BOB: Folks at the Center for Seismic Studies suggested I

study the following researcher, as he and some of his fellow

researchers would know if magnetite could be the reason some

folks can predict quakes..

   Joseph L. Kirschvink (Caltech 170-25, Pasadena CA 91125)

   Magnetite biomineralization is a genetically-controlled biochemical

   process through which organisms make perfect ferrimagnetic crystals,

   usually of single magnetic domain size. This process is an ancient

   one, having evolved about 2 billion years ago in the magnetotactic

   bacteria, and presumably was incorporated in the genome of higher

   organisms, including humans. During this time, DNA replication,

   protein synthesis, and many other biochemical processes have

   functioned in the presence of strong static fields of up to 400 mT

   adjacent to these magnetosomes without any obvious deleterious

   effects. Recent behavioral experiments using short but strong magnetic

   pulses in honeybees and birds demonstrates that ferromagnetic

   materials are involved in the sensory transduction of geomagnetic

   field information to the nervous system, and both behavioral and

   direct electrophysiological experiments indicate sensitivity

   thresholds to DC magnetic fields down to a few nT. However, far more

   biogenic magnetite is present in animal tissues than is needed for

   magnetoreception, and the biological function of this extra material

   is unknown. The presence of ferromagnetic materials in biological

   systems could provide physical transduction mechanisms for ELF

   magnetic fields, as well for microwave radiation in the .5 to 10 GHz

   band where magnetite has its peak ferromagnetic resonance. Elucidation

   of the cellular ultrastructure and biological function(s) of magnetite

   might help resolve the question of whether anthropogenic EMFs can

   cause deleterious biological effects.

   This work has been supported by grants from the NIH and EPRI.

=================================================================

    ON THE SENSITIVITY OF THE HUMAN BRAIN TO MAGNETIC FIELDS - EVOCATION OF

    EPILEPTIFORM ACTIVITY

   M. Fuller, J. Dobson, H.G. Wieser and S. Moser

   Brain Research Bulletin (1994) vol. 36, no.2: 155-159

   FULLER, M., DOBSON, J., WIESER, H.G., and MOSER, S. On the sensitivity

   of the human brain to magnetic fields: evocation of epileptiform

   activity BRAIN RES. BULL. - Evocation of epileptiform activity by DC

   magnetic fields of between 0.9 and 1.8 millitesla (mT) has been

   demonstrated in six epileptic patients undergoing presurgical

   evaluation. The activity was monitored by electroencephalography (EEG)

   recording from both electrodes attached to the scalp as well as from

   intracranial electrodes inserted via the foramen ovale. Epileptiform

   activity evoked by the magnetic field application was distinguished

   from background levels by comparing the number of epileptiform

   discharges in the ten second intervals before and after field

   applications. In nearly all cases, a delay of up to several seconds

   was observed between the application of the magnetic field and the

   onset of epileptiform firing. Removal of the field also appeared to

   cause firing in some instances but this has not yet been investigated

   systematically. In all six patients, subsequent seizures confirmed

   that the epileptiform activity monitored during the experiments was

   originating from the primary epileptogenic zones of the patients.

BOB: I wrote Jon Dobson, leading researcher and asked him if pooling of

magnetite near the adrenaline gland could be responsible for

my panic/calm reactions before quakes...He replied..

Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 10:48:52 +0800

From: Jon Dobson <uwa.edu.au>

To: Bob Shannon <rshannon@iea.com>

Subject: Re: Magnetite and earthquakes

Dear Mr. Shannon,

Thanks for your e-mail. It certainly sounds interesting. Our investigations

of biomineralized magnetite in humans have focussed mainly on the brain. It

seems that the meninges have the highest concentrations, however, all of

the tissue that we have analyzed has had at least a small amount. We have

demonstrated that this is not contamination but is actually present in the

living tissue.

Theoretically, it is possible that the magnetite in the human brain

facilitates geomagnetic field reception. Our work, however, has shown that

the magnetite is not configured as one would normally expect for

magnetorecption, which leads us to believe that it may be simply an iron

dump. But that is not to say that there are not other possible mechanisms

by which the magnetite is sensing the field - only that the usual ones

apparently are not employed. Whether or not this has something to do with

your ability to sense earthquakes, I'm afraid I cannot say. I would

certainly be interested to hear more about it. Do you occasionally miss

any? Can you sense them when you are away from home (ie. not in the same

area where this normally occurs)? What do you mean by "predicting" quakes

on the net?

I hope this information has been helpful.

Best Regards,

        Jon Dobson

====================================

QUESTION ASKED BY READERS:

Q. What about effects of EMFs on the hormone melatonin?

     Melatonin is a hormone produced mainly at night by the

   pineal, a small gland in the brain. One reason scientists are

   interested in melatonin is that it could help explain results of some

   EMF epidemiological studies. Melatonin has been reported to slow the

   growth of some cancer cells, including breast cancer cells, in

   laboratory experiments. If power-frequency EMF can affect melatonin in

   humans, this could be a mechanism to explain results of some EMF

   studies of breast cancer.

     In the 1980s, scientists found that in the rats exposed to

   60-Hz electric fields, nighttime melatonin levels were reduced. Other

   studies have since reported that both AC and DC magnetic fields can

   also affect melatonin levels in rats and hamsters. Theses experiments

   are very delicate and depend on a combination of factors such as age

   of the animals and length of day. Melatonin levels were not affected

   in sheep raised for nearly a year in EMFs directly beneath a 500-kV

   transmission line. Experiments with baboons also showed no changes in

   melatonin. The Midwest Research Institute (MRI) has studied the effect

   of 60-Hz magnetic field exposure on human melatonin. In 1993 MRI

   reported that although subjects showed no effect on the average, those

   individuals with naturally lower levels of melatonin did show a small

   further decrease. However, in 1994 MRI reported that a second study,

   specifically designed to replicate the earlier results, found no such

   effect.

