Whispering Sweet Nothings to...My Water Bottle

Oh, beautiful water. Thank you. May you be blessed by kindness and peace. I wish you happiness.

Crazy? Well, Japanese scientist, Dr. Masaru Emoto, claims that the structure of water molecules can change based on the thoughts of the humans observing them. He taped a bunch of positive and negative words onto different glasses of distilled water before freezing them and taking photos of the water crystals that formed. Via What the Bleep:

Dr. Masaru Emoto discovered that crystals formed in frozen water reveal changes when specific, concentrated thoughts are directed toward them. He found that water from clear springs and water that has been exposed to loving words shows brilliant, complex, and colorful snowflake patterns. In contrast, polluted water, or water exposed to negative thoughts, forms incomplete, asymmetrical patterns with dull colors.

Here's an example of two of his water crystal photos, one which he told to die and the other which he thanked. They certainly look different.


Honestly, I want to believe that human determination can affect the very structure of water, and I like flirting with the idea that the human mind could manifest realities. But let's be serious. I can't will it not to rain tomorrow. I can't will my car not to break down. Thoughts cannot transcend "fate." The human mind simply can't assume control over forces that are complete externalities (including water molecules).


For more info....

Detailed laudatory info at Life Enthusiast:

From Mr. Emoto's work we are provided with factual evidence, that human vibrational energy, thoughts, words, ideas and music, affect the molecular structure of water.

Detailed denigratory info at Is Masaru Emoto for Real?:

After the lengthy review of Emoto’s research methods and results, I have come to believe that Dr. Emoto is offering pseudoscience to the masses in the guise of defensible research.

Personally, I believe that exploring the idea of human possibilities is intriguing, even if the theories do fall short in the end.

What the Bleep Do We Know?

Perception is everything. The docu-drama film, What the Bleep Do We Know was interesting to say the least:

Starring Marlee Matlin and 14 Scientists and Mystics. Exploring the worlds of Quantum Physics, Neurology, and Molecular Biology in relation to the spheres of Spirituality, Metaphysics and Polish weddings.

The whole phenomenon expressed in this movie is likely pseudoscience, but many of the ideas considered are still worth thinking about. You should watch it if you are want a good "thinker."

My lingering thought after watching the film is that linking quantum mechanics with consciousness, is the modern day humanism. Think about it; the movement is shockingly similar to ideas that sparked humanism during the Italian/European Renaissance. God within the self. Connectedness--now termed "entanglement". Individual empowerment and actualization. Marriage of religion and science. Emphasis on human creation and the ability to affect one's world. Humanism has reinvented itself into post-modern thought.

Also, my thoughts on this docu-drama continue...maybe we need these whack ideas to push our society out of constructed thought. Sure, believers get excited and take their theories too far, but asking people to step beyond what they have always assumed is a healthy dose of perspective. I predict, that just like humanism, the collective idea will be debunked, but a few of the more coherent principles will prove to be likely.

Bird Brain? Oh, What a Compliment

Did you know that birds sing complex strains of notes? I find it intriguing. The (sometimes pesky) chirping you hear coming from the tree is actually beautiful music. When slowed down you can hear the melody. Click on Slowing Down the Song at Why Birds Sing. Shocking.

Apparently Mozart bought himself a pet starling from whom he (purportedly) stole his notes. He was deeply attached to his little starling. According to PBS, "Birdsong is so elegant it's inspired the great masters. Mozart borrowed these notes from his beloved starling. When his muse died, the distraught maestro even gave it a formal funeral and wrote a poem in its honor." Awww, poor Wolfgang.

Similarly, Beethoven stole the famous "dah dah dah daaah" in his Fifth Symphony from a wood wren. This is craziness!

Science NOVA Now explores the cutting edge research that is being developed based on the study of bird calls and corresponding brain activity. Researchers are hopeful that their findings will help to eliminate stuttering in human subjects.

Who knew birds were so smart?

The New Rachel Carson

Tonight I went to a lecture by Dr. Sanda Steingraber, ecologist, author, and cancer survivor. She is the author of "The Falling Age of Puberty in U.S. Girls: What We Know and What We Need to Know" This report is downloadable here courtesy of the Breast Cancer Fund. I found Steingraber's presentation to be infinitely interesting, dare I say entertaining, and most of all disconcerting.

In recent years, there have been cases highlighted in the media of children entering puberty as young as age 5. The onset of puberty—for both black and white girls—shows signs of a continuing decline as measured by the appearance of breasts (thelarche)... For example, in 1970, the average age of thelarche was 11.5 years. Thirty years later, it had fallen to just under 10 years for U.S. white girls and just under 9 years for black girls...Studies have shown that the earlier girls enter puberty, the more likely they are to experience negative physical and mental health consequences.

If you think about it, girls maturing at an earlier age has to lead to more victimization. She has less time to process the changes and messages that circulate around young girls, and more time to make poor decisions. In addition, girls no longer have the time to learn everything that is necessary for full development before the brain changes, hence less time to learn sports, a language, or complex processes. Earlier puberty is problematic and we as a society need to start implementing preventative measures.

I was intrigued by Steingraber's short time with us at Shippensburg University. Not only is she a scientist, but also a poet. Some refer to Steingraber as "the new Rachel Carson." I think the honor is deserved.