22 placed therein , and were found to have spelled out strange cabalistic symbols when examined in the morning . This evoked much wonder among the investigators .
There is no question that the lab personnel believed that the boys were psychic . They did . It was this belief that made the deception exceedingly easy , and it was clear that , had the two entered the arena as conjurors , they could never have gotten away with all they did .
The lab personnel further crippled themselves by referring to the kids as “ gifted subjects ,” even inventing the term ‘ Psychokinete ’ to apply to them . Simple tricks , performed under very informal conditions of control , were declared PK events , and careless descriptions of circumstances surrounding the performances were written up . These factors certainly added to the sympathetic atmosphere in which the subjects were operating .
All through the three-year period that Banachek and Mike were at the McDonnell lab , Randi continued to write Professor Phillips offering to attend experimental sessions as a consultant . Phillips seemed quite confident that he could not be deceived ,, and did not accept Randi ’ s offer .
James Randi once said , “ If Project Alpha resulted in Parapsychologists ( real parapsychologists !) awakening to the fact that they are able to be deceived , either by subjects or themselves , as a result of their
VANISH SPECIAL EDITION 2024
Some scientists learn from their errors , others refuse to . The press makes wild claims , a professed ‘ expert ’ fails the test , and the hoax is disclosed .
James Randi