Ectoplasm

Ectoplasm is a term used in spiritualist discourse to denote a purported substance that exudes from a medium’s body during seances and is said to be a tangible manifestation of a spirit. The word combines Greek roots meaning “outside” (ektos) and “formed substance” (plasma). The concept gained prominence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as modern spiritualism spread.

During that period, reports described ectoplasm as a pale, viscous or semi-solid material that could be seen as a mist, sheet, or gauze-like fabric. It was sometimes said to emerge from the mouth, nose, ears, or fingertips and to take on human features such as hands or faces, or to envelope objects and forms, sometimes appearing to be corporeal.

Scientific and skeptical investigations of ectoplasm began in earnest with the rise of psychical research. Investigators from organizations such as the Society for Psychical Research documented numerous cases but often concluded that they were fraudulent or misidentified phenomena. By the mid-20th century, many well-known ectoplasmic manifestations were demonstrated to be fabrications—typically produced from cheesecloth, paper, animal membranes, or other readily available materials—along with misdirection, lighting effects, and psychological suggestion.

Today, there is no broadly accepted scientific evidence supporting the existence of ectoplasm as a real substance. In mainstream science, the phenomenon is regarded with skepticism, viewed as a historical claim tied to the spiritualist era or as a cultural and folkloric motif. The term remains primarily of interest in discussions of paranormal folklore and historical accounts of spiritualism.