Superluminal (Part 1 of 4): The Discovery Of Faster-Than-Light Brainwaves: An illustrated journey

PREFACE (Table of contents: click here)

This article, titled “Superluminal: The Discovery of Faster-Than-Light Brainwaves,” investigates the emerging concept of superluminal brainwaves facilitated by evanescent waves within the brain. It builds on historical research, including foundational experiments by Prof. Dr. Günter Nimtz that demonstrated the feasibility of faster-than-light communication through quantum tunneling, and discusses contemporary theories such as the WETCOW (Weakly-Evanescent Cortical Waves) proposed by Vitaly L. Galinsky and Lawrence R. Frank. By connecting principles of quantum mechanics with neuroscientific understanding, the article explores the potential implications of superluminal brain activity for cognitive processing, consciousness, and the possibility of interstellar communication. Additionally, it examines the ethical considerations and scientific ramifications that arise from these revolutionary concepts. Through an engaging narrative, this work aims to spark dialogue around the intersections of neuroscience, quantum physics, and their relevance to the nature of intelligence and consciousness in both humans and potentially extraterrestrial beings.

May 31, 2016: If an object nears the speed of light its measured length decreases (relatively speaking).

When did it all begin? It’s very challenging to tell. Imagine living a relatively simple life where things happen one by one, without apparent connection or purpose, and then… suddenly, everything falls into place; you have an epiphany.

On a sunny August 25th, 2023, I sat as usual at the breakfast bar of Sunset House, overlooking Souda Bay on Crete. I’d seen an interesting headline on my laptop. It was from a dry scientific paper by Galinsky and Frank, that spoke about “possible synchronizing effects of evanescent waves in the brain.”

They called their theory “WETCOW,” for “weakly evanescent cortical waves.” Most people would not think twice about such a headline, at best chuckling at the image of a dripping wet cow. At least, that’s what I did.

But then I connected the dots. Evanescent waves, the topic of the WETCOW paper, meant superluminal brainwaves. And that would be a game-changer:

WHEN I MET EVANESCENT WAVES, THE FIRST TIME

I recall like yesterday the day in 1999 with renowned physicist Prof. Dr. Günter Nimtz, at his lab at Cologne University. It was Thursday, the ninth of September.

Nimtz is famous for his controversial experiments in faster-than-light communications. I heard about him from a magazine article.

I called Nimtz up and made an appointment for a demonstration. Nimtz agreed and repeated the experiment for me, and I recorded it on 35mm film.

The experiment consists of directing microwaves at a quantum tunnel, a prism in the experiment I saw; this creates information-carrying faster-than-light radiowaves. These waves arise from superluminal quantum effects.

And this demonstration has stayed with me ever since. It was the basis of my trying to find a solution to overcome the “no-communication theorem.” That is a theory that states that in the macroscopic world, quantum entanglement can’t ever be used for faster-than-light communication.

WHEN I MET EVANESCENT WAVES, THE SECOND TIME

After reading the WETCOW paper, it hit me: the presence of evanescent waves meant that there are superluminal brainwaves. Most neurologists, who specialize in brainwaves, likely overlook this connection because it falls outside their area of expertise.

And no physicist will jump up and shout, “I have discovered brainwaves faster than light!” because that’s outside their field of expertise, too.

Evanescent waves are the result of superluminal quantum effects, which I’ve been exploring for almost 25 years. after attending that demonstration in a different context: that of superluminal communications with advanced extraterrestrial civilizations.

SUPERLUMINAL WAVES IN THE BRAIN
But it dawned on me now (or then), in August 2023, that instead of bridging interstellar distances with radio waves, which is beyond our current ability, these waves readily bridge microscopic distances between neurons in the brain, every day, in every sentient being, everywhere. And not just on Earth, if we presume that we are not the only intelligent species in the cosmos.

THINKING CAN BRIDGE DISTANCES
Faster-than-light brainwaves not only explain the immense processing speed of the human brain. The quantum tunneling characteristic of these waves, which previously were described as mere “noise,” connects them to an almost magical zero- / one-dimensional space, that knows neither time nor distance, without separation between past, future, or places.

