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by Nicholas A. Reiter and Lori L. Schillig ABSTRACT: This speculative paper attempts to address an explanation of how apparently invisible entities interact with our time/space continuum. A quantum-based theory is put forth involving fractal iteration rates that constructs a model of how our universe periodically synchronizes with other normally undetectable universes around us. Acoustical and visual situations and experiments are presented to lend support to this hypothesis. The addendum illustrates the story behind the taking of the M1 photograph. In May of 1997, a random snapshot photograph taken with high speed 35mm black and white film was found to contain unusual images which were not visible to the photographer at the time. Early examination by photo shop personnel failed to point out any obvious film flaws, developing defects, or camera related artifacts. More recent analysis by a veteran photographer in eastern Ohio has concurred with this evaluation. The picture was taken outdoors in the early morning hours, near a house in rural Michigan which was being investigated as the site of a poltergeist-like haunting. The camera used was an auto-focusing Minolta Freedom AF10R; film was rather standard, Kodak Tri-X PAN 400 black and white (TX135-24). The on-board flash was used. The photograph shows the edge of a yard and a young cornfield beyond. Branches of some small trees, which overhang the edge of the field, intrude into about half of the scene. The night was clear and cool, about 40° F. No smoke or fog was evident in the area when the picture was taken. What we see is a dense swirling, or coiling structure of mist or "fog" superimposed in the scene! This structure appears to be suspended in the air between the lawn and the overhanging branches. If we extrapolate the size of the structure from the approximate size of grass blades and twigs, we find a height and width of about 1.5m. Distance from the camera seems to be variable, and is about 1.0m at the lower end. No faces or "beings" are evident, yet the density of the structure is remarkable; it seems to be a real SOMETHING. Popular literature on ghost hunting contains frequent references to the quandary we find here: a "something" showing up in a picture when nothing was seen in its place by the photographer. How does this occur? We find that previous research has often skirted the "how" and has only accepted that this sort of effect happens. Of course, the issue of whether or not these photographic anomalies are real continues in debate. Our position is that while such pictures may not represent "spirits", they do seem to depict a very real, very invisible structure. We believe that careful analysis of this effect may open up valuable avenues into the physics of anomalous events and could add to our basic understand of the universe. Since June 1997, we have begun construction of a hypothesis which may satisfactorily explain the mechanism for the appearance of photographically captured, but otherwise invisible events. We begin by considering the similarities between the patterns and laws inherent in the natural world, and the complex evolving patterns generated by computers over the past thirty years: fractals. Well established algorithms run on high speed machines have been capable of simulating the generation and evolution of living cells, galaxies, and even the intricate and subtle beauties of trees. Many forward thinking mathematicians and philosophers have noted this and have concurred that our entire universe is a great evolving fractal structure. An excellent and classic treatment of this is found in "The Fractal Geometry of Nature" by Benoit Mandelbrot. If we consider that our material universe has the nature of an evolving fractal pattern, then we must also assume that there exists for this structure a fundamental iteration speed or rate. This rate remains unknown in magnitude, frequency, or period. Nevertheless, fractal patterns which grow as a result of a computer algorithm re-iterated upon a monitor screen certainly have a fundamental quantum rate, usually dependent upon the speed of the microprocessor. One should expect the same in our material world at large. The appearance on photographic film of anomalous structures not visible to the photographer at the time of exposure may offer clues to the relationship of this hypothetical quantum iteration rate to "classical" strange phenomena such as ghosts, cryptozoological entities, and UFOs. Consider for a moment the possibility that a number of universe-fractals exist and are normally separated utterly from each other by virtue of iteration rates being either faster, slower, or somehow out of synchronization with ours. Such universes are just as rich and solid as our own but remain completely undetectable to our instruments. Next, we suppose that in some unusual cases, localized regions of another universe-fractal, such as an intelligent entity or craft, have their quantum iteration rate altered in such a way that it becomes NEARLY synchronized with ours. In these cases, visible, tangible, or audible traces become apparent to us. This may very well be first noticed when the differential in iteration rates is reduced to perhaps one thousand to ten thousand beats or counts per second. At this separation, the other universe objects are still invisible to the normal human eye; for in essence they are "blinking" in and out faster than the eye can catch. However, fast camera exposures and flash illumination are able to "strobe" and capture images of these objects. At even closer synchronization, objects may become slightly visible, or translucent, and may affect molecular properties in our universe-fractal, such as barometric pressure. Folklorist and ghost authority, Chris Woodyard, has proposed the analogy of fan blades, whirling at the speed nearly high enough to elude the sensitivity of the human eye. A reasonable illustration of this property is acoustic in nature. We