4 3. A thin steel tube containing a thermocouple... ~NEW SCIENTIST, and his overall evasiveness, Joseph Hanlon 5. A single crystal ingot of vanadium ca 6. Asingle crystal disc of molybdenum, 0.22 mm thick and 1 cm in diameter. 7. Asingle crystal bar of silicon. 8. A length of steel rod, one inch in diameter. 9, An annealed copper disc with a hole in the middle. None of these objects had been in Geller’s hands, and he did not touch them while they were laid out. Jack Sarfatti stretched his hand out above the objects, and Geller then put his hand on top of Sarfatti’s. After a few seconds, Jack reported feeling a sharp tingle in his hand, and when both hands were withdrawn we examined the objects. The only one showing an obvious change was the molybdenum single crystal disc, which had been perfectly flat beforehand, but was now bent slightly. This single crystal, and some others we have used, had been given to us by Dr. Tony Lee, of the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge. It was of high purity, better than 0.99999, Some weeks later, when | showed the crystal to David Rooks, who was going to photograph it, we noticed that it was very slightly attracted to the tweezers he was using. Of course molybdenum should not be ferromagnetic, so | suspended the crystal be- tween the poles of an electromagnet and found it to be quite as ferromagnetic as commercial molybdenum, which contains eighty parts per million of iron. | therefore sent the single crystal for neutron activation analysis to the Scottish Universities Reactor Centre. How this impurity got into pure crystal is stilla puzzle. (79) Finally we have a report by physicist Wilber Franklin using a strain. gauge apparatus. The experiment was videotaped, using three TV cameras ~ at different angles. Ina Uri has outon the NEW SCIENTIST. He backed out on a verbal commitmentto work with the Maimonides Medical Centre Division of Para- psychology and Paraphysics in Brooklyn, New York. (83) letter, Charles Honorton of Maimanides confirms: Dr. Hanlon correctly states that Geller backed out of a verbal commitment to work in our laboratory. Geller, of course, did not show up and after several repeated inquires, we learned from his staff that there had been a “miscommunication” regarding our commitment, that while he very much wanted to work with us, Uri was too busy to do so, He has continued to be too busy to do so. (84) Geller's personality has indeed been in the way of invest- igators and the PKMB phenomoma, so much so that a number of parapsychologists feel that Geller is nota viable subject for study even though they may be confident that he can exhibit PKMB. Stan ; ley Krippner writes: : Geller has been of little help in the field of psychoen- ergetic research; however, if he has drawn enough attention to the paranormal to interest some. capable scientists in studying PK effects, his career will have served a useful purpose. Researchers may have learned lessons from the Geller affair and do better when a similar subject comes along. Researchers should think twice before spending their time and lending their prestige to an entertainer. (85) (ii) Other Individuals Manifesting PKMB. a) Anecdotal Data. Uri Geller who is not only the most well known agent for PKMB, also has served as the catalyst for the other individuals found to have the ability. However, there is one historical case reported by D. Scott Rogo in an article by Mrs, 1.K. Reno in 1995: A steel specimen, ¥%" thick by 2” wide by 8” long, was clamped to a tripod in the set-up shown in Fig. 1. After 29 minutes of unsuccessful effort by Uri, a highly-structured strain-gauge reading was recorded, shown in Fig. 2. This occurred just as the scientists and Uri stepped back a few feet ‘from the apparatus, when the strain-gauge recorded the psi- effect. Meanwhile, another probe (see Fig. 1) attached to the end of the beam—which was sensitive only to vertical displace- ments—recorded no bending. Geller had little or no knowledge of the experiments | would conduct, or of the one | would choose for him to concentrate on doing. When the results of this highly controlled test are con- ' sidered—along with the large number of repetitive results observed by Hasted and by at least four other laboratories—the influence of the volition of human subjects on metallic strain, and/or the associated equipment, seems to have met the requirements of scientific validity. In other words, the force of will can and does, in my opinion, affect matter. (80) As in the anecdotal literature, Geiler is not able to reproduce beg The Reno article