Whenever a particle or wave hits a barrier, evanescent waves are created by zero-time quantum tunneling. Is this the source of Albert Einstein’s “spooky action at a distance,” the interference from evanescent waves on entangled particles that instantaneously bridge millions of light-years?

The simplicity of the solution is staggering; it can be explained to small children, but the complexity and breadth of the consequences are not less for its simplicity.

TIME TRAVEL FROM YOUR ARMCHAIR?
Is it possible to travel back in time and into the future, from your armchair, and change history just by thinking about it? As yet impossible in the macrocosm of daily existence, this can be done to a certain extent in the realm of the infinitely small, the quantum realm in your brain.

CONTACT WITH EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE?
Also, if entanglement exists and brainwaves bring information from a unified dimension of cosmic consciousness via the quantum tunnel, can we make contact with extraterrestrial intelligence? Will the result of this inquiry be like in Carl Sagan’s novel “Contact,” where no tangible evidence could be produced for the sceptics after Eleanor Arroway’s trip?

Let’s find out in “Superluminal” part 2:
Scientists Unveil Mind-Blowing Topology of Space as They Shatter Light Speed Limits!


The “Superluminal” series:
1. The Discovery Of Faster-Than-Light Brainwaves: An illustrated journey
2. Scientists Unveil Mind-Blowing Topology of Space as They Shatter Light Speed Limits!
3. Unlocking the Mind: Are Human Brainwaves Defying the Speed of Light?
4. Unveiling the Mystery of Faster-Than-Light Consciousness


Superluminal (Part 2 of 4): Scientists Unveil Mind-Blowing Topology of Space as They Shatter Light Speed Limits!

Simplified String Theory

In 1994, Professor Dr. Günter Nimtz and his colleague, Horst Aichmann, conducted groundbreaking experiments at Hewlett-Packard that involved transmitting information faster than light. They successfully transported a signal over a very short distance at a speed 4.7 times that of light, thanks to a phenomenon called quantum tunneling. This remarkable result has ignited heated discussions among scientists, yet it remains reproducible.

FASTER-THAN-LIGHT?

As improbable as it sounds, I was present in 1999 when Professor Dr. Nimtz transmitted an AM-modulated microwave signal of Mozart’s 40th symphony through a Bose double prism at 4.7 times the speed of light.

Nimtz’s quantum tunneling experiment, 1999

As the webmaster of a Sci-Fi-themed news website called the “Museum of the Future,” I was constantly on the lookout for intriguing topics. One day, I stumbled upon an article about Dr. Nimtz and the enigmatic processes of superluminal quantum tunneling. Intrigued, I reached out to him, and he graciously agreed to demonstrate his experiment.

The following is an excerpt from the original article I wrote about Nimtz’s experiment on September 9, 1999, titled Faster Than Light Transmission Of Signals:

“Having met Prof. Dr. Nimtz for the first time I was shown his new tunneling experiment. As a lay person I’m not able to launch immediately into an in-depth scientific interpretation of his experiment but I will dutifully try to comprehend what I saw today, and try and share my insights and questions and make the data available as they become known.”

“I present here for the first time world-exclusive pictures of Prof. Nimtz’s new experiment setup.”

In this experiment, the quantum-tunneled signal was measured against a signal traveling through ordinary laboratory space. To demonstrate this, Dr. Nimtz employed an oscilloscope and a detector diode to accurately gauge the tunneling time.

Mozart at 4.7 Times the Speed of Light

In anticipation of potential questions in the future, I prepared a short video six years ago that includes the last surviving recording of the superluminal Mozart transmission.

Technical Questions

In August 2023, I corresponded with Horst Aichmann, the engineer behind the quantum tunneling experiment and a co-author with Professor Nimtz on various related papers. I inquired about the modulation and detection of the signal timing. He provided the following information:

“During our timing measurements, I created a pulse modulator equipped with specialized filtering, enabling a repetition rate of 13 MHz and a rise time of approximately 500 picoseconds. The AM signal provides an easily detectable and measurable trace, thanks to a fast detector diode coupled with a sufficiently rapid oscilloscope.”

If we indeed accept the existence of superluminal effects originating from quantum tunneling, we can conclude that this phenomenon allows a particle to enter a strictly localized tachyonic state, for a very short period of time.

