Benveniste affair
The Benveniste affair (French:
After the article was published, a follow-up investigation was set up by a team including physicist and Nature editor John Maddox, illusionist and well-known skeptic James Randi, as well as fraud expert Walter W. Stewart, who had recently raised suspicion of the work of Nobel laureate David Baltimore.[3] With the cooperation of Benveniste's own team, the group failed to replicate the original results, and subsequent investigations did not support Benveniste's findings. Benveniste refused to retract his controversial article, and he explained (notably in letters to Nature) that the protocol used in these investigations was not identical to his own. However, his reputation was damaged, so he began to fund his research himself, as his external sources of funding were withdrawn. In 1997, he founded the company DigiBio to "develop and commercialise applications of Digital Biology".
Nature publication and investigation
Jacques Benveniste, a French immunologist, published a paper in the prestigious scientific journal Nature describing the action of very high dilutions of anti-IgE antibody on the degranulation of human basophils. Biologists were puzzled by Benveniste's results, as only molecules of water, and no molecules of the original antibody remained in these high dilutions. Benveniste concluded that the configuration of molecules in water was biologically active; a journalist coined the term water memory for this hypothesis. Much later, in the 1990s, Benveniste also asserted that this "memory" could be digitized, transmitted, and reinserted into another sample of water, which would then contain the same active qualities as the first sample.
Unusual disclaimer
Following replication, the article was then published in Nature, which printed an editorial titled "When to believe the unbelievable" in the same issue of the journal and attached the following disclaimer to the article: "Editorial reservation: Readers of this article may share the incredulity of the many referees. ... There is no physical basis for such an activity. ... Nature has therefore arranged for independent investigators to observe repetitions of the experiments." The last time such a disclaimer had been added was in 1974 to an article on Uri Geller.
Critical investigation
A week after publication of the article, Nature sent a team of three investigators to Benveniste's lab to attempt to replicate his results under controlled conditions. The team consisted of Nature editor and physicist Sir John Maddox, American scientific fraud investigator and chemist Walter W. Stewart, and skeptic and former magician James Randi.
The team pored over the laboratory's records and oversaw seven attempts to replicate Benveniste's study. Three of the first four attempts turned out somewhat favorable to Benveniste; however, the Nature team was not satisfied with the rigor of the methodology. Benveniste invited them to design a
In the same issue of the journal Nature, and in subsequent commentary, Benveniste denied all the claims and stated that such "Salem witchhunts or McCarthy-like prosecutions will kill science."[5]
After Dark
On 3 September 1988
Attempts to replicate Benveniste's results
Academy of Sciences
In 1991, Benveniste found the
Although the new findings fell substantially short of confirming the patterns previously claimed by Benveniste, writer Yves Lignon quotes study co-author and statistician Alfred Spira, who said that "the transmission of information persisted at high dilution", and acknowledged that a "weakness in the experimental procedure was possible".
Ovelgonne et al.
A group of Dutch researchers reported their failure to duplicate the results in Experientia in 1992:
In fact, in our hands no effect of extreme dilutions was shown at all. We conclude that the effect of extreme dilutions of anti-IgE, reported by Davenas et al., needs further clarification and that in this process the reproducibility of results between experimenters should be carefully determined.[9]
Hirst et al.
A group of English researchers reported another failure to duplicate the results in Nature in 1993:
Following as closely as possible the methods of the original study, we can find no evidence for any periodic or polynomial change of degranulation as a function of anti-IgE dilution.
However, Benveniste in a 1994 letter to Nature argued that the study neglected to faithfully follow his methods. The study has also been criticized on the grounds that its results were more favourable to Benveniste's claims than the study authors acknowledged in their conclusion.[10][11]
Josephson and the APS
After the Nature controversy, Benveniste gained the public support of
Time magazine reported in 1999 that, in response to skepticism from physicist Robert Park, Josephson had challenged the American Physical Society (APS) to oversee a replication by Benveniste. This challenge was to be "a randomized double-blind test", of his claimed ability to transfer the characteristics of homeopathically altered solutions over the Internet:
[Benveniste's] latest theory, and the cause of the current flap, is that the "memory" of water in a homeopathic solution has an electromagnetic "signature." This signature, he says, can be captured by a copper coil, digitized and transmitted by wire--or, for extra flourish, over the Internet--to a container of ordinary water, converting it to a homeopathic solution.[16]
The APS accepted the challenge and offered to cover the costs of the test. When he heard of this, Randi offered to throw in the long-standing $1 million prize for any positive demonstration of the paranormal, to which Benveniste replied: "Fine to us"[17] in his DigiBio NewsLetter. Randi later noted that Benveniste and Josephson did not follow up on their challenge, mocking their silence on the topic as if they were missing persons.[18]
Ennis et al.
