"Biological transmutation" redirects here. For Lamarck's theory on the evolution of species, see Transmutation of species.
Corentin Louis Kervran (3 March 1901 – 2 February 1983) was a French scientist. Kervran was born in Quimper, Finistère (Brittany), and received a degree as an engineer in 1925. In World War II he was part of the French Resistance.[1][2]
Kervran proposed that nuclear transmutation occurs in living organisms, which he called "biological transmutation".[3] He made this claim after doing an experiment with chickens which he believed showed that they were generating calcium in their egg shells while there was no calcium in their food or soil. He had no known scientific explanation for it. Such transmutations are not possible according to known physics, chemistry, and biology.[3] Proponents of biological transmutations fall outside mainstream physics and are not part of accepted scientific discourse.[4][5] Kervran's ideas about biological transmutation have no scientific basis and are considered discredited.[3]
In the 1960s, Kervran claimed to have conducted experiments and studies demonstrating violations of the law of conservation of mass by biological systems, according to which the amount of each chemical element is preserved in all chemical reactions. He claimed that organisms can transmute potassium into calcium by nuclear fusion in the course of making an egg shell:
39 19K + 1 1H → 40 20Ca
Since biological systems do not contain mechanisms to produce the speed, temperature, and pressure necessary for such reactions, even for extremely short periods of time, this contradicts basic physical laws.[4]
Kervran said that his work was supported by prior studies and by reports of industrial accidents involving carbon monoxide.[6][7] Kervran said that enzymes can facilitate biological transmutations using the weak nuclear force, by what he called "neutral currents."[8] His response to criticism was to claim that physical laws do not apply to biological reactions, which contradicts the mainstream understanding that physical laws apply for all scales and conditions.[4]
Kervran suggested that under the right conditions potassium could combine with hydrogen to form calcium.[3] He questioned how chickens fed a diet of oats could produce eggshells composed of calcium carbonate and concluded that the potassium in the oats must combine with hydrogen to produce the calcium.[3] He considered this a "low-energy transmutation" which became known as the "Kervran effect". There is no scientific basis for such an effect.[3]
Kervran's theory was studied by Italian researchers who found that in controlled conditions there was no transmutation.[3] Contrary to what Kervran argued, oats are not devoid of calcium and if there isn't enough calcium in a chicken's diet they will mobilize calcium from their bones.[3] In modern times, chickens feed is often supplemented to ensure adequate calcium intake. Science writer Joe Schwarcz has written that "the bottom line is that the Kervran effect doesn't exist... [he] simply came to the wrong conclusion based on some faulty observations."[3]
In 1993, Kervran was awarded a parodic Ig Nobel prize in Physics due to his "improbable research" in biological transmutation. The award description called him an "ardent admirer of alchemy."[9]
Organic farmingedit
Kervran's discredited theory of biological transmutation was promoted by organic farmers Raoul Lemaire (1884–1972) and Jean Boucher who incorporated it into the Lemaire-Boucher organic farming method in the 1960s.[10] They argued that their Lithothamnion-based fertilizer known as Calmagol underwent biological transmutation by transitioning calcium into potassium.[10][11] Kervran took interest in organic farming and was a contributor to Henri-Charles Geffroy's La Vie Claire magazine.[10] Kervran's biological transmutation also influenced the macrobiotic diet of George Ohsawa.[11] His book Biological Transmutations was first translated by Michel Abehsera an Ohsawa disciple in 1972.[12]
Booksedit
In French:
Transmutations Biologiques: Métabolismes Aberrants de l'Azote, le Potassium et le Magnésium (1962) Paris : Librairie Maloine S.A. (2nd ed. 1963, 3rd ed. 1965)
Transmutations naturelles non radioactives; une propriete nouvelle de la matiere Paris : Librairie Maloine, (1963) OCLC 21388057
Transmutations à la faible énergie : synthèse et développements (1964) Paris : Maloine OCLC 35460556
A la découverte des transmutations biologiques : une explication des phénomènes biologiques aberrants (1966) Paris : Le Courrier du livre OCLC 30562980
Preuves Relatives à l'Existence des Transmutations Biologiques (1968) Paris : Librairie Maloine S.A.
Transmutations biologiques en agronomie (1970) Paris : Librairie Maloine S.A.
Preuves en géologie et physique de transmutations à faible énergie (1973) Paris : Maloine ISBN2-224-00053-7OCLC 914685
Preuves en biologie de transmutations à faible énergie (1975) Paris, Maloine, S.A. ISBN2-224-00178-9OCLC 1603879, (2nd edition, 1995).
Transmutations Biologique et Physique Moderne (1982) Paris : Librairie Maloine S.A.
English translations:
Biological Transmutations C. Louis Kervran, translation and adaptation by Michel Abehsera, 1989, 1998 (first published in 1972) ISBN0-916508-47-1OCLC 301517796 (extract of three of Kervran's books)
Biological transmutations, revised and edited by Herbert & Elizabeth Rosenauer, London, Crosby Lockwood 1972 (reprinted by Beekman, New York, in 1998 under ISBN0-8464-0195-9)
Biological Transmutation. Natural Alchemy. Louis Kervran and George Ohsawa, George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation, Oroville, California, USA 1971 (reprinted 1975, 1976) 48 pages.
