THE MEMORY
A neutral summary of what people report, without inflating how common it is.
EDITORIAL STANDARD // VERSION 1.0
QUESTION EVERYTHING.
INCLUDING US.
How the archive verifies records, labels uncertainty, uses research, and corrects mistakes.
CASE FILE ANATOMY
FIVE PARTS. NO BLURRED LINES.
THE RECORD
Primary or authoritative documentation showing the current verifiable form.
WHY IT FEELS RIGHT
Relevant linguistic, perceptual, cultural and cognitive explanations.
THE UNRESOLVED SPACE
Gaps, source limitations, disputed variants and honest uncertainty.
EVIDENCE LADDER
HOW STRONG IS THE CLAIM?
RECORDOfficial archives, original media, historical documents and direct data.STRONGEST RECORD
EVIDENCEAn empirical effect reproduced beyond a single study or analysis.RESEARCH SUPPORT
EXPLANATIONPeer-reviewed mechanisms that plausibly explain the memory pattern.MECHANISM SUPPORT
DOCUMENTATIONReliable secondary reporting when a primary source is unavailable.DOCUMENTED
REPORTA sincere recollection or poll response that has not been independently verified.TESTIMONY ONLY
MODELA culturally relevant theory presented without claiming scientific confirmation.NOT ESTABLISHED
SOURCE PRIORITY
WHAT WE LOOK FOR FIRST
01PRIMARY & OFFICIAL ARCHIVESFoundations, institutions, manufacturers, original releases and dated records.02PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCHOriginal papers, DOI records, preregistrations, data and replications.03OPEN MATERIALS & DATAStudy stimuli, analysis plans, corrections and accessible research files.04REPUTABLE SECONDARY SOURCESUsed for context, never as a substitute for an available original source.05COMMUNITY RESULTSA results dashboard will follow when enough consented responses exist. 06READER CHALLENGESThe formal submission route is being prepared.
CLAIMS WE DO NOT MAKE
WHAT THE ARCHIVE WILL NOT SAY
“SCIENCE PROVES REALITY CHANGED”
No accepted evidence currently establishes that Mandela Effect memories result from altered timelines.
“CERN CAUSED IT”
Temporal coincidence is not causation, and no mechanism or causal evidence supports the claim.
“EVERYONE REMEMBERS”
We use measured sample results or qualified language—not imaginary consensus.
“RESIDUE PROVES IT”
Variants, parodies, counterfeit products and human error must be ruled out before stronger claims.
FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH
STARTING SOURCE SHELF
01PRASAD & BAINBRIDGE (2022)Empirical work on shared and specific visual false memories.02LOFTUS (2005)A review of planting misinformation and false autobiographical memory.03JOHNSON, HASHTROUDI & LINDSAY (1993)The source-monitoring framework.04ROEDIGER & McDERMOTT (1995)Associative false recall and recognition.05ROEDIGER, MEADE & BERGMAN (2001)Social contagion of memory.06FAZIO ET AL. (2015)Knowledge and the illusory truth effect.
CORRECTION CHANNEL // IN PREPARATION
THE RECORD CAN
CHANGE WITH BETTER SOURCES.
We will publish a submission channel once its delivery and privacy details are verified. Until then, keep the original artifact, date, and provenance together.