The existence of paranormal research suggests that even the most hardened of skeptics want to believe that "there are more things on heaven and earth that are dreamt of in their philosophies," to paraphrase Shakespeare. However, accredited scientific research into the paranormal remains controversial. Even comprehensive and evidence-heavy studies are often still considered "pseudo science" by doubters, and it's difficult to know where the burden of proof actually lies.

Still, scientists ... at least open-minded ones of the Einsteinian variety ... continue to be fascinated by the unknown. Some specialists focus on children who claim to dream about and even actively remember their past lives; others test the supposed abilities of mediums and other potentially gifted individuals. The more mainstream scientific community may scoff at these avenues of research, but certain academics and scientists continue to press onwards in their studies of parapsychology. Ready to be convinced? Below are a handful of case studies that are worth considering.