. Electromagnetic currents have increasingly been cause for concern in terms of the health effects of cell phones, computers and our growing array of other digital devices. At haunting sites, there is often an associated rise in electromagnetic activity. There is also some evidence that electromagnetic fields might be tied to brain activity that can cause apparitional experiences and other haunt phenomena.
Due to the association of magnetic fields with paranormal phenomena, magnetometers have become increasingly used by hunters and researchers. Effectively using magnetometers requires measuring the changes in geomagnetic fields or electromagnetic fields. Many devices exist to take these measurements, but can be extremely susceptible to problematic readings: some users neglect to take into account power lines or electronics that may be a natural cause for field movement, or to take baseline measurements and compare them over time. Additionally, minor movements of the hand can result in major variations in readings. Learn more about taking effective magnetometer readings here (PDF).
