North Texas Skeptic - Vol 21 No 08 - 2007

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue: Volume 21, Number 8
Date: August 2007
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic features a two-part exploration of alchemy's transition to chemistry, an investigation into paranormal claims, and a debunking of arguments against human evolution using the fossil "Lucy."

Alchemy to Chemistry: Pseudoscience to Science (Part II)

By Kristine Danowski

This article, the second part of a series, delves into the historical and conceptual shift from alchemy to chemistry. It examines alchemical texts, notable alchemists, and the development of chemistry. The author begins by discussing how alchemy captured popular imagination, citing paintings like Hendrick Heerschop's "The Alchemist's Experiment Takes Fire" (1687) and Philips Galle's engraving "The Alchemist" (1558), which depicted alchemists in various roles and often highlighted the potential for failure and poverty.

The article highlights the symbolic importance of the Greek myth of Atalanta, as used in Michael Maier's "Atalanta Fugiens" (1618), where musical scores, engravings, and poetry were employed to convey alchemical processes, with the true meaning accessible only to fellow alchemists.

The "Corpus Hermeticum," attributed to the mythical Hermes Trismegistus, is presented as a fundamental treatise of alchemy, containing the famous maxim "as above, so below" from the "Tabula Smaragdina" (ca. 100 CE).

The text then discusses "The Twelve Keys of Basil Valentine" (1667 CE), attributed to a monk born in 1394 CE, though scholars believe it was written by Johann Thölde. This work detailed steps to attain the Philosopher's Stone and was popular for its illustrations, which revealed chemical processes only to initiates.

Alchemy celebrated dualities like hot-cold and wet-dry, recognizing the importance of the "female principle" (Sophic Mercury) for achieving the Philosopher's Stone, thus implying equality for women in this pursuit. The article notes that alchemy was likely the only intellectual endeavor open to women for centuries, though they risked accusations of witchcraft if exposed.

• Several prominent historical figures are discussed:
• Maria Prophetissa (Maria the Jewess): Credited with inventing the water bath (bain-marie) and alembic, and discovering hydrochloric and nitric acids. Some scholars suggest she authored the "Corpus Hermeticum."
• Zosimos and Theosebeia of Panoplis: Brother and sister alchemists who wrote "Cheirokmeta," an alchemical encyclopedia, emphasizing spiritual goals and numerology alongside chemical processes.
• Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber): Considered the greatest Islamic alchemist, known for his scientific method, treatises on various subjects, and the compilation of his works into "Summa Perfectionis." He proposed that metals are generated by sulfur and mercury interactions.
• Ibn Sina (Avicenna): A renowned medieval Islamic physician who wrote "The Canon of Medicine." He attempted to relate drug dosages to physiological effects and proposed experimental procedures, challenging Aristotle's ideas and not believing in transmutation.
• Albertus Magnus: A Dominican monk and scholar who discovered arsenic in 1250 CE, the first new element discovered in millennia.
• Roger Bacon: Known for the Gregorian calendar system and maps, he wrote on alchemy, botany, medicine, optics, and theology.
• Nicholas Flamel: An alchemist whose sudden acquisition of wealth in 1382 led to rumors of discovering the Philosopher's Stone. He and his wife Perenelle founded hospitals in Paris.
• Paracelsus (Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim): A physician who used alchemy for medicinal purposes, founding the science of medicinal chemistry (iatrochemistry). He coined the maxim "the dose makes the poison" and recognized blood circulation.

The article states that the words "alchemy" and "chemistry" were synonymous until the late 1600s CE. The discovery of phosphorus in 1669 by Hennig Brandt is considered the turning point, leading to the professionalization of practitioners, the establishment of scientific societies, and a shift towards empiricism and synthesis.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626 CE) is credited with delineating a true scientific method based on facts, hypotheses, and testing, advocating for a national scientific institution.

The article concludes by noting that "Part II is continued in the September issue of the North Texas Skeptic."

