These two letters came in in March.
And soon after:
2nd March 2006
Dear James Randi and the rest of the JREF team,
I have great respect for the principles under which you have set the Million Dollar Challenge, knowing full well that any test able to pass it would have great implications for science. I am a 22-year old graduate of Cambridge University, and someone who isn't afraid to ask questions, look deeper, and challenge preconceived notions in the search for truth and undersatnding. I am writing to submit my application:
Claim: I claim that I am able to emit a magnetic field from the palm of my hand at least 500 times stronger than what normally arises from the functioning of the human body, and at least 50,000 times stronger than strongest of earth's natural magnetic resonances.
Proposed test: The strongest magnetic field that ocurs naturally from the regular functioning of the human body (from the heart) is approximately 0.001 milliguass in strength, whilst the strongest of the earth's Schumann resonances is approximately 0.00001 miligauss. I claim that I can generate a magnetic field of at least 0.5 milligauss from the palm of my hand against a base line reading.
Equipment for the preliminary tests: One AlphaLab Earth Magnetometer, which is able to detect magnetic fields to a sensitiviy of 0.001 mgause to an accuracy of +/- 0.01 mgauss.
Test protocol: A base line magnetic reading is taken close to the palm of my hand, an then the magnetometer is reset to zero. Then, within several minutes, I will generate a magnetic field from my palm of at least +/- 0.5 milligauss as measured on the magnetometer. If this is acheived the test is deemed a success.
I do not claim to posses any "super powers' because I believe tht this is something anybody has the potential to do; it is simply a matter of tuning into the right frequency, so to speak. I do not claim to know how this happens; what I will attempt to prove is thte fact that it does.
I look forward to your reply, and I wish you a strong return to health.
Yours sincerely,
Julian Lee Goldberg
And soon after:
12nd March 2006
Dear Mr Randi,
In my previous letter, dated the 2nd March, I sumitted an application for the Million Dollar Challenge. I am writing now to suggest a more rigorous and repeatable test protocol and a more sophisticated equipment set-up for the trial.
Claim: I claim that I can deomonstrate in a repeateable scientific test that it was possible for a human to emit a magnetic field from the palm of their hand a least 500 times strongr than what normally arises from the functioning of the human body. to do this, I will attempt to produce evidence of a magnetic field being emitted of a least 0.5 milligauss in flux density.
Equipment for th epreliminary trial: The sensor for the trial will be fluxgate magnetometer of 1.0 gauss measurement range (100microT) with a resolution of 0.01 milligauss. The fluxgate will be plugged into an output device able to record the test data onto a PC. In addition, the trial will be digitally videoed.
Test Protocol: For the preliminary I will enlist the assistance of scientific researchers affiliated with academic institutions. These researches will conduct the measurements themselves and notify the test results. The test subjects will be practitioners of Reiki , a form of energy healing with close similarities to therapeutic touch. Th test protocol will be kept simple. A base line magnetic readnig is taken and then the magnetometer is reset to zero. The, the test subject holds their hand close to the magnetometer and attempt to emit a field. For the purposes of the preliminary trial, if any single participant is able to emit a magnetic field of flux density greater than 0.5 milligaus then the trial is deemed a success. The video and test data will be made available for distribution and scrutiny regardless of result.
Final Test: If the preliminary trial is succesful the final test will be increased in both size and scope. Respected scientific observers will be enlisted, equipment upgraded, and the positive results will be plotted against various input factors. At this stage the study would be expanded to include practitioners of therapeutic touch.
I see this proposal as being a win-win for the JREF. I am confident that the claim is sufficiently 'super' to do the challenge full justice, and am sure that most people would deem it to be utterly impossible. If, indeed, the trial is a complete failure, the reesults will be availabe for all to see. If, however, the trial is a success, it will be a truly historic result for science. Not only would it prove something absolutely incredible, it would be forever remembered for its amateur undertaking and for your own involvement. From a skeptical position it will also server to undermine many of the more esoteric claims usually attached to such techniques.
I understand that I am submitting at a slightly difficult time for the JREF. However, whereas it is normally the role of the JREF to ensure tha tthe test protocol is as rigorous and scientific as possible, I hope that I have made it clear that I too am a firm believer in science and will make every effort to do this myself.
Given that preparing for the preliminary trial will require several months of planning, a long wait for equipment to arrive, and considerable personal financial outlay, if you like the sound of the trial and the challenger I would be grateful for an in-principle green light so that I might proceed with my planning.
I look forward to your reply, and once again wish you a strong return to health.
Yours sincerely,
Julian Lee Goldberg