If you type “ectoplasm definition” into the Google search engine, the first thing that comes up is an unattributed definition:
ec·to·plasm
ˈektəˌplazəm
noun
1.
BIOLOGY
the more viscous, clear outer layer of the cytoplasm in amoeboid cells.
2.
a supernatural viscous substance that is supposed to exude from the body of a medium during a spiritualistic trance and form the material for the manifestation of spirits.
As you no doubt realize by now, the first definition does not apply to this project. However, the second definition is just about perfect for any examination of purported ectoplasmic shenanigans in dark rooms.
The basic idea is that a conscious being composed purely of spiritual energy cannot actually cause physical movement. However, if organic material is offered to the spirit to inhabit, the spirit now has a body, amorphous and temporary though it be.
.....
I would feel truly remiss if I failed to mention another, more recent, explanation of ectoplasm. Kenneth Behrendt, in his promisingly-titled book The Physics of the Paranormal, explains ectoplasm thus:
“We need only assume that, as a medium concentrated, he would generate an anti-mass field in the muscles of his finders (sic) that would them (sic) project out into space in the direction he pointed his fingers. Some of the anti-mass field radiation would vary in intensity so that the sawtooth shape of its pulses produced an electric field perpendicular to each other and both perpendicular to the direction of radiation of this anti-mass field radiation... The ectoplasm would then consist of an elongating trail of atmospheric ions.” pp 40-41
Behrendt goes on to explain how such an anti-mass field can be used to temporarily replace missing limbs. However, other chapters of his book make it clear that he does not believe in ghosts, attributing most ghostly phenomena to either extraterrestrial or “subterrestrial” beings who have the ability to render themselves invisible to those of us who can only use the visible light spectrum to see. Evidence for his views appears to be entirely speculative or anecdotal, so it probably stands just as much chance of being correct as any other paranormal explanation of ectoplasmic phenomena.
(I consider
that this outside study of alternative explanations for
observed physical events may stand me in good stead when it
comes time to propose new construction materials and methods
in future engineering courses. In other words, I hope I have
not totally wasted the last few weeks of reading.)