Energy
A Physicist’s View
Vic Stenger
Substance Duality
Most people believe that the universe is made
of two kinds of stuff:
1. Matter  Body
Particles
Discreteness, reductionism
2. "Energy"  Mind, Spirit, Soul,Vital Force
Electromagnetic/ bioenergetic fields
Continuity, holism
Assumptions of Alternative
Medicine
 Living things possess a special, cosmic energy field, which
I will call the bioenergetic field. Qi?
 Pure energy is a biophysical substance separate from
matter, and indeed supersedes matter.
 Electromagnetic fields are examples of "pure energy" and
are identified with the bioenergetic field.
 Newtonian mechanistic, reductionist physics has been
shown to be wrong by modern physics.
 Quantum physics shows that the universe is one
interconnected whole of which human consciousness is a
part, thus allowing the mind to control reality.
Bioenergetic Medicine
"The principles of energy medicine originate in
quantum physics. Bioenergetic medicine is the
study of human and animal bodies as dynamic
electromagnetic fields existing in an
electromagnetic environment."
"Based on Einstein's theories of quantum physics,
these energetic concepts are being integrated into
medicine for a comprehensive approach to disease
diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.”
Joan Stafantos
The History of Energy
 From Greek energeia meaning “activity.”
 Not part of original Newtonian mechanics.
 Introduced into physics by Helmholtz in 1847.
Conservation of Energy
The total energy of an isolated system does not
change with time.
This is the defining property of energy.
Types of Energy
Example: Falling Body
 Kinetic Energy
m
EK = mv2/2
 Potential Energy
EP = mgh
 Rest Energy
ER = mc2
v
h
Classical Physics
Picture prior to 20th Century:
 Energy and matter were separate and distinct
substances.
 Although appearing continuous to the naked eye,
matter was composed of discrete, localized atoms.
 Light was a form of electromagnetic wave, the
vibration of a continuous cosmic field, the aether,
and regarded as a form of "pure energy."
 Gravity was a continuous action-at-a-distance field.
Modern Physics
Current picture:
Energy and matter are the same stuff:
E = mc2
 The discrete nature of matter is confirmed. Energy is also
discrete.
 There is no evidence for an aether or any other continuous
medium in universe. Light is composed of particulate
matter: photons. Fields are composed of discrete particles
("quanta").
 General relativity explains gravity in terms of the curvature
of space rather than as a force field.
Matter
Molecules
Atoms
Nuclei and Electrons
Protons and Neutrons
Quarks
The Standard Model of Matter
Three generations of quarks and leptons
u
d
c
s
t
b
ne
e
nm
m
nt
t
plus antiparticles.
Familiar matter : u, d, e
proton = uud
neutron = udd
The Standard Model of Forces
Forces result from the exchange of particles:
 Electromagnetism
 Strong nuclear
 Weak nuclear
photon
gluons (8)
weak bosons (4)
(No quantum theory of gravity as yet)
While these force particles are described by quantum
fields in the theory, no continuous medium, like the
aether, is involved.
The Cosmos
Mass Budget
Radiation
0.005 %
Ordinary visible matter
0.5 %
Nature of dark matter and
dark energy still unknown.
Ordinary nonluminous matter
3.5 %
But not “immaterial” since
carry mass.
Exotic dark matter
26 %
Even more exotic dark
“energy”
70 %
Life and Mind
 All living organisms are composed of the same
quarks and electrons as compose a rock or a
river.
 They are acted on by the same forces.
 There is no evidence for special vital or psychic
fundamental substances or forces.
Properties of Matter
 There is no evidence for any special fields or
radiation associated with living organisms.
 No basis exists for assuming that life and mind
are anything other than emergent properties of
matter--not derivable from equations of
particle physics but consistent with them.
 Brain imaging and other neuroscience provide
strong evidence for localized, material sources
of thoughts and emotions.
The Unconscious Quantum
 Quantum mechanics is said to provide a basis for a mindmatter connection.
 This notion arises from the fact that the act of observation
interferes with what is being observed: Heisenberg
Uncertainty Principle.
 The claim is that reality is determined by consciousness.
 But mind and consciousness are not independent of matter.
The brain is wired to body, but not to other bodies.
 Nothing in quantum phenomena requires the introduction
of non-material or holistic elements.
