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    't1( Detail Of Paranormal Metal-Bending By J.B. Hasted and D. Robertson Birkbeck College (University of London) based on 4 paper delvered at the Second International Conference ofthe Seedy Tor Piya! Reseurch at Corbridge, March 177, Reprinted by permis: Siam flom the Journal of the Society for Pxychlal Research, March 197% “The detection of dynamic stain signals in paranormal metal- bending ‘action’ (1) has enabled experimentation to be carted ‘out on the istribution of the action around the meta-bender. {resistive strain gauge i mounted on or in a small metal Specimen, which hangs from its screened electricat connections; Glectrcal bridge, amplifier and chart recorder enable dynamic strago data to be collected. It is found thatthe ‘action’ occurs | in sof extension of contraction, rather randomly distributed in Bhie, oten ata rte of about fity per hour "An early resuit of experiments with several independent embedded resistive sain gauges was the finding (2) that dynamic Strain pulses were requently registered simultaneously on two en- tirely separate metal specimens. The data were interpreted in terms of a crude physical model of a ‘suriace of action’, at points on which strain pulses occur. The configuration and | Bovemene ‘of ths suace wih respect to the metabending | subject cen then be studied. ‘A further series of studies 2) were conducted with several independent strain gouges on a single piece of metal. The linear tray of gauges along. a thin stp of metal respond simultaneously to the ‘action’, but the signals are strongest in the centre of & ‘region of action’, which extends about ten inches, and can move slightly rom ever to event. A series of experiments was also con- ducted with strain gauges on apposite sides ofthe metal stip. Fora ‘pure bond! the signals should be in opposite directions but these conditions were only obtained in the lint of infinitely thin metal | Seip; for trips of thickness in the region of cm, one stain gave | tecieh« mich soar sl ten a ater, a Hehe penetration was incomplete ee Since there is no very strong, eason for expecting the signals i to be of magnitude or sense uniformly distributed across the thickness of the metal, it appears important to investigate the ‘profile of strains in thick metal specienens. We therefore mounted six sensors throughout the thickness of a metal speciman, and cop ocled them to six separate battery-operated bridges and oA ine, usirg two synchronized threepon char ecorder Two different methous of fabricating the sensor were used: in one oe BiSnCd 4. Cross-sectons of meta specimens 2) Laminar, and b) Solid extectc alloy, Contsning sx stan gouges for Investigation of dynamic stan profit EXPERIMENT WITH STEPHEN N. Three experimental sessions wore held with thirteen: year-old Stephen N., and simultaneous strain signals were ce Corded at six strain gouges. The thick metal strip sas suspended horizontally radially in front of the subject. “The subject was seated and was able to reach forward his hand within a few inches of the end closest to him, but part of the time he did nét hold out either hand, and many signals were ob- served during.these periods. One author would superintend the working of the equipment, leaving the other free to witness the action without touch produced by the subject. Members of the Subject’s family were often present. The normal time for an ex perimental session was sixty to ninety minutes. When a metal strip is bent, ther elastically or plastically, the convex face experiences extension (positive strain), whilst the concave face experiences cantraction (negative stain). At the ‘carved neutral surface, inthe centre ofthe strip, there isno change cf strain, a positive strain were represented by an arrow af length ‘proportional to its value pointing to the right and a negative strat by an arrow painting to the lef, then the normal bending situation could be represented by 2 series of arrows, as shown at the left-hand side of Figure 2. fan airay of synchronous paranormal bending signals re- presents a pure bend with the top face convex, then they could be Shown graphically as a set of data points extending diagonally from bottom left to top right. A gure extension would be ro thesia raved Poe Release. 2004 0di0z:.C1A-RDPB8-00783R00 20001 SOG TH 5 a" one shove te Tnterloaved! with spacers stuck together with epoxy resin; both mathae ace detailed in Figural, “eWel other. ‘The arrays of signals recorded in experimengal sessions are SNS 44 45 12. Typical proile of dynamic strain sgnats across the thickness of # metal Specimen. Also shown atthe left the profile that would result fom a pure Bend Signals conespond to quasiforces of about 20 gm weight. more complicated than the above. A selection of typical arrays, actually a series from session S, are shown in Figure 2 A simple classification of arrays may be made on the basis of the number of changes of direction in the line Joining the data points. Arrays with no changes are bends; those with one change are symbolized by the letter V, those with two changes by N, those with three by W and those with four by M. In table 1 the numbers of signals arrays of each type are listed The action inside the metal is more complicated than might have been supposed. The phenomenon might more appropriately be described as paranormal ‘metal-churaing’ than 'metal-bending’.A. ‘strain is localized to a depth of less than about a millimeve, and may often be accompanied by a strain in the opposite sense at a zighbouring strain gauge. is of course important to-verify by other experiments that the signals do not arise from paranormal action on the electronic equipment or even on the pen of the chart recorder. Two subsidiary experimental programmes were mounted for this purpose. In the first galvanometer mirror was mounted on a very thin spring steel stip, with strain gauge attached. One end of the spring was attached to a horizontal surface under a glass dome, {and an optical beam from a helium-neon laser passed through the dome and was reflected through itagain from the mirror and onto a | scale. The optical path was about 5 m, Small movements ofthe light spot were seen to synchronize with stain gauge signals, and some ringing was observed, due to the long-period mechanical resonance of the system, « NO SIGNALS IN DUMMY GAUGE In the second experiment a dummy strain gauge was included with real strain gauges on a metal strip. Typical signals were observed on the real strain gauge chart record throughout the TABLE 1. Numbors of signals sostts of dlerent profile complentyin Stephen Approved For Release 2001/03/07 = CIA-RDP36- Relebse a04ipoi07 : CIA 7 SETI, al A signals at all were recorded vom the aur _ tnuge Aesitive tema sensor Micro easementtye 5 : vgih series compensa SPU TRERADANUD UII cooconce nr Sensors very similar tothe resistive sean gauge Micro Mea tents ype PAG 125 BT 120) ba ts restane sens Stan ahough high senstiveto temperate Sudden tute changes are uninowr fo s in paranormal meta-ben sessions, although temperature dit sully occur, ig EReironmental causes, Paranormal stan signals, on the 0 hand, are suden, in hat they ave shaponted ples. [Alhcgh these experiments have wndested the itr tation tat the paaforel acon isan tmal strain i em fr sain gauge or but, it must be sessed that dummy techniques have not been usa standard practice al the perimens report here tour custom t node ad age at iregular neva, averaging one session inte. We now describe the ose of the stain gauge a 2d af dtectonal fics mn paranormal metal bending, The cx mentsontne distribution of sigalsalongthelengh ofa etl ' \ rere saociaitinnsessasicl iN ‘Br Joh Husted wh Wil C (3) had Hn conducted using sips of width 8m, ony sist te mount he vain pruges, The asumption a8 ety the dats tat the eatensone ard contractors are etBately song te long ant ofthe specimen pie Sree S mm 4075 mn), twos decided to test hth Settad asuumprion would be valid on wider metal tips or fora yam gauge tobe mount aos sw the dae SF ,™—_F —_sr Wire Ssiderstipwas uted lager signals were cord wines seised vo experment ysenatiealh on the de aes emannte svain vectors sheet-metel species See thiseprenene whigh ol ae the arsenide along themsjr avis Tris actos hones CL————F_—_— ae but ithe fist expeinent Ihe safest couse Wo DP9G-GABAROTABOOATOOA-S mation of edie Mpec othe wbject and (o the horzoyal. [AN IMPORTANT PHYSICAL FACTOR ~ ‘There is also an important phystcal strain, When tension (positive sess) is applied alonga diameter of ance ‘extension (positive stain) will be recorded 5G. that diameter, but an equal contraction (negative stain) wit ae rScoided along