One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge
By April 1, 2007, only those with an already existing media profile and the backing of a reputable academic were allowed to apply for the challenge.
It was hoped that the resources freed up by not having to test obscure and possibly mentally ill claimants would then be used to challenge high-profile alleged psychics and mediums such as Sylvia Browne and John Edward with a campaign in the media.
The Foundation issued a formal update on its website on July 30, 2009, announcing the Challenge's continuation, and stated more information would be provided at a later date on any possible changes to the requirements and procedures.
Whereas applicants were previously required to submit press clippings and a letter from an academic institution to qualify, the new rules now require applicants to present either press clippings, a letter from an academic institution, or a public video demonstrating their ability.
[6] Randi has said that few unsuccessful applicants ever seriously considered that their failure to perform might be due to the nonexistence of the power they believe they possess.
[2] The official challenge rules stipulated that the participant must agree, in writing, to the conditions and criteria of their test.
Claimants were able to influence all aspects of the testing procedure and participants during the initial negotiation phase of the challenge.
Additionally, the dowser must demonstrate that the dowsing reaction works on an exposed pipe with the water running.
Two-thirds of the pegs placed by the dowser must be within 10 cm (3.9 in) of the center of the pipe being traced for the trial to be a success.
Dr. Borga had placed his markers carefully, but the nearest was a full 2.4 meters (8 ft) from the water pipe.
Borga said, "We are lost", but within two minutes he started blaming his failure on many things such as sunspots and geomagnetic variables.
"[18] Self-proclaimed psychic Rosemary Altea suggested the one million dollars prize fund did not exist, or was in the form of pledges or promissory notes.
[22] However, she refused to be tested and Randi kept a clock on his website recording the number of weeks that had passed since Browne accepted the challenge without following through.
[25] Salway subsequently backed out of the challenge, claiming it was "dodgy" and "set up to make it impossible to pass".
The JREF arranged volunteers to carry out a preliminary investigation, but after the Yellow Bamboo group "threw every sort of obstacle in the way of that plan", Randi announced that he was terminating further involvement with them.
The JREF pointed out that the test was not conducted according to the proposed protocol, with multiple flaws in the execution including being carried out at night.
[28] Upon viewing a set of still shots from the incident, several people experienced with stun-guns suggested that an electroshock weapon could have been used.
In an interview with Mark Edward afterward, she insisted that she lost merely because, "…it wasn't time yet for my powers to be revealed.
"[30] In July 2014, Chinese salesman Fei Wang was tested in front of an audience of 600 at the conclusion of The Amazing Meeting in Las Vegas.
Wang said that from his right hand, he could transmit a mysterious force a distance of 91 centimeters (3 feet), unhindered by wood, metal, plastic or cardboard.
A colored ball was chosen randomly to determine whether Wang or the control person would go first, and in that order they tried to transmit the energy onto the subject's hand (hidden from their view inside a cardboard box).
[31] Tech journalist Lee Hutchinson approached the JREF after writing an article for Ars Technica about directional Ethernet cables that claim to "keep your audio signal completely free of electromagnetic interference".