^"C. Louis Kervran and Biological Transmutations". C. Louis Kervran and Biological Transmutations. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
^ abcdefghiSchwarcz, Joe. (2014). Is that a Fact?: Frauds, Quacks, and the Real Science of Everyday Life. ECW Press. pp. 40-43. ISBN978-1-77041-190-6
^ abcTibor Müller, Harmund Müller (2003), Modelling in natural sciences: design, validation, and case studies (illustrated ed.), Springer, pp. 24–29, ISBN3-540-00153-0
^Robert Sheaffer (September–October 1998), "Uncritical Publicity for Supposed 'Independent UFO Investigation' Demonstrates Media Gullibility", Skeptical Inquirer, vol. 22, no. 5, [The Journal of Scientific Exploration has the intention] to publish supposedly scientific papers on '[list of paranormal and pseudoscientific topics], apparent chemical or biological transmutation (alchemy), etc.' Despite the impressive jargon and in some cases the impressive academic degrees of the authors, these papers have been absolutely unconvincing to mainstream scientific journals and organizations, and, far from pointing the way to further research, they have been quite deliberately ignored.
^Louis C. Kervran Preuves en Biologie de Transmutations à Faible Énergie, Paris 1975, Maloine, ISBN2-224-00178-9.
^Kervran, C. Louis (1962). Transmutations Biologique. Paris: Librairie Maloine S.A. pp. 36–40 (see Fig. 10).
^Louis Kervran, "Biological evidence of low energy transmutations", Maloine, 1975 (See "Final Note" by Costa de Beauregard)
^Winners of the Ig Nobel Prize, Improbable Research, August 2006
^ abcBivar, Venus. (2018). Organic Resistance: The Struggle Over Industrial Farming in Postwar France. University of North Carolina Press. pp. 128-130. ISBN978-1469641195
^ abJakobsson, Christine. (2012). Sustainable Agriculture. Baltic University Press. pp. 260-261. ISBN978-9186189105
^Raso, Jack. (1993). Mystical Diets: Paranormal, Spiritual, and Occult Nutrition Practices. Prometheus Books. p. 27. ISBN0-87975-761-2
Further readingedit
Corentin Louis Kervran: "Hors-d'œuvre", an autobiographical note in Preuves en Biologie de Transmutations a Faible Energie Paris: Maloine S.A., 1975
April 11, 2024
corentin, louis, kervran, biological, transmutation, redirects, here, lamarck, theory, evolution, species, transmutation, species, march, 1901, february, 1983, french, scientist, kervran, born, quimper, finistère, brittany, received, degree, engineer, 1925, wo. Biological transmutation redirects here For Lamarck s theory on the evolution of species see Transmutation of species Corentin Louis Kervran 3 March 1901 2 February 1983 was a French scientist Kervran was born in Quimper Finistere Brittany and received a degree as an engineer in 1925 In World War II he was part of the French Resistance 1 2 Corentin Louis KervranBorn3 March 1901Quimper FinistereDied2 February 1983Quimper FinistereOccupation s Engineer writerKervran proposed that nuclear transmutation occurs in living organisms which he called biological transmutation 3 He made this claim after doing an experiment with chickens which he believed showed that they were generating calcium in their egg shells while there was no calcium in their food or soil He had no known scientific explanation for it Such transmutations are not possible according to known physics chemistry and biology 3 Proponents of biological transmutations fall outside mainstream physics and are not part of accepted scientific discourse 4 5 Kervran s ideas about biological transmutation have no scientific basis and are considered discredited 3 Contents 1 Biological transmutation 2 Organic farming 3 Books 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingBiological transmutation editIn the 1960s Kervran claimed to have conducted experiments and studies demonstrating violations of the law of conservation of mass by biological systems according to which the amount of each chemical element is preserved in all chemical reactions He claimed that organisms can transmute potassium into calcium by nuclear fusion in the course of making an egg shell 3919 K 11 H 4020 CaSince biological systems do not contain mechanisms to produce the speed temperature and pressure necessary for such reactions even for extremely short periods of time this contradicts basic physical laws 4 Kervran said that his work was supported by prior studies and by reports of industrial accidents involving carbon monoxide 6 7 Kervran said that enzymes can facilitate biological transmutations using the weak nuclear force by what he called neutral currents 8 His response to criticism was to claim that physical laws do not apply to biological reactions which contradicts the mainstream understanding that physical laws apply for all scales and conditions 4 Kervran suggested that under the right conditions potassium could combine with hydrogen to form calcium 3 He questioned how chickens fed a diet of oats could produce eggshells composed of calcium carbonate and concluded that the potassium in the oats must combine with hydrogen to produce the calcium 3 He considered this a low energy transmutation which became known as the Kervran effect There is no scientific basis for such an effect 3 Kervran s theory was studied