A History of Ghosts

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A History of Ghosts: 10. Did You Hear That?

Did You Hear That?

10. Did You Hear That?

BBC Radio 4 - A History of Ghosts, 10. Did You Hear That?

Kirsty Logan explores the modern quest to capture a ghost in a machine.

Kirsty Logan explores the modern quest to capture a ghost in a machine, and how we went from wanting to catch the spirit of the dead, to creating ghosts of ourselves.

Illustration by Seonaid Mackay

'You set up a tape recorder and leave it running, recording silence. You ask your questions into the silence, leaving a sufficient pause for a response. Later, you listen back to the recording. Through the mush and static, if you listen very carefully, you may be able to just about make out people speaking.'

Kirsty Logan explores the modern quest to capture a ghost in a machine, from Tesla and Edison feuding over a spirit phone, to the apparent capture of voices in white noise and on tape. And she discovers that somewhere in the 21st century our wish to contact the dead has changed, we went from wanting to catch the spirit of the dead, to creating ghosts of ourselves.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Kirsty Logan explores the evolution of Ghost Lore.

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A History of Ghosts

10. Did You Hear That?

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