Wednesday, January 23, 2013

#388: William A. Tiller


William A. Tiller is professor emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University, and famous for his appearance in “What the Bleep Do We Know!?”. His application for the movie is given in his 1997 book “Science and Human Transformation”, which postulates the existence of subtle energies, beyond the four fundamental forces, which act in concert with human consciousness (shades of Dr. Emoto). Yes, it is completely outside his area of expertise; yes, it is woo; and no, the evidence does not venture beyond wishful thinking, confirmation bias and the Galileo gambit.

Tiller claims to have discovered a new class of natural phenomena generated via these “subtle energies”, namely energies that manifest themselves in the practices of healers and other practitioners of the paranormal (it is basically chi). “Psychoenergetics” is Tiller’s term for the study of these energies in relation to the application of human consciousness, and he postulates a connection between both physical and nonphysical consciousness (yes, this is a metaphysical claim, and no, he did not engage with the literature) and natural phenomena. It is pure quantum woo, of course, without a shred of coherent evidence, and Tiller even mixes “information” into it.

Of course, the point is to find ways to heal you. Tiller claims (few traces of any knowledge of material sciences in here) to be able to increase or decrease the pH of water by a full pH unit by “intent”, and although he does apply chemical formulas in his papers I doubt people with basic knowledge of chemistry will be able to recognize what’s going on (he doesn’t always use chemical terminology with standard meaning, to put it mildly). The idea is discussed here. Tiller proposes: “A higher-dimensional-level substance, labeled deltrons, falling outside the constraints of relativity theory and able to move at velocities [faster than the speed of light and that acts as] a coupling agent between the electric monopole types of substances and the magnetic monopole types of substances to produce both electromagnetic (EM) and magnetoelectric (ME) types of mediator fields exhibiting a special type of ‘mirror principle’ relationship between them.” Words fail. Literally.

He has also explained that whereas “Existing orthodox science provides the technical underpinnings and mindset for today's orthodox medicine[,] Psycho-energetic science will provide the technical underpinnings and mindset for CAM.” Because CAM cannot be measured or justified by existing science. Or in short: science shows that my theories are ridiculous and unjustified. I deal with this by inventing a new "science" and accusing my critics of being close-minded.

The blooming field of tachyon energy healing, such as (the British) Nicola Quinn here, or Gene Latimer here, has apparently been profoundly influenced by Tiller’s work (e.g. here), though it usually adds some Tesla and more scientific illiteracy to the mix (after all, suckers who buy into Tiller will buy into anything). Tiller’s “research” has also been invoked in the explanation of the Q-link, and antivaxxer and homeopath Julianne Adams has presented offshoots of his musings at various antivaxx gatherings.

Tiller is currently Chairman and Chief Scientist of the William A. Tiller Foundation, devoted to his research on Psychoenergetic Science and Subtle Energies as well as being a retailer of his books and DVDs.

Diagnosis: Ultracrackpot and completely delusional woo-sponge, to the level where ordinary people might start to suspect fraud. But Tiller seems merely to lack any connection to reality whatsoever. People do listen to him, but it seems that those who do are pretty much lost to reality already, so it is debatable how much harm he actually does.

16 comments:

  1. Hey.
    I have been looking into Tiller research.
    So far it seams to me also that his theories lacks foundation. Still I can't seem to find any critique based on scientific facts towards his PH experiment, but is seams like you have?
    If so I would be very much interested if you could explain or send me a link?

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  2. Tiller actually did some seminal and important work in physical metallurgy. However, he has also gone off the deep end on some subjects--e.g., for a while he actually studied if and how pyramids could sharpen razor blades.

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  3. He is currently teaming up with a speech pathologist to provide "autism treatment". The website "Awesomism" claims the treatment has been scientifically validated by "dozens of families" and touts it as "the new science" of autism treatment. There are plenty of alternative views and approaches to autism, but theirs breaches ethics because of the false claims of bring scientifically proven when it is not.

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    1. Stanford University Professor Emeritus William A. Tiller has been researching a level of physical reality hitherto undetectable with conventional measurement instruments. He says that there is a vast, powerful realm between particles that is influenced by human consciousness.

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  4. Dr. Rick Sheff appeared tonight 02/07/16 on Coast to Coast AM http://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2016/02/07 Dr. Sheff praised and recommended William Tiller and Tiller's work.

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  5. I decided to find critics of William Tiller on the net...but I didn't find anyone detailing their critique, rather just engaging in their dislike of his work....kind of like here. Most skeptics are very poorly read, considering how their strut their science peacock. I have a feeling that foolishness is in play on americanloons. Ha.

