Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 09 No 05 - 2000

Magazine Overview

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Vol. 9 No. 5
Date: April/May 2000
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought

February Meeting: The Reichenbach Affair: Pseudoscience in the 19th Century

Bill Jensen, a faculty member at the University of Cincinnati with interests in chemical education and the history of chemistry, presented on the Reichenbach Affair. Jensen emphasized that distinguishing science from pseudoscience requires evaluating both the scientific and social aspects of an incident. Scientifically, this involves assessing experimental reproducibility and the compatibility of a proposed theory with established scientific theory. Socially, it means understanding the claim's reception within the scientific community.

Jensen discussed Baron Karl von Reichenbach, a respected scientist and industrialist born in 1788, who claimed to have discovered a force called 'Od' (also translated as Odyle, Odic, or Odylic) in 1845. Reichenbach published extensively on this force, which he described as permeating the universe and characterized by polarity, colors, odors, tastes, temperatures, and emotions. He believed the positive pole was reddish-yellow and warm, while the negative pole was bluish and cool. Reichenbach claimed that materials differ in their ability to conduct and store Od, and that magnetic and electrical phenomena are accompanied by changes in Od. He stated that Od left no physical trace and could not be detected by normal healthy individuals, only by 'sensitives' with severe physical or psychological health problems. He also suggested that the northern lights were a manifestation of Od powerful enough for normal people to see.

Reichenbach believed Od was polarized left and right in living organisms, with one pole flowing from the left side and the other from the right. Crossing these polarities produced unpleasant sensations. He applied an empirical approach to his research, testing hundreds of sensitives. He noted that the south pole of the earth, the negative electrical pole, and the base of crystals were positive Od poles (red), while the north pole of the earth, the positive electrical pole, and the tops of crystals were negative Od poles (blue). He also linked Od to phenomena like mesmerism and the laying on of hands.

Jensen highlighted that the reception of claims is influenced by the claimant's personal status, the status of their discipline (theoretical physics being high, sociology low), and nationality. He used the example of cold fusion, where claims from respected US scientists were taken more seriously than they might have been from scientists in less prestigious countries. Reichenbach's claims, despite his scientific standing, were eventually scrutinized by a panel of physicists, a chemist, a botanist, a mineralogist, and a physiologist, under which his results evaporated. However, ideas similar to Od have persisted, with Reichenbach's books being reissued decades later.

March Meeting: Members Welcome Open Mike Meeting

The March meeting was nearly a disaster when the scheduled speaker canceled last minute. Program Chair and Meeting Organizer Brad Bonham turned the event into an open meeting, allowing members to share their thoughts. Brad reported on Kathy Platoni, a psychologist who had appeared on a John Stossel television special demonstrating hypnosis for pain relief during surgery. Platoni, who had undergone repeated surgeries for facial bone deformities, opted for hypnosis to avoid the short-term memory damage associated with conventional anesthesia.

The discussion during the open meeting ranged widely, touching upon the effects of anesthesia on short-term memory, controversies surrounding dinosaur extinction, the potential impact of higher oxygen levels on insect size, USDA organic farming rules, fad diets, and the extinction of large mammals like mammoths 12,000 years ago.

Bob Streifthau announced the Science Book Club meetings, held on the fourth Sunday of the month at the downtown Public Library. The group was reading Richard Feynman's 'Q.E.D: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter'.

Comments Corner: The Route Traveled by Abnormal Knowledge

Joe Gastright's column explores the prevalence of pseudoscientific ideas in Cincinnati in 1850, including mesmerism, phrenology, and spiritualism. He notes that Baron Von Reichenbach's research on Magnetism was published in the Journal of Man in February 1849, shortly after its initial publication in a German chemistry journal. Gastright intends to investigate the forces that brought Dr. Joseph Rodes Buchanan to Cincinnati in the 1840s and discusses the role of the Eclectic Medical Institute.

He contrasts regular (allopathic) medicine with the 'medical sectarians' of the 1820s and 1830s, such as herbalists, medicine men, and homeopaths, who offered inexpensive and emotionally appealing therapies, often lacking formal education but possessing strong intuition. Gastright likens this to a 'great awakening' that was anti-authoritarian, anti-intellectual, and mystical.

The column also touches upon Samuel Thompson, a proponent of 'Herb Doctoring' in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, who borrowed cures from the 'Quaking Shakers' and published 'A New Guide to Health'. Thompson's business sense and profit motive are noted as precursors to modern alternative medicine.

