The human mind remains one of the most mysterious frontiers of scientific exploration. Despite centuries of study, many facets of our consciousness and potential remain elusive—none more so than psychic abilities. The notion of harnessing extrasensory perception or telekinesis has long captivated public imagination, often portrayed in sci-fi and fantasy as extraordinary powers like mind reading or bending metal with one’s thoughts. Yet, beyond fiction, governments—particularly during the tense periods of the 20th century—seriously investigated these phenomena, hoping to unlock hidden capabilities that could provide strategic advantages. Here, we delve into five remarkable government experiments and programs that probed the realm of psychic abilities.

The Nazi Occult Organization Discovery

The origins of official psychic research by the US government trace back to World War II when Operation Alsos, a scientific intelligence unit, uncovered dossiers from the Nazi’s secret science group known as the Ahnenerbe. Led by Heinrich Himmler, one of the most fervent believers in the occult, the organization was tasked with exploring "Occult Science"—investigating everything from black magic rituals to enhancing extrasensory perception. The Nazis fervently pursued supernatural artifacts, legends like the Holy Grail, and relics considered to hold otherworldly powers, ravaging museums especially in occupied Poland and Ukraine. When American intelligence learned that the Soviet Union had also captured similar findings, the US government swiftly mobilized its scientific minds to study psychic phenomena themselves, setting the stage for a supernatural arms race.

The Cold War Psychic Arms Race

The fear of Soviet mind control technology took root in the 1950s amid the broader Cold War rivalry. Rumors that the USSR developed methods to manipulate minds and influence enemy soldiers raised alarms in Washington. A particularly disturbing example was grainy footage depicting American POWs reciting Communist propaganda, which suggested possible brainwashing efforts. Utilizing the captured Nazi occult manuscripts and findings, both US and Soviet efforts intensified. This led to the infamous CIA program MK Ultra. Launched in 1953, MK Ultra sought to understand and counteract mind control through unorthodox experiments, including dosing unwitting participants with LSD and other chemical agents. Despite the program’s controversial ethics and eventual shutdown, MK Ultra marked a dramatic chapter in psychic research motivated by tangible geopolitical fears.

Remote Viewing

After MK Ultra ended, psychic research by the US government went underground before being revived in the late 1970s under Project StarGate. One of the crown jewels of this era was the study of "Remote Viewing"—the purported ability to perceive distant or unseen targets using only the mind. According to CIA records, subjects could accurately describe images, written notes, or sealed documents located miles away without any physical contact. Experiments included sending coded messages to individuals in separate buildings who then correctly identified the contents word for word. In another famously documented test, participants viewed classified files and described not only their text but detailed elements about the storage locations themselves. Despite intriguing successes, remote viewing was never fully integrated into military operations before StarGate’s closure.

Mind Benders and Telekinesis

Beyond remote perception, Project StarGate also examined psychokinesis—the alleged power to move or alter physical objects using the mind’s energy. The interest peaked with figures like Uri Geller, a stage performer renowned for his spoon-bending feats attributed to psychic power rather than sleight of hand. CIA-funded experiments tested Geller’s abilities under controlled conditions, sometimes producing results that surprised even the skeptics. Other gifted individuals were recruited, including a 13-year-old boy named Stephen who demonstrated the capacity to bend aluminum objects mentally. Researchers also studied Jean-Pierre Girard, who could reportedly alter the thickness of metal strips without breaking their shape. These investigations attempted to quantify and validate such extraordinary talents scientifically.

Project StarGate and Beyond

Project StarGate itself, inaugurated in 1978 and declassified and terminated in 1995, symbolized the US government’s most ambitious foray into integrating psychic phenomena with intelligence work. Under multiple code names like GONDOLA WISH and GRILL FLAME, the project encompassed remote viewing, telekinesis studies, and other psychic research aimed at providing a strategic edge during the Cold War. High-ranking supporters like Major General Albert Stubblebine were so convinced of psychic potential that they encouraged military personnel to explore abilities such as spoon bending and even dabbled in psychic self-experiments. Although thousands of remote viewing tests were conducted with varying results, the government ultimately concluded that psychic research was unlikely to yield consistent, actionable military intelligence.

Despite Project StarGate’s official end, parapsychology research quietly continues. In 2014, the US Office of Naval Research awarded millions to investigate precognition—the ability to foresee events—motivated by reports from the Iraq War where soldiers displayed a sort of "sixth sense" that helped avert attacks. Such ongoing studies leverage modern technology and seek to understand how intuition and potentially psychic faculties can enhance situational awareness and save lives.

In Conclusion

The exploration of psychic phenomena by government agencies over the decades uncovers a fascinating blend of science, belief, espionage, and sometimes controversy. From Nazi occult secrets to Cold War paranoia, from mind reading to telekinesis, these programs illustrate how the unknown mind captured the imaginations and resources of some of the world’s greatest powers. While the jury remains out on whether true psychic abilities can be harnessed reliably, these programs reflect humanity’s enduring quest to unlock the hidden potential within ourselves and bend the universe just a little to our will.