REALL News - Vol 10 No 05 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: The REALL News
Issue Date: May 2002
Volume: 10
Issue: 5

This issue of The REALL News, the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL), delves into scientific explanations for alleged paranormal phenomena and debunks common misconceptions. The publication emphasizes rational thinking and the scientific method.

The Physics of ESP, Part I

This article by Robert Novella critically examines the scientific basis for Extra Sensory Perception (ESP). Novella begins by acknowledging ESP's widespread belief despite a lack of reproducible experimental results over nearly a century. He stresses the importance of a plausible mechanism for any phenomenon to be considered scientifically viable.

ESP is defined as perception beyond the conventional senses, encompassing telepathy (awareness of thoughts), precognition (knowledge of future events), and clairvoyance (information about remote objects or areas). Terms like anomalous cognition and remote viewing are also mentioned as synonyms.

The article discusses the historical context, noting that Joseph Banks Rhine coined the term ESP in 1934, claiming to have proved its existence. However, Novella points out that as experimental controls increased, the evidence diminished, which Rhine attributed to "the decline effect" or "the observer effect."

Novella then explores potential mechanisms for ESP, considering known forces or hypothetical new forces. He analyzes the four fundamental forces of nature: the strong force, the weak force, electromagnetism, and gravity. The strong and weak forces are dismissed due to their extremely short range (femtometers), making them incapable of transmitting signals over distances relevant to ESP.

Gravity is considered next. While it is a long-range and pervasive force, it is also the weakest. Novella explains that gravity's strength comes from its long range and attractive nature, but its effect on the human brain is too feeble to account for ESP. The gravitational field of a human brain is no different from any other object of the same mass.

Electromagnetism (EM) is presented as a more powerful force, responsible for holding atoms together and manifesting as light and radio waves. EM is a self-propagating wave that can travel vast distances. However, Novella argues that EM signals are unlikely carriers of ESP due to several reasons. Firstly, most ESP claims involve distance effects that do not follow the inverse square law of radiation, which governs EM. Secondly, any sufficiently strong EM signal would be easily detectable by modern instrumentation, and no such signals associated with ESP have been detected. Furthermore, the human skull and ubiquitous electrical devices would filter out or overwhelm such signals.

The article concludes that based on the known fundamental forces, ESP lacks a plausible scientific mechanism. Part II is promised to discuss other potential forces, quantum mechanics, and human physiology.

90% of a Brain is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Authored by Steven Novella, MD, this article debunks the persistent myth that humans only use 10-12% of their brain. Novella explains that this misconception is widely accepted and often used to justify beliefs in ESP or supernatural abilities.

He traces the origin of the myth to around 100 years ago, possibly stemming from early brain mapping efforts where about 10% of the brain's functions had been localized. However, neuroscientists have never believed this to be true. The article asserts that the brain has been thoroughly mapped, with specific functions localized to particular areas. Techniques like stroke patient examination, animal studies, electroencephalography (EEG), and functional MRI (fMRI) have confirmed that every part of the brain has a function.

Novella highlights that even small lesions in vital brain structures can cause significant deficits. While small lesions in non-vital areas might not produce noticeable symptoms, they still affect overall brain function. Diffuse damage, as seen in degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, also leads to dramatic cognitive decline, with patients often losing higher neurological function when only 10-20% of brain cells are lost.

Physiologically, the brain is a highly active and energy-consuming organ, accounting for 20% of the body's oxygen and glucose consumption even at rest. Specific tasks increase metabolic activity in relevant brain regions. From an evolutionary perspective, it is illogical for a species to evolve a large, energy-intensive organ like the human brain and then only utilize a small fraction of its capacity.

The article concludes that humans use most of their brain for normal functioning, and the 10% myth is deeply ingrained in popular culture.

Visiting the La La Land of Creationism

By Clark Olson, this article recounts an expedition to Havana, Illinois, to attend a creationist talk by E. Sattler of the "Creation Education Association." Olson describes Sattler as a folksy speaker who denied evidence for evolution and promoted a young-earth creationist viewpoint.

Sattler presented familiar "creation science" topics, including fossils and dinosaur tracks, claiming human tracks were also found. He discussed Noah's Ark, asserting that all animals, including dinosaurs, were vegetarians, evidenced by chlorophyll found in dinosaur teeth. He also presented calculations for the logistics of Noah's Ark, involving his sons watering and feeding the animals.

Olson expresses bewilderment at Sattler's reliance on extrabiblical sources like Josephus to explain the origin of wives for Cain, Abel, and Seth, while dismissing modern science. He notes that Sattler's biblical chronology suggests Adam and Eve lived only a few thousand years BCE, allowing information to pass down to Josephus.

The author found the experience enlightening, though he was surprised by the audience's apparent acceptance of such claims. He mentions a previous similar experience with a Sattler talk reported by Bob Ladendorf in the March 2000 issue of The REALL News, particularly recalling the Noah's Ark material as a point where creationism's scientific vulnerability becomes apparent.

From the Chairman

David Bloomberg's column, "May Meeting: Science in the Schools," highlights REALL's commitment to supporting science education. He discusses the impact of recent property tax increase rejections in Springfield, which led to budget cuts affecting science kits for K-4 students. The Springfield Public Schools Foundation is aiming to raise $242,000 to purchase these kits. REALL plans to host representatives from the school district and the foundation to discuss science standards and fundraising efforts, encouraging members to attend and support the initiative.

REALL in the News

This section details REALL's involvement with a CBS affiliate in Milwaukee for a news segment on psychics. Despite the geographical distance, REALL's editor was interviewed due to his previous writings on the post-9/11 actions of some psychics. The interview covered how psychics operate and exploit people. The segment was brief, and the author expresses hope that it maintained a skeptical tone.

Sad News

This section reports the passing of Milton Rothman, a physicist, teacher, and author, in October of the previous year. Rothman was known for his book "The Science Gap: Dispelling the Myths and Understanding the Reality of Science," which tackled various myths about science. His stated goal was to educate those who were not quite convinced, especially students, by discussing scientific theories and the physical impossibilities of paranormal claims.

Our Next Meeting

An announcement for REALL's next meeting on Tuesday, May 7, at 7:00 PM, at the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois. The meeting will feature representatives from the Springfield school district and the Springfield Public Schools Foundation discussing science kit fundraising efforts to promote science education.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The REALL News consistently promotes a skeptical and rational approach to paranormal claims and pseudoscience. The magazine champions scientific literacy and critical thinking, particularly among students. Articles like "The Physics of ESP" and "90% of a Brain is a Terrible Thing to Waste" exemplify this stance by applying scientific principles to debunk popular myths and alleged phenomena. The publication also actively supports science education initiatives, as seen in the "From the Chairman" column and the announcement for the "Science in the Schools" meeting. The editorial stance is clearly against unsubstantiated claims and in favor of evidence-based reasoning and education.