take two audio oscillators running in the ultrasonic, totally beyond our hearing range. We suppose that one is of a fixed frequency, say 30 Kilohertz. The other is connected to a variable signal which may be turned from 50 kilohertz down to 30 kilohertz. With one oscillator running at 30 kHz and the other at 50 kHz, we hear absolutely nothing, and physically are not aware of any sonic energy. Now, we tune the variable unit down to about 35 kHz. the resultant, or beat frequency of the two ultrasonic signals is now 5 kHz, and enters into the audible range. As if out of nowhere, a high pitched whine is heard, which lowers as we approach full synchronization. Out of two inaudible signals, sound is now heard! Recently, an experimental observation was made, first hand, which may lend some interesting evidence toward our hypothesis. Literature pertaining not only to cases of haunted houses, but also to alien entity encounters, seems to contain many references to "beings" or figures being visible in the peripheral field, but being invisible to frontal sight. The classic scenario of a witness seeing "something" out of the corner of their eye crosses many regions of anomalous activity. One early treatment of this possibility concerned the fact that the regions of the human retina responsible for peripheral vision are composed primarily of rod cells. This is in contrast to the cone cells which are used almost exclusively for frontal vision. Cone cells are wavelength sensitive, and allow us to see colours. Rod cells see amplitude, or degrees of light and dark. In 1992, a medical doctor acquaintance in Cincinnati suggested that rod cells may have a sensitivity to wavelengths of light which are further into the ultraviolet. Therefore, it followed that unusual phenomena witnessed in the peripheral field of vision may represent objects somehow skewed in reflected spectra; objects which would somehow lie in the ultraviolet region, unseen by frontal vision. This concept was extrapolated further; again by examining literature pertaining to UFOs or ghostly encounters. We find that domesticated animals often seem to respond to the presence of apparently invisible phenomena. Anecdotes involving dogs which suddenly growl and back away from a doorway where nothing is seen by humans form a motif, with many variations on a theme being reported. Similarly, dogs and horses have been claimed, classically, to respond wildly to the presence of unseen aerial phenomena. Could it be that animals such as dogs, whose vision consists mainly of images translated by rod (black and white) cells, are able to see with their normal frontal viewing that which we humans see only occasionally in our peripheral? However, the difference between peripheral vision and frontal vision which relates to this matter may involve a very different and more fundamental mechanism. We have recently observed, first-hand, that peripheral vision seems to be FASTER. A bank of green light-emitting diodes was connected to a pulser circuit. A pulse rate region, deduced to be about 45 to 50 Hz, was discovered within which the LEDs appear to be continuously ON if viewed frontally, but exhibit noticeable flickering when eyes are diverted and the light is viewed peripherally. Therefore, we may also say with confidence that our human peripheral vision is capable of seeing high speed transient or "blinking" events which are INVISIBLE when seen front-on. What is the iteration rate of our universe-fractal? If we consider that every action in our world;
every propagation or translation of every particle/wave, is part of the great, ever-expanding fractal pattern, then
the iteration rate must be the inverse of some fantastically small quantum unit of time itself. Perhaps we could
say that it is somewhere below the time needed for the fastest thing in our universe, a photon, to traverse the
smallest physical dimension known, such as the diameter of an electron. One possibility is that the calculated
value for Planck Time, approximately 1.0 X 10 However, none of this precludes the possibility that many discrete universe-fractals may exist, spaced apart only by DIFFERENTIALS between iteration rates. Thusly, these differentials may indeed be of magnitudes which are easily observable, with the right techniques. With proper understanding of the nature of said differentials, we may someday be able to at least view, study, and confirm the existence of other universes. In order to test this hypothesis, let us consider the mechanics involved when a camera captures an image which was not visible to the human camera operator, such as was the case with photo M1. The human eye, it would appear,. is not capable of registering visual impressions from images which occur in intervals less than perhaps 20 to 50 milliseconds. Many cameras and types of photographic films easily exceed this factor. Consider also the duration of a typical flash bulb, which may extend down to less than 100 microseconds. We snap a photograph using the flash bulb. The timing of the flash synchronized with the "flicker" rate of an unseen object whose iteration speed was abnormally close to ours. As a result, an odd partial image of a "something" was recorded on the fast photographic film. Now, in order to reproduce this effect and confirm our hypothesis, we consider a device which could produce bright illumination of a large physical area, but which also emits its light radiation in pulses of short duration on a continuous basis. In other terms, an ultra high speed strobe lamp with a very high repetition rate. A high frequency light source. The lamp would be set up in an area where anomalous activity, such as hauntings, are said to occur. If some physical object or entity lying just outside of our iteration rate is present, the lamp may "light it up"! Photographic record and personal observations may then be easily made. A preferred embodiment for this device utilizes new generation, high brightness, light emitting diodes. When ganged together in