concerned a rather conventiona! polter- geist outbreak centering on a family who lived in southern Georgia. The first manifestations noted by the farnily were spontaneous object-throwings. However, shortly after the in- ception of the poltergeist, the family witnessed a series ofevents which seem identical to what we have now labeled the “Geller effect.” The article reports: “Frequently during the meal hour, milk, tea, coffee, and soup were flung into the faces of those at the table, several times inflicting painful scalds and burns. Spoons were broken, or suddenly twisted out of shape in their hands.” (86) Otherwise the manifestation of PXMB by an individual has un after learning of Geller’s ability, especially after exposure to a media program where Geller has performed. This phe- nomena has perhaps been most widely documented in Britain. A second hand report of a youth named Matthew Manning reads: One night, being then seventeen, he was watching a TV special, “Uri Geller: Is Seeing Believing?” in which the Israeli PKMB totally at will in every controlled situations. This was a problem that the Stanford Research investigation Targ and Put- hoff ran into: - psychic was demonstrating his metal-bending techniques when suddenly his mother exhorted him to see if he could F [ i 4 | } 1 t { t We spent the next several weeks attempting to film or videotape any sort of metal-bending under controlled labo- ” atory conditions. One of Geller’s main attributes that had been © croted to us was that he was able to bend metal from a distance without touching it. In the laboratory we did not find When he was permitted to touch the metal, match Geller. He didn’t expect anything to happen, but to please his rnother he grasped a stainless steel spoon and, while Geller was on the tube, started to rub it. For a good ten minutes, not a thing happened. Then the boy’s father walked into the room, and as happens in so many cases of this kind, the sudden distraction, the break in concen- hing able to do so, be raved. FenRelease 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP@SiOO7FSBROGZOOO 130044 EI the spoon drooping Beyond this difficulty investigators had further problems in workine with Geller. Conceming a planned experiment with Jike heated wax, and it continued to bend until it resembled a hairpin. (103) . 7
: Another report from Britain relates a typical incidents. break and reseal flasks. So we still can’t call this foo! ‘Approhieh ForRéldase 200703107 Cie P96 -00788RG02000190011-5 Cantor study). Children and adults throughout the country . described their own PK gift. One seven-year-old boy made € ; front-page news ina national paper, the DAILY MIRROR. ‘‘t : decided to have a go after seeing that man on TV,” he said. “‘I just think about the fork bending and it does. It was bit frightening at first—but there’s nothing to it.” The child’s mother commented: ‘‘It has to be seen to be believed. It’s just as well my husband runs two cafes, or we would be out of cutlery within days.’ Her husband admitted he was skeptical, “until | saw him perform the feat. Now I’ve seen him bend hali-a- dozen forks without any failures.’ One of the paper's journal- ists saw the boy demonstrate. After twenty minutes a fork “was virtually bent double,’ he wrote. (104) In the journal NATURE, Harry Collins and Brian Pamplin reported: Sir, —We have investigated six young people who claimed the power of the bending objects by stroking in the manner demonstrated on television recently by Uri Geller and others. In this report we will call these people A,B,C,D,E, and F. Subsequently, Dr. Pamplin appeared on BBC ‘Points West” local television news programme when B demonstrated her. ability quite convincingly. The parents of DE and F subsequently contacted Dr. Pamptin claiming that their child- ren could also bend cutlery by stroking. Most of the subjects were first visited in their own homes where they showed their ability in the casual atmosphere of their sitting rooms. A succeeded in bending a weighed and measured rod of mild steel of 3/10ths inch diameter supplied by the experimenters as well as her own cutlery. (105) : From Denmark there is more anecdotal material provided by :._ sarapsychologist R.D. Mattuck in RESEARCH IN PARAPSYCHO- LOGY 1976: , Lena Isted D, is an 18-year-old Danish girl who discover- ed her PK abilities after Uri Geller’s visit to Copenhagen in January 1974. Atthe time of this investigation, she was studying languages at a gyrnnasium (junior college) in Denmark. Lena and | conducted 11 experimental! sessions together, during the period April 