the orthogonal diameter. A more complicated ess produces strains of diferent magnitudes along orthogonal Slameters, The strain tensor has many components, but it is possible with three strain gauges to determine (wo orthogonal ‘components. Figure 3 shows the arrangement ofthe sensors and defines the angles and magnitudes ofthe strains, Asolution ofthe problem Sf determining the magnitudes and angles 0 and @ +90 of the ex tension and contraction vestors le and Ic from the vectors 11, 12 tnd [3 recorded atthe ‘rosette’ of strain gauges has been given by ‘Me. Jankowski. The equations appear with Figure 3. @ = Sarctan 4. Directions of strain gauges 1.2.2, mounted in roste. Equations connect the aoe eee in ts Igonth he extension feandonhogona contraction le “wo dierent configurations ofthe dsc with respect to the a er ed tate it the esha veal and subject ave ee oc he second tre dead let LE, cor et anotr ato: hs actin. He nally who i er ol hs band about since om te gel eer eighty sve the hats. on the fren elt arama plone a Eee ec tneaiondand 9 corespondng stain 94 Oe a eset a dogma res 202 Ths a at ne rer agate. The pals i eres ABRI ae Te ae by inspecting sacha agar RS 938 diagram’. We can sce by ins ere nein the session. ‘Approved For Release 2001/03(07.: CIA-REIPS6-007 44 ‘Stardagram’ forStephen North sesionN. Soliinesrepresetextentons, Ai tear gaclns Lengths represent magnitades,nambersingcate the aren ne en of the two corresponding ethogona signals. Calbtions seeien er the agent signals correspond to a quasiforce of about 100 Bm weight NO PREFERRED DIRECTION In the sessions with Stephen N. there were no very strong preferences of direction In particular we note session U, in which B'cquare metal specimen was suspended vertically from one Gomer, As appears from the histogram of Figure 5, there is no particular preferred direction, neither horizontal, vertical, nor parallel to either side of the square. Similarly, there is no particularly preferred relationship be- tween the magnitudes of the cortesponding extension and ortho- onal contraction signals; for a circular disc suffering a single sofia stress vector we would expect the corresponding signals to be approximately equal. The histogram of ratios, shown in Figure Se, demonstrates the absence of preferred ratio. indeed there area Gevtain number of pairs of corresponding signals which are of the Same sign, that is, bth extensions or both contractions. These are pat included in Figure 5a, Such signals arise from a stress more Complicated than a single radial vector, and consist of atleast 3 pair of orthogonal vector [i.e simultaneous pulling or pushing by wo pairsof hands). The proportions of such signals areto be found in Table 2. it would appear from both types of experiment that there is turbulence in the strain, localized to distances of the order of Inillimetre ortess. Peshaps on some occasions there is action or thestrain gaugesalone, hardly penetrating intothemetal. Ashas a ready been noted, the phenomenon might be termed “metal ‘churning’ rather than ‘metal-bending’; and itis possible that th Churning takes place on 2 much smaller scale than we can resolv uth arrays of strain gauges. Itrequires metallurgical investigatios Of the structure to setle the question; but early investigations ( Gisclosed no significant differences between paranormally and mechanically bent metal specimens. ‘STRUCTUAL EFFECTS SUBSTANTIATED. “The first well-substantiated claim that paranormal action ¢3 produce structural change was nade by Crussard and Slowest Miho investigated the adult French meta-bender Jean-ther Girard. Probably the most significant report they publisied that physical change could be induced in aluminium allo QUaSG-T331 and AUAG-T351, “without actual bending oceut ing. However thare was some permanent deformation ot t id FSiflcase:Zoonosior = cia ROP NS 7RARAUADHEASOL Is snr rs microhatdness of the metal; an easily detectata: enhanceme reachj each‘oh scope of the foils from the hardness-enhanced section revealed a high density of loop and other dislocations. | | SNU lh nl rl? L i io ; if _é Loot wo 60 020 40 60 60 100 8 (deg) 5,2) istogam of ratios of comesgonding extension to contacton signs ‘Obtained cuong Stephen Now sessions. b) Histogram of directions of gna linespeetve of theit magnitude) obtained n session SMU. TABLE 2, Statistics of Directional Vectors. : CIA-RI SrAVaK BE Release NORA RAISE STEIA.ROPOs-oo7e4R0020001300%4 5 sem) = 6, Paranormal hardness variation atcente of rthersdecfaluminivmaloy ‘Open datapoints taken by Dr. Desvaux(teatherhead), closed datapoints Bouvaist (Voreppe). Sold lines epresent mean of pre-exposure daa ( polnts shown 3 crosses. This claim is of such significance that it has been a m of great importance that it be confirmed or disproven. therefore invited metal-bender Jean-Pierre Girard to London under witnessing exposed a similarly prepared specime AUAG-T351 to his action. A small decrease (3 sm) in thickness of the specimen was monitored during exposure, wards the microhardness of both sides of the specimen independently measured by"Dé-"Desvaux at the Electrical search Accociation and by Dr. Bouvaist at the Pechiney lat tories. The comparison between their dataissecn to be satista in Figure 6, and a local hardness enhancement is cleat Similar experiments with metal-bending children are in prog ‘When a metal is bent, physically or paranormally, the s hardening at the bend is associated with new distocations. ‘ere not usually loop dislocations, which can be produce exposure to nuclear radiation. Metals in which dislocation induced do not always bend, but internal stains are setup, a these are of appropriate magnitude and configuration, pi deformation can occur We could make a reasonable supposition that a ‘pri event in the paranormal metal-bending process is the format loop and other dislocations. These need not necessarily res actual plastic deformation. In this way botl hardness enh ment and bending could be classed as the same type of e differing only in geometrical configuration of the action PERMANENT DEFORMATION OCCURS We have seen that the elastic dynamic strain signals continually in their geometrical configuration (1,23). Is that these represent the dynamic strains caused by the proc Of the dislocations; when there is a sufficient gradient of re 4 strain, the yield point is reached, and permanent deforn occurs. ‘Thus the paranormal metal-bending action, albeit tir macroscopically to a ‘surface of action’(2), which is stil a POPS ABROUZOONT SHNIE es "oration brought about dislocations in te lattice; thig ‘information a Ta ee ee ein ee tats clicerver in eu: mechanics (7) and might be termed ‘mentally induced tunel cefiect . OAIpy proved For Retéase’ 2001/03/07 C1A- ROPE. -00788R002000130011-5 force field deb onthe met The detailed structure of the surface of action is a kind of “Cin of rainfall’, enveloping certain lattice points and causing, the onset of loop dislocations. However, these produce hardening and not softening of the metal, and we recall that there is good evidence, both in early observations and in unpublished observa- tions of Crussard and Bouvaist, of temporary and permanent softening, sometimes so extremee that it has been referred to as ‘plasticization’ of the metal before fracture. Ii we hypothesise that the surface of action is sometimes capable of specific action at grain boundaries (taking on a kind of iregular honeycomb configuration), then a softening mechanism similar to the well-known quas-viscous creep becomes possi In this high temperatuee process extremely thin layers of atoms at the grain boundaries actually liquefy; but if the paranormal plasticization the temperature rise is unobservable, thus implying ‘extreme specificity ofthe action, which would have to ensure that ‘only 2 minute proportion of the atoms ever reached the high temperature phase. Electron micrographic evidence for the lique- faction has been obtained by Crussard and Bouvaist in the paranormal permanent soitening process ‘The direction of work in progress isto test the hypotheses that the dynamic strain signals correspond in number and strength to the density of dislocations produced in the lattice, and to the degree of liquefaction at the grain boundaries. ‘We ae grateful to the New Horizons Research Foundation, and to the Society for Psychic Research for financial support of these studies. IG. VB. HASTED, Ph. D. Professor of Experimental Physics; Bad, Department of Physics, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, England. Pioneered research in opening up the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum in ‘communications; specialized training in