1978 07 27 Nature - Vol 274 - Vera Rich

Magazine Overview

Title: Nature
Issue: Vol. 274, No. 274
Date: 27 July 1978
Publisher: Macmillan Journals Ltd
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
ISSN: 0028-0836
Price: $1.00

This issue of Nature features two main articles. The first, "The secret is to have no secrets" by Vera Rich, delves into the Soviet Union's use of 'secrecy' as a justification for denying emigration to Jewish scientists. The second, "Tungus expert discovers biofields" also by Vera Rich, introduces Aleksei Zolotov and his theories on 'biofields' and the Tunguska phenomenon.

The secret is to have no secrets

This article by Vera Rich highlights the pervasive use of 'secrecy' by Soviet authorities as a primary obstacle for Jewish scientists seeking to emigrate to Israel. Anatolii Shcharanskii, a human rights activist, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and ten years' exile for revealing information officially classified as 'secret'. Rumors suggest that much of this 'secret' information was, in fact, a denial of secrecy itself. Shcharanskii and the scientists he represented consistently denied that their work was militarily sensitive, yet Soviet officialdom often invoked 'secrecy' to explain emigration refusals.

The article notes that since the 'education tax' on emigrants was abolished, 'secrecy' has become the most common reason for denial. Statements from Soviet authorities are cited, such as explaining to cyberneticist Vladimir Slepak that the Soviet Union being five years behind the USA in a certain field was precisely 'the secret'. Moscow Radio, in 1976, claimed that Western campaigners' assertions about Soviet scientists lacking access to secrets were meaningless because 'only we know what our secrets are'.

The concept of military secrets is acknowledged as a legitimate reason to impede emigration, but typically with a defined term after which the information is considered obsolete. However, the Soviet Union imposes much longer terms, with mathematician Irina Brailovskaya being told her term of secrecy was for 30 years, and cyberneticist Aleksandr Lerner being informed his was 'for life'.

Crucially, potential emigrants are often not informed of the duration of their secrecy terms or even if they are eligible for clearance. Applying for a visa can lead to dismissal from one's post, especially for those whose jobs are deemed secret even from themselves, resulting in years of waiting in the 'jobless limbo of the refusnik'.

Tungus expert discovers biofields

Aleksei Zolotov, initially an oil-driller, became involved in geo/astrophysical expeditions in the mid-1960s to investigate the Tunguska phenomenon. He has since become a prominent figure, propounding his theory that the object responsible for the Tunguska devastation was an extra-terrestrial space-craft that disintegrated in a nuclear explosion.

Zolotov's interests have expanded beyond astrophysics into biophysics. According to a recent TASS announcement, he has postulated the existence of a 'biofield', in addition to electromagnetic and gravitational fields, which could significantly influence scientific development, particularly in medicine. He claims that this 'biofield' is a random gift, akin to musical or mathematical talent.

Zolotov asserts that he can slow down a chronometer using the biofield of his hands. He also claims to have observed that the biofield can affect a crystal oscillator and that it is possible to photograph it due to light dispersion. Based on these investigations, he states that an 'ailing thyroid gland' produces a biofield in the shape of a 'dagger some 2 to 3 metres long'. He suggests that a healthy person sensitive to 'biofields' can restore normal functioning to such a gland by influencing its biofield.

The article notes that these phenomena are not entirely new, referencing Kirlian photography from two decades prior, which claimed to show energy fields of living organisms. What is remarkable about Zolotov's claim is the regular support he receives from TASS, first for his UFO/nuclear explanation of Tunguska and now for his 'biofield' theory.

Parapsychology is presented as a valid field of research in the Soviet Union, which has a vested atheistic interest in providing physical explanations for phenomena that might otherwise be attributed to a nonmaterial 'soul'. The article concludes by mentioning that Dr Peter Zolotov, Director of the Kirillin branch of the All-Union Geophysical Institute (where Aleksei Zolotov works), offered a non-committal response when asked about his colleague's work, stating that it 'seems to be interesting and promising'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue highlights a critical stance on the Soviet Union's opaque practices regarding scientific information and emigration. The use of 'secrecy' as a tool of control and suppression is a central theme. The magazine also explores fringe scientific concepts, such as 'biofields' and UFOs, within the context of Soviet research, suggesting a state interest in finding materialist explanations for phenomena that might otherwise challenge atheistic ideology. The editorial stance appears to be one of investigative journalism, reporting on both political and scientific developments within the Soviet Union with a degree of skepticism and a focus on human rights implications.