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  6. I think you are an americanloon; you know, left brain dominant and all that. Can't figure anything out for yourself.

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  7. This site is exactly what Dr. Tiller has been talking about in terms of science having to be self consistent, therefore, daring not to look outside the box. A far as I can tell, his data seems compelling and actually to be taken seriously. Do ALL the research before throwing stones......

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    1. The late Doctor Tiller could have just demonstrated his "intention" powers in front of the late James Randi and made a million dollars (and history) if he was correct. Just saying.

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  8. I don't think you understand particle physics at all. Dr. Tiller's Deltrons are nothing but a gauge boson, which is necessitated by his peer-replicated experimental results with the ph raising and lowering of various assorted waters. There is absolutely nothing "loony" about gauge bosons, considering the Standard Model wouldn't exist without them! The magnetic monopoles have been empirically demonstrated; they are not theoretical! I do believe you are the real loon here! Actually, you're just a manifestation of the brother-battle, a timeless archtype . . . If you and the stringy people have your way you will turn science, physics anyway, into a faith-based enterprise, by which I am referring to the Post-empirical nonsense of Dawid . . .

    http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2014/07/post-empirical-science-is-oxymoron.html

    Now there's loony for you . . .

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    1. Wes, I am very interested in looking into the peer replicated experimental results for Tiller's pH raising experiment, and information on the magnetic monopole empirical demonstration you referred to. Mind helping a truth-seeker out with some references? Thanks!

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    2. I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, but I was not notified of your comment and just found it now when looking for something else!

      Probably the best resource for what you seek is Dr. Tiller's own books, in that there are many, many references within and he gives a firm accounting of the magnetic monopole results! If all you want is a summary, then Towards a Quantitative Science and Technology that Includes Human Consciousness is a good resource. However, with regards to the IHD experiments - broadcast intention, I would link to An Overview of Biofield Devices, a summary paper hosted by the U. S. National Institutes of Health.

      In addition to these resources, I would link you to research conducted on g-tummo recently published in the PLOS/ONE journal:

      Neurocognitive and Somatic Components of Temperature Increases during g-Tummo Meditation: Legend and Reality.

      I would also highly recommend the Vice video of Wim Hof of The Netherlands, the only human, at least known to the modern public, to have climbed Mt. Everest wearing nothing but shorts!

      In addition to that, I would also link to two meta-analyses covering Pre-stimulus response experiments, one published in the Frontiers of Psychology Journal in 2012 and an update reflecting additional experiments conducted from 2012 to 2017 published in the Neuroscience Journal SSRN:

      Predictive Physiological Anticipation Preceding Seemingly Unpredictable Stimuli: A Meta-Analysis

      Predictive Physiological Anticipation Preceding Seemingly Unpredictable Stimuli: An Update of Mossbridge's et al. Meta-Analysis

      Let me know if I can do anything else for you!

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    3. In the above comment I link to two meta-analyses, one published in Frontiers of Psychology in 2012 and an update published in SSRN, a top-tier neurosci journal, in 2018. Most of the experiments in these meta-analyses utilized "classical" event generators, either psuedo-random or truly-random. Inspired by the 2012 meta-analysis, a team from UC Santa Barbara replicated one specific protocol using a quantum-random event generator with positive results. The statistical analysis of their partial sample were published in the American Institute of Physics Conference Proceedings Journal, Quantum Retrocausation III, the third in an international symposia on Retrocausation held at UC San Diego, in 2017.

      Prediction of truly random future events using analysis of prestimulus
      electroencephalographic data


      These experiments strongly, strongly support Tillers bi-conformal model and strongly, strongly question the so-called quantum state superposition model which informs so-called quantum computation, suggesting that the woo here is not coming from Tiller but from somewhere else! I wrote about this on Quora and the comment thread is both entertaining and enlightening:

      How were the scientists at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering able to create and control qubits at room temperature? All current quantum computers spend a lot to cool qubits down to near 0K

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  9. If you are hostile to that which is outside the box that is conventional and narrow minded. It is called can't think for yourself mentality

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  10. The level of stupid in evidence here is beyond humor. It reaches deep into bathos. Particularly the originator of this blog (may he remain unnamed for eternity)who has done nothing here but reveal the depth of his own inferiority complex. He pretends to be 'smart', but in actuality is a conformist mind-chimp of no-account. Hey. Smart Guy---How about that Einstein and his "Spooky action at a distance." How about that? Do you have some nice things to say about Albert 'Mr. WooWooHimself' Einstein? moron.

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