Spooky Science: Dissecting the Mysteries of Ghosts, Cryptids, Aliens, and Other Oddities

by Meagan Ankney, Paige Miller

Join the Spooky Science Sisters for an exhilarating journey through the enigmatic realm of the supernatural and the intriguing science that lurks beneath.

Spooky Science introduces you to the whimsical yet meticulously researched investigations of the renowned Spooky Science Sisters, Meagan Ankney and Paige Miller. On their quest to demystify the paranormal world, they examine the science behind mysteries like ghostly apparitions, legendary cryptids, and spine-chilling haunted places. From deciphering the peculiar electromagnetic fields that lead to ghostly apparitions to uncovering the origins of mythical creatures, no enigma is too daunting for these tenacious sisters. Filled with historical anecdotes, scientific research, and a dash of sisterly banter, this rollercoaster of thrills, and scientific enlightenment, will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about the paranormal.

As the sisters debunk things like popular ghost-hunting equipment, they provide valuable insights into the scientific principles at play—with an emphasis on scientific concepts in physics, chemistry, weather, and biology—separating fact from fiction in a refreshingly straightforward way. Through their signature blend of family-friendly humor and scientific accuracy, these spirited sisters offer a fresh perspective on:

Ghosts
Vampires
Mothman
Bloody Mary
Aliens
and more!

Whether you’re a seasoned skeptic or an avid believer in the paranormal, Spooky Science is an engaging and educational exploration of the unexplained that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the thrilling world of spooky science. From hauntings to extraterrestrials to the Bermuda Triangle, put on your critical thinking caps and join the Spooky Science Sisters in unraveling the secrets behind the most bewitching mysteries of our time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Paranormal, Horror, History

212 pages, Hardcover

Published June 24, 2025

About the author

Meagan Ankney is a geologist by training, a chemist by trade, and a life-long Halloween enthusiast. In 2020, she took her love for all things spooky and her passion for science communication to the podcasting world, when she founded the Spooky Science Sisters podcast with her ride-or-die sister-in-law, Paige Miller. When she isn’t podcasting, making spooky science videos, or writing, Meagan enjoys playing cozy games, reading fantasy novels, and exploring her home state of Wisconsin with her husband and daughter. Spooky Science is her first book.

Reviews

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading about the paranormal, but I'm not really a believer. I mean, I'm religious, but I don't believe in ghosts and such (although I do believe in Bigfoot!). So, reading a book that breaks down each of these phenomena using scientific techniques was a delight! I was especially pleased that the authors didn't seem to have a really good defense against the Patterson-Gimlin film.

That being said, this is a great book on the strange and spooky for the more scientifically-minded. But, don't worry: it's not written in a way that makes it too dry or too hard to read. In fact, I found it quite difficult to put down! And apparently the authors have a podcast...so I'll be checking that out for sure!

[Vi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cool, I really love paranormal myths and stuff like this so having a little book that is an easy intro and summary of different well known ones is exactly what I wanted. I found this at a book shop and have never heard of this podcast sister duo before, but I really enjoyed the style of this book's writing and how it was presented. The illustrations were very good and I enjoyed the sisterly banter. It reminded me a lot of my sister and I watching BuzzFeed Unsolved Supernatural, and now The Watcher Network's Ghost Files, together and chattering away about theories. It's place of honor will be right next to my BuzzFeed Unsolved Supernatural book!

[Billie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know the swamp gas explanation Project Blue Book gave for UFOs? It was just a quick and dismissive blanket answer to what people are experiencing. That is what this entire book felt like.

I really appreciate scientific explanations for unique or paranormal experiences, and I do believe that most of those tales can be explained. However, I understand that the human brain and scientific discovery have their limits, and not everything can be explained so easily. This book felt so rigid in that everything paranormal can be explained, when that just seems unfathomable in a universe like ours where we are making new discoveries and advancing science all the time.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not familiar with the podcast so this book was a nice surprise. First because it clearly explains the scientific method and then because it applies it to anything unexplained or paranormal. Interesting, well-written because the drawings and layout is remarkable and moreover it remains fact-based, although perhaps, it would sell more if it pretended to believe the things it explains instead.

Non conoscevo il podcast quindi questo libro é stata una bella sorpresa. Prima di tutto perché spiega chiaramente il metodo scientifico e poi perché lo applica a tutto quello che é inspiegabile o paranormale. Interessante, ben scritto perché i disegni e l'impaginazione é notevole ed oltretutto rimane basato sui fatti, nonostante forse, venderebbe di piú se facesse finta di credere alle cose che invece spiega.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m already a skeptic, so I didn’t need a book about generic “haunted” houses and the people who visit them. Of course that leads to interpreting what they experience as paranormal. Duh. Tell me something I don’t know. I was looking for specific, one-off phenomena experienced by normal people confronted with something unexplainable. This book was too superficial to look into anything that occurred OUTSIDE of a known “haunted” location. Any studies mentioned aren’t referenced, so their conclusions must be taken on faith, which is not something I’m good at.

My grandson died recently, and about a week after he died, my daughter and her husband were backing out of their driveway when their car’s screen dinged with a text from their deceased son. The text was empty. Their son’s phone was in the house, so when they returned, they unpaired his phone and turned off Bluetooth. A day or two later, they were again backing out of the driveway when a favorite song of his started to play, pre-empting the radio station that was already on. When they got back home and looked at their son’s phone, they noticed that Bluetooth had turned back on. Of course, I have nothing but their word (and photos of their car’s media screen showing a text received from their dead son) to corroborate their story, but I was hoping to find some kind of explanation or even just similar unique events that ordinary people had experienced. Instead, I got very generic “haunted houses” or “ghostly apparitions” that were all vaguely the same and all from known “haunted” locations.

