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patio which caught fire and explosively lost its arms, legs and and realised that to anyone with a layman's knowledge of electro- head (all of which were found several yards away down the gar- magnetic fields they must appear as an extremely unlikely energy den), and most disturbing, considering the amounts of energy source to produce the movement of objects and materials that did involved, a large heavy hardwood table which overturned itself not have ferrous content (i.e., ceramics, water, stone, concrete and overnight on a regular basis (about twice a week). wood). Anyone who has experimented with magnets soon finds Barely taking all this in, but knowing that I had it all on tape, I out that only iron is affected. It was little wonder that psychoki- reached for the coffee in front of me on the table—but it was nesis or PK was thought to be involved, but I regarded this as a swirling around in the cup like a mini-whirlpool. I looked at Jane distinctly different process from apparent poltergeist activity. and David who just shrugged in unison. The whirlpool effect stopped suddenly, but I had lost interest in drinking my coffee. ANALYSIS OF 'POLTERGEIST’' PHENOMENA Readers in the UK, USA and Australia who have read my From a scientific point of view, how could all of the strange books may realise that I am no longer puzzled as to the causes of _ effects reported by Jane and David be understood? Let us take such phenomena, as I feel sure, after 16 years, that I know what them one at a time: they are. One of the instruments that I always take on any investigation is 1. Light bulbs constantly ‘pop’. a field meter which measures the levels of electromagnetic pollu- A power surge will supply power to a circuit through the atmos- tion at a location. Jane and David allowed me to wander around _ phere and through the glass of a bulb, subjecting the tungsten fila- their home with the meter, and it soon became clear to me as I ment to increased levels of electricity. These repeated ‘boosts’ to went from room to room that the place was subject to sudden and _a filament will create a small movement each time, especially powerful power surges. I could have foreseen this, even if I had when the filament is hot and more flexible when the bulb is on. It not developed the electromagnetic pollution approach (for which I will not be long before this repeated movement induces metal am known) for the understanding of anomalies, as there was a 40- fatigue, and soon, when the light is switched on, the filament will foot-tall radio mast, for break with that familiar transmitting line-of-sight UAP directed ‘ping’. g § by radio ping microwave signals, erected just five feet away from the outside wall. Apparently, as the planning and safety authorities do not regard siting power lines over res- idential properties as haz- ardous to health, a microwave tower is thought of as nothing to be concerned about. Jane and David's health problems were typical of people who have spent a wr Space wave > BS \ 2. The video machine malfunctions on some occasions but works on others. A magnetic field can affect the electronic cir- cuitry, causing it to mal- function by inducing what are known as magne- tostrictive effects. That is to say, a magnetic field will cause the microscopic ferrite components to \ Space wave ~4Teflection \ Diagram showing typical electromagnetic pollution scenario which produces hot spots in prolonged period close to a which the "lift and disruption” phenomena of the Hutchison Effect can be generated. deform so that critical source of electromagnetic (Source: UFOs: Psychic Close Encounters - The Electromagnetic Indictment, Blandford, 1995) contacts are lost—in turn, fields. Their problems inducing the circuitry to included masked food allergies, chemical sensitivities, electrical fail. When the field drops, the ferrite components resume their hypersensitivity, and photophobia (hypersensitivity to light) normal dimensions, contacts are regained and the circuitry func- which forced both of them to wear tinted spectacles. Their condi- tions normally. tion was not helped by their having been radio hams for several years; this only added to their exposure levels. 3. Loud snapping 'clicks' and heavy, plodding footsteps are The readings in several rooms exceeded 100 milligauss per heard. metre as a magnetic field density; between 25 to 35 kilovolts elec- When iron or steel is magnetised by a field which then abruptly tric field; and over 0.5 milliwatts per square centimetre intermit- drops, an auditory sound wave is produced by a mechanism called tently in the RF scale. None of the fields was constant, but they magnetostrictive acoustics, also known as the Page Effect. Deep- would suddenly surge through the house. sounding 'thuds' or high-pitched ‘cracks’ will be heard depending Even before I had taken any readings, I was aware of the typical on the thickness and length of the metal and how it is held in signs and symptoms that I feel when exposed to a strong field place in a building. For example, thick metal girders embedded source. I felt a tingling sensation on the backs of my hands, the along a floor will produce a series of progressive 'thuds' as the hairs on my arms stood out, and throughout my visit I battled with field moves along them, giving the impression of footsteps, a thunderous headache which came on seconds after entering the whereas a thin iron conduit carrying wiring embedded in a wall house and lifted 10 minutes or so after leaving it. I have not will produce a sharp 'snap'. found one case of 'poltergeist' activity which did not happen in an electromagnetic hot-spot. So far, these phenomena can be understood by identifying them It was a deep-in-thought investigator who took the train home in the Handbook of Magnetic Phenomena by Harry E. Burke.' to London, and I could not resist listening to the recording [had _The fires inside matchboxes which are inside drawers could cer- made. However, not really to my surprise, the tape was blank. tainly be ignited by the thermal effects of microwaves, and I have Instead, I thought of the implications of these weird field effects personally seen flash-bulbs blown at a distance by the diathermy and realised that to anyone with a layman's knowledge of electro- magnetic fields they must appear as an extremely unlikely energy source to produce the movement of objects and materials that did not have ferrous content (i.e., ceramics, water, stone, concrete and wood). Anyone who has experimented with magnets soon finds out that only iron is affected. It was little wonder that psychoki- nesis or PK was thought to be involved, but I regarded this as a distinctly different process from apparent poltergeist activity. ANALYSIS OF 'POLTERGEIST’' PHENOMENA From a scientific point of view, how could all of the strange effects reported by Jane and David be understood? Let us take them one at a time: 3. Loud snapping 'clicks' and heavy, plodding footsteps are heard. When iron or steel is magnetised by a field which then abruptly drops, an auditory sound wave is produced by a mechanism called magnetostrictive acoustics, also known as the Page Effect. Deep- sounding 'thuds' or high-pitched ‘cracks’ will be heard depending on the thickness and length of the metal and how it is held in place in a building. For example, thick metal girders embedded along a floor will produce a series of progressive 'thuds' as the field moves along them, giving the impression of footsteps, whereas a thin iron conduit carrying wiring embedded in a wall will produce a sharp 'snap'. So far, these phenomena can be understood by identifying them in the Handbook of Magnetic Phenomena by Harry E. Burke.' The fires inside matchboxes which are inside drawers could cer- tainly be ignited by the thermal effects of microwaves, and I have personally seen flash-bulbs blown at a distance by the diathermy 56 = NEXUS DECEMBER 1996 - JANUARY 1997