The Geller papers; Scientific observations on the paranormal powers of Uri Geller

URI GELLER is known to millions of people around the world as the Israeli psychic who can bend spoons and start broken watches by the force of his mind alone, a power which he has demonstrated many times on both stage and television. What is not so widely known is that over the past several years Geller has also demonstrated his psychic powers in reputable laboratories ranging from Stanford University in California to King’s College in London. Incredible as it may seem, he has caused parts of an exotic crystal to vanish from within a sealed container, changed the molecular structure of a rare metal alloy by a touch of his finger, erased information on computer tapes by a pass of his hand, set Geiger counters ticking using only his thoughts, and read the thoughts of other people while sealed in a room that blocks out all types of radio waves. An increasing number of scientists are staking their reputation on the reality of Geller’s talents. Some of these investigations have been published in reliable journals but most so far have not. Charles Panati, a science editor at Newsweek as well as a physicist himself, has talked with a number of the scientists who have worked with Geller and has collected here their major technical papers and reports. He has also contributed a lengthy introduction explaining the rationale behind the various experiments and setting forth the credentials of the researchers. The book contains all the charts, diagrams, and photographic evidence originally included in the papers themselves and a closing chapter discusses the significance of the scientific work so far done on Geller and speculates on where it may someday lead. Before joining Newsweek CHARLES PANATI was a radiation physicist at Columbia University and head physicist at RCA, working in space communications and laser technology. He is a nationally syndicated science broadcaster and author of three books on optics and digital communications; his most recent book is Supersenses: Our Potential For Parasensory Experience. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics from Villanova University and Columbia University. HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 2 Park Street Boston, Massachusetts 02107 “As a result of Geller’s success in this experimental period, we consider that he has demonstrated his paranormal perceptual ability in a convincing and unambiguous manner.” — H. Puthoff, Ph.D. and Russell Targ Stanford Research Institute, Menlo Park, California “The evidence, based on metallurgical analysis of fractured surfaces (produced by Geller], indicates that a paranormal influence must have been operative in the formation of the fractures.” — Wilbur Franklin, Ph.D. Kent State University, Physics Dept., Kent, Ohio “Metal objects were bent or divided (by Geller] in circumstances such as to prove conclusively . . . that the phenomena were genuine and paranormal.” — A. R. G. Owen, Ph.D. New Horizons Research Foundation, Toronto, Ontario