An In-Depth Look At Apports & Apportation In Paranormal Research

The term "apportation" refers to the alleged phenomenon where objects appear, disappear, or move to a new location without any visible external influence. An object that is said to have appeared or been transported in this manner is called an "apport." But how exactly does this spontaneous and unexplained transportation of an object occur?

Let's go right back to the basics and explore the beliefs, misconceptions, paranormal theories, and logical contradictions that relate to this fundamental paranormal phenomenon.

The term is derived from the French word 'apporter', meaning 'to bring'. In paranormal contexts, it's used to describe instances where objects spontaneously materialise or vanish, often in a way that defies conventional explanations. For example, a ghost hunter might report that a small object like a stone, coin, or piece of jewellery suddenly appeared in a room that was previously empty of such items. Similarly, an item might inexplicably disappear from a locked room, only to reappear elsewhere.

Although not as widely used, the term that refers to the opposite of an apport is "asportation" or simply "asport." Asportation refers to the phenomenon where an object inexplicably vanishes or dematerialises. In the context of ghost hunting and paranormal investigations, asports are reported when objects seemingly disappear without any logical explanation. This could involve personal items like jewellery, keys, or even larger objects that, under normal circumstances, couldn't be easily moved or hidden. Witnesses might report placing an item in a specific spot, only to find it gone moments later, with no evidence of it being moved or taken by someone.

One of the most famous cases of apports occurred in the 1970s. British healer and medium Matthew Manning gained attention for various paranormal phenomena, including apports. Reports claimed that ancient scripts and objects would appear in his presence during séances. However, like many such cases, there was debate over the validity of these claims.

Skeptics are often quick to point out flaws in the logic surrounding apportation, point out a lack of tangible proof, or question the reliability of witness accounts. There's a possibility that reports of apportation could be the result of misperception, optical illusions, or even psychological factors such as the power of suggestion. Memory can also be unreliable, leading to distorted recollections of events. To further muddy the waters, some alleged cases of apportation might be the result of deliberate deception for personal gain, attention, or entertainment.

Part of the resistance to apportation, like much of the phenomena reported in hauntings, is due to the fact that the actual mechanics of how apportation might work are not understood or agreed upon. However, there are some theories that attempt to explain it, but these theories are largely speculative and not supported by mainstream science.

One such theory suggests that spirits have the ability to manipulate physical objects. This could involve entities moving objects from one place to another, either as a form of communication or as a manifestation of their presence.

Another theory suggests that apportation might not actually be linked with ghosts and is actually more to do with psychokinesis. This theory suggests that certain individuals possess psychic abilities that allow them to influence or move objects with their mind. This could mean that a person with psychokinetic abilities could theoretically teleport objects from one location to another.

Nowadays, whenever something weird is going on, there's a tendency to attribute it to the weirdest branch of science, quantum mechanics, specifically quantum entanglement and quantum tunnelling. Quantum entanglement involves the tiny particles that make up the world around us becoming intertwined. Once linked in this way, they seem to affect each other instantaneously, regardless of distance. This concept is used to suggest that larger objects might somehow be 'entangled' and their movements might mirror each other across distances, seemingly teleporting from one place to another. On the other hand, quantum tunnelling allows particles to pass through barriers in a manner that defies classical physics. This could theoretically account for objects seemingly passing through solid matter or vanishing and reappearing. A coin might fall through the ceiling from a floor above, for example.

However, it's important to note that these phenomena operate on the scale of subatomic particles. While objects in the world around us are made up of these particles, they do not demonstrate quantum behaviours as a whole. Therefore, applying quantum entanglement and tunnelling to explain large-scale paranormal events like apportation is highly speculative.

Another hypothesis involves the idea of alternate dimensions or the existence of wormholes. This theory suggests that apports are moved through unseen dimensions or spatial shortcuts - known as wormholes - that connect two distant points in space and perhaps even distant points in time. If such passages exist, they could theoretically allow for the instant transportation of objects from one location to another.

Some theories propose that apportation could be a result of manipulating the physical properties of an object. This could involve the conversion of physical matter into energy and then back into matter, possibly guided by unknown forces or entities. This concept draws on the idea that all matter and energy are interchangeable, something that Einstein's famous E=mc2 equation tells us is possible.

However, this principle also raises questions about apportation, as it seems to violate fundamental laws of physics. The idea that objects can spontaneously move or appear violates principles such as the conservation of mass and energy, which state that mass and energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system.

When scientifically-minded skeptics judge cases of alleged paranormal phenomena, including apportation, the ability to repeat an experiment or observation under controlled conditions with consistent results is a key factor. Apportation lacks this aspect, as occurrences are typically random, uncontrolled, and not reproducible at will. This randomness makes it difficult to study apportation scientifically.

For ghost hunters investigating apportation, a thorough and balanced method is essential. This involves diligently recording details such as time, location, and circumstances and using video or photos as evidence. Always consider non-paranormal explanations first, and research the history of the object and site for context. Importantly, maintain skepticism, keeping in mind that not all mysteries are rooted in the paranormal. This approach ensures a more credible and well-reasoned investigation.