Inspirations from Swedenborg and Feyerabend: A Conversation with Nuclear Physicist Ian J. Thompson

After the first Patreon prize draw in February, I was excited to announce the winner, Dr. Ian J. Thompson, a theoretical physicist who also happens to hold rather heretical views on the relationship between science and ‘magic’. After all, one central theme of Forbidden Histories is the problem of continuity: Contrary to popular notions according … Read more

“Was Sir William Crookes Epistemically Virtuous?” Online First Article of Upcoming Special Issue on Psychical Research

I’m pleased to announce the online first/in-press version of an article to appear in an upcoming special issue of Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, dedicated to psychical research and parapsychology in the history of science and medicine. Thanks to the support of Greg Radick, the editor of Studies, I had the … Read more

Oliver Lodge, Psychical Research and German Physicists: Heinrich Hertz and Max Planck

Since its foundation in 1882, the Society for Psychical Research (SPR), the first large organisation to scientifically investigate controversial phenomena associated with mesmerism and spiritualism, has boasted a considerable number of notable physical scientists among its members. They included, for example, the discoverer of thallium and president of the Royal Society, William Crookes, the pioneer … Read more