An article published in Inflammation Research in 2004 brought new media attention to the issue with this claim:
In 3 different types of experiment, it has been shown that high dilutions of histamine may indeed exert an effect on basophil activity. This activity observed by staining basophils with alcian blue was confirmed by flow cytometry. Inhibition by histamine was reversed by anti-H2 and was not observed with histidine these results being in favour of the specificity of this effect. We are however unable to explain our findings and are reporting them to encourage others to investigate this phenomenon.[19]
Following up on a study they had published in 1999 in the same journal, the researchers concluded that an effect did exist. Some of the researchers had not been involved in homeopathic research before, while others had, such as former Benveniste collaborator Philippe Belon, research director at the homeopathic company Boiron. It was
BBC Horizon
In 2002
A report was published in 2005 on the prestigious journal of statistics Significance by the statistician Martin Bland, professor at the University of York.[23]
Further study
With the support of Brian Josephson, the experiments continued, culminating in a 1997 paper claiming a water memory effect could be transmitted over phone lines.[13] This culminated in two additional papers in 1999[14] and another on remote-transmission in 2000.[15]
Intrigued by Benveniste's claims that biological interactions could be digitized, the US
INSERM
The July 1989 edition of Nature reported that
See also
- Experimental errors and frauds in physics
- Junk science
- Pathological science
- Protoscience
- Topics characterized as pseudoscience
- Scientific misconduct
Notes
- ^ Warnant, Léon (1968). Dictionnaire de la prononciacion française (in French) (3 ed.). Gembloux: Duculot. p. 443.
- S2CID 12992106.
- PMID 3133566.
- ^ Bibcode:1992AmSci..80...54R.
- ^ S2CID 9579433.
- ^ List of After Dark editions
- ^ 'Diary', New Statesman, 9 September 1988
- Eric Fottorino, Le Monde6 octobre 2004.
- S2CID 32110713.
- ^ Experiments past and future Some remarks on the Memory of Water Controversy
- ^ Étude Critique Et Projets D'avenir Dr B. Poitevin Archived 9 December 2004 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Brian Josephson, molecule memories, New Scientist letters, 1 November 1997
- ^ .
- ^ a b J. Benveniste; Aissa, J.; Guillonnet D. "The molecular signal is not functional in the absence of "informed water"". FASEB Journal. 13 (A163).
- ^ PMID 10790721.
- ^ Leon Jaroff, "Homeopathic E-Mail", Time, May 9, 1999.
- ^ Jacques Benveniste and Didier Guillonnet, DigiBio - NewsLetter 1999.2, "Demonstration challenge, etc." section
- ^ Randi, James (26 January 2001). "Computer problems, a Nobel Laureate reneges, more magnetic shoes, the metric system, and ...", Commentary.
- S2CID 8682416.
- Guardian Unlimited.
- ^ "BBC - Science & Nature - Horizon - Homeopathy: The Test". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "'Horizon' Homeopathy: The Test (TV Episode 2002) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
- .
- S2CID 23116745. — this paper includes an excellent references list.
- PMID 2739750.
References
- BBC Horizon (2002) Homeopathy: The Test, first broadcast 26 November 2002. Summary and transcript. Rebroadcast on ABC Catalyst in 2003.Homeopathy Part 1
- Belon, P.; Cumps, J.; Ennis, M.; Mannaioni, P. F.; Sainte-Laudy, J.; Roberfroid, M.; a. c. Wiegant, F. (1999). "Inhibition of human basophil degranulation by successive histamine dilutions: Results of a European multi-centre trial". Inflammation Research. 48: 17–18. S2CID 11803836.
- Burridge, Jim (1992) "A Repeat of the 'Benveniste' Experiment: Statistical Analysis", Research Report 100, Department of Statistical Science, University College London, England. (early version of Hirst et al.)
- Chaplin, Martin (2000–2006) "Water Structure and Behavior London South Bank University
- Davenas, E.; Beauvais, F.; Arnara, J.; Oberbaum, M.; Robinzon, B.; Miadonna, A.; Tedeschi, A.; Pomeranz, B.; Fortner, P.; Belon, P.; Sainte-Laudy, J.; Poitevin, B.; Benveniste, J. (1988). "Human basophil degranulation triggered by very dilute antiserum against IgE". Nature. 333 (6176): 816–18. S2CID 12992106.
- Fisher, Peter (1999). "The End of the Benveniste Affair?". British Homoeopathic Journal. 88 (4): 186–7. PMID 10582651. Archived from the originalon 24 December 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2005.
- Fottorino, Eric (1997) Le Monde, 21, 22 & 23 January 1997.
- Hammer, M.; Jonas, W. (2004). "Managing Social Conflict in CAM Research: The Case of Antineoplastons". Integr. Cancer Therapy. 3 (1): 59–65. PMID 15035877.
- Hirst, S.J.; Hayes, N.A.; Burridge, J.; Pearce, F.L.; Foreman, J.C. (1993). "Human basophil degranulation is not triggered by very dilute antiserum against human IgE". Nature. 366 (6455): 525–7. S2CID 4314547.
