Morphic resonance, a theory proposed by Rupert Sheldrake, suggests that memory is inherent in nature. One of its key predictions is that when someone learns a new skill, that pattern of learning becomes embedded within a collective field, making it easier for others to learn the same skill. In this study, we tested this idea using Wordle, an online word puzzle played by millions each day.
I have long been drawn to ideas at the edges of mainstream science, particularly those that question whether our current models fully capture the nature of reality. I was therefore thrilled to have the opportunity to investigate this theory, and what especially appealed to me was the chance to explore it in a rigorous, quantitative way. I was very fortunate to have Bethany Butzer as my tutor for this project. Her guidance was invaluable, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with her to figure out how to test these ideas empirically.
It was also a privilege to collaborate with Rupert Sheldrake, whose work I have admired for its originality and intellectual honesty, as well as his commitment to keeping science open and curious rather than constrained by fixed assumptions. One of the things that struck me most, both in this project and others we have worked on since, is how simple many of Rupert’s experimental ideas are. He has a remarkable ability to find creative yet straightforward ways of testing unconventional hypotheses, and I have really enjoyed seeing this firsthand.
One of the most unexpected yet valuable aspects of this particular study was the limitations we encountered in using Wordle as a testing ground. Rather than being a setback, this became a starting point for refining our approach, leading to a follow-up study that is currently in press. More broadly, this project has opened me up to new ways of thinking about how large-scale, everyday platforms might be used to explore other unconventional ideas, such as psi phenomena, that have often been confined to laboratory settings.
A peer-reviewed article based on my MSc project has just been published and is publically available:
Black, G., Butzer, B., & Sheldrake, R. (2026). Memory in nature: A study of morphic resonance predictions on learning. Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition, 6(1), 11-37.
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