by Italian researchers who found that in controlled conditions there was no transmutation 3 Contrary to what Kervran argued oats are not devoid of calcium and if there isn t enough calcium in a chicken s diet they will mobilize calcium from their bones 3 In modern times chickens feed is often supplemented to ensure adequate calcium intake Science writer Joe Schwarcz has written that the bottom line is that the Kervran effect doesn t exist he simply came to the wrong conclusion based on some faulty observations 3 In 1993 Kervran was awarded a parodic Ig Nobel prize in Physics due to his improbable research in biological transmutation The award description called him an ardent admirer of alchemy 9 Organic farming editKervran s discredited theory of biological transmutation was promoted by organic farmers Raoul Lemaire 1884 1972 and Jean Boucher who incorporated it into the Lemaire Boucher organic farming method in the 1960s 10 They argued that their Lithothamnion based fertilizer known as Calmagol underwent biological transmutation by transitioning calcium into potassium 10 11 Kervran took interest in organic farming and was a contributor to Henri Charles Geffroy s La Vie Claire magazine 10 Kervran s biological transmutation also influenced the macrobiotic diet of George Ohsawa 11 His book Biological Transmutations was first translated by Michel Abehsera an Ohsawa disciple in 1972 12 Books editIn French Transmutations Biologiques Metabolismes Aberrants de l Azote le Potassium et le Magnesium 1962 Paris Librairie Maloine S A 2nd ed 1963 3rd ed 1965 Transmutations naturelles non radioactives une propriete nouvelle de la matiere Paris Librairie Maloine 1963 OCLC 21388057 Transmutations a la faible energie synthese et developpements 1964 Paris Maloine OCLC 35460556 A la decouverte des transmutations biologiques une explication des phenomenes biologiques aberrants 1966 Paris Le Courrier du livre OCLC 30562980 Preuves Relatives a l Existence des Transmutations Biologiques 1968 Paris Librairie Maloine S A Transmutations biologiques en agronomie 1970 Paris Librairie Maloine S A Preuves en geologie et physique de transmutations a faible energie 1973 Paris Maloine ISBN 2 224 00053 7 OCLC 914685 Preuves en biologie de transmutations a faible energie 1975 Paris Maloine S A ISBN 2 224 00178 9 OCLC 1603879 2nd edition 1995 Transmutations Biologique et Physique Moderne 1982 Paris Librairie Maloine S A English translations Biological Transmutations C Louis Kervran translation and adaptation by Michel Abehsera 1989 1998 first published in 1972 ISBN 0 916508 47 1 OCLC 301517796 extract of three of Kervran s books Biological transmutations revised and edited by Herbert amp Elizabeth Rosenauer London Crosby Lockwood 1972 reprinted by Beekman New York in 1998 under ISBN 0 8464 0195 9 Biological Transmutation Natural Alchemy Louis Kervran and George Ohsawa George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation Oroville California USA 1971 reprinted 1975 1976 48 pages See also editCold fusionReferences edit Les transmutations C Louis Kervran and Biological Transmutations C Louis Kervran and Biological Transmutations Retrieved 2019 08 01 a b c d e f g h i Schwarcz Joe 2014 Is that a Fact Frauds Quacks and the Real Science of Everyday Life ECW Press pp 40 43 ISBN 978 1 77041 190 6 a b c Tibor Muller Harmund Muller 2003 Modelling in natural sciences design validation and case studies illustrated ed Springer pp 24 29 ISBN 3 540 00153 0 Robert Sheaffer September October 1998 Uncritical Publicity for Supposed Independent UFO Investigation Demonstrates Media Gullibility Skeptical Inquirer vol 22 no 5 The Journal of Scientific Exploration has the intention to publish supposedly scientific papers on list of paranormal and pseudoscientific topics apparent chemical or biological transmutation alchemy etc Despite the impressive jargon and in some cases the impressive academic degrees of the authors these papers have been absolutely unconvincing to mainstream scientific journals and organizations and far from pointing the way to further research they have been quite deliberately ignored Louis C Kervran Preuves en Biologie de Transmutations a Faible Energie Paris 1975 Maloine ISBN 2 224 00178 9 Kervran C Louis 1962 Transmutations Biologique Paris Librairie Maloine S A pp 36 40 see Fig 10 Louis Kervran Biological evidence of low energy transmutations Maloine 1975 See Final Note by Costa de Beauregard Winners of the Ig Nobel Prize Improbable Research August 2006 a b c Bivar Venus 2018 Organic Resistance The Struggle Over Industrial Farming in Postwar France University of North Carolina Press pp 128 130 ISBN 978 1469641195 a b Jakobsson Christine 2012 Sustainable Agriculture Baltic University Press pp 260 261 ISBN 978 9186189105 Raso Jack 1993 Mystical Diets Paranormal Spiritual and Occult Nutrition Practices Prometheus Books p 27 ISBN 0 87975 761 2Further reading editCorentin Louis Kervran Hors d œuvre an autobiographical note in Preuves en Biologie de Transmutations a Faible Energie Paris Maloine S A 1975 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Corentin Louis Kervran amp oldid 1199094822, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