- Ives, John (2002) "Evaluating Unusual Claims and Devices Using a Team Approach: A Case Study", Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine, 13(1):39-59, based on Dr. Ives Keynote Address made at the Twelfth Annual ISSSEEM Conference The Co-Creation Process in Energy Medicine: A Synergy of the Sciences and the Healing Arts, 14–19 June 2002. Abstract, Full text
- Jonas, W. B.; Ives, J. A.; Rollwagen, F.; Denman, D. W.; Hintz, K.; Hammer, M.; Crawford; Henry, K. (2006). "Can Specific Biological Signals be Digitized?". FASEB J. 20 (1): 23–28. S2CID 23116745.
- Jonas, W. B. & J. Jacobs (1996) Healing with Homeopathy, Warner.
- Lignon, Yves (1999) "L’Homéopathie et la mémoire de l’eau", Les dossiers scientifiques de l'étrange, Chapter 21, Michel Lafon Publishing.
- Maddox, John (1988). "Waves caused by extreme dilution". Nature. 335 (6193): 760–3. S2CID 2148267.
- Maddox, John (1988). "When to believe the unbelievable". Nature. 333 (6176): 787. doi:10.1038/333787a0.
- Milgrom, Lionel (1999) "The memory of molecules", The Independent, 19 March. Full text
- Ovelgonne, J.H.; Bol, A.W.; Hop, W.C.; Van Wijk, R (1992). "Mechanical agitation of very dilute antiserum against IgE has no effect on basophil straining properties". Experientia. 48 (5): 504–8. S2CID 32110713.
- Park, Bob (1999) "The Challenge: Homeopathy Via the Internet", What's New, 14 May. Full text (source 1)(2) Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Park, Bob (1997) "Alternative Medicine and the Laws of Physics", Skeptical Inquirer, 1 September 1997.
- Randi, James. Commentary. 26 January 2001 "a Nobel Laureate reneges" Commentary, January 26, 2001 - Computer problems, a Nobel Laureate reneges, more magnetic shoes, the metric system, and .... 5 September 2003 "Benveniste and Josephson on Abandoning Science" Commentary, September 5, 2003 — Benveniste and Josephson on Abandoning Science, Denmark Gets Our Reject, Talking Pots Again, APS on Texas, AOL Into Astrology, Official Astrology in Portugal, Galileo on Con-Artists, Curing Spiky Hair, Rationality Discovered in Ontario, How Proles Think, and Roy's Rock in Alabama....
- Targ, Russel; Puthoff, Harold (1974). "Information transfer under conditions of sensory shielding". Nature. 251 (5476): 602–7. S2CID 4152651.
- Thomas, Y.; Schiff, M.; Belkadi, L.; Jurgens, P.; Kahhak, L.; Benveniste, J. (2000). "Activation of Human Eurtrophils by Electronically Transmitted Phorbol-Myristate Acetate". Medical Hypotheses. 54 (1): 33–39. PMID 10790721.
- Schiff, Michel. The Memory of Water: Homoeopathy and the Battle of Ideas in the New Science (Thorsons, 1995)
- Vithoulkas, George (2003) The controversy with the BBC program Horizon. Full text
- Walker, Martin (1993) "Dr Jacques Benveniste: The Case of the Missing Energy", Chapter in Dirty Medicine, Slingshot Publications, London. Chapter full text (source 1) Archived 8 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine (2) Archived 10 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
Bibliography
- Benveniste, Jacques (2005) Ma vérité sur la 'mémoire de l'eau, Albin Michel. ISBN 2-226-15877-4
- Benveniste, Jacques, and Peter Jurgens. On the Role of Stage Magicians in Biological Research The Anomalist 1998
- Benveniste, Jacques. Electromagnetically Activated Water and the Puzzle of the Biological Signal INSERM Digital Biology Laboratory (10 March 1999)
- Benveniste, Jacques. "Put a match to pyre review". Nature. 396. 10 December 1998.
- Benveniste, Jacques. "Further Biological Effects Induced by Ultra High Dilutions: Inhibition by a Magnetic Field", In P.C. Endler, ed.,Ultra High Dilution: Physiology and Physics. Dordrecht: Kluwe academic, 1994
- Benveniste, Jacques, "Transfer of Biological Activity by Electromagnetic Fields". Frontier Perspectives 3(2) 1993:113-15.
- Benveniste, Jacques (1993). "Molecular signaling at high dilution or by means of electronic circuitry". Journal of Immunology. 150: 146A.
- Benveniste, Jacques (1994). "Transfer of the molecular signal by electronic amplification". FASEB Journal. 8: A398.
- Benveniste, Jacques (1995). "Electronic transmission of the cholinergic signal". FASEB Journal. 9: A683.
- Benveniste, Jacques (1995). "Direct transmission to cells of a molecular signal via an electronic device". FASEB Journal. 9: A227.
- Benveniste, J.; Ducot, B.; Spira, A. (1994). "Memory of water revisited". Nature. 370 (6488): 322. PMID 8047128.
- Benveniste, J., Davenas, E. & A. Spira (1991) Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, January.
External links
- Association Jacques Benveniste pour la Recherche (in French), including an obituary (in English)
- Obituary from the Guardian, 2004
- Obituary, British Medical Journal, 27 November 2004