Uri Geller

[naomi24]

I’m currently reading ‘The Ghost of Flight 401’, recommended by a fellow ABer. Early on the author speaks about Uri Geller and names scientists who support his incredible claims of spoon-bending, watch-mending, etc, etc., which surprises me. I know James Randi has explained how these 'tricks' can be achieved, but I was under the impression that Uri Geller had also been ‘outed’ by science as a fraud. Has he – or is that just hearsay? I’d be interested in links to any formal papers on the subject.

[Old_Geezer]

You are asking if there is a scientific paper written specifically proving not only that the demonstrations by Uri could be done via "normal" methods but that was how he achieved them ? That sounds a tall order.

[bibblebub]

When he first came to the public's attention in this country Geller appeared on various chat shows, and I'm sure I can remember at least one or two on which there would also be a professor of something or other who appeared to be taken in by the sleight of had demonstrated in the show, just like most people.

[bibblebub]

...hand not had (quite an appropriate typo)

[jomifl]

I doubt that any reputable scientists would bother to entertain the idea that uri geller's claims were anything other than fraudulent or the delusions of a madman. I'm not sure that a branch of real science exists that is large enough to deal with 'formal papers' in this area.

[naomi24]

The names mentioned are Professor J G Taylor, chairman of the Department of Mathematics at King’s College who said, “The Geller Effect – of metal bending – is clearly not brought about by fraud. It is so exceptional that it presents a crucial challenge to modern science and could even destroy the latter if no explanation becomes available.” From Birkbeck, Dr David Bohm, Professor of Theoretical Physics, and physicist, Dr John Hasted said, “We feel if similar tests are made later, enough instances of this kind will probably accumulate so that there will be no room for reasonable doubt that some new process is involved here, which cannot be accounted for or explained in terms of the present known laws of physics. Indeed, we already feel that we have gone some distance toward this point”.

I’ve just checked the credentials of these people, and it appears they are all genuine.

[jomifl]

Just a bit credulous though. Honest people sometimes cannot grasp how devious and fraudulent other people can be.,

[Calibax]

Scientists are not generally used to demonstrations of phenomena being fraudulent, so they don't know what to look for and are therefore more credulous. Illusionists like James Randi know exactly what to look for and are therefore rarely taken in. I believe Randi has replicated all of Geller's demonstrations by (obviously) non-psychic means.

[sandyRoe]

Didn't stage magicians show how his tricks were performed soon after he rose to prominence?

[RATTER15]

Just google James Randi and Uri Geller, it isnt difficult to see what Geller gets up to.

Fraud!

Sorry no scientific papers, I doubt a serious scientist would entertain such a fraud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9w7jHYriFo

[naomi24]

Ratter, but that’s the point. Serious scientists have ‘entertained’ him.

This Wiki page about John Hasted is interesting. He was head of experimental physics at Birkbeck College, London, but although a believer in Psychokinesis, he didn’t rule out trickery.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hasted

[RATTER15]

He is a very clever man, however he still hasn't claimed Randi's 1 million $ offer.

[Khandro]

All hokum and entertainingly good fun, no harm done to anyone, and he laughed all the way to the bank.

[RATTER15]

Khandro, well done, that actually made sense :-)

[Svejk]

no harm done? tell that to my poor old ma who had a draw full of bent cutlery.

[jomifl]

/a believer in Psychokinesis,/ so not a scientist then..

[naomi24]

Head of experimental physics at Birkbeck? I'd call him a scientist.

[Kromovaracun]

There was a brief time in the 1980s when Washington University did express an interest in investigating psychic phenomenon. It was called Project Alpha, and had enormous corporate funding.

This was a 2-year project designed to test psychic ability. They chose a bunch of candidates who claimed to be psychic and offered to devise tests for their abilities - Randi offered himself as a consultant, but was refused. So instead, he planted Steve Shaw (now known as Banachek), a talented Derren-Brown style mentalist, and someone else whose name I forget, among the group of participants.

Shaw and his partner was able to fool the scientists into believing he was psychic, and made it through several rounds of elimination until eventually coming clean.

So no, nobody's studied Uri Geller. They have, however, studied people far more talented than he ever was.

And incidentally Geller no longer claims to be psychic. He's highly ambiguous these days, but now calls himself a "mystifier" and entertainer.

[naomi24]

Krom, you say nobody has studied Uri Geller, but before making the statement I posted at 10.26, Professor J G Taylor is alleged to have stated: “I have tested Uri Geller in my laboratory at Kings College with specially designed apparatus.”

I’ve not read much of the book so far, but it’s already clear that the author is very much attempting to convince the reader that the ghost story he’s about to launch into is true. However, if these claims about the involvement of reputable scientists are without foundation, it seems quite extraordinary that he's made them - and presumably got away with it.