The Scientific Phenomena Behind the Ouija Board #SpookyScience

Unless you’ve lived an extremely sheltered life, I’m almost certain that you will have some point seen a horror film in which the protagonist uses an Ouija or talking board at some point. Likely it was the event that set the entire horrific events of the film into motion. You may have even had your own experience with the Ouija, been amazed at the planchette sliding across the board despite feeling as if no-one is applying pressure to it. You’ve probably also heard whispered urban legends about a friend of a friend who used the Ouija and went mad, or disappeared, or filed their taxes incorrectly…

The Ouija board holds a tremendous amount of power in the minds of believers in the paranormal, many of whom warn of its ability to open gateways to some nebulous afterlife. As is often the case when examining the insection of paranormal beliefs and science, the truth is actually far more interesting than the superstition.

The History of the Talking Board

Before looking at the science that tells us exactly how that planchette moves across the board and why the Ouija so often comes up with seemingly accurate proclamations it’s worth looking at its history and when exactly it became an object of fear and superstition.