Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Sir Isaac Babson

Thomas Edison once said to Roger Babson, famous for his stock market intelligence, "Remember, Babson, of course you don't know anything about what doesn't exist. You have to find something that will Something that defies gravity. I think it's going to be some kind of alloy." Babson has never forgotten this sentence, and in 1948, with some idle funds on hand, he established what may be the most useless scientific research institution of the twentieth century, called the "Gravity Research Foundation".Although the foundation is interested in all work related to gravity, its main mission is to promote the study of some kind of "gravity barrier"-a substance that can block gravity like a thin steel sheet blocks a beam of light.

A substance impenetrable by gravity, not uncommon in early science fiction.In H.G. Wells' fantasy book, The First Men on the Moon, there is a spaceship propelled by such matter.It is said to be a complex alloy (to which helium has been added) called "cavolette" after its inventor.However, since Einstein, this concept has almost no place.Because, if the theory of relativity is correct, such a "gravitational barrier" is inconceivable.According to Einstein, gravity is not a "force" that draws objects toward Earth, but rather a curvature of the space-time continuum.This bending makes the apple fall to the ground, but the "barrier" between the apple and the ground is useless, for the simple reason that there is no force to separate it.

Although Babson knew all this, he was still not discouraged.He told the press: "I am not a scientist, but I do know what I am looking for and how to get there. ... Few people know that Edison experimented with more than 8,000 materials before finally finding a suitable filament for an electric light bulb. " Since there may be millions of alloys, and there is no certain rule about which one to test first and which one to test last, it is bound to be a troublesome process to test one by one.Obviously, Babson quickly abandoned this idea.Because this foundation does not conduct chemical experiments.The main purpose of the facility, housed in a brick building in New Boston, New Year's Bushehr, is to provide a place for all scientists studying gravity to exchange technology and intelligence.The location of New Boston was chosen because it was a self-sufficient, non-industrial town, and far enough away from Boston that it would be bombed in World War III.

Professional scientists have been very indifferent to the work of this foundation.William Eisen, one of the foundation's directors, once wrote: "When gravity is mentioned, it always invites ridicule. It seems that this research is irrelevant. This makes people no longer have the motivation to have a sincere discussion on this subject. Many experiments It's all done under other names. Therefore, one of the foundation's... purposes is to keep in touch with people who are scattered around the world who are researching this issue, so that they know that they still have at least one like-minded friend." Regarding the foundation Correspondents are classified according to the specific nature of the gravitational research project he undertakes.When the foundation finds that several people are working on a problem at the same time, it notifies the others of each person's situation.This way they can exchange ideas and report on the progress of their research.

Harold McNair, a scientist in Middle City, Pennsylvania, donated all of his materials and equipment to the foundation before his death in 1950.He studied the possibility of controlling gravity for 40 years.The foundation's second annual report said: "Unfortunately, his formula is known only to him. We have told it to everyone who can think of it, and intend to continue to do so, and his research will one day continue. " In 1949, the Foundation placed a small ad in two journals, Popular Mechanics and Popular Science; "Gravity. If you are interested in gravity research, please correspond with us. Postage paid." This turned out to be It is an unacceptable form of publicity. Now the main method used by the organization to arouse people's interest in gravity research is to hold a prize-winning essay competition every year. The essay is limited to 1500 words, and the content should be one of the following three topics One: (1) "a substance that partially isolates, reflects, or absorbs the force of gravity"; (2) "an alloy or other substance whose atoms are disrupted or recombined by gravity to release heat"; (3) "Other reasonable methods of controlling gravity".

The prize money is generous - $1,000 for the first prize.The other five got $100 each. A total of 88 entries were received for the 1949 competition.Babson was very happy when he saw it. He said: "It's really like opening a Christmas present." David Waitley, a student from the University of Wisconsin, won the first prize.His dissertation examines the reasons for the historic failure of those who have previously studied gravity. In 1950, a graduate student at Princeton University won the first prize. In 1951, the top honor went to Dr. Myron Lover of Ozoth Park, New York.Dr. Lover's article is "Thermodynamic Aspects of Gravity Thermoelectric Thermometers". "Time" magazine published the 1950 awards in a rather large page.A report from the Foundation boasted: "Einstein's new theories were previously published on the same page of this journal, but they reported us in more detail than Einstein."

