Russell Targ, born in 1934, is an American physicist, author, and researcher in parapsychology. He initially pursued a career in physics and laser research, holding degrees from Queens College and undertaking graduate studies at Columbia University. Targ's professional life took a significant turn when he joined the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in 1972. There, alongside Harold E. Puthoff, he pioneered research into psychic phenomena, coining the term "remote viewing" to describe the practice of obtaining information about distant targets through extrasensory perception. This work led to their involvement in the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency's Stargate Project. Despite his contributions to laser technology, Targ's parapsychological research, particularly remote viewing, has faced considerable criticism and is widely regarded as pseudoscience due to a perceived lack of rigor and replicable evidence. He has authored and co-authored several books on these topics.

Born in Chicago, Russell Targ's early exposure to paranormal literature was influenced by his father, a book editor. Targ earned a B.S. in physics from Queens College in 1954 and completed two years of graduate physics studies at Columbia University. His early career included significant contributions to laser technology. At Technical Research Group, he co-authored a paper on homodyne detection with laser light. Later, at Sylvania Electronic Systems, he worked on frequency modulation and mode-locking of lasers, and a kilowatt continuous wave laser. This foundational work in physics and engineering provided a scientific backdrop for his later research into parapsychology.

In 1972, Targ joined the Stanford Research Institute (SRI), where he collaborated with Harold E. Puthoff. Together, they established a program investigating psychic abilities and their potential applications for intelligence agencies like NASA, the CIA, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. During this period, they coined the term "remote viewing" to describe a method of psychic perception. Their research, including experiments with individuals like Ingo Swann, led to the CIA-sponsored Stargate Project. Targ's tenure at SRI concluded in 1982, after which he continued to work in electro-optics for Lockheed Missiles and Space Company until 1998.

Targ's work on remote viewing has been a focal point of his career, leading to publications in scientific journals and co-authorship of books like "Mind Reach" and "The Mind Race." However, his research has been met with significant skepticism. Critics, including psychologists David Marks and Richard Kammann, have pointed out methodological flaws and the lack of reproducible results, suggesting that Targ and Puthoff's findings were compromised by sensory cueing. A 1988 report by the U.S. National Research Council deemed the Targ-Puthoff studies "fatally flawed." The mainstream scientific community generally regards remote viewing as pseudoscience due to the absence of a strong evidence base and a coherent theoretical framework.

Beyond his research, Targ has authored books exploring consciousness and psychic phenomena, including "Limitless Mind" and "The Reality of ESP." He also published a memoir, "Do You See What I See: Memoirs of a Blind Biker," detailing his experiences as a legally blind motorcyclist. Targ was married to Joan Fischer Targ, sister of World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer, and assisted Fischer during a period of legal challenges. He later married artist Patricia Kathleen Phillips. His daughter, Elisabeth Targ, also pursued a career in psychiatry and parapsychology.