chemistry, Author of, books on atomic collisions, and on dielectrics, and many professional papers, including MY GELLER NOTEBOOKS (to be published). o *Aluminum with small propostions of copperand magnesium, heat treated in a specified manner, for use in supersonic aircraft REFERENCES 1.18. Hosted, "An Experimental Shay f the Vall of Met. ending Phenom’ Journal ofthe Society for Payehies! Research. Vo. 48, No. 770, 1976, pp. 365383 Physica Aspe's of Paranormal Metering” Jour ofthe Society Research. Vol AD, N03, 1977p. $83-607, 3.48. ose, "Pargpormat Meta Cening cout of publication in New Howson (1976), "Testes of Paroncrmol Metab Bending in wae of pubiaten in Ze far Porapsychologie und Crontgebiete der Fayehologie. (0978) 4. Banaes LW: ele O, Bateron. Cf Landon, vate communiation, 1974 ste, ¥Soshir, Beck College, Universty 5.64. Cussare and} Bowait, Memicves Scientiiques Revue Metairie, 1978, 1@ yet. 4.18. tse in The Cele Papers. Ed. Chats Fant, Heughin Mla Co Boon eae ee > cr. weeeproved For Release 200103107 i,GVA 11 Good. Heinervnn, Laon, 1961 Symetne and Rellctons, cn Unesty 01/03/07 ; CIA-RDP96-0! '788R002000130011-5 ‘One or Peter's Sculptures” The Metal-Bending Controversy in Literature and Lab by SAT BIR SINGH KHALSA INTRODUCTION Il, THE DATA ON PKMB i) Uri Geller a) Anecdotal Observations b) Controlled Observations Other Individuals Manifesting PKMB a) Anecdotal Observations b) Controlled Observations IN], THE DISCUSSION OF THE DATA ON PKMB i) The Criticisms li) The Defense IV. THE DEEPER ISSUES i) PUMB In Perspective Directions For The Future 1. INTRODUCTION Since a large segment of the published literature on psycho- kinetic metal-bending (PKMB) concerns itself with Uri Geller, the first to “demonstrate” it, it is convenient to consider his material separately in section 11 - The Data on PKMB. The majority of the PKMB data has been reported in non-technical journals and is of an anecdotal nature; the attempts at controlled observations are therefore considered separately. Discussion of the data involves issues which, for the most part, are common to both Geller and the other individuals manifesting PEMB and are considered as a whole, with presentation of the pro and con approaches respect- ively. The final section will examine the overall approach to the PKM=B phenomenon, the controversy generated, and some of the conclusfons arrived at. The goal of this review is to acquaint the reader with the terature and so consists largely of extracts taken directly from it; it is hoped that this will allow the reader to come away with more of a first-hand experience of the issue. Hl, THE DATA ON PEMS i) URI GELLER a) Anecdotal Material PKMB first came to attention via Uri Geller whose stage psyformances of his ability in Israel began his rise to worldwide TAPPIOMECHOE:| 56, 200% including clairvoyance and precognition, but it was the novelty a OKI which drew attention. In a 1973 interview he tells us: ‘Actually, the first observable thing that ever happe me wasn’t cracking or bending an object, it was movi ‘school, when 1 was about seven years old 1 class | noticed that my watch would show a di hour than what it really was, which began to happen frequently. | complained to my mother about the wrist being broken; she examined it and said that it kept goo for her, But it continued to happen, so one day in class off and held itn my hands, watching it very closely. tbe notice that the hands would change their positions « instantaneously - very fast - ike dematerializing from on to another, Whe I ried the samething alone, outside of ‘wouldn't happen; so I realized I had to be in class - 2 people - for it to happen. Not long after that, the wristband bent and broke. T actually the first time I became aware of something b and breaking near me. (1) rhe | For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-Q0788R002000#30014 bfppened by coincider And then from his autobiography, MY STORY: soon began to notice other things besides the ha watches moving and bending, which mademe feet mor. freak. One time my mother had made some mushroom ‘There was good white bread with the soup, and | dipp bread into it and ate, Then | started eating the soup w spoon: Fm left-handed, so ! held the spoon in my let ha took several sips of the soup. My mother was standing kitchen stove, Iwas lifting full spoonful upto my mouth suddenly the bow! of the spoon bent down anc! spilled hy into my lap. Then the bow! of the spoon itself fell off. 1 there holding on to the handle. (2) Geller has had @ passion to perform his talents and his ps ances soon drew attention of the local media, of which h "As far as my performances in Isael are concerned hundred shows and got nearly all positive reaction fn press, although | was never checked in the laboratori scientists. Israel is a small place and by that time everyone had seen me. But then a very negative articl fut accusing me of using laser beams to bend and be that | had pliers, mirrors, and springs hidden on However, the material on Geller from his time in | fragmentary at best, and it was not until parapsych ‘Andrija Puharich met Geller and brought him to the States that the published literature on Geller became ‘Nowa celebrity, he demonstrated off stage for scient journalists which effort has resulted in a large number c dotal reports “The classical anecdote of PKMB Is one wherein Gelle strokes a key or spoon and it then is observed to bens Occasion to fracture. More convincing are those instance PAMB was reported without physical contact, and exar this will be presented. Alan Vaughan writes cf his exp with Geller and the editor of “PSYCHIC” magazine: “Takinga hotel room key, Bolen first attempted tobe manual means. He succeeded only in raising a blood He handed itto Geller who, holding it by the handle, b. to me. I grasped the key by the large end and put my oth ‘on top. Geller put his hand lightly on top of mine. He a my hands felt any sensation, but they did not. Then he a to look at it. twas bent about 30 degrees and was sti bending as I watched. The whole procedure was wil Bolen. (45) Even moze extraordinary was a filmed (movie) exp M0307 ::C1ARDP96-OFBBROOZONOTSOONI IS!” Ne wo» vision’ cnn i tested a fork to sce if bend easily manually, but it did ngt. The’ Geller 1008 and Bolen began to film Geller’s actions. “Uri was movingshis boy, with a new toy. He played it like an accordian for a few i haberoude For Release aie? a RORME-BAMadhRabzad BONS eB sr vas becoming soft and that itwas beginning to bend. loomed C“omhishands andthe fork ashe hie to open his fingers to reveal the area. As he did, the prong part began falling away Slowly, as though the metal had become plastic where he had held i. It then came completely apart, with the prong part falling down, but asitfel it drew away a short threadike piece ‘of metal. examined both pieces ofthe fork at the break, which Yooked as though ithad melted apart. Uri did not seem to feel any heal, He was excited and twas excited al having coptured this on film, apparently for the first time, It was a heady experience.” In anther experiment, Bolen filmed Geller bend ing 2 key... 46) Physicist Wilbur Franklin reported: De, Edgar Mitchell and | first observed Geller fracture a ting, after which the ting, continued to bend by itself as | observed it ying on the table beside me, on August 25, 1972, in the home ofthe venerable ps researcher, Dr. Andria Puharich, Parapsychologist Stanley Krippner observed Geller in one of his performances and wrote: e ‘While a member ofthe audience grasped the earpiece ofa pair of glasses loaned to Geller by another spectator, Geller hreld the volunteer's hand. Iwas sitting in the front ofthe room: as far as | could seo, Geller did not touch the earpiece isl. Soon, the other earpiece began to bend as if tremendous heat twas being applied. The volunteer removed her hand from the earpiece and the bending continued over the next few minutes, {even though neither Geller nor the volunteer was touching the pair of gasses. (49) TENCE NEWS” we have the report | Dufing the interview, 1 held a heavy key between my + thumb and forefinger. The key began to bend:-oo slighty tobe perceptible after Geller rubbed it lightly with one finger. The key was then placed on the desk and it continued ta bond slowly for several minutes until it eeached about a 20-desree | _ gle Theasnoctvionvay het ste coktave bbeen switched, Geller had no chance (by slight of hand or other trickery) to bend the key by force. And he didn’t have a laser up. his sleeve, as some have suggested. (49) Occasionally, Geller has also been the apparent cause of “4teleportation’” or “dematerialization” phenomena, However we shall confine ourselves to PKMB, save for this report by physicist Thomas Coohill in the company of 2 other physicists, among others: Wedid not ask Geller to bend anything for us at lunch, nor did he suggest that he do so. However, after we had easten Geller and I went into my living room and began talking about caving (spelunking). After about a minute we both heard a metallic “clink”: itscanded as though something metallic was dropped on a solid floor, Looking around, | saw a spoon lying behind my desk. It was bent ‘As I held it in my hand and called the other people into the room, the spoon suddenly began to bend in another plane (at a right angle to the handle ...