In the fall of 1951, the foundation held its first summer meeting in New Boston.Attendees heard presentations on gravity research and work by staff from the prestigious Babson College.A "gravity chair" designed to help blood circulation.Some guests suffering from limb pain heard that a drug called "Priscolene" was trialled.At the time, Babson was marketing the drug as an "anti-gravity drug" to aid circulation.Also on display at the meeting was the original bed in which Isaac Newton had just acquired the Foundation, presumably because Newton had rested on it by gravity."It is hoped that New Boston will become a 'mecca' for summer gatherings of physicists, engineers, metallurgists, and others who are particularly interested in the cause and in the various roles of gravity," said a foundation bulletin.

One of the group's directors, Clarence Birdseye, thought that perhaps a lab worker might stumble across a gravitational insulator while doing other research.This idea prompted the foundation to mail relevant materials to 2,500 laboratories, in addition to sending materials frequently to colleges and universities, middle school science teachers and some scientific journals. The Foundation maintains a library of books on gravity research.Although the library was limited by the fact that no one knew French or German, the collection continued to grow.The organization also asks its sponsors to "don't forget to leave materials or equipment related to gravity research to the gravity research foundation when making a will, so that these things can be preserved in the hands of friends and your research can continue ".

From its inception, the Foundation has been captivated by the idea that differences in gravity due to changes in the positions of the sun and moon have detectable effects on the human body.For example, Babson was convinced that it was easier to go upstairs during high tide.Apparently he didn't know that the difference in weight was negligible.The weight loss of throwing a dollar bill before going upstairs is much more significant. However, the Foundation is still busy collecting various statistics about human activities and looking for their correlation with changes in the moon's gravitational pull.For several years, many psychiatric hospitals have been collecting data for the Foundation on the influence of moon phases on patients' mental status.At a full moon, the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the earth, and the counterbalance cancels out, which might hurt something in the brain or spinal fluid.The foundation sent hundreds of letters to police chiefs asking if they received more calls during full moons.Their responses indicated that this was the case.The foundation also requires insurance companies to report whether accident rates are related to the phases of the moon.

On February 1, 1951, a serious train crash occurred in New Jersey, and the Foundation discovered that there was no moon on that day. 54 railway companies were immediately notified about this review, requiring them to remain vigilant in the future.President Truman decided to fire General MacArthur on April 5, 1951, which was also moonless."This has created another spike in mail," said the organization's third annual report to directors. The report also revealed that it had purchased a 20-year bound copy of Time magazine, "and we've just Look it up, pick out important news events, and see how they relate to the phases of the moon." Every year, the foundation publishes an almanac illustrating the phases of the moon so that anyone interested in it can study the moon influence on his thoughts and actions.