clusters, these solid state devices easily put out illumination rivaling that of flashlights or commercial signaling lights. The LED cluster may also be driven and pulsed with a variable, high frequency oscillator and switching circuit. Using a simple 555 timer chip and a power MOSFET, clusters of LEDs may be driven at speeds up to several hundred kilohertz. As of July 1997, construction of such a lamp prototype was completed. The light source utilized is a band of twelve blue-green, high brightness LEDs from Nichia Corp. The output wavelength is centered at 500nm, with about a 50 nm bandwidth. First field testing of the lamp was conducted in late July 1997, at a previously selected haunted house site in southwest Ohio. Initial results appeared to be negative, however further testing at other locations is on-going, and will require many hours of observation before the embodiment can be evaluated. Another means of testing our hypothesis would make use of the acoustic analogy used earlier in this paper. If structures such as "ghosts" or aliens lie slightly outside of our own iteration rate, then they may produce a faint ultrasonic signature or pressure oscillation in the atmosphere. The frequency of this ultrasound should depend on the differential in iteration rates. Most likely it would lie between 5 kHz and 100 kHz. A sensitive ultrasonic transducer, such as a piezoelectric crystal, could translate the sonic energy into an electrical signal for monitoring. Additionally, a variable ultrasonic generator could be used to send out a signal which might beat with the signature waveform to produce an audible resultant. We then might be able to hear such noises as footsteps, talking, or machinery...all from another universe-fractal! We should recall that some audio recordings made near crop circles in England in the early 1990s contained odd, near-ultrasonic chirps. Could the ultrasonic factor also be another possible reason that domestic animals behave in strange fashion when an anomalous condition seems to be near? Obviously, the maxim which we have held dear in our research applies here strongly: "Empirical knowledge is the only true knowledge". Thus, we experiment, build oscillators and flashing lamps, and press always onward for solid evidence. Speculation in the fields of the paranormal is cheap and is as fluffy as a neutrino without data and carefully reported results. We have related our theory, and the basis for our speculation. As any positive experimental results roll in, we will report them to the fullest extent. ADDENDUM A The reader may wish to better understand the background and circumstances of the M1 photograph... the "story" behind the picture. While this paper is essentially technical, and deals with speculative physics, we include the M1 story here in this addendum. Working strictly from personal anecdotes of the home owner, we concluded that the primary haunting in the Michigan was largely non-visible, and seemed to fit the profile of a "classic", though low-level poltergeist. There was very little evidence to convince us that the paranormal activity involved was related to anything other than the presence of the home owner, or PK originating from the home owner. Aspects of this case are currently being incorporated into another paper which will deal with theoretical considerations of the origin of poltergeists. However, during the investigation of the primary haunting, a young man from a neighboring farm related a fascinating story about a glowing, ghostly manifestation he had witnessed at a spot about 50 meters down the road from the house we were visiting. According to "Bob", he had witnessed a pair of glowing figures appear in the roadside ditch location over a dozen times in a period of about three years. The eerie scene was claimed to materialize primarily between midnight and 3:00 AM. Two human figures, a man and a woman, would be seen. The pair appeared to be self-luminous, though of natural colours. Both seemed to be wearing hospital gown type garments. On different occasions, the positions of the figures would change, though through the duration of a particular manifestation, the particular "pose" would be held as if frozen. "Bob" claimed that he had occasionally approached the ditch ghosts close enough to make out details such as the man's blue eyes, and see the woman's long, brown hair move slightly, as if in a nonexistent breeze. The woman's face was always ashen pale and indistinct. Both figures tended to fade out below the knees. The spectral couple were claimed to always appear in one of four poses:
Curiously, despite the spectacular nature of this apparition and its rather public location, no witnesses other than "Bob" have come forward to report a sighting. Photo M1 was taken at a location about 10 metres to the south of the primary haunting site. We note, however, that if one follows the direction of the camera, at a distance of about 40 metres one arrives at almost the exact reported location of the ditch ghosts! At the time of the photograph, LS had not witnessed any visible anomaly across the field corner and down the road; nevertheless, even a remotely possible connection with the ditch ghost should be recorded. An acquaintance of LS had recently pointed out that to her, the upper portion of the vaporous figure looked like a human being bent over on hands and knees. This surprised LS, considering that the acquaintance had no knowledge of the #4 pose of the ditch ghosts. Likewise, LS was unaware of the specific poses at the time the photograph was taken. LS took the liberty of making a pencil tracing of the vapor figure. Indeed, a certain resemblance to a person on hands and knees is evident. We should be quite conservative about this, though, considering the ease with which rust stains on soybean oil tanks may be interpreted as either Jesus or Elvis! We invite the reader to speculate along with us... REFERENCES HILL, RONALD (1996). Hums, Stones, & Circles. The Cerealogist, No. 17, pg. 19. |
Photograph M1