From the Un-Easy Chair...

This section critiques an article published in National Geographic Society's magazine about the Archaeoraptor liaoningensis fossil, which was later exposed as a fake. The fossil was a composite, with a feathered dromeosaur tail attached to the body of a Sinornithosaurus. The author suggests that financial gain may have been the motive for the hoax. The article notes that creationist groups, such as the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) and Answers in Genesis (AIG), seized upon this incident to criticize scientists and the National Geographic Society. The author criticizes National Geographic for sensationalistic journalism and unsubstantiated claims, particularly those made by Christopher P. Sloan in his article "Feathers for T. Rex?".

The piece emphasizes that the scientific enterprise worked as intended, with scientists examining the fossil and eventually identifying it as a composite. It asserts that the evidence for bird evolution remains strong, independent of this single fake fossil, and is supported by a wealth of other fossil evidence. The author also mentions other historical hoaxes, such as Nebraska man and Piltdown man, that creationists often highlight.

Too Many Books.... Too Little Time....

This section reviews two books: "The Science of God: The Convergence of Scientific and Biblical Wisdom" by Gerald Schroeder and "Faith, Reason, and Earth History: A Paradigm of Earth and Biological Origins by Intelligent Design" by Leonard Brand.

Schroeder, an MIT-trained geophysicist, argues that the Biblical story of Genesis should be interpreted, not taken literally. He focuses on the Hebrew Scriptures and uses sources like the Babylonian Talmud and Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed. Schroeder aligns Genesis with modern scientific concepts like the Big Bang and proposes that the days of creation correspond to vast geological time periods.

Brand, a scientist with a doctorate in zoology, presents a more traditional Christian fundamentalist argument. He acknowledges the scientific community's confidence in evolutionary theory but emphasizes the philosophy of science, including the nature of observation, inference, and the incompleteness of past knowledge. Brand discusses evidence that seems less conclusive to him and interjects alternative hypotheses based on the Bible, suggesting that an open mind to biblical stories could lead to better explanations of life's history.

Early America Revisited

This review discusses Ivan Van Sertima's "Early America Revisited," a collection of his writings. Van Sertima's earlier book, "They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Early America," proposed that Africans from the ancient trans-Saharan kingdom of Mali and Black Egyptians visited Mexico and South America in the 13th and 14th centuries. The reviewer finds Van Sertima's arguments, which include comparisons of Olmec heads, numerological correspondences related to pyramids, and linguistic links, to be a "mish-mash of bits and pieces of evidence" that relies on "pyramidology" and questionable linguistic connections.

The reviewer questions why other investigators have not found similar evidence, suggesting it's due to "negrophobic orthodoxies" that assume only Europeans could have initiated trans-Atlantic voyages. Van Sertima claims that some of his evidence, such as images of seven-braided hair styles, has been suppressed.

Truly, Minimum Knowledge: Some Science and Math Questions for the Candidates

This article by John Allen Paulos, a professor of Mathematics at Temple University, proposes a "Who Wants to Be a Scientifically Literate President" quiz. It includes questions on basic arithmetic, statistics, and scientific concepts.

Arithmetic and Statistics Questions:
1. Approximate population of the US and the world, and the percentage of the world population that is US population.
2. Reaction to a statistic claiming 42% of heart attacks occur on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
3. Interpretation of house prices in a Midwestern community (mean $400,000, median $50,000) and the effect of a $10 million mansion on the mean vs. median.
4. Calculation of time to spend $1 million, $1 billion, and $1 trillion at $1 per second.
5. Sufficiency of a poll of 1,500 randomly selected adults to determine a percentage (with a margin of error) versus polling a small town.

Science Questions:
6. The second law of thermodynamics and the development of perpetual motion machines.
7. Distance to the sun and moon, and the speed of light.
8. The Uncertainty Principle in quantum mechanics.
9. Plate tectonics and the percentage of Earth covered by oceans.
10. The shape of the DNA molecule and its function as a code.

Knowledge, Not Trivia Questions:
11. Definition of falsifiable statements and their importance in science.
12. Scientific evidence for astrology and the therapeutic powers of pyramids or crystals.
13. Identifying an error in a density calculation.
14. Distinguishing between scientific theories (e.g., Newtonian) and informal theories (e.g., Fred's theory).
15. Definition of a double-blind study and a placebo.