Superluminal tunneling has been successfully performed hundreds of times in laboratories worldwide, demonstrating its applicability in everyday technology. For instance, the fingerprint reader on your smartphone utilizes quantum tunneling. You may not think about it, but it simply works!

Fingerprint Readers and Quantum Tunneling

Fingerprint readers use quantum tunneling to get your fingerprint
Image: http://pubs.sciepub.com/ijp/3/1/7/index.html

When quantum tunneling occurs with a red laser pointer (operating at a frequency of several hundred terahertz), the evanescent tachyonic field only extends a few picometers because of the high frequency.

During Nimtz’s experiments, he utilized a frequency of 8.7 GHz, which coincidentally matched the wavelength of Helium-3 emissions. This particular frequency enabled his evanescent field to be detectable over several centimeters between prisms. (It just happened that the microwave emitter available in the university lab operated at this frequency.)

Interestingly, it appears that the lower the frequency used, the more extensive the evanescent field extends from the barrier.

Replications (this is a great subject for your Science Fair project!)

Recently, this groundbreaking experiment was replicated by Peter Elsen and Simon Tebeck, who presented their findings at “Jugend forscht,” Germany’s prestigious student physics competition, in 2019. Their work earned them first prize from Rheinland-Pfalz as well as the Heraeus Prize for Germany.

Left: Former chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, right: “Jugend Forscht” winner Peter Elsen (17)

References:
Superluminal Tunneling: “Jugend forscht” winners.
“Jugend forscht” Winners meet the German Chancellor


What is a brane? (Topology and String Theory in a nutshell)

The rule that nothing can move faster than light has a little-known exception: evanescent waves. Various explanations have been tried to account for this phenomenon.

Illustration of dimensions, from zero to four dimensions
NerdBoy1392, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

My explanation is simple: a photon is the smallest possible unit of topology, geometry, dimension, information, energy, or anything. Topologically, a photon is a zero-dimensional point in space; it is a quantum of zero (0) dimension.

In the mesmerizing ballet of quantum tunneling, this photon, this pure potential, traverses a barrier. In doing so, it transforms; as a point transitions from one locality to another, it becomes a line—a string. It is this very string, that delicate filament, which finds its place in the grand narrative of string theory. Suddenly, we have transcended from the ethereal realm of the zero-dimensional to the tangible reality of a one-dimensional object.

In the lexicon of theoretical physics, we might also refer to this one-dimensional string as a “brane,” existing within a confined, one-dimensional space devoid of the tapestry of time.

What is a brane?

In the realms of string and quantum theory, a 1-brane are one-dimensional “objects or waves” that traverse space-time—not through classical laws, but governed by the principles of quantum physics. When we consider one-dimensional space, we omit the fourth dimension, which is time.

In this context, photons or strings can move superluminally. This isn’t merely an abstract mathematical idea; it reflects our reality.

Evanescent waves result from photons re-entering the four-dimensional non-quantum realm, allowing us to witness the faster-than-light movement of a photon traversing a barrier.

It’s space, Jim, but not as we know it

Albert Einstein explained his theory of special relativity using geometry by the mathematician Hermann Minkowski, who unified space and time into a four-dimensional spacetime continuum.

For his theory of general relativity, Einstein employed Riemannian geometry—a branch that includes the concept of curved space—to describe how mass and energy distort spacetime.

This “topology,” the curved space model, has held an endless fascination for us since early times.

A human meditating on the Riemann Sphere

A sphere exists in 3 and 4 dimensions. In zero- and one-dimensional realms, the sphere (and time) do not exist, because these dimensions lack the necessary structure to define a “surface” or “volume,” let alone “time.”

Is it “time” to move beyond the Riemann sphere in our understanding of the cosmos?

Click here for “Superluminal,” part 3:
Unlocking the Mind: Are Human Brainwaves Defying the Speed of Light?


The “Superluminal” series:
1. The Discovery Of Faster-Than-Light Brainwaves: An illustrated journey
2. Scientists Unveil Mind-Blowing Topology of Space as They Shatter Light Speed Limits!
3. Unlocking the Mind: Are Human Brainwaves Defying the Speed of Light?
4. Unveiling the Mystery of Faster-Than-Light Consciousness


Superluminal (Part 3 of 4): Unlocking the Mind: Are Human Brainwaves Defying the Speed of Light?

