Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there are groups of people out there who make a living searching for proof of their existence. Some even have their own TV shows! But trying to find ghosts doesn’t seem to be as hard as you might think, and one doesn’t need spiritual powers or the super-high-tech gear used by the Ghostbusters.
Here’s a quick list of the common tools of the trade used by professional ghost hunters:
EMF meter:
According to many experts, everything is made of energy, even ghosts, and energy can’t simply be destroyed. An EMF (Electromagnetic Field) meter is used to detect, as the name implies, electromagnetic fields, the kind given off by magnets, and apparently, ghosts give off high concentrations of this kind of energy. Probably the closest thing, according to most researchers, to being a proper ghost detection tool.
Thermometer:
Lots of ghost stories make note of sudden drops in temperature whenever a ghost is near. As a ghost gathers energy, it creates sudden “cold spots” that can be picked up by a simple thermometer. Both regular and infrared point-and-shoot models are good enough for the job.
Digital audio recorder:
A common phenomenon with ghosts is EVP, or Electric Voice Phenomenon. An audio recorder of any kind can be used to record room noise when trying to ask a ghost a question, and when played back, will reveal sounds and voices that can’t be picked up by the human ear. The trick is to make sure you time your questions right with a slight delay to allow for answers.
Ghost Box:
Supposedly, ghosts can work their messages into white noise, which can be picked by a Ghost Box. This device can be used to scan across local frequencies, allowing ghosts to use stray bits of static, squeal and other noise to relay their messages. Many experts say Ghost Boxes can’t really be relied on, since one has to know what’s being said.
Motion detector or beam barrier alarm:
The same kind of device used for security can also be used to look for ghosts, as they can also trigger the beams on the devices, activating the alarms. Some experts say it helps to have a camera working nearby, so as not to have traps be tripped by people or animals.
Infrared wireless camera:
Used to scan heat patterns, an infrared camera can also be used to pick up the energy of a ghost. If one is lucky, a camera can pick up something that looks like a ball of light or what looks like mist, or even actual shapes. It helps if you have a split screen going on your computer, with both a normal and an infrared view next to each other.
While they’re not PKE meters or proton packs, these are truly some handy ghost-hunting gadgets that can be used to try and look for ghosts or spirits. Though the big question, of course, in a buzzing kids world would be... what would you do when you find them?
