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More Info

• a UFO
• a ghost
• a Bigfoot
  or creature
• a crop circle
• an animal
  mutilation
• an abduction
  or missing time
• something else

What is the Paranormal Occurrences Database (POD)?

The best way to describe the database is that it is to the paranormal what EBSCOhost is to academics. It's a collection of paranormal investigation case files indexed for easy search access by paranormal researchers.

How does the POD compare to other similar databases?

There are currently only two databases on a similar scale: MUFON's Worldwide UFO Database (WUFOD) which later became known as it's Case Management System (CMS) and Larry Hatch's *U* Database. While both of these databases are great contributions to the field of Ufology, they do not include other types of paranormal phenomenon like ghost and creature sightings. They also are only limitedly available to the general public. The POD has all of the same fields as those two databases, with additional fields for other paranormal phenomena. This allows for correlations to be identified between the various types of paranormal occurrences. The POD is also viewable for free by anyone with Internet access.

How does a report get added to the database?

Cases are reviewed by certified investigators before being added to the database. If the initial sighting is reported directly to the Anomaly Response Network or one of our Network Affiliates, here is a diagram of its evolution from sighting to case file.

What's the current status of the POD? When can investigators access it?

The POD is still under development. Alpha testing began in January of 2007, beta testing should iteratively finish around fall 2007 with public release by 2008.