But while Carrie is just a fictional film based upon a fictional book, belief in telekinesis isn't fictional at all.

但是，儘管魔女嘉莉只是一部根據科幻小說改编而来的電影，但相信有念力這回事可不是虛構的。

For centuries, humans have claimed they really do have the power to control the motion of objects using only their minds.

多個世紀以來，一直有人聲稱僅用意念就可以有力量控制物體的移動。

Levitation, opening doors at will and spoon bending are all intriguing examples.

懸浮在空中、任意開門或拗彎湯匙等，都是耐人尋味的例子。

It happens in The Matrix when Neo freezes bullets midair, and it's a skill that Yoda has honed to a T.

像是電影「駭客任務」中，尼歐讓子彈停留在空中，這也是「星際大戰」裡尤達練就的技能。

But is telekinesis real, or just as fictional as Carrie, Yoda and Neo combined?

但念力到底是真實存在的，還是像嘉莉、尤達與尼歐一樣，都是虛構的呢？

To investigate, we need to evaluate telekinetic claims through a scientific lens using the scientific method.

為了調查真相，我們需要透過科學的眼光，以科學方法檢驗念力這項說法。

Telekinesis is part of the discipline called parapsychology, in which researchers study psychic phenomena.

念力是超心理學的其中一項學科，提供科學家們研究靈異現象。

Parapsychologists regard what they do as a science, but other scientists disagree.

超心理學家自認研究的是科學，但其他科學家卻不認同。

Let's start with a few basic observations.

讓我們先從一些基本觀察開始。

Observation #1: While there are loads of anecdotes out there about telekinesis, there's no scientific proof that it exists.

觀察現象一：雖然有許多關於念力的軼事傳出，但沒有一項科學證據證明它的存在。

No studies conducted according to the scientific method and repeated under lab conditions can show that it's real.

沒有依據科學方法或是在實驗室控制條件下重複進行的研究，可以顯示念力的真實性。

In the 1930s, the so-called father of parapsychology, Joseph Banks Rhine, tested in the lab whether people could use telekinesis to make a dice roll the way they wanted it to.

在 1930 年代，所謂的超心理學之父——約瑟夫•班克斯•萊茵，在實驗室中測試人們是否能利用念力控制骰子的滾動。

But afterwards, scientists couldn't replicate his results, and since replication is key to proving an idea, that was a problem.

但後來，科學家們無法重複他的實驗結果，而因為「可以重複實驗」是驗證一個論點的關鍵，所以這產生了問題。

Aside from scientists, there are also countless self-proclaimed telekinetics.

除了科學家， 還有無數自稱可使用念力的人。

But all have been exposed as tricksters, or can't perform under conditions where they're not totally in control, suggesting that they manipulate the situation to get the results they want.

但這些人全部都被揭露是騙徒，或是說無法在他們沒有完整控制權下進行表演，這表示他們會為了得到想要的結果而操控情況。

Today, there's even a huge stash of prize money available from lots of organizations for anyone who can prove that psychic abilities, like telekinesis, are real.

現今，許多組織提供巨額獎金給可以證明特異功能如念力存在的人。

But these riches remain unclaimed.

但這些獎金仍舊無人領取。

Observation #2: When we investigate telekinesis, there's no consensus about what exactly is being measured.

觀察現象二：當在研究念力時，對於被測量的東西並沒有共識。

Are powerful, Yoda-like brainwaves at work perhaps?

或許是在研究像尤達大師一樣強大的腦波？

Since nobody agrees, it's difficult to apply a research standard, something required in all other types of science to test the validity of ideas.

既然沒人同意，就很難作為研究的標準，而這是所有其他類型的科學都需要的東西，以測試論點的正確性。

Observation #3: The point of science is to discover the unknown.

觀察現象三：科學的精髓就是要探索未知。

And in the history of scientific investigation, it's definitely happened that new discoveries have gone against established science, and even overturned whole branches of science.

在科學探究的歷史中，的確有過新發現與既有的科學相違背，甚至顛覆了整個科學體系的例子。

Such discoveries must be proven extra carefully to withstand skepticism.

證明這類的發現必定要格外仔細，才能禁得起懷疑。

In the case of telekinesis, the idea goes against established science, but lacks the powerful evidence in favor of it.

念力的例子違背了現行的科學定律，也缺乏有力證據的支持。

Our universe is controlled and explained by the laws of physics.

我們的宇宙由物理定律控制與解釋。

And one of these laws tells us that brain waves can't control objects because they're neither strong nor far-reaching enough to influence anything outside of our skulls.

而其中一條定律告訴我們，腦波無法控制物體，因為腦波不夠強大，波及也沒廣泛到可以影響頭骨外的任何物體。

Physics also tells us that the only forces that can influence objects from afar are magnetic and gravitational.

物理原理也告訴我們，能夠在遠處影響物體的力，只有磁力與重力。

Probably the closest thing to telekinesis that science can explain is the use of thoughts to control a robotic arm.

可以用科學解釋且最接近念力的事或許是——利用思想控制機械手臂。

In the brains of stroke patients who can't move, researchers can implant tiny wires into the region that controls movement.

腦中風的病人肢體無法移動，而研究人員在病人腦中控制運動的區域植入細小的電線。

And then, train the patient to concentrate on moving a robotic arm, which acts like an extension of their minds, and it works.

並訓練病人集中精神去控制機械手臂，讓機械手臂以腦袋想要的方式移動，而這成功了。

It's amazing, but it isn't telekinesis.

這很令人驚訝，但這不是念力。

The patients thoughts aren't just vague, undetectable things.

病人的思想並非模糊或難以監測。

They're measurable brain signals, translated through wires into a robot.

而是可測量的腦部訊號，經由電線傳給機械手臂。

Science can measure, test and explain the motion, and that's how we've shown that this kind of mind control is real.

科學能測量、測試及解釋這些動作，這就是我們顯示意念控制是真實存在所用的方式。

Science is a slow process of accumulating the evidence that either stands for or against an idea.

對於一種論點不管是支持或反對，科學都是項緩慢累積證據的過程。

When we stack up evidence, we can see which tower grows tallest, and in the case of telekinesis, it's not the tower showing that it exists.

當我們不斷堆疊證據時，可知道哪一疊堆得最高，而關於念力的例子是，根本沒有證據可以堆起來。

Some say this mystical phenomenon can't fit within the confines of science, and that's okay.

有人說這種神秘現象不屬於科學研究的範疇，這樣說也行。

But then telekinesis becomes purely a matter of personal conviction.

但這樣，念力就變成了純粹關於個人堅信的事物。

If something can't be assessed scientifically, then it can't be described as scientific either.

如果不能以科學方法評估，那就不能被視為科學。

So the results of our investigation reveal that however much we may want to believe that the force really is within us, the case for telekinesis remains weak.

所以我們的調查結果顯示，儘管我們很想相信體內有這種力量，但仍舊很難證明念力的存在。

Sorry Neo, Carrie and Yoda.

尼歐、嘉莉與尤達大師，真是抱歉。

Your skills are mind-blowing, but for now, they belong in the movies.

你們的本事令人振奮，但目前為止，你們仍屬於電影世界！