The immense processing speed of the human brain can in part or wholly be explained by superluminal signal transmission.

WETCOW

Introduction

Have you ever wondered about the astonishing processing speed of the human brain? One intriguing possibility is that this incredible capability can be partly attributed to superluminal signal transmission.

Enter the WETCOW (Weakly-Evanescent Cortical Wave) model, a groundbreaking concept explored by Vitaly L. Galinsky and Lawrence R. Frank in their March 2023 article published in Nature. They assert that “the effectiveness, robustness, and flexibility of memory and learning constitute the very essence of human natural intelligence, cognition, and consciousness.”

Yet, current perspectives on these profound topics often lack a solid physical theory that explains how the brain communicates internally via its electrical signals. This poses a significant gap in our understanding of human cognition.

In their research, Galinsky and Frank highlight that evanescent waves in the brain—previously dismissed as mere “noise”—are actually vital for human learning and memory. Here’s the kicker: these evanescent waves may travel faster than light. It’s a tantalizing conjecture: evanescent wave → faster than light. This assertion raises essential questions about the nature of consciousness: What is it? Where does it originate? How does it connect to our physical bodies?


Is This True?

In the early 2000s, the scientific community was buzzing with speculation. Some quantum physicists were undecided or opposed to the notion that QUANTUM TUNNELED EVANESCENT WAVES move faster than light.

Their reluctance stems from the apparent violation of Einstein’s theory of relativity: nothing can move faster than light.

However, that is not quite true. The law states that nothing with MASS can move faster than light in a vacuum.

“It’s also said that quantum tunneling can allow particles to pass through barriers at speeds greater than light. But this doesn’t violate special relativity because no information can be transmitted. This phenomenon is a consequence of wave-like behavior in quantum mechanics and doesn’t involve moving information or matter faster than light.

Hold it right there. Just because that sentence is repeated often doesn’t make it true.

So, what’s going on here?

To understand the claims, we need to look at the SCIENTIFIC METHOD.

In science, the process starts with a hypothesis. You make an educated guess about how something works. Next, you design a practical experiment to test that hypothesis.

The validity of the hypothesis rests on the experiment’s outcome. If the results support the hypothesis, it gains credibility. But there’s more. The experiment must be repeatable. Other scientists should achieve the same results under the same conditions. This repeatability solidifies the hypothesis’s place in the scientific community.

Through this method, science builds knowledge—one hypothesis at a time.

Consider this practical example: music is a type of information. Dr. Nimtz claims he transmitted music through a quantum tunnel at faster-than-light speed. In this practical experiment, which has been repeated many times, you can hear Mozart accelerated to 4.7 times the speed of light.

This Is Classical Music Transmitted In A Non-Classical Way


So, what’s really going on here?


Some elements of human consciousness are moving at speeds that defy our conventional understanding of physics. Superluminal waves come with peculiar properties, one of which could send shivers down the spines of classical physicists: cause-and-effect reversals. Imagine a scenario where the brain makes decisions before you’re even aware of them! (And that is precisely the case: The brain makes decisions before you even know it.)

It’s worth noting, though, that these superluminal signals are only fractions of a second ahead of conventional signals traveling at the speed of light. They do not exceed the group velocity of the wave, which is the reason they don’t break the theory of relativity. What this will become clearer, later. It is of interest mostly to theoretical physicists.

Cascades?

The real secret to superluminal evanescent waves is not that the evanescent wave itself is faster-than-light. It’s when a normal wave hits a barrier, a so-called quantum tunnel, that the wave re-emerges on the other side of the tunnel faster than classically possible, faster than the speed of light.

When a wave goes through a quantum tunnel with one barrier, it becomes 4.7 times faster than light. What happens if you build more than one barrier, one after the other, and send the signal through?

Quantum tunnel

Could there be a cascading effect, leading to even faster speeds? Professor Gunter Nimtz from the University of Cologne successfully demonstrated exactly that, accelerating an evanescent wave through a series of barriers, achieving speeds 36 times faster than light.

So, what about cascades within our brains? What could this mean for our cognition and consciousness? That’s a puzzle for you to contemplate.

Here, we make a connection between Johnjoe McFadden’s theory of electromagnetic wave consciousness (CEMI), Galinsky & Frank’s WETCOW model for evanescent wave brain computation, and also Nimtz’s superluminal quantum tunneling research.