Paulos offers his own guesses for how presidential candidates might perform on such a quiz, suggesting that greater scientific literacy makes for a better candidate and president, and that the combination of ignorance and power is frightening.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Cincinnati Skeptic consistently promotes a skeptical and rational approach to claims, particularly those related to pseudoscience, paranormal phenomena, and unconventional theories. The newsletter critically examines historical and contemporary examples, emphasizing the importance of scientific methodology, evidence-based reasoning, and critical thinking. It highlights the social and disciplinary factors that influence the acceptance of scientific and pseudoscientific claims. The publication also advocates for science literacy among the general public and political leaders, underscoring the dangers of ignorance combined with power. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific understanding and against the uncritical acceptance of unsubstantiated or disproven ideas.

Title: Cincinnati Skeptics
Issue: Vol. 9 No. 5
Date: April/May 2000

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptics newsletter, published by the Association for Rational Thought (ART), serves as a communication tool for skeptics in the Cincinnati area. ART is presented as an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization that aligns with the philosophies of prominent skeptical organizations such as CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), The Skeptics Society, and JREF (James Randi Educational Foundation).

Affiliations and Resources

The newsletter details the publications and contact information for these affiliated organizations. CSICOP publishes the Skeptical Inquirer, The Skeptics Society publishes The Skeptic Magazine, and JREF publishes the Swift Newsletter. ART itself publishes the Cincinnati Skeptic and maintains a database of paranormal claims for local media.

ART was founded in 1991 by Cincinnati area skeptics and holds monthly meetings from September through June. Annual dues are $15.00, which includes a subscription to the Cincinnati Skeptic. The newsletter provides contact information for President Roy Auerbach and Nurit Bowman for general inquiries, address changes, and membership questions, with Roy Auerbach also serving as the contact for e-mail inquiries.

Membership and Support

Information is provided for new and renewing members, with options to contribute financially to ART's work. The newsletter acknowledges that dues have been kept low but appeals for additional contributions to further the organization's important work, emphasizing that these contributions are greatly appreciated. Checks should be made payable to the Association for Rational Thought and mailed to their P.O. Box in Cincinnati. It is noted that contributions are not currently tax deductible, but the organization is working towards that status.

A section on mailing label information clarifies membership status: "00/00/00 Member" indicates good standing, while "Lapsed" signifies an expired membership requiring renewal.

Skepticism and ART on the Electronic Media

This section highlights the importance of electronic communication for the skeptical community. Readers are encouraged to join SANE (Skeptical Area Network Effort) for skeptical news delivered via e-mail, featuring content from CSICOP, James Randi, and local skeptics. This e-mail service is described as a means of staying in touch between issues of the Cincinnati Skeptic.

The newsletter strongly recommends visiting the ART skeptical website at http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.org. The website is described as a valuable resource containing blurbs on various subjects, links to skeptical thinking resources worldwide, information on joining SANE, the definition of ART, its bylaws, details on how to attend meetings at James Tavern, other contact methods, and instructions for sending sample copies of the newsletter. David Wall is identified as the Web Site Manager, with his e-mail address provided.

Preview of Coming Attractions

The newsletter outlines upcoming meetings for the 1999-2000 season. Meetings are held at James Tavern, described as a comfortable location for gatherings, lunch, and social interaction, accessible to individuals with mobility challenges. Coffee is available with a small donation. The meeting schedule includes a program from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by lunch and social time from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

• Eighth Meeting:
• Date: April 8, 2000
• Topic: UFOs: Soft Evidence / Hard Science
• Speaker: Terry Endres, Anomaly Research Center
• Website: http://home.fuse.net/arcsite

• Ninth Meeting:
• Date: May 13, 2000
• Location: U.S. Playing-Card at 4590 Beech in Norwood (to view the company's card collection).
• Topic: Tarotism: The Founders & Their Blunders
• Speaker: Ronald Decker, Curator, U.S. Playing-Card Co.
• Lunch: At the Rookwood Pavilion (options include Longhorns, Fuddruckers, or Don Pablos).

Attendees are informed that a postcard with more details about these meetings will be mailed. The newsletter concludes with an invitation to join ART meetings to "find out what's real and what's not!"

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around promoting skepticism, critical thinking, and scientific investigation of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of rational thought and evidence-based analysis, as evidenced by ART's affiliations and the topics chosen for discussion. The newsletter actively encourages community engagement through meetings and electronic communication, aiming to educate the public and foster a network of like-minded individuals. There is a strong emphasis on providing accessible information and resources to support the skeptical movement.