Why wouldn't telepathy and telekinesis be possible?

[searchingfortruth]

If everything is energy and different types of energy react to each other, then why couldn't telepathy and telekinesis be possible?

[iNow]

It's not that it's impossible. It's that it's never been observed, and there is no known mechanism currently known by which it could occur. Observe it first, that would be a good start. Then, we can postulate about mechanisms. It's not impossible, just not worthy of taking seriously at this point due to the complete lack of any evidence whatsoever that it actually happens.

Edited January 16, 2012 by iNow

[zapatos]

I think they could be possible. Just because something does not exist does not mean that it is impossible. It just didn't work out that way, probably because what it would take to make it happen is exceedingly unlikely.

[MigL]

Keeping in mind that electomagnetic radiation ( The only one that could possibly be generated by a human brain ) falls off in intensity with the square of the distance, the energy density required for appreciably distant telepathy, or even lightweight telekinesis, would certainly fry the sender's brain.

[searchingfortruth]

So we would need a device created to pick up simple thoughts and then enhance and project them outside the brain. Like a helmet transponder?

Keeping in mind that electomagnetic radiation ( The only one that could possibly be generated by a human brain ) falls off in intensity with the square of the distance, the energy density required for appreciably distant telepathy, or even lightweight telekinesis, would certainly fry the sender's brain.

[Fuzzwood]

Like a tinfoil hat? Lol, but seriously, it would be awesome if there was a way to pull this off. However, can you think of a way to become lazier (and fatter) than just using telekinesis to have everything float towards you?

[iNow]

So we would need a device created to pick up simple thoughts and then enhance and project them outside the brain. Like a helmet transponder?

Or, like a cell phone?

[searchingfortruth]

There is a huge difference in cell phones and telepathy.

[iNow]

Indeed. Only one of them has been shown to actually exist.

[StringJunky]

A cell phone could work if it had electrodes signalling to it by wireless transmission fixed to our skulls and the right software (as yet unobtainable)...a thought-transducing phone.

[questionposter]

Perhaps very weak telepathy, as in not anything like organized thoughts but more like feelings can be possible as there are many animals which can sense electric and magnetic fields even of other living things (like sharks), but I would imagine it would be close ranged since living things don't generate that powerful of an electric or magnetic field.

Edited January 18, 2012 by questionposter

[iNow]

A cell phone could work if it had electrodes signalling to it by wireless transmission fixed to our skulls and the right software (as yet unobtainable)...a thought-transducing phone.

Like Braingate, or stuff I'm sure the military is working on for pilots and other such things.

 

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

 

 

 

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...there are many animals which can sense electric and magnetic fields even of other living things (like sharks), but I would imagine it would be close ranged since living things don't generate that powerful of an electric or magnetic field.

AFAIK, most of the organisms that do this have a special organ to send and receive the electromagnetic signal, and it's also generally done in salt water where the signal has a chance to travel better.

[StringJunky]

Like Braingate, or stuff I'm sure the military is working on for pilots and other such things.

 

Interesting...yes!...but it's got to work the other way as well...the electrodes must induce a thought as well. Do you reckon that's feasible eventually?

Edited January 18, 2012 by StringJunky

[iNow]

I think so, yes. In fact, they seem to be making some really incredible strides with sensation from prosthetic limbs.

 

http://www.livescience.com/16397-machine-sensation-mind-controlled-prosthetics.html

 

A new method of feeling without touching may allow people with paralyzed or lost limbs to interact with the world using sophisticated prosthetic devices that send sensations directly to the brain.

 

The method, tested only in monkeys so far, is "a major milestone" for neural prosthetics, according to study researcher Miguel Nicolelis, a physician and neurobiologist at Duke University Medical Center. Neural prosthetics are robotic limbs or exoskeleton-like devices controlled only by nerve signals. Nicolelis and other researchers plan to test these devices in humans within the next one to three years.

 

"I like to say that we actually liberated the brain from the physical limits of the monkey's body," Nicolelis told LiveScience. "He can move and feel using the brain only." <continue reading>

Edited January 18, 2012 by iNow

[searchingfortruth]

There have been experiments with boosting brain power over the years. Perhaps a artificial organ, brain lobe, or the right chemical combo could help project thoughts, but we would still need a way to receive the thoughts.

[michel123456]

(...)

AFAIK, most of the organisms that do this have a special organ to send and receive the electromagnetic signal, and it's also generally done in salt water where the signal has a chance to travel better.

 

These organs exist, called "eyes". Other organs, like vocal cords and ears, are also suitable to transmit information through distance, not necessarily in salt water.

 

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Also, the nervous system inside your body is able to transmit signals. So one could imagine to link the brain with electromagnetic signals simply by using a finger typing on a keyboard of some sort connected to an electronic device that can send and receive information wireless. But this is not called telepathy, it is called Internet.

Edited January 18, 2012 by michel123456

[iNow]

I take your point, but just to clarify I was referring to this:

 

http://people.virginia.edu/~mk3u/mk_lab/electric_fish_E.htm

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

[michel123456]

I take your point, but just to clarify I was referring to this:

 

http://people.virginia.edu/~mk3u/mk_lab/electric_fish_E.htm

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

 

Interesting.

Electrolocation.

Looks similar to the way bats locate objects in the dark, but with electricity instead of sound waves.