Think Anomalous

Welcome!

Think Anomalous is a video series and online publisher devoted to communicating vital information on anomalous phenomena to a broad audience. We survey the most credible research in anomalistics and make it accessible in the new media environment. More about us.

Detail on Olaus Magnus’s Carta marina, 1572 edition. National Library of Sweden, shelfmark KoB 1 ab

We produce three streams of content:

Think Anomalous videos and articles are written and edited by site founder, Jason Charbonneau. Jason lives in Toronto, Canada.

Think Anomalous Videos

Short documentaries on all kinds of anomalous phenomena.

UFO Case Review Videos

Short documentaries on the subject of UFOs only.

Articles

Featured Articles:

Brief writings on anomalies and anomalistics.

The Myth of "Mass Hallucinations"

Discovery, Not Disclosure

What is "Woo"?

Bending Spoons and the Limits of Intellectual Tolerance

What's New?

People often dismiss psychedelic drug experiences as “hallucinations,” but users of DMT - a naturally-occurring psychoactive compound - claim a very particular kind of experience, that often feels as real to them as waking life. What’s more, users often have encounters with strange, sentient beings that seem to be more than mental fabrications. Further research on DMT promises to shed light on the mechanics of consciousness, and may even contribute to our understanding of other anomalous experiences, including UFO abductions and ancient Hebrew prophetism. (continue reading)

We're now on Instagram

An Introduction to Göbekli Tepe and the Origins of Civilization

Historians generally agree that humans have only been practicing agriculture for about 10,000 years, and built the first civilizations just 5 or 6 thousand years ago. However, the monumental complex of Göbekli Tepe in modern-day Turkey has been dated to almost 10,000 BCE, or nearly 12,000 years ago. It’s the world’s first example of a monumental structure built by hunter-gatherers, and features stonework previously thought to be well beyond the capabilities of such a loosely-organized society. The excavation is ongoing, but it’s already rewriting the story on humanity’s transition to agriculture, and the birth of civilization. (continue reading)

Yeren, Almas, and Yeti: Cryptid Hominoids in Asia

Nearly everyone in the English-speaking world has heard stories of Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, and most have heard of the Yeti as well. But there are many ancient traditions of wild hominoids in Asia that are little known in Western culture, supported by hundreds of recorded sightings. These encounters have made their mark in Asian culture, and spurred a number of scientific expeditions. But despite the efforts of some of history’s greatest scientists and explorers, there is still a shortage of physical evidence for the creatures’ existence, and their true nature remains a mystery. (continue reading)

UFOs over Nuremberg, 1561

In the spring of 1561, many people in and around the German city of Nuremberg witnessed a swarm of strange, flying objects appear to do battle in the sky. A local publisher printed a broadsheet that recorded the event and depicted it in a striking woodcut illustration. This brief but intriguing account reminds us that UFOs have taken many forms throughout history, and were not always attributed to extraterrestrials. Like many UFO events, the sightings over Nuremberg were rich in symbolism, and played upon people’s hopes and fears in a way that raises interesting questions about the nature of the UFO phenomenon. (continue reading)

The Secret Commonwealth: Real Fairies in History

When we think of fairies today, we often envision tiny, winged, pixie girls, and few believe that such things exist. But this image is largely a 19th-century invention, not based on fairy lore: those who actually saw the things typically described human-looking beings with little resemblance to the way that they’re portrayed in children’s books. In the late 17th century, a Scottish minister wrote a manuscript on the “secret commonwealth” of fairies that shared the Earth with humans. His book is a rare example of a formal exposition on the “invisible people,” as he called them, and offers a more evidence-based description of their kind. (continue reading)

Ariel School UFO Landing - Zimbabwe, 1994

In September of 1994, more than 60 children at the Ariel primary school in Zimbabwe witnessed a strange silver object land outside the playground, and were approached by small, black beings with large, entrancing eyes. The children’s stories alarmed their teachers, and aroused the curiosity of the BBC, and the esteemed Harvard Psychiatrist, John E. Mack. While the common elements in the children’s stories suggest that the object and the beings were physically real, the many divergent details, and the kids’ highly personal reactions, suggest that there are many subjective elements to UFO and entity encounters that we don’t yet understand. (continue reading)