}. It seemed as ifthe spoon were observed by all present. (50) Another report rads Ca detec doa you nodes « can handle core balls nicely = he likes the challenge. ‘Amon things took him astinky (sing set coi that lade walk down stops) withthe te that he shoul to deitprevett er UNIVERSE OF course, Gellerdid not such thing, Hews ike ‘onto the loor-all this ight before my (and afrend’s) eyes. Did Geller have a chance to get a this ahead oftime? No, that's the point of bringing a “curveball” device. He doesn't know shat You've brought; can't prepare duplicates, o: otherwise tampe With the “props'” as Johnny Carson calls them. 1 showied Charlie Reynolds (a Geller critic) another of the curve balls had thrown Geller - a set of ceramic magnets. Geller had made a crack through one of them and then made half of the broken magnet disappear. Reynolds broke one of the other magnets by hand. It took two distinct movements and made a less jagged break: this had also been my experience. Reynolds’ response was that he'd like me to arrange a meeting with Geller, Unfortunately, Reynolds had already accused Geller of fraud at the TIME demonstration upon which TIME partly based its scathing March 12, 1973 story. So Geller wanted nothing to do with Reynolds. (1 ‘Acommon characteristic of Geller’s attempts at PRMB is that he is often unsuccessful, although itis dificult to judge how often from the literature, since the media prefers to report only ‘successes. A brief reference to this is given by Dr. Joseph Hanton, after a sitting with Geller and Dr. Bemard Dixon: gave Uri my housekey, which he worked with unsuccess- fal. Dixon commented afterwards that he was stack by the extent towhich Geller stressed his failures - constantly saying hre did not think he could do it and telling us stores about his failures on TV and elsewhere. Indeed, he talked far more about failures than successes, (52) {A typical failure of PKMB was reported by Dr. Eldon Byrd: ‘The first thing t had Geller do was handle the block, (A metal alloy called nitinol). | told hi that I wanted to sce if he Could alter the block's hardness. Also, | asked him if he would try to alter the magnetic properties of the material. He said he ‘would try to do both. He handled the block for some time. Finally, he said he thought he woud not be able to do anything fo it because he somehow did not have a “feel” for the material. na last attemptto influence the block, he asked for apiece of metal af fany kind, and a brass plate was given to him. He placed the block on the plate and held his hand over it, Several times he pressed dowh on the block, but gave up, saying that he cid not think he would be able to affect the material. (53) Claims that Geller cheats uses nompsychic abilities) are not restricted to his time in tsrael. Atleast five people claim to have scen Geller actually cheat. This i a dificult area, because if we cannot trust the feports of ebservers who Say Geller does miracles, why should we give any more credence to those who say he cheated (56) b) Controlled Observations 4 There are indeed critics who would argue that there have been no properly controlled experiments un with Uri Geller, but for the purposes of this review we shall consider those tests Where investigators made serious attempts at controlled obser vation orwhere they have claimed them te be controlled. One of Jesse 200 ORIN CA ASAE TAERANALUORSUUNIH ving pian NATURE the results of ESP tests with Geller,” One of their tests involved Usi's efforts to affect the weight ‘mately a minute. The key was about 15 inches from my Approved) ar Retbast:2001/03/07 HIM BDP 9S, DOT HBRUDPOH OLATHE yc menori fentire scale with weight was covered by a glass bell jar to eliminate the possiblity of deflection by air currents. The entire ‘experiment was filmed. The first part of our protocol involved tapping, the bell jar; next tapping the table on which the apparatus rested; then kicking the table; and finally jumping on the floor, with a record made on strip chart of what these artifacts looked like. In this experiment Geller's efforts resulted in deflections correponding to weight gains and losses on the order of one fgram, well outof the noise level. The signals he produced were single-sided pulses of about one-fifth-second duration, unlike the artifacts, which resulted in two-sided ocsillations that slowly died out. In tests following this experimental run, @ magnet was brought near the apparatus, static electricity was discharged against the apparatus, and controlled runs of day- Tong operation were obtained. In no case were artifacts ob- tained that resembled the effects that occurred during Geller’s efforts, nor could anyone else duplicate the effects. Wehave no ready hypothesis on how these signals might have been produced. (74) Dr. John Taylor in England has reported a test which al- though he feels cannot be regarded as “absolutely frauid proof”, avoids a number of possible fraudulent techniques available to Geller. Galler stroked the upper surface of a stip of metal which wae screwed down tothe top of alter balance. The rcure he wa sppiying could be monitored direc by the Potance dial (accurate to 7 gioms) as well a5 messed utomatically bya shielded metal plate placed veicalyabove the metal top othe balance and connected to 9 qadrant tlectrometer sensitve 5 o£) Abending of V2accured in She session, which 1 closely observed, during which 10 pressure pedter than 10 grams was applied In any case the Prnd was purards Tis experiments presently bengrepeated with videotape. (75) Parapsychologist and magician Wilfom Cox is confident of his test on PRMB'with Geller He reported in the JOURNAL OF PARAPSYCHOLOGY: ‘My hope was to witness satic PK under what could be considered adequate safeguards Being a magician mys, nknown to Geller, Lalso wished to allow opportunity for trekery inthe ever Geller intended to empioy such means Torte trsttestweused at stet hey ofthe suey deposit box type, untoothed and much too hard to bend by hand. 1 overly slowed Geller o han it, whereupon be asked ir aid not fave an ordinary key instead 1 sid "No," ade qepliod, “Wel ty to do sorting wits this one Head my key ona glass cofice tabic in front of the couch on which he trae siting, and we both noted is absolute fatness upon the ate Tus seated atone ond of the coe table placed my Bas Tocingr lightly on te ler end of te bey, and Geller ent stoked the remainder with his right feng, Te key Bega bend sloury ata point beyond my finger sopping at above 6°. Any pressure he might have applied would have ion agua ne dection of bend removed my ger a It Him rock the bent key upon the goss table, {then placed asmall miter nthe paltry lefthan and held tne he lasso the abl so tht could havea cat voor of yer side of te key. then etumed the ky 1s, ARppoWeG ki to a total of 1242, His stroking was light, since it did not cause pea Nate Ue eae eee aa oe a Ge aera shape in which it formed at the time of manufacture.” Geller tested for PKMB with nitinol wire by Eldon Byrd and be writ his second session with Geller: “The diameter of the wire was about 0.5 mm. One j was used as a control and was not taken to Connecticut tape recordings were made during all observations. held one of the other pieces by both ends as previously done and Geller stroked ita before. A kink for took a second piece of wire, held it by one end, and ¢ stroked it unilaterally. It, 100, developed a kink. The third of wire was given to Geller to dowith as he pleased. Heo between his thumb and forefinger and it kinked shar Geller had clearly influenced the alloy nitinol in a unusual way: it was as ifthe kinks he produced had ac been manufactured into the wires, even though it had conclusively determined before any experimentation th permanent configuration of the wires was that of straight No explanation has been given by nitinol experts, who been consulted as to how kinks could have been f without using high temperatures and mechanical stress cchanically produced kinks in nitinol leave obvious