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Is there any thing to Kirlian Photograph and is it connected to Harold Saxon Burr's L-field concept? 9:52 AM
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Let's break down Kirlian photography and its connection to Harold Saxon Burr's L-field concept:
**Kirlian Photography**
* **What it is:** Kirlian photography is a technique that produces images of objects surrounded by what appears to be a corona or aura when they are subjected to a high-voltage electrical field. Typically, an object is placed on a photographic plate or film, a high-voltage power source is applied, and the resulting discharge creates an image.
* **How it works (Scientifically Understood):** The phenomenon is generally understood scientifically as a type of electrical discharge or corona discharge. Factors influencing the appearance of the "aura" include:
* **Moisture:** Moisture on the surface of the object plays a significant role. More moisture leads to a more pronounced corona.
* **Pressure:** The pressure of the contact between the object and the film also affects the discharge.
* **Voltage and Frequency:** The characteristics of the electrical field (voltage, frequency, waveform) influence the discharge.
* **Gas Composition:** The surrounding gases also play a part.
* **Surface irregularities:** The discharge occurs most readily at areas where the object's surface is irregular.
* **Claims and Controversy:** The core of the controversy surrounds the interpretation of what the corona represents.
* **Mainstream Science:** Views it as a purely physical phenomenon explainable by electrical discharge, moisture, pressure, etc.
* **Paranormal/Alternative Interpretations:** Some proponents claim that Kirlian photography captures a real "aura" or "energy field" emanating from living organisms, reflecting their health, emotional state, or even spiritual energy. These interpretations are generally not supported by scientific evidence.
**Harold Saxon Burr's L-Fields (Life Fields)**
* **What it is:** Harold Saxon Burr, a neuroanatomist at Yale University, proposed the concept of "L-fields" (Life Fields) in the mid-20th century. He believed that all living things are organized and controlled by electromagnetic fields, which he thought could be measured and used to predict health and disease.
* **How it was studied:** Burr used voltmeters to measure electrical potentials on the surface of trees, salamanders, and humans. He found patterns in these measurements that he believed were correlated with physiological states, such as ovulation in women or disease onset in trees.
* **Connection to Kirlian Photography:** Some proponents of L-fields saw Kirlian photography as a visual confirmation of the existence of these energy fields. They suggested that the "aura" captured in Kirlian photographs was a manifestation of the L-field. Burr himself, while not directly involved in Kirlian research, did see it as potentially related to his work.
* **Scientific Reception:** Burr's L-field theory has not been widely accepted by the scientific community. Criticisms include:
* **Lack of Reproducibility:** Many of Burr's findings have been difficult to replicate consistently by other researchers.
* **Methodological Concerns:** His measurements were often influenced by factors like skin resistance, electrode placement, and environmental conditions.
* **Lack of a Clear Mechanism:** The exact nature of the L-field and how it could exert such profound control over biological processes was never clearly defined or explained in a way that fits with established physics and biology.
* **Alternative explanations:** Some of his findings could be explainable by known physiological processes, without invoking a new type of field.
**The Connection: Summarized**
* **Proposed Link:** Some believe Kirlian photography provides visual evidence of L-fields, making the "aura" visible.
* **Why the Connection is Problematic:**
* **Kirlian photography's "aura" is primarily explained by physical factors, not a biological energy field:** Moisture, electrical discharge, and pressure are the primary drivers of the Kirlian effect, not some inherent life force or electromagnetic field originating from the organism.
* **L-field theory lacks strong scientific support:** The theory itself remains controversial and lacks robust, reproducible evidence.
* **Correlation ≠ Causation:** Even if there were a correlation between Kirlian images and certain biological states, it wouldn't prove a causal relationship or validate the L-field concept. It could be that both are influenced by other underlying factors.
**In Conclusion:**
While some proponents see Kirlian photography as evidence supporting Harold Saxon Burr's L-field theory, this connection is largely speculative and lacks solid scientific grounding. Kirlian photography is best understood as a physical phenomenon related to electrical discharge, while the L-field theory remains a controversial and largely unsupported concept. It is important to approach claims linking Kirlian photography to "auras" or "energy fields" with skepticism and to rely on evidence-based scientific explanations. 9:52 AM
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