 Robert Todd Carroll
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tachyons and takionicsA tachyon is a theoretical particle or wave which travels faster than the speed of light. Tachyons exist in a theoretical world where objects have negative mass and time goes backwards. Tachyon energy is used to scan "subspace", among other things, on the sci-fi fantasy program, Star Trek Voyager. So far, there is no empirical evidence for the existence of tachyons. "If they do exist, tachyons would be extremely difficult to utilize under our current understanding of physics," says NASA scientist Tom Bridgman. Despite being theoretical and, if real, difficult to utilize, and if utilized, of unknown value, tachyons are the main ingredient in a feature line of New Age products that range from beads, belts and shoe inserts, to sweatbands, power pillows, massage oils and vials of tachyon water. And, of course, there are books, such as Tachyon Energy: A New Paradigm in Holistic Healing by Gabriel Cousens and David Wagner (2000). A few enterprising New Agers claim that they know tachyons exist and they have harnessed its power. For example, Fred Pulver who runs the Carbondale Center for Macrobiotic Studies (formerly known as Biotech Industries of Carbondale Colorado) claims to know that "The Tachyon Field supplies the energy needs of all living organisms until balance is achieved, then it eases until called upon again. As it is needed, and a depletion occurs, it rushes in until balance is achieved once again."1 But just in case Nature fails to keep you in tachyon balance, you can get all the tachyon power you need from one of Biotech’s swell takionic products. (The reason for the spelling difference has to do with the fact that common words such as 'tachyon' cannot be trademarked and 'tachyonized' was taken. 'Takion' and 'takionic' can be trademarked and thereby used to identify one's products.) Pulver makes some incredible claims. For example,
Where are these motors? No one has seen them but we are to take it on faith that they exist. Perhaps they are in the vehicles bringing all those UFOs to earth for the cattle mutilations and reproductive experiments. Here's another claim:
Who are these athletes? The same ones who wear magnetic shoes and wear crystals to ward off bad energy? What is this "Tachyon Field"?
The tachyon field may be dense but it would have to go a long way to match the density of an "alternative physicist who finds this stuff compelling. There seems to be something missing here--such as a fundamental grasp of reality. We are asked to believe in an invisible universe causing pressure on ours, thereby forming energy which “cannot be proven by instrumentation currently available” but which we can use to explain just about anything we want. But wait, there's more!
Pulver is also an "alternative" metaphysician! The speculation seems infinite. "The nervous system and brain are nothing but an extremely sophisticated antenna and receiver to absorb, process and transform the resources of the Tachyon Field." "Healers have learned to access the Tachyon Field's resources for its healing powers more successfully than the average person has." All the above claims are by way of introduction by their author to the line of takionic products he has for sale. New Age Energy is especially marketable in alternative health care, where the products to make us healthy and happy are as boundless as the imagination, as endless as New Age Energy itself. (Note: the following are 2002 prices and may not be accurate any more.) There are takionic beads, 10 for $118.95, which are said to have antennae which "focus the beneficial tachyon energy". There is a takionic belt for $268.95 which is said to help improve circulation and increase strength.. Takionic water comes in a small vial for $27.95 and is "pure and cluster-free". Another New Age business, Advanced Tachyon Technologies (ATT) of Santa Rosa, California, offers a much broader array of products, including some for cats and dogs. ATT has products which can enhance your love-life (including one called panther juice) and your athletic skills, not that the two are mutually exclusive. They have products to ease your pain and improve your brain. They have chakra balancing kits for those who would like a little takionic boost to their meditation. You can purchase a personal tachionized cocoon for $396 or a Tachyonized Silk Meditation Wrap for $298 to use while meditating "with your lover before making love." See also Ayurvedic medicine, chi, confirmation bias, energy, pragmatic fallacy, reiki, therapeutic touch, and Transcendental Meditation. further reading
Baadhio, Randy A. Geometrical tachyon and grafted string world sheet (Berkeley, Calif.: Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, 1991). Forward, Robert L. Future Magic: How Today's Science Fiction Will Become Tomorrow's
Reality (Avon Herbert, Nick. Faster Than Light: Superluminal Loopholes in Physics (Plume Books, 1988). Pickover, Clifford A. Time: A Traveler's Guide (Oxford University Press, 1998). Wall, Ernst L. The Physics of Tachyons (Hadronic Press, 1995). |
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©copyright 2007 Robert Todd Carroll |
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updated 12/03/07 |
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