[meteorite-list] Try divining rods over a large iron

[Chris Peterson]

I don't think Einstein's understanding of magnetic, electrical, or 
electromagnetic fields was appreciably greater than that of many other 
physicists. Nor his knowledge of the "physics of everything in the 
universe". Not that it matters, since he clearly isn't suggesting that 
"divining rods" work through ordinary field mechanisms, but through "factors 
that are unknown to us at this time". In other words, he has no idea. He is 
simply speculating on how such a device might work (if, in fact, it actually 
does). Why is Einstein a credible voice for something whose nature he can't 
even speculate on?

Today, we know with a high degree of likelihood that they don't work, 
because they have actually been tested scientifically. And we are in a good 
position to say that if they were found to work, it would not be because of 
fields we understand. After all, we have exquisitely sensitive instruments 
for measuring those fields, and they certainly are not useful for detecting 
underground water. Underground metal, of course, is readily detected with 
instruments (as many here know!) And almost any physicist would be highly 
skeptical about any assertion of fields we know nothing about, and which the 
human nervous system responds to! That definitely falls into the 
extraordinary claim category (i.e., the sort of claim that requires 
extraordinary evidence).

I'd say Randi is a FAR better person to ask than Einstein, because unlike 
Einstein, Randi has actually looked at the matter closely, examined 
evidence, constructed and conducted well designed experiments.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Meteorites USA" <eric at meteoritesusa.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:29 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Try divining rods over a large iron


> Hi Phil, I think Chris was referring to Einstein's knowledge of the 
> physiological makeup of the human nervous system. Which Einstein would 
> probably not in fact be qualified to answer on. I would think that a 
> theoretical physicist would know a "little" about the physical system of 
> the human body however.
>
> Einstein was a scientist, and must have studied something to that effect 
> during his long education. So yes I would agree that Joe down the street 
> "might" know more about physiology but that's highly unlikely.
>
> Einstein, early on, wrote "The Investigation of the State of Aether in 
> Magnetic Fields". And we all know and have probably read about the Special 
> Theory of Relativity which I will not pretend to understand fully. Some 
> might argue that Dowsing is possible "because" of electromagnetic fields 
> "somehow". Though I do not subscribe to the beliefs of dowsers, or dowsing 
> in general, I would say that Einstein was much more knowledgeable about 
> electromagnetic fields, gravitational fields, and physics of everything in 
> the universe, than almost anyone.
>
> Who better to ask about dowsing? Dowsing is arguable and there is no hard 
> scientific evidence it is real. However if Einstein were alive today this 
> might be an interesting question to ask. In fact I would venture to say 
> there is no better person to ask about the physics of it than a 
> theoretical physicist. Except maybe a theoretical physicist with an open 
> mind. Oh wait, that's doubly redundant.
>
> ;)
>
> Regards,
> Eric