Research source

We might, perhaps, also account for "invisibility" in one or two other ways

Date of account: Published 1921
Source: The Problems of Psychical Research Experiments and Theories in the Realm of the Supernormal
Reference: The Problems of Psychical Research Experiments and Theories in the Realm of the Supernormal · selected passage 227
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

Published source text

Read the available text below. Archive transcriptions may contain OCR errors; later context is labelled separately. A recorded claim is not a finding that it happened.

Source passage

Source text · mention only

We might, perhaps, also account for "invisibility" in one or two other ways. Thus, the magician or fairy might possess the power of interposing some veil or screen between himself and the seer--etheric or physical--by some act of will. Or we could suppose that some chemical might be applied to the body, rendering its structure and tissues transparent. (One is here reminded of H. G. Wells' _Invisible Man_.) Or, we might assume that the magician possessed the power of neutralizing light-waves, reflected from his body, by some method of "interference"--thus rendering himself invisible. This might be due either to a greater understanding of the laws of physics--i.e., the ability to manipulate light-energy in this manner, or to some purely psychic power--volitional, etc. Precise instructions for doing this have indeed been published (_Equinox_, vol. iii.).

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

This comes from historical psychical research. Methods, witness handling and standards of evidence differ from present-day research and should be assessed from the cited passage and edition.

Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

The passage can support a history of claims and recurring descriptions. It does not establish a paranormal mechanism, and competing psychological, social and physical explanations remain relevant.

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