Listening to God

By John Blanton

This article details the North Texas Skeptics' (NTS) Paranormal Challenge, which offers a $12,000 award for demonstrations of paranormal abilities. The author recounts his experience testing Rosemary Hunter from Cleveland, Ohio, who claimed God spoke to her and would enable her to know words written on paper.

The NTS requires a preliminary test to avoid situations where claimants fail to demonstrate their abilities after significant arrangements are made. Previous tests, like the one with Russell Shipp who claimed psychokinesis, resulted in dismissal due to lack of evidence.

Rosemary Hunter agreed to a test in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the author was on an extended business trip. The test involved Rosemary attempting to guess words written by the author. Initially, the author proposed writing ten words, but a simpler test was conducted first. The author wrote "WALK," and Rosemary wrote "McDonald's." Dumbfounded, Rosemary admitted this was the first time she had experienced a failure in such a demonstration.

A second test was conducted with the word "OCEAN." Rosemary wrote "I Can Not Believe This," again failing to guess the word correctly. At this point, Rosemary conceded defeat and apologized for wasting the author's time.

The author reflects on Rosemary's earlier claims of 100% success with two friends and questions how she could fail under controlled, real-world conditions. He speculates about the possibility of a hoax by her friends. Rosemary later went to Los Angeles for a test with James Underdown but had to skip it, leading the author to believe she may have returned to Cleveland to look up old friends.

Skeptic Ink

By Prasad Golla and John Blanton

• This section contains short, illustrated anecdotes:
• **"Doctors told Lisa she had inoperable cancer." Following chemotherapy and five operations, they gave her only a 50% chance to live. She stands before you now, a testament to the miraculous power of prayer." This is accompanied by a cartoon depicting a woman with a halo and the text "CHURCH OF ETERNAL LIFE" and "HALLELUJAH!"

Editorial: The Measure of a Man

By Mel White

This editorial addresses the argument that the fossil "Lucy" (Australopithecus afarensis) was not human but a deformed chimpanzee, often presented by religious critics of evolution. The author refutes this claim by examining the skeletal evidence.

• Key differences between human and ape skeletons are highlighted:
• Pelvis: Human pelvises are shallow and "cupped" to support internal organs and a fetus, unlike the long, narrow pelvis of chimps and gorillas.
• Limb Proportions: Lucy's arm bones are shorter relative to her leg bones, unlike chimps and gorillas, whose long arms support their forward-leaning posture.
• Lower Jaw and Molars: Human molars have a distinctive "Y" shaped valley on the grinding surface, a feature present in Lucy's molars but absent in apes.

The article emphasizes that while Lucy is a single individual and her skeleton is incomplete, subsequent discoveries of her species further support her classification as an ancestor of modern humans, distinct from apes.

The author concludes that the direct evidence from the bones contradicts the "deformed chimpanzee" canard, urging readers to examine the original evidence.

Events Calendar

• This section lists upcoming events for The North Texas Skeptics:
• August Program: Saturday, August 11, 2007, 2 p.m. at the Center for Nonprofit Management, 2900 Live Oak Street in Dallas. Kristine Danowski will give a talk titled "Out of Body."
• NTS Social Dinner: Saturday, August 18, 2007, 7 p.m. at Good Eats, 6950 Greenville Avenue, Dallas.

Contact information for the NTS Hotline is provided.

Future Meeting Dates

• August 11, 2007
• September 8, 2007
• October 13, 2007
• November 10, 2007
• December 8, 2007

The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

This section describes the mission of the committee, which encourages critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims using a scientific approach. It promotes science, scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and science education.

The Skeptical Inquirer

Information is provided about "The Skeptical Inquirer" magazine, published bimonthly by the committee. Subscription details and contact information are included.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of pseudoscientific claims (alchemy), the rigorous testing of paranormal phenomena, and the defense of scientific consensus against creationist arguments (fossil "Lucy"). The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, advocating for evidence-based reasoning, scientific methodology, and the debunking of unsubstantiated claims. The magazine actively promotes critical thinking and scientific literacy among its readership.