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Definition:
For physicists, a tachyon is a theoretical particle which can travel faster than
the speed of light. The emphasis here is on the word theoretical. They
were first proposed almost three decades ago by physicists and named by Gerald
Feinberg as part of a theory which is mathematically consistent - but the
observable events which it predicted have not yet been observed (a tachyon would
emit Cerenkov radiation even in a vacuum, and although this evidence has been
hunted, it has not been found). Thus, while they might exist, we currently have
no real evidence that they do.
This has not prevented some practitioners of alternative medicine from claiming that tachyons play an important role in human health. According to Fred Pulver of the Carbondale Center for Macrobiotic Studies, there exists a "tachyon field" which provides the needed energy for all of life to exist. Evidently, this energy is provided on an "as needed" basis - more is given until a balance is achieved, then the supply slacks off for a while until things get too far out of balance again.
This seems to mean that individuals can, themselves, get out of balance - but fortunately for you, Pulver just happens to have products for sale which can help! He can sell you beads and belts which act as antennas to better focus tachyon energy to your body. For just a few hundred dollars, Pulver will help you manipulate the energies of the cosmos to improve your health.
Of course, Fred Pulver is not the only one around who is capitalizing on the popular idea of tachyons as a source of energy and healing. Advanced Tachyon Technologies (ATT) of Santa Rosa, California, provides similar products - including some designed for your pets. Aside from selling you expensive cocoons and antennas, there are also some who manipulate tachyon energy on a personal level.
At the Tachyon Institute in California, you can attend workshops (costing several hundred dollars) where you can learn how to " reconnect the physical body to the entire energetic continuum" and, naturally, "master the use of many Tachyonized tools" (which they just happen to sell). You can even become a "Certified Tachyon Practitioner," which appears to involve learning how to use phrases like energetic continuum, connected energy system, Subtle Organizing Energy Fields, and source of all energies in sentences which are grammatically correct, but manage to communicate nothing.
When you find tachyons being used in science fiction, what is happening is that the author is taking poetic license with reality in order to create a more interesting story. This happens all of the time and is quite legitimate. When, however, you find tachyons being used in so-called healing techniques, what is happening is that the practitioners are taking ethical license with the very concept of healing and health, and that isn't legitimate at all.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Alternative Medicine?
There's an awful lot in the news and in society about "alternative medicines" these days. By some estimates, it's an industry doing between $15 and $20 billion annually - and growing! But what is alternative medicine - how does it differ from scientific medicine and why do people use it?Skepticism & Critical Thinking
This is the main index for issues dealing with skepticism, critical thinking, logic and arguments. The first section is Critical Thinking itself - how to think about claims and arguments you hear, how to critique arguments, and how to formulate your own arguments such that they are more likely to be sound and valid. The second section is about Skeptical Investigations - the practical application of the critical thinking skills covered in the first section. Here you will find critiques of things like astrology, alternative medicine, parapsychology, the New Age and more.
