Professor To Explore The Paranormal Universe

By Kaleigh O’Donnell
Contributing Writer
March 25, 2008

Admit it. Whether you swear you saw Big Foot while camping, or you are positive the mysterious bruise on your arm is the result of an alien abduction, there isn’t one of you who doesn’t believe in something paranormal.

The unexplainable is something that has had the human race spellbound since the dawn of time. That’s why Nahum Arav, astronomer, and associate professor in Virginia Tech’s physics department, loves studying paranormal phenomenon as a hobby and is eager to share his thoughts and studies on the subject in lectures.

“We really want to believe. We want the mysterious explanation. We want the stuff that is more exciting,” said Arav.

Arav will host The Paranormal Universe and plans to discuss the evidence for paranormal phenomena, as well as the roles of human psychology, sociology and the media on our understanding of the supernatural. He will also discuss the difference between the objective and subjective, and psychics on television. There is a discussion afterwards in which Arav will be fielding questions, and listening to personal experiences.

The Paranormal Universe is free and open to the public and will be held Wednesday, March 26, in 1670 Litton Reaves from 7 to 9 p.m.

Alex Field, a sophomore psychology major currently enrolled in an astronomy course at Tech, is looking forward to attending Professor Arav’s lecture. “In astronomy class with Professor (Rhon) Keinings, we always discuss the possibility of life on other planets and in other galaxies. I’m excited to see what Arav has to say about paranormal phenomena and if he thinks there is the possibility of other life out there,” said Field.

Arav, who joined Tech’s College of Science in January of this year from the University of Colorado in Boulder, will teach astronomy courses in fall 2008 and spring 2009. His hobby and interest in the paranormal grew through being an astronomy professor constantly trying to identify the unknown, and through incoming letters to him and his colleagues from the public about theories of the universe requesting their thoughts.

After lecturing in a new-age environment in Colorado, where the public was very lively about the subject of the paranormal, Arav said he is looking forward to his lecture, and the response of the people at Tech. “It’s going to be a blend of fun and entertainment…and yet there will definitely be a more provocative and serious side…if we believe in these things, where does it lead to?”