Unlike the case of the Ohio-West Virginia Mothman which has become a stape of modern Fortean lore, the story of the Owlman is far murkier, one linked firmly to the character of Anthony 'Doc' Shiels...
The unnatural history of winged snakes in North America
Even in today’s decidedly cynical and rational culture, legends and alleged sightings of exceptional and mysterious creatures are still—on occasion—featured in the news media, and dominate the 100-realm of our libraries’ Dewey decimal classification section. In the modern age, the “big three” cryptozoologically dominate: Sasquatch, lake monsters and the Chupacabra. Rewind the clock back 125 years though and a new “top three list” of whispered-about mystery creatures emerges from North America: “Wild men of the woods” (likely an early nomenclature for what will later come to be known as Bigfoot), sea serpents and…winged snakes...
The deadly Chupacabras
In the summer of 2004, CFZ director Jon Downes traveled to the island of Puerto Rico on a week-long expedition with a film-crew in search of the deadly, vampire-like Chupacabra...
Conversation with fortean writer Robert Damon Schneck
You only live twice
Why do so many people who claim to be reincarnated return to earth as celebrities rather than, say, car salesmen? Richard Macer tracks down some recent second comings for whom this is a matter of life and death...
Religion afraid of near-death experience research
Dr. Neal Grossman explores near-death experience research, consciousness, academic paradigms and why many religious groups are unfriendly toward near-death experience research: "Both the scientistic type and the devote religious person have something in common, they both think belief in a spiritual reality is a matter of faith… To the religious person the very idea that some of their religious beliefs might be capable of being investigated by science to determine whether they are true or false is threatening…..
Tour tries to scare up a ghost
About 20 people went hunting for spirits Saturday night at the historic Anderson House inn and found that spirits don't have to be scary. In fact, they can be kind of mischievous, like when they set off your cell phone or drain your camera battery. "I do believe we have spirits here," Teresa Smith, innkeeper, said by way of introducing Saturday's paranormal investigation. Simultaneously, three cell phones in the audience began ringing...
Scaring up a different kind of vacation
Matt Erickson stepped into the third-floor motel room with several other wary travelers just before midnight. Some turned on digital recorders to capture "electronic voice phenomena," known to aficionados as EVPs. Others snapped photos, seeking the fleeting image of a spirit...
The man who came back from the dead
Russ Woolcock did not believe in God or an afterlife, and had no time for Christians or the Church. So when this Christchurch businessman “died”, he got a huge shock to discover that that was not the end...
An interview with Richard Dolan on UFOs
Science and spirituality - Heisenberg's mystical experience?
Did Werner Heisenberg, who was one of the founders of quantum mechanics and who proposed the uncertainty principle, have a little known mystical experience that shaped his views of reality? The question is being brought forward by three Mexican researchers...
Veteran talks of the 'Foo Fighters'
Frederic Sargent was studying economics at Colby College in Maine when the draft for World War II beckoned. In 1942, the 22-year-old joined the 415th Night Fighter Squadron of the Army Air Forces and studied at a series of radio schools...
Paranormal - where is it?
A major skeptical point concerning the paranormal is that it does not seem to be needed. We have senses to offer impressions of the world, and a mind to analyse those senses. No paranormality is required. Within this system, a skeptical question would be: if paranormal powers exist, where are they? This is a valid point. Maybe the answer is that they used to be there, but are now somewhere else. Let me explain...
'Mind-reading' device could revolutionize video games
A convincing twin of Darth Vader stalks the beige cubicles of a Silicon Valley office, complete with ominous black mask, cape and light saber. But this is no chintzy Halloween costume. It's a prototype, years in the making, of a toy that incorporates brain wave-reading technology...