All of the explanations in this book were based on nothing more than “psychological” brain tricks. Serious inquiries into odd events weren’t even considered. I didn’t learn a thing, and I’m still searching for answers.

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book that’s very readable. It’s a little short and I would’ve liked it more if it was longer and a bit more fleshed out. If you’re a paranormal or cryptid nerd, most of this isn’t news to you. A few science things were interesting new fun facts for me, but I was a little disappointed. Will check out the podcast because what’s here is interesting, and maybe a longer form format makes it easier to get into? The little side bars weren’t particularly interesting - bland personal anecdotes or hokey quizzes that felt like shoe-horned filler. Everything just feels short, like it was lifted from podcast notes and developed into a basic book without much new substance. Anyways, this feels like Skepticism 101 level material and I was hoping for more. The spookiness was lacking and the science was fine but maybe more citations and more detail would’ve kept my interest more. Certainly better edited and written than many in this genre, but it doesn’t offer enough novelty to really stand out and as a person with a similar Midwestern science nerd background, I don’t think it got nerdy enough!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little book. I liked that it approached ghosts, cryptids, and aliens through a scientific lens, with an eye to disproving them or giving a more scientific explanation for experiences people might see as possible proof. For example, carbon monoxide poisoning or mold poisoning could explain some perceive "hauntings" and two men admitted to creating hundreds of crop circles.

This book led me to do a bracket with friends and family for what mysterious creature you think has the greatest chance to be real. Bigfoot vs. vampires, Loch Ness monster vs. ghosts. Aliens vs. ghosts, etc. For me, I'd be more likely to think aliens are real than any of the others, but we still don't have compelling proof. Still, it's fun to hypothesize.

[abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I enjoyed this a lot as someone who loves spooky stories but has become increasingly skeptical over the years. it’s fascinating how our brains respond to weird experiences and how one person’s tale can launch a whole mythology and field of study.

I do wish the illustrations had any captions or credits though- most of the time I wasn’t sure what I was looking at, if it was artwork from the time period or a modern recreation, or why it was placed in that particular chapter. most of them felt very random. I love learning about how people try to explain and depict these phenomena over time, so that is my biggest gripe here.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! The historical aspect of each subject matter was very intriguing. Each paranormal and legend is described in depth, but not so much that it gets mundane. It quickly moves on to the next subject. The illustrations and paper material used makes it appear both antiquated and spooky. Every myth I’ve heard throughout life is explained scientifically in a way that is easily understood. The subject matters have created many discussions among friends and family. I highly recommend this book.

[Allison Kirkpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I'm a scientist and a skeptic but have also had a few ghostly encounters. This book presents a scientific view of the paranormal but leaves room for those who are believers. The book is also beautiful! I really mean it--there are so many images and creative title pages, etc. that this makes a gorgeous coffee table book. The writing is very easy and enjoyable to read. This is a fun time and a perfect gift for skeptics and believers alike!

[Bill Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable, high level skeptical review of ghosts, monsters, urban legends and UFOs. The book is well written and relentlessly (and refreshingly skeptical). I love the stories, and I want to believe, but this book does a great job of explaining why I don’t. A companions to the podcast “Spooky Science Sisters,” which I plan to add to my list.

[EDpon3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

ghosts, vampires, cryptids, it's all bunk!!! This book gets into the nitty gritty science behind things that go bump in the night. Every superstition and the fruit it bears are explained in this fun to read book.

[Isa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good depiction of all things spooky and scary from a scientific lens 🛸👽

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose a fine attempt at "debunking" but eventually it becomes less source-based and didn't keep me very interested. Much felt like filler.. and a basic introduction to the mysteries.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Borrowed from the library initially, but after reading, I bought it for my personal library.

[Britnee Braindead · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s fun and there’s a lot of cool stuff they cover, but I think I have more fun when someone tries to prove ghosts ARE real since I already don’t believe in them

[Alexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like Scully from X-Files wrote this book! It was a nice non-fiction palate cleanser during spooky season.

[Krit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun read if your into this stuff, which I am! Loved the design of the book and pages, beautifully done!!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's much to enjoy about this book, especially the message and especially right now, but I was left feeling disappointed and a bit worried that it doesn't go far enough.

The author/s (one sister leads and the other shares stories in a column) are podcasters with a mission: bring science and critical thinking to all things supernatural. They break down what's claimed and what's known by type of beastie or phenomenon. Everything is very clear and easy to read.

The problem for me is that there isn't enough science. They cite and explain a few studies, provide a few anecdotes, and break down illogics, but mostly they insist on things, which I doubt will sway many believers. Also, there was very little content in general. This was a super short read and more space could've been spent on making the science claims more robust with more sources. Finally, nothing was actually cited. Good luck trying to find out if these studies actually happened! Again, an easy out for believers.

Also, this book is filled with illustrations and ... patterns? ... which didn't render well on my Kindle. There's literally pages of empty texture graphics taking up space. I hope that's a galley copy issue.

100% for the "spirit" of the work, but not the execution.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Wellfleet Press for the advance copy.