Ghost stories are more than folklore; the people who tell them aren't kidding about the specter that stole their reading glasses or the ghoul who moans through the night.
But even if you believe tales about haunted houses (or hotels), the
Ghost stories are more than folklore; the people who tell them aren't kidding about the specter that stole their reading glasses or the ghoul who moans through the night.
But even if you believe tales about haunted houses (or hotels), the skeptical side of you still might balk at the concept. And you're not alone. A team of skeptics — err, scientists — at Clarkson University are curious if ghost sightings might actually be the result of hallucinations caused by mold in the air.
"Hauntings are very widely reported phenomena that are not well-researched," said Shane Rogers, Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering. "They are often reported in older-built structures that may also suffer poor air quality. Similarly, some people have reported depression, anxiety, and other effects from exposure to biological pollutants in indoor air. We are trying to determine whether some reported hauntings may be linked to specific pollutants found in indoor air."
In other words, your old home might not be haunted, but it might be tricking you into thinking it is.
Of course, the group's research has only just begun (and visiting haunted houses to collect air quality samples sounds like quite the unique class project), so there's nothing conclusive to report. Maybe there is a scary old lady who hangs out in your laundry room, after all. If only she'd load the dryer for you, too.
TELL US: Have you ever seen a ghost?
[via Medical Daily]