[News]

In the past 18 months the scientific community has been confronted with renewed claims that certain people possess paranormal powers, including the ability to effect physical changes in materials. Work has proceeded in several scientific laboratories in an effort to come to terms with these apparent abilities. What sort of attitude should be adopted in attempting to verify these claims? First, J. B. Hasted, D. J. Bohm, E. W. Bastin and B. O'Regan describe their approach in recent work done at Birkbeck College, University of London. Then J. G. Taylor, of King's College, London, who is the author of a forthcoming book on his study of these phenomena, reviews the philosophy of his work.