mar the surface of the wire. Geller-formed kinks do not. Byrd concludes: ‘llofthe bends that Geller had produced thus for wire have been permanent deformation = the wires ¢ crumpled or twisted into any shape by hand, but on heated to a temperature of about 210°F all the wires rt the shape Geller had imposed upon them. How did Geller achieve such results? At the pre have no scientific explanation for what happened din testing periods. Ican say that the possibilty of fraud on G part can be virtually ruled out. (77) A team of scientists in England consisting of John Hi David Bohm, Edward Bastin and Brendan O'Regan observe following phenomenon: ‘The plasticization, by handling, of about 2 cm of th of a stainles steel teaspoon (phenomenon 7) took place course of informal conversation around a desk. The teas which had previously bees handled and bent through thirty degrees by a child who also displays PK ability, wa by Mr, Geller for a few seconds, when the center b floppy, Awitness was able to take from Mr. Geller the hs (of tht spoon in either hand while the center was sil pl was then handled very much asa heated! glass tube is wh bent to a desired angle in the laboratory. In this w plasticity could be cleaty verified by movement of the hi the witness. The witness attempted to sot the spoon at a angle, and to put it down on the table; it retained itself piece on the table fora few minutes, but due, presoma thinning of the neck by the flow of metal, its strensth small that a slight disturbance fractured it. The weight the fractured spoon was almost within the estimated mental error. Electron micrographs of this fracture are preparation; the procedures used are similar to those another study of a similar fracture obtained in the exper of Professor 1G. Taylor. (70) John Hasted reported a PKMB test attended by physic Sarfati: Geller likes to have such specimens on a metal pl sheet of ste! was laid on the table, and the following s 1403107 sj. GlAyRDP 96 -00788R0020004 G00 1x5 ™ i: 1. Two key rings with keys attached to them, > 2. Four loose latchkeys. ———}$_—_— Jn steel tube containing a thermocouple. 5. Asingle crystal ingot of vanadim ca 6.Asingle crystal disc of molybdenum, 0.22 mm thickand Tem in diameter. 7. A single crystal bar of silicon. 8. A length of stcel 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 Sarfati stretched his hand out above the objects, and Geller then put his hand on top of Sarfatt’s. ARer afew 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 1 showed the erystal to David Rooks, who was going to photograph it, we noticed that it was very slightly attracted tothe tweezers he wasusing. OF course malybdenum Should not be ferromagnetic, so | suspended the crystal be- ‘tween the poles of an electromagnet and found itto be quite as ferromagnetic as commercial motybdenum, which contains eighty parts per million of iron. therefore sent the single erystal for neutron activation analysis to the Scottish Universities Reactor Centre. How this impurity got into pure crystal isstill a puzzle. (79) Finally we have a report by physicist Wilber Franklin using strain gauge apparatus. “The experiment was videotaped, using three TV cameras at different angles. ‘A steel specitnen, %' thick by ve" wide by 6” long, was clamped to a tripod in the setup 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 scieststs and Uri stepped back a few fest ‘from the apparatus, when the strain-gauge recorded the psi- effect, Meanwhile, another probe (see Fig. 1) attached to the tend ofthe beam —which was sensitiveonly to vertical disptace- ments—recorded no bending. Geller had little or no knowledge of the experiments 1 would conduct, of of the one I 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 stain, 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) Asin the anecdotal literature, Gelieris not able to reproduce PKMB totally at will in every controlled situations. This was a the Stanford Research investigation Targ and Put- hoff ran inte ‘We spent the nest several weeks attempting to film or videotape’ amy sort of metal bending under controlled labo sony conditions, One of Gelier's main atbtesthathod been Sportal to ue was tht he was able to bend metal from = ‘tance without touching i Ine laboratory we did ot find fim abe todo sp, Yer re was pera 0 ouch the metal beApprovad Fen Release 2001/03/07 : Buyond this dificity investigators had further problems in Po ee ae aioe eer par eer NEW SCIENTIST, and his overall evasiveness, Joseph Hanton Ona: the NEW SCIENTIST. He backed outon a verbal commitmentto work with the Maimonides Medical Centre Division of Para- psychology and Paraphysics in Brooklyn, New York. (83) letter, Charles Honorton of Maimonides 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 hisstaffthat there had been “miscommunication” regarding our commitment; that whi 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. Stanley Krippner writes: Geller has been of little help in the field of psychoen- ergetic research; however, ifhe has drawn enough attention 10 the paranormal to interest some capable scientists in studying PK effects, his carcer 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) Approved For Release 2001/0207 : CIAYROP9G,09798R0020001990 138m wos Ina Gi) Other Individuals Manifesting PKMB. a) Anecdotal Data. Uri Geller who is not only the mast 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. I.K. Reno in 195: “The Reno article concerned a rather conventional polter- geist outbreak centering on a family who lived in southern Georgia. The first manifestations noted by the family were spontaneous object-throwings. However, shortly after the i option ofthe poltergeist, the family witnessed a series of events ‘which seem identical to what we have now labeled the “Geller effect.” Thearticle reports: “Frequently during the meal hour, milk, tea, coffee, and soup were flung into the faces of those at the table, sbveral times inflicting painful scalds and burns. Spoons were broken, or suddenly twisted out of shape in the hands.” (86) Otherwise the manifestation of PKMB by an individual has begun alter learning of Geller’s ability, especially after exposure to a media program where Geller has performed. This phe- nomena has perhaps been mast widely documentedin britain. A second hand report of a youth named Matthew Manning reads: ‘One night, being then seventeen, he was watching a TV |, “Uti Geller: Is Seeing, Believing?” in which the Israeli paychic was demonstrating his metal-bending techniques. When suddenly his mother exhorted him to see if he could match Geller, He didn’t expect anything to happen, but to please his tnother he grasped a stainless ste! 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: CIA-RDPS8QOREBROGZOOD1BOG ust he spoon erring Tike heated wax, hairpin. (103) ‘snd Ht continued to bend until it resembled a ’ Another report from Britain relates a typical incident: break and reseal flasks. So we still can't call this foo ‘Approve! ForRéldase 2001/08/07 CIAORD P96 -00788RO02000130011-5 ‘antor study). Children and adults throughout the country described their own PK gift. One seven.yeat-old boy made front-page news in a national paper, the DAILY MIRROR. “ decided to have a go after seeing that man on TV,” he said. “ 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: “Ithas to be seen to be believed. I'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, Hatry Collins and Brian Pamplin reported: Sit, —We have investigated six young people who clairned 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. Pamplin 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 tod of mild stee! of 3/0ths 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= Locy 1976: Lena Usted D, isan 18-year-old Danish gil who discover- ‘ed her PK abilities after Uri Geller’s visit © Copenhagen in January 1974. Atthe time of this investigation, she was studying Tanguages at a gyrnnasivm Gunior college) in Denmark. Lena and I 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 to achieve striking effects, but not when adequate controls were exer ccised. Sore 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 concerning two more children manifesting PKMB: “One boy was able to mentally stop an electric saw that was cutting down a tee near his home,” she reports. “We ask parents and witnesses for accounts of the phenomenon, butone ‘of the biggest problems we have is obtaining better documen- tation. “We gave the other boy, who lives in Switzerland, metal teaspoons placed in plastic flasks, These are first sealed by an attorney. At fst we used glass bottles, but he retumed them broken, ““Atthat time we thought he was