BOB:  And how would this relate to earthquakes??? A good

thinker will count the ways!

============================

BOB:

  We seem to be getting a lock on the magnetite/iron/ELF/ULF

connection and its relationship with humans ability to sense

changes in the geomagnetic field.Dr. JL Kirschvink and Dr

Jon Dobson are both pioneers in this biomedical area. Both

have worked with concepts of magnetite in the human body.

  Dr. Dobsons reasearch has been focused on certain areas of

the brain. It is his opinion that a human could possibly

sense changes or certain waveforms/ULF or VLF via a

magnetite process, however the exact mechanism is not known,

but is excluded in the classic sense of interaction between

brain/magnetite. His research did not include work with

magnetite in and near the adrenaline gland..where according

to Dr. Kirschvink, it "pools" in rather large quantities.

  It has been my experience, though 25 years of personal

anxiety disorder, that the relationship between earthquake

precursors, magnetite and emotions in humans is strong.

Researchers at the Center for Seismic Studies suggested that

wave lengths preceeding earthquakes were such that they

would neither travel far, nor be subject to current

propagation (skip) theory. It was suggested to me that I

find the way in which these waves might travel in order that

I predict an earthquake 500km from my location. I came up

with two possiblities.

  The best conductors for electrical waveforms are the wires

above and around us. For instance I found this exciting

information recently:

   :AC fields create weak electric currents in the bodies of people and

   :animals. This is one reason why there is a potential for EMFs to cause

   :biological effects. Currents from electric and

   :magnetic fields are distributed differently within the body. The

   :amount of this current, even if you are directly beneath a large

   :transmission line, is extremely small (millionths of an ampere). The

   :current is too weak to penetrate cell membranes; it is present mostly

   :between the cells.

   :Currents from 60-Hz EMFs are weaker than natural currents in the body,

   :such as those from the electrical activity of the brain and heart.

   :Some scientists argue that it is therefore impossible for EMFs to have

   :any important effects. Other scientists argue that, just as a trained

   :ear can pick up a familiar voice or cry in a crowd, so a cell may

   :respond to induced current as a signal, lower in intensity yet

   :detectable even through the background "noise" of the bodys natural

   :currents. Numerous laboratory studies have shown that biological

   :effects can be caused by exposure to EMFs. In most cases, however, it

   :is not clear how EMFs actually produce these demonstrated effects.

   :Strong electric fields, such as those found beneath large transmission

   :lines, can cause hair on your exposed head or arms to vibrate slightly

   :at 60 Hz. This is felt by some people as a tingling sensation. EMFs

   :from transmission lines can also in some circumstances cause nuisance

   :shocks from voltages created by EMFs on objects like ungrounded metal

   :fences.

   ---

And from NOAA came this interesting bit of information:

          :When magnetic fields move about in the

          :vicinity of a conductor such as a wire, an electric current is

          :induced into the conductor. This happens on a grand scale

          :during geomagnetic storms. Power companies transmit alternating

          :current to their customers via long transmission lines. The

          :nearly direct currents induced in these lines from geomagnetic

          :storms are harm ful to electrical transmission equipment. On

          :March 13, 1989, in Montreal, Quebec, 6 million people were

          :without commercial electric power for 9 hours as a result of a

          :huge geomagnetic storm. Some areas in the northeastern U.S. and

          :in Sweden also lost power. By receiving geomagnetic storm

          :alerts and warnings, power companies can minimize damage and

          :power outages.

So the possiblity of long wires or rails conducting the

"information" to the body is possible...What about pipes? I

found this from NOAA. You see while the government remains

sceptical on  one hand, it takes credits for discovery on

the other, while folks like us do all the foot work!

          :Rapidly fluctuating geomagnetic fields can induce

          :currents into pipelines. During these times, several problems

          :can arise for pipeline engineers. Flow meters in the pipeline

          :can transmit erroneous flow information, and the corrosion rate

          :of the pipeline is dramatically in creased. If engineers

          :unwittingly attempt to balance the current during a geomagnetic

          :storm, corrosion rates may increase even more. Pipeline

          :managers routinely receive alerts and warnings to help them

          :provide an efficient and long-lived system.

----------------------------------------------------------

INTERESTING DATES IN HISTORY

   1978 Dr. Andrija Puharich, in January 1978, issues a detailed research

   paper titled "Global Magnetic Warfare", a laymans collection of

   "certain artificially induced unusual effects on Earth during 1976 and

   1977." Puharich describes early Soviet work with Tesla's method of

   controlling earthquakes.

   1978 January issue of Specula magazine describes the effect of

   Woodpecker signals, saying "an electromagnetic signal of certain

   frequencies can be transmitted through the Earth which, when

   introduced into the Earth at multiples of 30 degrees, will form

   standing waves in the Earth, and in certain cases induces coherence to

   the wave in the molten core of the Earth. One can induce earthquakes

   at a distant point, and severe atmospheric disturbances over the

   target area. (The Tesla Effect).

   1978 Immune and auto-immune diseases start to manifest themselves in

   the population. (Note: Soviet Woodpecker signals started on July 4,

   1976). None of the diseases is new. Most are caused by suppression of

   the immune system and change in the body environment, promoting

   pleomorphic changes in organisms which have always been in the body,

   and resulting pathology.