So far, the faster-than-light aspect of evanescent waves has few practical applications in the macrocosm, but it’s useful in semiconductors and electronics. Each time you use a fingerprint sensor, for instance, on your phone, evanescent waves make it possible to recognize your identity.

Sadly, faster-than-light long-distance radio transmitters are out of the question, because the waves travel only very short distances and then lose all power.

In the brain it becomes really interesting

In the brain, distances between neurons, astrocytes, ganglia, and microtubules are so small that superluminal effects can be of consequence.


The illustration below shows astonishingly similar structures in both the brain and the cosmos at large:

Left picture: Brain astrocytes | Right picture: the Cosmos

Left, we see an astrocyte measuring 0.05 mm, and on the right, a very similar structure in the Galactic network, measuring 400 million light-years across. That’s a size difference of 27 orders of magnitude.

In the brain, scientists know why astrocytes exist. They were discovered in 1891, and the name means “star-like” cells. The structure of these brain cells can be explained; they are formed by chemistry. Each component of the astrocyte structure is constructed according to a DNA blueprint. Each astrocyte provides electrical pathways for up to 2 million neurons in the brain. We don’t really know how many of these astrocytes exist in the brain, despite 150 years of counting. Current estimates speak of one trillion astrocytes, each connecting to 2 million neurons, so that’s a lot of cells.

Right, we see a structure in the universe that has been referred to as a galactic network. This image challenges the Copernican principle, which suggests that the universe should be uniform in shape no matter which direction you look. In the brain, we can easily explain how one building block of a cell connects to another because the distances are small. However, in the universe, it would take thousands, millions, or even hundreds of millions of years for a structure to reach the complexity of an astrocyte. Gases and stars don’t have the opportunity to organize into this intricate network because, according to our current understanding, the fastest speed in the universe is the speed of light. And you need faster-than-light communication to organize a network like that.

But how does that work?



Fundamental Topology

Interestingly, researchers studying quantum tunneling have speculated that evanescent waves could point to dimensions where time doesn’t exist or spaces that lack volume altogether.

This is explained here:
What is a brane? (Topology and String Theory in a nutshell)

The phenomenon of quantum tunneling results in these evanescent waves, and in the realm of physics, the probabilistic wave function is represented by ψ (Psi). According to the Born rule, the probability of quantum tunneling can be expressed as:

ψin​(x)∣2=ψin∗​(x)ψin​(x)=(Aeikx)∗(Aeikx)=(Aeikx)(Aeikx)=AA=∣A∣2.

Intriguingly, the authors of the WETCOW model do not reference the possibility of evanescent waves being superluminal. This notion is a personal finding derived from my study of Gunter Nimtz’s controversial work.

Ultimately, the realization of the existence of faster-than-light brainwaves emerged within my own mind, which feels fitting, considering it revolves around the workings of brainwaves.

— Erich Habich-Traut

In the next part, we delve deeper into the realm where time and space bend, where particles can travel faster than light. This phenomenon, referred to as superluminality, not only exists in science fiction but also permeates the very fabric of reality.

Click here to continue reading “Superluminal” part 4:
Unveiling the Mystery of Faster-Than-Light Consciousness


The “Superluminal” series:
1. The Discovery Of Faster-Than-Light Brainwaves: An illustrated journey
2. Scientists Unveil Mind-Blowing Topology of Space as They Shatter Light Speed Limits!
3. Unlocking the Mind: Are Human Brainwaves Defying the Speed of Light?
4. Unveiling the Mystery of Faster-Than-Light Consciousness


Reference points:
Here’s a selection of articles and research materials that introduce the concepts discussed here. Except for point I, references II, III, IV, and V link to broad search engine queries related to the subject matter, ensuring you have access to the most comprehensive information possible.

I. Critically synchronized (evanescent) brain waves form an effective, robust and flexible basis for human memory and learning — Vitaly L Galinsky, Lawrence R Frank, 2023
II. Google: What is an evanescent wave?
III. Google: Evanescent waves according to Gunter Nimtz
IV. Google: Johnjoe Mcfadden EM theory of consciousness
V. Google: Are evanescent waves superluminal?