1974 to March 1975, in the presence of her parents. In the first seven sessions, she was able ta achieve striking effects, but not when adequate controls were exer cised. Some of her insufficiently controlled phenomena were: bending 3.2 mm iron nails through 45°, changing the position of the hands on a watch by several hours, and causing 15 deflections of a compass needle. (106) From Germany, parapychologist Lusi Wendlandt is quoted conceming two more children manifesting PKMB: “One boy was able to mentally stop an electric saw that was cutting down a tree near his home,” she reports. “‘We ask parents and witnesses for accounts of the phenomenon, but one of the biggest problems we have is obtaining better documen- tation. “We pave the other boy, who lives in Switzerland, metal . teaspoons placed in plastic flasks. These are first sealed by an attorney. At first we used glass bottles, but he returned. them broken. “At that time we thought he was just another trickster, bu} - he denied this, claiming the bottles broke while flying around ( the roorn during the bending. . “After we switched to plastic containers,” she continued, “a strange thing occurred.” The spoons inside two of the flasks Finally, is an excerpt from a report to the Swiss Socie Parapsychology, the phenomenon occurring after Geller’: television appearance: “After we completed the second test, Edith Aufderr complained of a severe headache. Now, she and | we ourselves. The others had left. While we were sitting ¢ living-room table, Edith picked up a teaspoon. Slowh; began to rub it, almost as if she were caressing it. | watching her closely. After a few moments the spoon beg bend, without any physical pressures whatever. Durin next few hours she repeated this performance with two tional teaspoons, as well as with a solid steel pin and a p steel nail clippers.”” (108) Many of those individuals manifesting PKMB other Geller are children (they have been dubbed “mini-Gelle: some), however there are similarities to Geller other tha. PKMB itself. As with Geller, the ability seems to wax. and and is not-100% reproducible on command. In addition the also reports of cheating on the part of some of the chil Examples of the two characteristics will follow a surv controlled observations on the other individuals manife PKMB., “ b) Controlled Observations As with Geller, successful controlled observations a plentiful, however what has been published indicates abili least equal to those reported for Geller. in Britain, John t working with a number of children has reported much work. —_ Hasted’s subjects succeeded in a wide range of ¢ ments, including the psi-bending by children of small dia wires encased in hollow glass globes, usually iithi minutes. Curiously, the bending always required a hole globe (2-10 mm), although skilled craftsmen, using $ tools, could not bend the wires as quickly as could the ct using no tools. Some children could psi-twist long thin m bars at the rate of 2-3 rotations per second while one of hi: subjects recorded a torque at the limit of human strength, Another report reads: In one of his experiments, Hasted made simultz electronic measurements of the PK “strain” on thre which were suspended from the ceiling of the labor equidistant and out of reach of his young subject. The | show a cornparable, but not exactly identical, force aff all three keys simultaneously. In another study, aluminum strips which were left al aroom became twisted and braided like pigtails within a of seconds. The subject was in an adjoining room. Elec strain gauges recorded a force on the metal unlike anythit would be seen by normal human bending. (120) Finally is a report by Hasted RESEARCH IN PARAPSY LOGY 1976, where a sensor consisting of a resistive strain , was the measuring instrument. Andrew G. is one of the ch in the Cantor study: : This apparatus has been used with several subjec cluding Nicholas Williams (age 17) and Andrew G. (as _ Use of tvo and of three sensors simultaneously with Wi at seven sessions has produced synchronous signals | Apprawved fan Release. 2001/03/07 ciCIArRDP96 -00788R002000430041 #6 strain pulses are pro “However, even though the seals appear untouched when the flasks are returned, professional magicians claim they can when an otherwise undetectable moving “active su encounters and passes through the sensors. The sense
