The Koestler Parapsychological Unit was established in Edinburgh through the wills of noted writer Arthur Koestler and his wife Cynthia. After their deaths in 1983, the unit was founded to further objective scientific research in to the paranormal. Many of the subjects that the unit investigates are usually disregarded by mainstream science and yet the unit has the respect of many psychologists in the world. The clear purpose of the unit is to make parapsychology a serious study and undertake unusual experiments.

In the first years of establishment there was a lot of derision within the scientific community but now there are five similar university research centres across Britain, with many other centres opening around the world.

The Koestler Unit remains at the forefront of parapsychological research and has obtained interesting results and conclusions. In 1999 the unit published papers that concluded with the existence of telepathy or psycho-kinesis. The fierce debate continues today about the papers and the unit’s work.