just another trickster, bul he denied this, claiming the bottles broke while flying around the rooin during the bending. “Aber we switched to plastic containers, “a strange thing occurred.” she continued, Finally, is an excerpt from a report to the Swiss Soci Parapsychology, the phenomenon occurring after Geller’ television appearance: “Alter we completed the second test, Edith Aufder complained of a severe headache. Now, she and | we ourselves. The others had left. While we were siting living-room table, Edith picked up a teaspoon. Slow! began to rub it, almost as if she were caressing it. | watching her closely. After a few moments the spoon bey bend, without any physical pressures whatever. Durin riext few hours she repeated this performance with two tional teaspoons, as well as with a solid steel pin and aj 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 sur controlled observations on the other individuals manif PKMB. b) Controlled Observations As with Geller, successful controlled observations a plentiful, however what has been published indicates abil Teast equal to those reported for Geller. In Britain, John | working with a number of children has reported much work. Hasted's subjects succeeded in 2 wide range of ments, including the psi-bending by children of small di wires encased in hollow glass globes, usually withi 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 Using no tools. Some children could psi-twist long thi bars atthe rate of -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 simult electronic measurements of the PK “strain” on thre which were suspended from the ceiling of the labo equidistant and out of reach of his young subject. The show a comparable, but not exactly identical, force af all three keys simultaneously. In another study, aluminum strips which were left a room became twisted and braided like pigtails within ‘of seconds. The subject was in an adjoining room. Ele strain gauges recorded a force on the metal untike anythi 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 ineasuring instrument. Andrew G. is one of the ch in the Cantor study: ‘This apparatus has been used with several subje cluding Nicholas Williams (age 17) and Andrew G. (a Use of avo and of thrce sensors simultaneously with W at seven sessions has produced synchronous signals he spoons inside two of the flasks Apprawed Fon Rolease. 2001/03 07. ciClAwRDP96-002a9R002000%300415 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 st arc een cn suspended from their electrical connections so as to define a ire approves roeRlegsd AUUGAIY who i Seated at a working surface and occupied in building model ircrati. He knows of the positions of the sensors and isasked to end the latchkeys. The typical distance from the subjectto the sensors is five meters, and between the sensors, one to three Freters, The subjectdoes notin 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 Tesuls, The most usual configuration of the surface is vertical, ‘and extending outwards from the subject, as opposed to ‘extending around him, Toa smallextentthe subjecthas eared 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 js in the range of 10 to 100 cm/sec. On encountering a screening obstacle a surface flexes its shape around it, s0 that partial screening of the sensor advances or delays @ stain 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: - € ‘Alter the. visit of Uri Geller to Tokyo, Japan, in 1973, thousands of Japanese childcen apparently manifested similar paranormal powers. Fight ofthese children were investigated in 1974 by Dr. Shigemi Sasaki, professor of psychology at the Derki Tsushin University, Tokyo with a team of fifteen re searchers, Laboratary tests were dovised to test PK (psycho kinetic ability) and metal-bending. One 12-year-old (un Seki- guchi) demonstrated an amazing ability to bend spoons para- formally, and also recharged dead electric batteries by merely holding them. Dr. .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, andagainas with Geller, the critics have been quick to point out that failures are more common under controlled conditions. A.J. Elison together with a select group of Investigators could only report litte success with child subjects. ‘We started these experiments with the children's attempts at the familiar spoon bending with closed-circuit television Fecording, 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 speciinens fell in half while being stroked. (127) Cheating has been observed with child metal-benders after ‘an investigation of those claiming to have PKMD ability. Hans Bender reports: ¢ ee This enterprise made us acquainted with » number of persons, mostly youths, who claimed to be able to bend metal Gbjects repeatedly, especially spoons, Most of them were tricksters, One demonstrated spoon bending before our eyes but failed when wetricd to film it, Another moved metal objects ‘under hishand; we were ableiodocument the phenomenon on véspproved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96v6078BROO2000 1301 The European parapsychologist Hans Bender has also report: Sone eae ea Since 1975 1 have done experiments with the Swiss desi Svinte fnot important genuine meta-boner we -RDRGE-0 NN7-B8RIG20001300FPss en" metal forks and spoons by holding them between two fingers have been seconded on videotape, as well as sessions inwhich hehas bent 3 plastic spoon, silver con, and an untouched spoon. In one decion, Silvio was studied by Dr. Betz ofthe institute of Physies Of Munich University; he remarkably increased the resistance Gf on electical device, The collaboration with physicists will bbe continued. (123) In France, another adult subject has appeared by the name of Jean-Pierre Girard. The research here is by several teams of jnvestigators and appears to be of high quality. The parapsycho- ogist and magician, William Cox reports: Jean-Paul Girard, a Patisian 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. Coxwasthe experimenter. Nine bendings occurred in six bars (5/16 in. to 55/0 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 experimen which consisted of sealing different metal objects in Pyren gas Tubes; these were completely sealed with a torch. They were weighed with a precision of 10-4 grams and measured with 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 v they were quite remarkably bent, from 10910 30%. ‘The ste spring, for example, which was staight atthe beginning, wa Tow 40 distended that at one point it could no longer mov freely inthe Pyrex tube. All the tubes were sll the same weigh land the same dimensions, and the glass blower could not dete any tampering, (125) In February, 1978 an extensive research report appeared the French metallurgical journal MEMOIRES SCIENTIFIQUE REVUE METALLURGIE conceming the PKMB of metal specimer by Girard. The authors were C. Crussard and J. Bounvaist. A si extract (translated) reads Here! wie will describe the test made on the thickest ba This was.a bar 17 mm in diameter and 300 mm long made. alloy AU2 (2.05 c/e copper) in state TA {hardened in cold wat and aged for one year). Reference marks were engraved in t ‘mass of this bar, and the placement of small characteristic fla were noted... ‘During the tests, the two experimenters sat at about 2 me away on either side of |P. Girard, who worked in shirtsleev with his sleeves rolled up, without contact. J.P. Girard ¢ formed this bar four times in succession by holding one end his right hand and lightly touching the free part with his | hhand.....orby placing his left hand five cm above the specime ‘Alter each deformation, one observer taokthe profile of tre bar, while the other remained next to }P. Girard. The © 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, itwas verified that heating up could be detected by touching the bar with | hand, and that the bends made without force by [.P. Gin 34 relative to the ini SOC FEEROOROONT IOUT nate! by be E00 indicated above. (126) 2 IIL. THE DISCUSSION OF THE DATA ON PKMB ‘Apprdvett FFE MaSe 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-007BBROOZO0OTIOOT HEH, also manifests In considering the criticisms of the recorded data on PKMB Wwe 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- ons 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 Jin 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 lam open tothe possibility of there actually being a Pk-mediated “Geller effect, to this date | have found litle 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 PKMB done by South African parapsy- chologist E. Alan Price reads in part Objects already secretly bent can be held even by a chikd to appear straight until the “power” istotake 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 fll books; in fact such books are present on magicians’ shelvesand have become more frequently available to lay people. Dr. Price seems to be well aware that carefully contrlled laboratory 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” imay 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 writen 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. la their labortories the equipment is just what it seems. There are no hidden mierors 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, ofa scientist is rational, based on alifetimeotexperience with a rational world. But the methods of magic are irational and totally outside a Scientists experience. The general publichas neverunderstood this. Most people assume thatifa man hasa brilliant mind he isquatified wadetect fraud. This is untrue. Unless he has been thoroughly tained 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, Berard Dixon, editor of NEW SCIENTIST, adds that experimenter bias is a contributing factor to experimenter competence to detect frat. \ € Anether lesson of fecent months os been that scientists axe not necessarily scien cepa, and ebetvant as thet traf should equite thermo be. Pitingaste te quite separate question of getve wiliyness to believe many trina cen: Approved honkelease,2000/03/0 ‘more willing than might be supposed to accept die unexpected at its face value. The curious fact here is thatthe closed 1 shown by the scoffer who dismisses all talk or evidence ‘among researchers who are drawn into positive belief fc very feason that the evidence appears to conflict with previous conceptual picture of the world. There is, sure intriguing field here for psychological research into the chinery of belief. (139) Another factor is one of viewpoint in the experim situation. ‘The matter of who is actually in control may objective quite different from the vantage paint of the experimente the subject. When Houdini escaped from a prison c presume the prison warden thought he was in controf an Houdini. When Randi fooled the editor of PSYCHIC NEW editor presumed he was in control. The whole point of d 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 retracted in SCIENCE NEWS: have witnessed The Amazing Randi fracture meta move the hands of a watch in a way that is indistinguis! from my observation of Geller’ “psychokinetic” demo tions. Also, | am advised of Randi’s demonstration of ca burstsina Geigercounterandof 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 Bioph (143) The critics have put much of PKMB research into a perspective, and although demonstrating that fraud was f Bie, it does not prove that fraud occurred: Scientists do re 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 | porate suggestions. Parapsychologist A. Ellison in a let NEW SCIENTIST states: fully’ agree that physical scientists can be excee naive when outside their own fields—well known to megi and parapsychologists. Experience of working with a vari genuine psychics, preferably over some years, is ess training for an investigator. There are many factors invo primarily relating to psychological matters and especial Unconscious mind. It is sad to sce recently “conve physical scientists trying to investigate parepsychological ters outside their field of experience. A year oF $0 ago sor Us formed a multi-disciplinary committee to study the so Geller-type phenomena and included physical scientists cchologists, 2 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 commiitee for Geller and the many othe c ing similar faculties in the light of all that is known abou dilfcult and recondite subject scem to me to be most lk fede soreness 7.3: CLAY RDP96 MUZBEROUZU001B00 bdoG reported where this has been confronted. Hans Bender reports: 3 + Tpoterional magician, Ral Mayr, drew our alteion to a 33 yearold Swiss designer, Silvio, he wanted to hide his family Approved Ron Relese 2001/05107 ":CIA-RI ‘who, tohis great surprise, convinced him ol Cs performance n a mast ‘welcome collaboration with this magician we started an investigation of Silvio's metal-bendling bilities withthe intention of documenting his performances by films and videotapes. We brought along a professional camera man and provided spoons and forks that we had examined and marked. Our frst suecess came in December 1974. Silvio held the abject between his index finger and thumb a its thinnest part; frarn time to tine he held the thymb of his left hancl over the fingers of his right hand, Without the sp00n's being nibbed, the scoop of the spoon bent with a bending radius of over 70 degrees, Inthis first sitting, Silvio bent five spoons, breaking two Of ther; he also bent a massive fork in an upward direction, as had intended We feel that our collaboration with the professional ma- gician isa very favorable condition for obtaining results which ‘ught to convince even professional skeptics. We hope thatthe Secular controversy between parapsychologists and magicians ‘Can one day be transformed into the kind of cooperation we are Schieving in our Beene experiments. (148) * Data with Geller as subject and magicians as experimenters ‘are documented. Arthur Zorka of the Occult Investigations Committee of the Atlanta Society of Magicians reports “The tests took place in a room which contained no mirrors, tno windows, and one doot, by which we entered. The door was focked behind us. Mr. Dickson (also 2 member of the com- mittee), Mr, Geller, and Isat facing each other. No one else was present or in the near vicinity of the testing area “The first test involved Uri Geller’s attempt to bend a fork: studies of this that | have seen. evar» skeptic, but he admits that "Girard is quite the best | have ever f eve," (52) OPS UM HPA AdaH AvOTT-S ‘erients with people are very hard to do and euite Yeort a all and patience tds otha, then, a ost eee eis ae pysieal siete with ite ono behavior arcs background. Their ial tests are ote laughably Sloppy They hk, fo example, that i they crowd enough seeeyaclat a oomntien everyting wil be OK when Geller Sroved it much caso cheatin ose crcumsances, Sethe pl four yes have seen a moje mprovement in experimental techniques, onesway ls HEM consoi of trates adevencontolsoftueexprimenter, Ande have seeretcaty te arches of sept atee with one of the ranges proponents on protocol. We seem to be rapidly Spprdaching e deinton ofthe dragon tobe sai. Syn de condtons get ght the plerormena sem 9 disaprone, Butt parescience hs 40 for produced precious Aran either as the much beter funded cancer research. And those Ts 2 curios simirity between the Tatile and para Sec convowesesboth ret on anecdctl data that do ot Sea Gyo ultonl stent sensi. Could tbe that our setace ie wrongethat some things are nly amenable 10 srencitine personal report To. accept that would be 3¢ seta to srnce 9 the Protestant formation W261 Heee arth newtabtesoctast revision o Briain. Cleary a Jot of people think that such as overthrow of science is called 1 So athey do, then hee elite pot, tthe sare tie, (er eater the ier cle of nstitatonal stience, (53) This brings us back to a phenomenon observed in the data on PRMB, It seems as though certain kinds of controls can be Inhibitory to the manifestation of PKMB effects and parapsy- ‘chologists have gone as far as labellicg it “the shyness effect.” The team of Hasted, Bohm, Bastin and O'Regan addressed this topic well in their NATURE paper shich | provided. The fork was made of forged stee!, with a nylon reinforced handle. 1 specifically selected this fork be- Cause of its extreme resistance to physical stress. 