+ suspended from their electrical connections so as to define a Since 1975 | have done experiments with the Swiss lines CEP EOP j ithvespectta Wallia desi Silvio, th st important genuine metal-bender we He AP PFA as 1s ror Raa OPTI RO? PELA-RDRBE-DO7BSROG2I0GTGOO-AsHert metal forks and seated at a working surface and occupied in building model ~ aircraft. He knows of the positions of the sensors and is asked to € bend the latchkeys. The typical distance from the subject to the sensors is five meters, and between the sensors, one to three "meters. The subject does not in general have direct contact with the latchkeys. The total number of strain pulse events recorded was 81. Many contained considerable “fine structure,” which indi- cates flexibility of the ‘surfaces.’ Typically, no visible bend results, The most usual configuration of the surface is vertical, and extending outwards from the subject, as opposed to extending around him. To a small extent the subject has learned to produce synchronous signals in other configurations. Since synchronous signals can be obtained with sensors on opposite sides of the subject the surface may be considered to contain his person. A surface has been known to extend in length to about 10 meters. The rate of travel of a surface between sensors is in the range of 10 to 100 cm/sec. On encountering a screening obstacle a surface flexes its shape around it, so that partial screening of the sensor advances or delays a strain pulse; a metal screen can augment the intensity of the strain - signals and bring about bending and fracture. The folding of pairs of thin metal strips and the twisting of pairs of wires have been recorded on many occasions. (121) From Japan we have indications of controlled experiments from a brief notation: After the. visit of Uri Geller to. Tokyo, Japan, in 1973, thousands of Japanese children apparently manifested similar __ paranormal powers. Eight of these children were investigated in 1 1974 by Dr. Shigemi Sasaki, professor of psychology at the < Denki Tsushin University, Tokyo with a team of fifteen re- searchers. Laboratory tests were devised to test. PK (psycho- kinetic ability) and metal-bending. One 12-year-old Gun Seki- guchi) demonstrated an amazing ability to bend spoons para- normally, and also recharged dead electric batteries by merely holding them. Dr. J.B. RHINE of Durham, N.C., commented: - “The tests in Tokyo have shown that PK power exists among many of their children. The research is of great significance.” (122) As mentioned earlier all of these individuals cannot perform . PKMB completely at will, and again as with Geller, the critics have been quick to point out that failures are more common under controlled conditions. A.J. Ellison together with a select group of investigators could only report little success with child subjects. We started these experiments with the children’s attempts at the familiar spoon bending with closed-circuit television recording, and then went-on to the single crystal specimens. Every specimen was accurately weighed before and after each trial. We had little success except that one of the single crystal specimens fell in half while being stroked. (127) Cheating has been observed with child metal-benders after an investigation of those claiming to have PKMB ability. Hans Bender reports: This enterprise made us acquainted with a number of persons, mostly youths, who claimed to be able to bend metal _ objects repeatedly, especially spoons. Most of them were € tricksters. One demonstrated spoon bending before our eyes but failed when we tricd to film it. Another moved metal objects: under his hand; we were able to documentthe phenomenon on spooris by holding them between two fingers have been recorded on videotape, as well as sessions in which he has bent a plastic spoon, silver coins, and an untouched spoon. In one session, Silvio was studied by Dr. Betz of the Institute of Physics of Munich University; he remarkably increased the resistance of an electrical device. The collaboration with physicists will be continued. (123) In France, another adult subject has appeared by the name of Jean-Pierre Girard. The research here is by several teams of investigators and appears to be of high quality. The parapsycho- logist and magician, William Cox reports: _ Jean-Paul Girard, a Parisian chemical firm employee who claims to be able to bend metal by PK, gave filmed demon- strations at Freiburg, West Germany, on September 4 and 5, 1976. Prof. Hans Bender was an observer and W.E, Cox was the experimenter. Nine bendings occurred in six bars (5/16 in. to 5/8 in. in diameter and under 1 ft. long) under close scrutiny and without any apparent physical explanation. (124) William Wolkowski of the University of Paris, after prelimi. nary observations with Girard writes: