ESP ToK

QM has demonstrated that if two particles share a common origin, they become “entangled” in such a way that although they may be separated by light years, they still behave as one system with certain effects on one having an instantaneous effect on the other. This is not mere speculation. Actual experiments have been performed demonstrating his phenomenon. (Browne, 1997)  For example, if two particles are created from a single quantum system that has no spin, then in order for total spin to remain zero, the net spin of the two particles must also be zero. (Spin in quantum mechanics is not quite like a spinning top. For the purposes of this discussion, however, think of  “spin up” and “spin down” as different directions of normal everyday spin.) The fact that total spin must be the same is the result of a conservation law, which I will not go into here

People can not do the same thing for two reasons. First of all, these experiments show that there are certain correlations between particles that are entangled. Postulating that a signal  was exchanged at superluminal (faster than light) speeds, however, is one interpretation, but it is an interpretation that has a lot going against it, such as Einstein’s Relativity. A better interpretation would consider that quantum phenomena are ill suited for description by human language, which evolved in a classical (Newtonian) environment. Even if signals were sent, it is not possible to exploit this process to send information, e.s.p. or otherwise. At its heart Quantum Mechanics is a statistical science. The behavior of a quantum system can never be predicted precisely. All that is possible are statements of probability. For example; scientists cannot tell you when an atom will decay, only that a certain percentage of like atoms will decay over a certain amount of time. Therefore, it is impossible to know beforehand which spin a particle will have before it is measured (unless, of course, you measured its entangled partner first). If you can not know what it will be, then it is impossible to encode a message you want to send instantly. Regardless of the mechanism, be it a computer or a brain, the only thing that can be sent are random bits of data with nothing for anyone to interpret.

disregard modern science’s view of the feasibility of e.s.p

There are many structures in the human body that feed the brain information about the world both outside the body and within. Specialized cells, called receptors, change the energy they receive into nerve impulses that are sent to the cerebral cortex of the brain, which interprets the information, telling us if it is the beat of a drum, a scratch on our skin or a sunset. Without such structures the brain would be completely insensate, unaware of anything going on around it. Sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing are the canonical examples of the human senses but scientists have identified receptors for no less than nine senses including ones informing us about the internal state of the body

extensively studied.

no mysterious receptors with unknown functions,

Telekinesis, or psychokinesis, is the ability to move or influence an object using only the power of the mind. Purists do not consider telekinesis to be part of e.s.p. because it does not involve any form of supernatural perception.

The average brain consumes about 25 watts1 or 6 calories per second