1 placed the fork into Mr. Geller’s outstretched left hand. His fingers curled ‘round it, and in moments, without the fork leaving my sight for ven an instant, it literally exploded, sending fragments of the handle across the room. (1491, Magician Leo Leslie reports ‘After his demonstration of telepathy Geller tried psycho- kinesis. Anickel-plated, enameled key was given to Geller. He asked the journalist who was present to hold the key between two fingers. Geller then rubbed ita couple oftimes, very lightly swith his forefinger. “can’t doit,” he suddenly said. “You have We have come to realize that in this domain the experi- mental situation is diferent in certain crucial ways from that Which has been common in scientific experimentation, This is Because the phenomena under investigation have to be pro~ duced from the minds of one or more of those who participate, Relationships among the participants therefore play a much more essential roe than is usual in traditional scientific fields ‘One of the first things that reveals itself as one observes is that psychelkinetic phenomena cannot in gencral be prostuced unless all who participate are in a relaxed state, A state © tension, fear, hostility, on the part of any of those present generally communicates itself. to the whole group. The entire process goes most easily when all those present actively want things to work well In addition, matters seem to be greaty facilitated when the experimental arrangement is aesthetically ‘orimaginatively appealing tothe person with apparent psycho kinetic powers. We have found also that itis generally difficult to produce Gone something, to this key. | cannot get in contact with the Metal.” | immediately suspected that Geller probably uses a Chemical to soften metal, and that with the coating on the key fre felt defeated. | took the key from the journalist and studied it ‘closely. But while Isat looking at the key the enamal sucklenly Started to crack, and a second later strips of the nickel plating, Curled up like small banana peels, while the key actually ‘Started to bend! in my hand. (1501 There are crities who are beginning to look more favorably at some of the PKMB research, Conceming Jean-Pierre Girard and his investigator C. Crussard, Joseph Hanlon wrote: a predetermined set of phenomena, Although this may some Crossard involved a magician at an early stage—the times be done, what happens is often surprising and wes French iflusionist Ranky has issued a public statement sayings pected. We have observed that the altempt to concent thatin the tests he watched, he could not see how Girard could Ftrongly in order to obtain a desired result (the bending of Cee ‘chs, And his involvement more recently of Randi, rabably the best speon-bender in the magic business, con Tinwes to show that these expeciments are ona’ much bi Tevel, Chris Evans commented: “I was impressed by theit aa a tends inert with ern vie ee pee sch penne OE ee aparece ee oe vont and do ot really want i vo conmenies wat inves by eT ap work ths canes success ae aly ci oom RAF Release 2001 lO 7: Gia-RDPSe-oUTBEROOZODDTSaUTH Sst Tranner--qquite different from any other so-called scientific ‘often helps to maintamn interest and enthusigam, wheceas 2 € attitude that consistently tends to damp these latter is evidently detrimental to the whole enterprise, In the study-of psycho. produces these phenomena is not an instruinent or a machine. ‘Any attempt to treat him as such will almost certainly lead to failure, Rather, as indicated earlier, he must be considered to be one of the group, actively cooperating, in the experiment, and nota ‘subject’ whose behaviour is to be observed ‘rom the Outside’ in as cold and impersonal manner as possible. And concerning the involvement of magicians they continue; Tthas been our observation, however, that magicians are ‘often hostile to the whole purpose of this sort of investigation, 50 that they tend to bring about an atmosphere of tension in which litle or nothing can be done. (154) This factor of experimental conditions is also noted by Joseph Hanlon: ‘One of the potential difficulties of parapsychological investigation is the sensitivity of the whole phenomenon, and the inability of even “good” subjects to perform under many seemingly reasonable, controlled conditions. fone accepts the existence of parapsychological abilities, this is not surprising. ‘One would, presumably, be dealing wit.a talent like musical ability, and it would be not unreasonable ‘to find a skilled violinist, for example, being adversely influenced by playing before a group of people he knew to be hostile critics. Also, because we are dealing with “mental energies”, it Is not unreasonable to suppose that a confirmed critic could use his psychological powers to black those of the sensitive. Thus, the phenomenon will requite somewhat different procedures than other forms of research. Some concessions will have to be made to keep the subject happy and com- fortable, for example. (155) € __ indeedsiiecesrioacethatsetingup experimental conto’ withoutetrencetothsfactmayeadtoalacket pte resus iri perhaps clare fo see the pont fone motes sfoy © inti of nonstoralpeycalogal hme sich trance, "Poyehlc powers, fo, tend to emere spontneousy Meal So toc tt hc en aout 2 much sessing 9 man to exit thom na labrtor should to ssehimtofalinove nt fiat sghewih the sb astane” To not dated deny £5 or ter papa phe nomena fora sony int pt | have wie some gous of ute good ually, Whole poser he majorpot tem hvescee 0 Be deliveances o's sibcorscos regan ofthe mind. They ame sprtanest as though hey ete estes iat could sy this ions. team bei unless Hofimom re gene poem sd oe co tolled condone Une sh codion two be stl under bss tion bypychoaget uments would belistred tome to record ed rs copui see wave, corseanic i felts, ond mayne vcr Then wef Beta { “We are ready now. Write 2 poem.” Under sh enn was ot belt tay thing bse exaspaedentwors Corset have boon proved a ean atau (37 IV THE DEEPER ISSUES ‘ ii) PKMB IN PERSPECTIVE When the phenomenon of FKMB is considered in tezins of practical relevance, aside from philosophical implications for the parApproved ForRetéase 2001/03/07 OlA-RDI ‘have viewed this whole affairin a refreshingly lighthearted way: Hanlon, who remains skeptical of PEMB, stil! has wiitten: Inciaentany, young, Ur states 4 Uatacuerisut Hr with everybody who claims to exercise occult powers, whi ” ABBEGVRA FU REIEHBE AOQHUCNTOT CIA TRDP96 ABA ROUAALATIIN eco ns none never do mote than extract small talk from his contacts in Great Beyond. "Tell Aunt Edie to be sure to wear her w vests in this cold weather,” and so on. Uri fiddles around cutlery and trinkets and the rest. Asa good Israeli he ought ‘out there by the canal twisting the barrels of the Arab gun that they fire backwards. (178) Ina letter to NEW SCIENTIST we have: Sir,—When he heatd that Uri Geller’s accomplishm were to be examined by a panel selected by NEW SCIENT John Wade, a distinguished member ofthe inner council Magicians’ Circle said to me: "What a number of us would to know is not how Geller bends forks and keys and things why?” (179) Author John White makes an apparent point: His psychic functioning, has so far not been put to be cial use for humans, Uri has not, to my knowledge, he anyone or relieved human suffering, He hasn't used hi ability to straighten bent forks. (Afterall, who needs bent fc (180) He has perhaps suggested a possibility. Perhaps i abilities are useable, they may be useful on biological syst Psychic healing is also a considered possibility in parapsy log Looking back over the data and the controversy, we | voluminous evidence suggesting the validity of PKMB, we seem to have equally voluminous evidence denying it. parapsychologists fee! that the data Is at least leaning in fav PKMB. John Beloffand Charles Tart who are well-respected it field comment respectively: Let us start with the question that must be asked of paranormal claim, namely, the question of authenticity. T reviewer, at least, the Geller case has long since passe point wheee it is sensible to doubt that Golier poss paranormal powers except, that is, In the purely theor ‘sense in which al! psi phenomena are open to doubs. I ask justify such a statement, my first impulse would be to ep no one in the world could be that clever! However, | re that this intuitive judgment is scarely going to sais skeptics. ‘The case for regarding the specific “Geller effoe authentic i.e, the paranormal bending of metal objects) me as even more indisputable ifonty because here there z many independent witnesses. (181) ‘Whether Geller is “pure,” as some betieve, or wheth ‘uses conjuring sometimes but occasionally shows parane abilities, as many parapsychologists now believe, is of consequence, More than 500 methadologivally tight, © mental studies that show various paranormal effects ak exist, none of them depends on the ability of Gelles, w probably only a passing fad ‘The known physical laws indeed appear to bead s times and the implications of such paranorat effects f “understanding of ourselves and the universe may be enorn Geller has drawn enouigh attention to the paranormal some very bright scientists interested. 1 i takes key spoon-bending 10 get us started! on a large-scale scie investigation of the paranormal, the cazcer of Uri Gell have served a useful purpose. (162) What is mose interesting however, is that a few of the c P86 OOTBBROOZODNAGOO 1s5-orthy of study. Jo TTT SORAYA TE ERT eres oreuRe rg science may well come not from expensive research by huge tion and sloppiness are vital in examining heterodoxy. tmpar- ‘teamApproveddBor Release 2004/03/07 i4G1A-RDP96GETBBROO20004 BG0-44

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