ectoplasm

1a. the visible substance believed to emanate from the body of a spiritualistic medium during communication with the dead b. an immaterial or ethereal substance, especially the transparent corporeal presence of a spirit or ghost 2. in Biology, the outer portion of the continuous phase of cytoplasm of a cell, sometimes distinguishable as a somewhat rigid, gelled layer beneath the cell membrane

I came across this word while browsing through amazon.com and entering the bizarro world of books about “shape-shifters” and reptilians and other paranormal gobbledygoook.