The body electric
by Robert O. Becker · first published 1985
73% recommend27% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Covers Robert Becker's research on electricity and the body, including limb regeneration and bioelectric effects, plus how unconventional findings were received; suits readers curious about bioelectricity.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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This is a good place to mention "The Body Electric", by Robert Becker and Gary Selden. https://bookshop.org/books/the-body-electric-electromagnetis... Becker's lab was, for decades almost uniquely in the US, permitted to engage in research on effects…
on “Artificial Lives: On the Occult Origins of Chemistry and the Stuff of Life” ↗…areas. 3) The adverse effects of electromagnetic fields on biological tissue was extensively researched by Dr. Robert Becker and documented in his published scientific research as well as his book The Body Electric. All of this information was suppressed by academia and big pharma, he proved exponentially increased cellular mitosis rates, damage to DNA, and a host of other ill effects from EM fields at powers significantly…
on “5G is perfectly fine” ↗If interested in this topic, you may want to check out the book "The Body Electric" by Robert Becker.
on “Mike Levin on using bioelectricity to study how cells form (2019)” ↗…discusses the topic in depth with respect to humans, insects, birds, trees, and more, across hundreds of years of history. It's very well researched; its references are 2/3 as long as the entire book. The Body Electric by Dr. Robert Becker is another book to possibly look into. It talks about electricity from a medical perspective and talks a bit about the mechanisms by which electricity influence the body and what…
on “How bad is my gas stove?” ↗…every organ in the body. First time I saw an acupuncture meridian chart I thought "this is an electrical diagram!". If you want to go deeper down the rabbit hole I recommend, for starters, the book "The Body Electric" by Dr. Robert O' Becker. It's a classic on the subject.
on “Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?” ↗"The Body Electric" by Dr. Robert O. Becker. Everyone in healthcare, medicine and especially the wireless industry should read it. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Electric-Robert-Becker/dp/0688...
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗"The Body Electric" by Dr. Robert O. Becker. An amazing journey into the electromagnetic workings and sensitivity of biology to electromagnetic fields. Details early but little known discoveries like de-differentiation…
on “Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?” ↗If you're interested in this sort of thing pick up a copy of "The Body Electric" by Robert O. Becker and Gary Selden. [1] Describes investigation of regeneration among other things. YMMV [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Body_Electric_(book)
on “Controlling electric signals in the body could help it heal” ↗In re: regeneration, see also: "The Body Electric" by Robert O. Becker and Gary Selden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Body_Electric_(book) and "What Bodies Think About: Bioelectric Computation Outside the Nervous System (youtube.com)" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18736698
on “Scientists Likely Found Way to Grow New Teeth for Patients” ↗"The Body Electric" & "Cross Currents" by Dr. Robert O. Becker got me into health effects of wireless radiation exposures. "The undercover economist" by Tim Harford got me interested in economics. "Rules for Radicals"…
on “Ask HN: What books got you curious and inspired about fields other than CS?” ↗Instantly reminded me of "Body Electric" by Robert Becker. A fascinating account of how novelty in research is often ridiculed despite being revolutionary, interspersed with various electromagnetic theories: from limb regeneration with cancer…
on “Mike Levin on using bioelectricity to study how cells form (2019)” ↗Veterinarians have a gadget that they use to heal horse bone fractures 2x+ as fast. "The Body Electric" by Robert Becker is a useful primer.
on “Starlink works great until the cats find out that it gives off heat” ↗Read "The Body Electric", 1998, by Robert O' Becker MD. Also, read "Cross Currents" by same author.
on “Bioelectricity could regrow limbs and organs” ↗This reminds me of a fascinating book I read a few years ago about experiments using electricity to promote cellular healing and regeneration. It was called The Body Electric. https://www.amazon.com/Body-Electric-Electromagnetism-Founda...
on “Electric eel’s zap can transfer genes to nearby animals” ↗The book "The Body Electric: Electromagnetism And The Foundation Of Life" by Robert Becker and Gary Selden, is a foundational book for this research. First published in 1998. Becker in his research found that lower power levels…
on “FCC opens entire 6 GHz band to low power device operations” ↗