Has modern physics shown that
classical, reductionist physics is
"wrong?"
 No!
 Most physics taught in classrooms is still
classical physics.
 Modern physics is built on a base of classical
physics. Still materialistic and reductionist –
including quantum mechanics.
 Modern technology and medicine still rely
heavily on classical physics.
What Constitutes Evidence?
 Any claim that implies the overthrow of well-established
scientific principles has an extraordinary burden of proof.
 Since so much rubbish is out there, the only rational and
practical policy is to ignore such claims until
extraordinary evidence is presented.
 Anecdotal evidence is ordinary. People can be tricked or
self-deluded. The placebo effect is powerful and difficult to
eliminate even in the best controlled experiments.
 A single experiment, even peer-reviewed, is never enough.
Multiple independent replications are essential.
Ordinary Claims
That, if true, would violate no established
science:
 Some herbs may have some medical benefits.
 Acupuncture may relieve pain by stimulating brain
chemicals.
 Relaxation or meditation may have some medical benefits.
 Massage may aid in healing.
 A patient's state of mind can affect his or her health.
 Treating the "whole patient" may be better than just
treating his parts.
Extraordinary claims
That, if true, would violate well-established
science:
 Homeopathic remedies can have any effect at all--other
than placebo.
 Meditation tunes you into the cosmic field of mind.
 Mind can overcome established physical laws.
 You can improve a person's health by manipulating her
vital energies with acupuncture or therapeutic touch.
Published Reports
 Numerous media reports refer to published papers
"scientifically verifying" the healing powers of prayer and
other forms of "spiritual" or "psychic" therapies.
Not one is statistically significant!
 Many p = 1/20 effects in physics have failed to be
confirmed.
 The publication criterion in physics is p = 1/10,000.
 This threshold should be used for an extraordinary claim
(as defined) in all branches of science. Ordinary claims,
consistent with existing science, can be published with
weaker significance. But even p = 1/20 is far too low.
Scientific Study of Qi
Measurements made in Beijing in 1987 during
healing lectures of Dr. Yan Xin.
Yan Xin et al, Journal of Scientific Exploration 18 (2002):381-411.
Positive signals:
 Radiation dosimeters
 Changes in Raman spectrum in aqueous solutions
 Alternations in half-life of 241Am
Thermoluminescence Dosimeters:
 7LiF(Mg,Ti) sensitive to gamma-rays
 6LiF(Mg, Ti) sensitive to neutrons and gamma-rays
Results of Qi Experiment
Distance measurements during 11-hour lecture.
• “Gamma-ray”
data
“Neutron”
data
___ Energy
Conservation:
1/r2
Conclusions on Qi Experiment
 Radiation intensities very high. Would be harmful if
extended over long times.
 Dosimeters are designed for longer term exposures and
have about 10 mR detection limit. Reported results near
lower limit. Could be measurement errors. No error
estimates given.
 No results presented for distance experiment control with
Dr. Yan absent.
 No reported replication in years between 1987 and 2002.
 Qi does not show fall off with distance expected from
energy conservation. Defining property of energy.
Analogy with Psi
 Scientific searches for psychic energy (psi) over 150 years
have failed.
 1930s. Einstein told J.B. Rhine he would not believe in psi
unless he saw “distance effect.”
 Rhine could find no distance effect.
 Psi does not show fall off with distance expected from
energy conservation. Defining property of energy.
 Neither psi nor qi appear to be forms of energy.
 Both psi and qi appear to be nonexistent.
Summary
 Energy therapies are based on the ancient notion that
living matter possesses some special vital force or
energy that is separate from matter.
 Today this energy is mistakenly associated with
electromagnetic or quantum fields.
 No evidence for any special vital forces, energies, or
fields has ever been found.
 Modern physics has shown that energy and matter are
the same thing.
 Modern physics has shown that no continuous fields
exist. Quantum fields are composed of particles.
Summary (continued)
 Modern particle physics has a theory of matter and forces
that successfully describes all current observations.
 Living matter is composed of the same particles acted on
by the same forces.
 Quantum mechanics provides no basis for paranormal or
holistic claims.
 Modern physics remains totally materialistic and
reductionist.
 Reports of extraordinary claims should not be published
unless the evidence is extraordinary.
 Qi and psi do not have defining property of energy.
Victor J. Stenger
vstenger@mindspring.com
http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/