Lately, the foundation has been sending out questionnaires looking at the relationship between the weight of the human body (that is, the degree to which gravity acts on the body) and different body types and temperaments.The Foundation believes that weight (gravity) may have a greater impact on a person's temperament than body size.If this is the case, then the "gravity barrier" can change a person's weight and thus his temperament!However, before this effect is discovered, it is also possible for a person to change their posture slightly and change their personality slightly, the foundation notes. One bulletin states, "The gravitational pull of the center of the earth on the brain must be different when a person is lying down, or when he is shaking or stooping, . . . proves this. People feel differently when bowing in prayer, partly due to changing the direction of gravity acting on the human brain." In addition, the communiqué stated, "Many thoughtful people believed that spiritual powers could alter the effects of gravity, as illustrated by certain prophets in the Old Testament and by stories of the ascension of Jesus. Jesus on the water The matter of walking uphill should not be overlooked either. People often ask why angels are always immune to gravity..." The ability of birds to resist gravity also attracted Babson's attention.Thomas Edison once pointed to a flying bird and said: "Birds can do things that humans cannot do. They can fly by their own power. Babson, I hope you will have a greater interest in birds... ..." This prompted Babson to collect the birds.The collection is kept on the Babson College campus, but will eventually become the property of the Gravity Research Foundation.Director Eisen wrote: "Since the foundation's inception, many cartoonists have drawn the directors of the foundation as flying in the air...however...it is very likely that someday some kind of anti-gravity alloy will be used to make wings, so that the body Strong and strong people can use their own strength to fly through the air. Animals such as flying squirrels show that this method is possible." Many of the articles on gravity research by Babson and others are available from the Foundation for 10 cents each.This kind of writing is unbelievably boring.An article by Mary Moore on "Gravity and Posture" states that a well-fitting corset "prevents gravity from pulling us forward or backward so much that we age prematurely." Babson's essay on "Gravity and Sitting" attacked the chair.He recommends sitting cross-legged on the rug, or on a low stool, with "knees up" and "a balanced balance on the hips."He thought sitting posture should be studied carefully, and he ended his article with a pun, saying that "it is very likely that the balance school will win the final victory." Babson also believes that the sleeping position of a person should be like that of a fetus, with one or two legs curled up.He wrote: "To prevent lying on your back, you can put a rubber ball 2 inches in diameter in the middle of the back of the neckband of the pajamas, or sew a pocket on the back neck of the pajamas, put the ball in the bag when you sleep, and wash the pajamas. Take the ball out, all the better. The above shows that this question deserves more study." Another of Babson's articles, "Gravity and Ventilation," deals with a problem of his long-standing interest.In his youth, Babson suffered from tuberculosis, and he went to the West Country to recuperate, where his doctors advised him to stay.But he later returned home to Wellesley Hill, Massachusetts.To ensure plenty of fresh air, he refused to close a single window.In the freezing winter, he wears a jacket with a heating pad in the back.His brave female secretary typed in gloves with four joined fingers and tapped on the keyboard with a rubber mallet.Babson became a fan of fresh air after his recovery.He believed that children should be cultivated to appreciate the fresh air blown against their faces by electric fans; the air of the pine woods had "chemical and/or electrical properties" and was of great medical value.His article suggested that all the floors of the building be sloped slightly, and that vent holes be placed in the lower part of the room, so that the stale air in the building could be removed by gravity.This is obviously the way to move drainage from a sloped roof.There is actually a house built in New Boston where the floor slopes down half an inch for every foot. In a study titled "Atmospheric Conditions and Political Victory," Babson argued that gravity affects crops, crops affect commerce, and commerce affects elections.He analyzed 27 presidential elections from 1844 to 1948 and proved that 75 percent of the time a party stayed in power when the weather was good and business was good; will go down. An article by Director Essen discusses the possibility of discovering an alloy that heats up when subjected to gravity.This alloy can be drawn into a wire with weights suspended from both ends.Essen wrote: "If you have such an alloy ... the next step is to hang weights of different sizes and measure the comparison .... It is also possible to put these wires in a vacuum or some kind of gas to do some interesting things. However, the study of other factors can only be carried out after the basic experiment of heating (or compressing) the elements. People should praise Essen for his scientific insight, because he knew that this alloy should be discovered first, and then carefully examine its characteristics. The foundation's current chairman is George Rideout, who also serves as vice chairman of Babson Securities Intelligence.One need only read his article "Is Free Force Possible?" to get an idea of ​​Rideout's scientific accomplishments.The article begins with an overview of his personal theory that "gravity is a form of stored 'magnetic' waves that have been emitted by the sun for a billion years and