Alfred Russell Wallace believed a medium levitated, but she may have tricked the evolution co-discoverer.
This Halloween episode of Tumble explores the science behind ghosts, hosted by Lindsay and Marshall. They investigate a listener question from six-year-old Lily in Hawaii, who asks if ghosts are real. The hosts consult Dr. Ephraim Syrah-Schreier, a historian of science who studies how scientists have investigated ghost sightings.
The episode focuses on the Victorian era, when the new religion of Spiritualism emerged and scientists began applying empirical methods to study ghosts. It details the story of the Fox sisters, who in 1848 claimed to communicate with spirits and sparked a movement involving mediums and séances. Scientist Alfred Russel Wallace, co-discoverer of evolution, believed in ghosts after a near-death experience and tested the famous medium Agnes Elizabeth Guppy, who was said to levitate. Despite Wallace's controls, like tying her down, Guppy reportedly levitated repeatedly and was never caught cheating. Inventor Thomas Edison also showed interest, drafting plans for a "spirit phone" in 1920. Skeptical scientists like Michael Faraday invented devices to disprove claims, such as a contraption that detected unconscious muscle movements during "table tilting." The episode also covers "spirit photography," where ghostly images on photographic plates were later exposed as tricks, like when a doctor recognized a "ghost" from a photo as a living person on the street.
A key insight is that personal testimony, the main evidence for ghosts, is often unreliable, even when from respected scientists like Wallace who may have sought to confirm existing beliefs. The persistence of ghost investigations is linked to technological advances of the era, like the telegraph, which made invisible communication seem plausible. Ephraim notes that despite never finding convincing evidence himself, the possibility keeps the question alive, as only one unexplained example could validate belief. He advises budding investigators to document their experiences meticulously and test all non-spiritual explanations first. The episode concludes that while ghosts could be real, no solid scientific proof has been found, leaving it an open question for curious minds.
The tone is educational and conversational, blending historical storytelling with playful humor suitable for children. It maintains a balanced, inquisitive approach, presenting both belief and skepticism without declaring a final answer.
Young listeners fascinated by mysteries, history, or paranormal topics would enjoy this episode, as would those interested in how science tackles unexplained phenomena. Listeners seeking definitive proof or a purely spooky tale might find it less satisfying, as it emphasizes investigation over scares.
