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2. The Electric Universe Model The Electric Universe model is a coherent "Big Picture" of our situ- ation in the uni- verse, spanning many disciplines. It highlights repeated electrical patterns at all scales that enable laboratory experiments to explain the strange, energetic events seen, for example, in deep space, on the Sun and on Io, one of Jupiter's moons. Immanuel Velikovsky 3. A Little History To be sure, nature distributes her gifts unevenly among her children. But there are plenty of the well-endowed, thank God, and I am firmly convinced that most of them live quiet, unobtrusive lives. — Albert Einstein panning The pieces of the Electric Universe "Big Picture" are supplied many disciplines. It by some remarkable individuals, most of them unknown and who highlights repeated have lived or are living "quiet, unobtrusive lives" away from uni- electrical patterns at versities. For those with a sense of history, this fact should serve all scales that to increase curiosity rather than dull it. enable laboratory Most revolutions in science have come from people who taught experiments to themselves outside the academic system and were not constrained explain the strange, by the fallacies and fashions of the day. It has been well docu- energetic events mented that modern institutions of science operate in such a way seen, for example, as to enforce conformity and prevent research and publication of in deep space, on revolutionary ideas. the Sun and on Io, John Ralston Saul argues that mediaeval scholasticism was re- . one of Jupiter's established during the 20th century. If so, the new Immanuel Velikovsky moons. "Enlightenment" will have to come, as before, from outside The Electric Universe works backward in time using observa- academia. tions, rather than forward from some idealised theoretical begin- For me, enlightenment began with the controversial polymath ning. It provides simple answers to problems that are now clothed and author of Worlds in Collision, Immanuel Velikovsky. In in fashionable metaphysics and mysticism. It is more interdisci- 1950 he demonstrated an interdisciplinary, comparative technique plinary and inclusive of information than any prior cosmology. It for uncovering hard evidence of planetary catastrophe from the points to practical possibilities far beyond the limits set by current recorded memories of the earliest civilisations. His method was science. forensic in that he looked for reports of physical events of a The Electric Universe model grew out of a broad interdiscipli- highly unusual nature that were nonetheless corroborated globally nary approach to science, which is by totally separate cultures. Then, not a technique taught in universi- by applying scientific knowledge of ties. The Electric Universe is based cause and effect, it was possible to more on observations and experi- build a very detailed model of the ments than abstract theory. It recog- sequence of those events. Finally, nises connections between diverse the model enabled specific disciplines. It concludes that the predictions to be made and crucial requirement for understand- confirmed—a requirement of a good ing the universe is to take fully into scientific theory. Some of the account the basic electrical nature of predictions he made were outrageous atoms and their interactions. at the time: Venus would be near Strangely, this is not the case in con- incandescently hot, Jupiter would ventional cosmology where weaker emit radio noise, the Moon rocks magnetism and the infinitely weaker would be magnetised, and so on. force of gravity rule the cosmos. Velikovsky was right; astronomers Such a simplification may suit a the- of the day were wrong. However, oretical physics based on electrical you will not find any textbook that neutrality of matter in Earthly labo- gives him credit because his theory ratories, but it does not apply in was judged to be wrong. space where plasma dominates. Presumably they were all lucky Plasma has been called the "fourth guesses! state" of matter after solids, liquids It became clear to Velikovsky that and gases. Most of the matter in the universe is in the form of Newton's concept of gravity was insufficient to explain the plasma. A plasma is formed if some of the negatively charged reported behaviour of the planets. And it certainly could not electrons are separated from their host atoms in a gas, leaving the answer the obvious question: "Why do the skies look so peaceful atoms with a positive charge. The negatively charged electrons now?" This allowed a dogmatic response by academia to and the positively charged atoms (known as positive ions) are Velikovsky's seminal breakthrough. It was said that his theory then free to move separately under the influence of an applied didn't obey Newton's laws. But what did Newton know of voltage or magnetic field. Their net movement constitutes an electricity? And if anyone believes that Newton's laws guarantee electrical current. a stable planetary system, think again! Any gravitational system So, one of the more important properties of a plasma is that it with more than two orbiting bodies is unstable. Yet the question can conduct electrical current. It does so by forming current fila- is hardly ever asked, let alone answered: "What produces the ments that follow magnetic field lines. Filamentary patterns are observed stability of the solar system?" Velikovsky was ubiquitous in the cosmos. convinced that the clue lay in his discovery that electrical forces 48 = NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2004 www.nexusmagazine.com