absorbed by every particle that Now it’s attracting all the other particles.” He’s not sure that’s true, but either way, knowing where it’s coming from isn’t necessary to harness gravity.What we need, he writes, is a gravitational insulator, fitted under one side of a revolving wheel, and it becomes a simple water motor.Rideout calculated in detail that the discovery of this inexhaustible force of freedom would cause enormous economic and social change.But he is careful to point out that it doesn't need to disrupt already established utilities. "The central power plant will continue to be used. But further development will not require increased consumption of coal, oil or natural gas. These valuable natural resources can be reserved for use by chemical and other industries, where they only change form without being completely is consumed. The Foundation resents people calling the gravity device it designed a "perpetual motion machine" because there are many crazy people trying to make a perpetual motion machine.The Essen director writes, "Those machines generally always work by leverage and weight. Although the most advertised is the one commonly called the 'Keely motor,' none of these machines are actually impressive. Satisfied. The Foundation cannot comment until it sees this motor in action, but it will conduct research on this motor soon." Apparently, Mr. Essen is not yet aware that John Keeley's ridiculous deception has been completely exposed .If he's interested, he should read the last pages of Charles Ford's "The Mad Genius" and he'll find Ford's interesting analysis of the scam. Whether the Gravity Research Foundation has made a perpetual motion machine is uncertain, but there is no doubt that Babson, who is now nearly 80 years old, is very interested in this aspect.Babson neither smoked nor drank alcohol.In fact, in 1940 he was the Prohibition Party's nominee for president.Gravity had been making it harder and harder for him to climb the stairs lately, and this had somewhat hindered his interest in the General Assembly. Babson is not in danger of running out of money.He has been involved in running hundreds of businesses, most with huge revenues.His main company, Babson Securities Intelligence, is an institution that provides advice to the securities market, with an annual net profit of more than $100,000.The company is a division of his holding company, the Business Statistics Organization.In addition, he has wholly or partially owned businesses in numerous industries, such as a company supplying lobsters, a company making fire alarm boxes, a sand and gravel company, an off-price merchandise store, and an office building in Boston, New Mexico and Arizona Babson sheep ranch, a Florida cattle ranch, and a diamond company.He has written more than 50 books, mostly on currency and investment issues.Hundreds of newspapers have his weekly business columns. In addition to Babson College, a business school in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, he founded two other business schools—one for girls in Florida and the other in Kansas. Utopia Academy in Eureka.Babson chose Eureka as the site of Utopia Academy in 1946 because it was in the middle of the United States and therefore the least likely to be hit by an atomic bomb.The buildings of the college are connected by underground tunnels.He believed that World War III was inevitable.As a precaution, he deposited $1,000 in each of 100 banks throughout the middle states. Babson attributes his interest in gravity research to the drowning death of his 17-year-old grandson in 1947.It reminded him that when he was a child, his eldest sister also drowned.In his view, gravity is like a "dragon", grabbing two loved ones and dragging them to the bottom of the water.he wrote sadly. "Since Michael's death, I've become more and more concerned about gravity." Long before this accident, however, Babson had been a devoted admirer of Isaac Newton.He claimed that his method of predicting changes in the stock market was simply an application of Newton's third law of motion -- that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.Apparently, he interpreted this as a ball bouncing off a wall.When security market prices fall, Babson predicts that they will rise.And when it rises, he predicts it will fall. He made his first big splash in 1929 when he announced his forecast a few months before the stock market crash.A year later, however, he avoided talking about his prediction that the depression would soon pass, and that the speculators who listened to him would suffer. Babson's autobiography takes the Newtonian title Action and Reaction.His wife is the person who has the largest collection of Newton's works and books about Newton in the world.For all his admiration for Newton, Babson failed to take the great scientist as his teacher.He didn't even learn the most basic physics. This is of course a tragedy.In the current stage of physics theory, no one would have such a muddled idea of ​​​​looking for a "gravitational barrier". Although Babson was an MIT engineering graduate, he openly admitted that he disliked most of the class.Rideout, chairman of the Gravity Research Foundation, is not as trained as a physicist.Nor were any scientists associated with the organization other than those who rated the papers.All of this may explain why the foundation has not published a scientific report of any value in the four years of its existence. No doubt Babson, a kind and devout Congregationalist, has the best of intentions in maintaining the Foundation.But he is capricious in refusing to accept suggestions from accomplished physicists that money should be better spent advancing science and benefiting humanity.His obstinacy prevented him from seeing the fundamental absurdity of the cause he loved.Chesterton has a saying: Satan fell to the world by gravity.It would be good if he would think about it.