A glossary of the strange
The vocabulary of the unexplained, defined.
Key terms you will meet in our reporting.
The phenomena
UAP — 'unidentified anomalous phenomena', the term officials now use for UFOs. Cryptid — an animal rumoured but not scientifically confirmed to exist. Cryptozoology — the search for such animals. Paranormal — events said to fall outside normal scientific explanation, such as ghosts. Poltergeist — a supposed spirit associated with noises and moving objects. Geoglyph — a large design made on the ground, like the Nazca Lines. Megalith — a large prehistoric stone monument.
The thinking tools
Folklore — the traditional stories and beliefs of a community. Debunk — to show a claim to be false or mistaken. Occam's razor — the principle that the simplest explanation is usually the best. Pareidolia — the brain's tendency to see faces or patterns in random shapes. Infrasound — sound too low to hear, which can cause feelings of unease. Sleep paralysis — a state between sleep and waking that can produce a vivid sense of a presence.