One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge
E40182
The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge was a long-running offer of a cash prize to anyone who could demonstrate genuine paranormal abilities under controlled scientific testing conditions.
Observed surface forms (2)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| JREF Million Dollar Challenge | 1 |
| James Randi Educational Foundation Million Dollar Challenge | 1 |
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
paranormal challenge
ⓘ
prize offer ⓘ scientific test of paranormal claims ⓘ |
| administeredBy | James Randi Educational Foundation ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs |
One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge
ⓘ
surface form:
JREF Million Dollar Challenge
One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge ⓘ
surface form:
James Randi Educational Foundation Million Dollar Challenge
|
| associatedWith |
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
ⓘ
surface form:
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
scientific skepticism movement ⓘ |
| condition |
claimant must demonstrate ability significantly above chance
ⓘ
tests must be conducted under controlled scientific conditions ⓘ |
| country |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| creator | James Randi ⓘ |
| currency | US dollar ⓘ |
| eligibility | individuals claiming paranormal, supernatural, or occult abilities ⓘ |
| endDate | 2015 ⓘ |
| fundingSource | donations to James Randi Educational Foundation ⓘ |
| governance | overseen by JREF board and advisors ⓘ |
| impact | raised public awareness of the need for controlled testing of paranormal claims ⓘ |
| inspired | similar paranormal challenge prizes by other skeptic organizations ⓘ |
| legalForm | formal challenge with written rules and application process ⓘ |
| location |
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
ⓘ
surface form:
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
|
| mediaCoverage |
featured in television programs about psychics and paranormal claims
ⓘ
frequently discussed in skeptical literature and conferences ⓘ |
| methodology |
double-blind testing where applicable
ⓘ
mutually agreed test protocols between claimant and JREF ⓘ |
| notableFeature |
no applicant ever passed the preliminary or final tests to win the prize
ⓘ
required written application and agreement on test protocol ⓘ tests were often conducted in public or with media coverage ⓘ widely cited by skeptics as evidence against paranormal claims ⓘ |
| note | James Randi began offering cash prizes for paranormal demonstrations in 1964, which later evolved into the formal Million Dollar Challenge in the 1990s ⓘ |
| philosophicalPosition | extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence ⓘ |
| prizeAmount | 1000000 ⓘ |
| prizeAmountCurrency | USD ⓘ |
| purpose |
to promote scientific skepticism
ⓘ
to test claims of paranormal, supernatural, or occult powers under controlled conditions ⓘ |
| sponsor | James Randi Educational Foundation ⓘ |
| startDate |
1964
ⓘ
1996 ⓘ |
| terminationReason | JREF shift in mission and restructuring around 2015 ⓘ |
| typicalClaimsTested |
astrology
ⓘ
clairvoyance ⓘ dowsing ⓘ faith healing ⓘ mediumship ⓘ psychic abilities ⓘ telepathy ⓘ |
| verification | tests observed and documented by independent witnesses where possible ⓘ |
Referenced by (6)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
James Randi Educational Foundation Million Dollar Challenge
this entity surface form:
JREF Million Dollar Challenge