#investigators — Public Fediverse posts

The Role of Quartz and Piezoelectric Effects in Paranormal Experiences

Paranormal activity reported in caves and rock formations often sparks theories related to geomagnetism, piezoelectric effects, quartz, and various stone-based phenomena. Some believe that the unique geological properties of these environments may create conditions that amplify or even trigger unusual experiences.Geomagnetism, for example, can play a significant role in the perception of paranormal activity. Earth’s magnetic fields fluctuate in various regions, and caves are often known to harbor areas of unusual magnetism due to their mineral composition. It’s theorized that these changes could affect the human brain, particularly regions like the temporal lobes, which are linked to perceptions of paranormal phenomena. People in these areas may experience hallucinations, heightened sensitivity to sounds, or feelings of dread—all commonly associated with ghostly encounters. Several studies have explored the connection between geomagnetic fields and altered states of consciousness, though the direct link remains speculative. A 2006 study by Persinger, for instance, found that specific magnetic fields could induce paranormal-like experiences, though these findings are still debated.The piezoelectric effect, where certain materials produce electric charges under mechanical stress, could also explain some phenomena in caves and rock formations. Quartz, a common mineral in many caves, is a piezoelectric material. When quartz crystals within the rock are subjected to physical pressure, such as seismic activity or shifts in the earth, they might generate tiny electrical charges. These electrical fields could potentially affect the nervous system, leading to sensations of unease or hallucinations. Some researchers have speculated that such electrical discharges could trigger experiences that people interpret as supernatural.In addition, stone walls and rock structures themselves have been thought to act as “resonators,” amplifying energy in a way that could influence both the environment and those within it. The theory posits that certain rock formations might store or accumulate energy over time, especially if they are made of piezoelectric materials like quartz. This “stored” energy could be released during specific conditions, potentially triggering unusual electromagnetic phenomena that some interpret as paranormal. While this idea is highly speculative, the idea that certain locations, particularly those with ancient stone structures or burial sites, have energy fields that could influence human perception is widely discussed in both paranormal and alternative science communities.While these theories are intriguing, scientific evidence directly connecting these geological features to paranormal activity is minimal. Research on geomagnetism and its effects on human psychology is ongoing, but no definitive conclusions have been reached. The piezoelectric hypothesis is still in its early stages, with only limited experimental data supporting it. Overall, while there are fascinating correlations and potential connections, the connection between rock formations, geomagnetism, and paranormal activity remains more speculative than factual.

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/12/tuesday-december-23-2025/

Drawing Brash's face (From InvestiGators) in WarioWare D.I.Y.

#Brash #InvestiGators #WarioWareDIY #WarioWare #Drawing

Drawing Mango (From InvestiGators book) on WarioWare D.I.Y.

#Mango #InvestiGators #WarioWareDIY #WarioWare #Drawing

In #bioinformatics, and #scientific #computing generally, raw #data is never ever in a usable form.

This is one of the many things #Hollywood persistently gets wrong: the #scientist / #hacker / omni-computer-geek opens up the file, stares at a bunch of #numbers or #symbols, and says, “Ah hah! If I #compile the #HTML to reverse the #polarity on the #IP #gateway, I can #deconvolve the #DNA sequence to #backpropagate the #cellular #metabolism of the #alien #plague! Oh, and make #dinosaurs if you want, but that’s extra.”

Bonus points if the screen projects on said scientist’s face and reflects from the inevitable chunky-framed glasses. Scribbling equations backward on a transparent whiteboard may also be involved.

#Scientists, as I have said many times before and no doubt will need to say many times again, are people. We’re pretty good with numbers, yes, as a rule. But what we’re good at doing with those numbers is not reading and understanding them. It’s using them as the raw materials for product which makes sense to the human brain. Words, pictures, and a MUCH SMALLER number of numbers is our goal. Also continued #funding, which is about the kind of numbers everyone understands.

Before we process the numbers, we need to “#preprocess” them. There are several intermediate steps between the really raw data and the cover story for next week’s issue of Nature. Preprocessing is where we turn the glowing symbols projected onto our faces into something that kinda-sorta makes sense. It’s still not really readable, but people looking at it, who know what they’re looking at, can tell what it represents.

Usually this is in the form of one or more #tables: for a familiar example, think of an #Excel workbook with several large #spreadsheets. (In reality, storing data in Excel is a terrible idea, but I’ll stick with that metaphor.) Nobody’s going to read and digest everything in the workbook. You can look at the headers and a few of the values and at least have an idea where to start. Preprocessing gets you to that point.

For most types of data, preprocessing is fairly standardized. You don’t have to write your own code: someone else has already done that work for you. Just pick a #software #package, run the raw data through it, glance at the output to make sure nothing went horribly wrong. Now you’re ready to write the code only you can write, to discover the Secrets of Life Itself. Now is the time for SCIENCE.

Or Nature. Or The Journal Of Obscure Subfield Ten People In The World Know Exists. Or a tech report. You know, whatever.

Careful readers will have noticed the word “fairly” above. In fact there are multiple #algorithms to choose from, and multiple packages implementing those algorithms, and #documentation written at 3:00 AM by an exhausted #postdoc who really just wanted to check the #cell cultures one last time and grab the remaining half a chicken salad sandwich from the break room fridge and go home and crawl into bed for a few hours’ sleep before dragging ass back in tomorrow. Shower optional.

Other exhausted postdocs and their harassed #principal #investigators, who get somewhat more sleep and a somewhat finer grade of chicken salad but are much more worried about upcoming funding application deadlines, may or may not bother to write down which package they use to preprocess their data. Or what specific parameters they tuned. Or if they even know how they’re supposed to use the damned thing: there’s a really good chance they just ran the data through on the default settings, got something that looked reasonable, and called it a day.

Amazingly, most of the time this doesn’t really matter. Data has a life of its own. The bigger the data set gets, and these days nearly all data are “big data,” the more likely it is that any reasonable method will produce similar results. Good thing too, otherwise science (and Science) would grind to a screeching, shuddering, smoking halt.

Sometimes it matters a lot. Careful scientists check, just in case. I try to be one of those, and when I’m not, my coworkers pick up the slack. Luckily for me, for most of my career I’ve found myself in the company of those who live up to that standard, and I can mostly convince myself I do the same. Another item on Hollywood’s long list of sins: science is not a solo enterprise. In fact it’s deeply social, which is one of several reason why the stereotype of scientists as loners is a load of crap. But I digress.

In case you’re wondering if this has a point, yes it does, and here it is: all the above is why my boss recently sent me a message saying, “Woah yeah ok so maybe you do need to process from raw after all. B/c idk wtf that is.”

Without any irony at all: I love my job.