It won’t be an easy challenge to win. Psychics meet with random strangers, so there’s no opportunity to google their subjects. Cold reading techniques that fish around for answers using vague questions is also banned.
JREF founder James Randi is pretty confident his money is safe. He’s been hosting this Million Dollar Challenge for several years now and nobody has claimed the prize. [JREF via Discovery News; Shutterstock]
Graeme
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 6:19 PMWow, up to the minute news once again! James Randi started the prize way back in the ’60s (but with a much lower prize value). Even if we limit it to the million dollar prize then it’s still been 15 years since this could ever have been considered news.
So, 40 years on and no winner yet. What a surprise.
Scott
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 6:36 PMYou should claim it and say you knew that no one would win it. Arrrh circular function
Commander Shepard
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 9:14 PMWow, bagging out Gizmodo once again!
how original
Mark
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 6:25 PMI remember watching something regarding this on The Discovery Channel at least 10 years ago.
Must be a slow day in the office.
bazuden
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 7:01 PMThere’s only one true test for psychic abilities: The Lotto numbers.
Luke
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 8:37 PMiirc… this guy also had a $1mil competition for anyone who is able to tell the difference in the sound quality of cheap and expensive audio cables, considering that both cables are made from the same stuff nobody was able to hear the difference and the prize went uncollected.
Craig
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 8:59 PMWhile it’s not new, it’s nice see anything promoting skepticism in the overwhelming sea of bunk and psuedoscience.
Wozzzaaa
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 11:15 PMI asked my wife who is a firm “believer” in psychics & rubbish like that.
Her answer was that they cannot use their magic powers for personal gain.
Doh…
simulacrum
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 8:48 AMYes.. And I have the power to become invisible.. but only when no-one is looking.
Seriously though.. they could make a deal for the $1m to go straight to charity.
Dave Lord
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 1:54 PMTrust me – Every “Psychic” is using their powers for personal gain!
Dave Lord
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 3:21 AMThe Australian Skeptics also offer a $100,000 prize to anybody who can demonstrate genuine paranormal ability: http://www.skeptics.com.au/features/prize/
As a professional magician, (www.davelord.com.au ) I have been involved in observing and testing “Alleged” Psychics, and I have never seen anything that would come close to suggesting that there is any truth in any of their claims. I can only say “Anything they can do, I can do better!”
Pat Cahill
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 11:52 AMI believe this is “current” news because the challenge was featured in the last week on “A(merica)BC’s Primetime Nightline: Beyond Belief”
Heres the JREF bulletin about it…
http://jref.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?dlv_id=5681&em_id=1381.0
Terry
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 1:25 PMShould do the same thing for anyone who can actually prove (note i said PROVE!!) that god exists.
Another million that won’t be going anywhere.
Let the haters (believers?) begin ….nnnnow.
Adam
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 4:49 PMHow about a million dollars to anyone who can actually prove that God doesn’t exist. (You see what I did?).
Stephen
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 4:39 PMCome on guys, this is ancient news.
James Randi
Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 2:43 AMSmall error: we don’t only offer the million to “any celebrity psychic,” but to anyone, anywhere, any time. And we’ve tested literally hundreds of them, all over the world. No one has ever passed even the preliminary stage.
There’s a message in there, I believe.
James Randi.