Real Super Powers

Zener Cards are used to test whether or not you have ESP. They can test your clairvoyance, precognition, and telepathy. These special cards were invented in the 1930's by a man named Karl Zener, a perceptual psychologist. He used the cards in experiments, which he conducted with J. B. Rhine, a parapsychologist.

You may recognize these cards from "Ghostbusters." At the very beginning of the movie, parapsychology professor Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) uses Zener Cards to test two university students. In a comedic turn, he infuriates the one candidate who apparently is more psychically gifted, forcing the student to leave Dr. Venkman alone with the other candidate, an attractive coed. So much for science!

The most important thing about a Zener Card Test is the ability it measures. In Ghostbusters, telepathy may have been the ability in question, because every card drawn was focused on by Dr. Venkman, and the two test subjects could have read his mind in order to make their guesses. Alternatively, they could have used clairvoyance to guess, without reading his mind at all. Had Dr. Venkman waited to draw a card until after each prediction had been made, the test would then have been measuring precognition.

Why not test your precognitive skills with our Zener Card Test? This version of the experiment will measure your ability to foresee the future, because the cards will be selected by the program only after you make your prediction. So you won't be reading the mind of a machine, or gathering information on the present. You'll be delving into the future. And don't worry, the program won't cheat.