We then embarked on a more sophisticated experiment which consisted of sealing different metal objects in Pyrex glass tubes; these were completely sealed with a torch. They were weighed with a precision of 10-4 grams and measured with a precision of 10-4 meters, and were left with Girard. Inside we had placed different metal objects such as metal paperclips anc steel springs of the coil kind; when they were returned to u: they were quite remarkably bent, from 10° to 30°. The stee spring, for example, which was straight at the beginning, wa now 50 distended that at one point it could no longer move freely in the Pyrex tube. All the tubes were still the same weight and the same dimensions, and the glass blower could not detec any tampering. (125) In February, 1978 an extensive research report appeared i the French metallurgical journal MEMOIRES SCIENTIFIQUE REVUE METALLURGIE concerning the PKMB of metal specimer by Girard. The authors were C. Crussardand }. Bounvaist. A siio extract (translated) reads: Here We will describe the test made on the thickest ba This was-a bar 17 mm in diameter and 309 mm long made « alloy AU2 (2.05 c/c copper) in state 14 (hardened tn cold wat and aged for one year). Reference marks were engraved in th mass of this bar, and the placement of smali characteristic flav were noted.... During the tests, the twa experimenters sat at about a met away on either side of J.P. Girard, who worked in shirtsleeve with his sleeves rolled up, without contact. J.P. Girard d formed this bar four times in succession by holding one end his right hand and lightly touching the free part with his fe hand.....or by placing his left hand five cm above the specime After each deformation, one observer took the profile of the te bar, while the other remained next to J.P. Girard. The ts largest deformations.....could be seen with the eye: both we produced toward the bottom during a time on the order 10-20 seconds. After each deformation, it was verified that heating up could be detected by touching the bar with t hand, and that the bends made without force by J.P. Giré vapproved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00 78BROOZCODTIOG 14.5" 34 relative to the init The European parapsychologist Hans Bender has also report- ort on an art coabiect in a research brief. . bending plane mentioned above), marked by the groo' indicated above. (126) ‘ Y .%
IH. TIE DISCUSSION OF THE DATA ON PKMB at its face value. The curious fact here is that the closed n shown by the scoffer who. dismisses all talk or-evidence o ‘Apprbvéett FSHiKeASe 2001/03/07 : CIA- RDP96-00788RO02000 1300 PPL bsurd, also manifests In considering the criticisms of the recorded data on PKMB we shall confine ourselves to the “controlled data” where para- psychologists and other scientists are the experimenters, since it is these observations which will carry the most weight if conclus- ions are to be arrived at. Research in this area is unique in that fraud can exist at the level of the subject being observed. One can therefore assess the quality of an experiment in PKMB by refering to the two factors which can screen out the possibility of fraud, namely, physical controls and experimenter competence - in detection of fraud. Indeed, the criticisms involve one or both of these. In addressing the topic of adequate controls and safeguards, parapsychologist D. Scott Rogo has written: While | am open to the possibility of there actually being a PK-mediated “Geller effect,” to this date | have found little . evidence of such-a process either in my own investigations or when critically evaluating the evidence and tests of others. (133) A critique of work on n PKMB done by South African parapsy- chologist E. Alan Price reads in part: Objects alreacly secretly bent can be held even by a child to appear straight until the “power” is to take effect. Weakened metal can be bent more easily with concealed pressure. Old timepieces can often begin running again after a hidden ‘shaking. A discussion of numerous other methods would fill books; in fact such books are present on magicians’ shelves and — have become more frequently available to lay people. Dr. Price seems to be well aware that carefully controlled jaboratory experiments will be required to obtain definitive evidence of the ‘Geller effect.”’ In providing possible subjects, his report is no doubt valuable. These reports themselves may be preliminary evidence of great undiscovered abilities. It should be understood, however, that phenomena “‘occurring in good light in the presence of responsible, outside observers”’ “may just as likely be evidence of another ancient and well- known ability—-the ability to deceive. (134) The experimenter competence in detecting-fraud has been substantially written by the critics. Martin Gardner of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN is a confirmed skeptic. , Any magician will tell you that scientists are the easiest persons in the world to fool. It is not hard to understand why. In their labortories the equipment is just what it seems. There are no hidden mirrors or secret compartments or concealed mag- nets. if an assistant puts chemical A in a beaker he doesn’t (usually) surreptitiously switch it for chemical B. The thinking of a scientist is rational, based ona lifetirne of experience witha rational world. But the methods of magic are irational and totally outside a scientist’s experience. The genezal public has never understood this. Most peaple assume that ifa man hasa brilliant mind he is qualified to detect fraud. This is untrue, Unless he has been thoroughly trained in the underground art of magic, and knows its peculiar prin- ciples, he is easier to deceive than a child. (137) In writing of the Geller controversy, Bernard Dixon, editor of NEW SCIENTIST, adds that experimenter bias is a contributing factor to experimenter competence to detect fraud. : Another lesson of recent months has been that scientists é are not necessarily as critical, sceptical, and obervant as their craft should require thein to be. Putting aside the quite se question of active willingness to believe, m Approved more willing than might be supposed to accept the unexpected arate among researchers who are drawn into positive belief fo very reason that the evidence appears to conflict with previous conceptual picture of the world. There is, sureh intriguing field here for psychological research into the chinery of belief. (139) Another factor is one of viewpoint in the experime situation. The matter of who is actually in control may objective quite different from the vantage point of the experimente the subject. When Houdini escaped from a prison c presume the prison warden thought he was in control an Houdini. When Randi fooled the editor of PSYCHIC NEW! editor presumed he was in-control. The whole point of de tion is to secretly have control in a way unknown to the : tator/experimenter. (140) ‘Through Randi some professional scientists have seer hand the full meaning of competence to detect fraud. certifying Geller as manifesting PKMB, physicist Jack Sa retracted in SCIENCE NEWS: | have witnessed The Amazing Randi fracture meta move the hands ofa watch in a way that is indistinguist fram my observation of Geller’s “‘psychokinetic’’ demor tions. Also, 1 am advised of Randi’s demonstration of cai ’ bursts ina Geiger counter and of deflecting a compass nec reported in a letter from Kings College, University of Lo _ uly 11, 1975) signed. by Maurice Wilkins, F.R.S., and other faculty associated with the Department of Biophy (143) The critics have put much of PKMB research into a perspective, and although demonstrating that.fraud was p ble, it does not prove that fraud‘occurred: Scientists do ret strong quarantees of fraud proof conditions, both physical experimenter based. ii) THE DEFENSE In response to the criticisms, it seems that the major parapsychologists have agreed, and have attempted to i. porate suggestions. Parapsychologist A.j. Ellison in a lett NEW SCIENTIST states: 1 ‘fully’ agree that physical scientists can be exceed naive when outside their own fields —well known to magi: and parapsychologists. Experience of working with a varie genuine psychics, preferably over some years, is esse training for an investigator. There are many factors invo primarily relating to psychological matters and especiallt unconscious mind. It is sad to see recently “conve: physical scientists trying to investigate parapsychological ters outside their field of experience. A year or so ago sor us formed a multi-disciplinary committee to study the so-c. Geller-type phenomena and included physical scientists, chologists, a doctor, and a magician (with a second ex ionaly knowledgeable consultant), several of those men having deep experience of parapsychology. Experiments | ned by such a committee for Geller and the many others cl ing similar faculties in the light of all that is known abou diffcult and recondite subject seem to me to be most like ead to something useful. (146) any trained scien- ad Ronhelaase 2004/08/07.2. CIA, RDP96HAZHERAQZB001300 hdeSreported where this | has been confronted. Hans Bender reports: ,s + a