Why Do Paranormal Investigators do it in the Dark? By: Kris Baker    One of the questions that we get most often as paranormal investigators is “Why do you investigate the paranormal in the dark?” and to be honest it is a very good question.  After all, if a place were truly haunted would it not be haunted 24 hours a day and not just when the sun goes down?    The answer to this question is not a straight yes or no.  It depends on the type of haunting that is occurring.  If it is a residual haunting then there is a very good possibility that there is a certain time of day that activity will occur, as a residual haunting is like a movie playing.   It is an atmospheric imprint that is often compared to a movie that plays over and over again.   Now back to why paranormal investigators research in the dark.  There are several reasons why we conduct our research in the dark and some have no Scientific reasoning behind them whatsoever.  The most common answer you will be given is to reduce the risk of false positive EMF (Electro Magnetic Field) readings.  It is believed that fluorescent lights can hold energy even if they are turned off so it is best if at all possible to turn the power off at the breaker.   Another reason that we investigate at night is because the majority of paranormal investigators have “day” jobs so this drastically limits investigating during the day.  Some believe that we get paid for what we do but the truth of the matter is that for most it is a hobby not an occupation.    The next reason is one that can have both a positive and a negative side to it.  People are not nocturnal creatures and are more sensitive and alert at night.  Which means that they will notice more at night than during the day.  The negative spin on this is that because of our heightened sense of awareness there is a higher possibility of labeling something as paranormal when it is simply a natural sound of the home.  This is where the debunking really needs to come into play.   Everything needs to be examined fully before saying it is paranormal.  I know that this seems like common sense but this is what I feel really assists in defining professionals in the field.    On the same track the majority of reported paranormal phenomena is reported at night.  This can be due to the heightened senses or it could be that in the evening is when the majority of people are actually home.  There may be things happening in the home during the day but they are at work so it goes undetected until they settle in for the evening.  The same thing goes for more paranormal activity being reported in the winter.  People spend more time indoors during the colder months so they are more apt to notice any activity that may occur.   One of my theories about why paranormal phenomena is more prominent in the evening is because people do not use as much electricity as they do during the day and basing this on the theory that ghosts need energy to manifest than there would be excess energy at night since there is less being used by the living.  If this theory were correct then it would be easier for a spirit to manifest resulting in more reports of occurrences during the late evening/early morning hours.   Let’s put aside the technology talk and theories.  Investigating the paranormal late at night into the wee hours of the morning really does add to the creepiness factor of what we do.  Nothing can get your adrenaline flowing like being in an old abandoned hospital at midnight during a full moon.  It would just not be the same if you were there at noon conducting the investigation.    The paranormal could be investigated at any time of day or night.  There is no right or wrong because what we are searching for are answers that currently do not exist. Who knows when we will find the answers.  It could very well be on a warm, sunny Monday afternoon.