Natural ELF fields in the atmosphere and in living organisms

2020 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 1586

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020

Study typereview

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Natural ELF fields in the atmosphere and in living organisms Price C, Williams E, Elhalel G, Sentman D. Natural ELF fields in the atmosphere and in living organisms. Int J Biometeorol. 2020 Feb 8. doi: 10.1007/s00484-020-01864-6. Abstract Most electrical activity in vertebrates and invertebrates occurs at extremely low frequencies (ELF), with characteristic maxima below 50 Hz. The origin of these frequency maxima is unknown and remains a mystery. We propose that over billions of years during the evolutionary history of living organisms on Earth, the natural electromagnetic resonant frequencies in the atmosphere, continuously generated by global lightning activity, provided the background electric fields for the development of cellular electrical activity. In some animals, the electrical spectrum is difficult to differentiate from the natural background atmospheric electric field produced by lightning. In this paper, we present evidence for the link between the natural ELF fields and those found in many living organisms, including humans. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionunclear

Populationliving organisms (vertebrates and invertebrates), including humans

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 62% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The authors propose that natural electromagnetic resonant frequencies in the atmosphere, continuously generated by global lightning, may have provided background electric fields influencing the development of cellular electrical activity over evolutionary time. They state that they present evidence for a link between natural ELF fields and those found in many living organisms, including humans.

Outcomes measured

characteristic frequency maxima of electrical activity in organisms (<50 Hz)
proposed link between natural atmospheric ELF resonant frequencies and organism electrical activity

Limitations

Abstract describes a proposed evolutionary link; specific methods, data, and strength of evidence are not provided in the abstract.
No quantitative exposure characterization or health endpoints are described in the abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "natural atmospheric fields (global lightning; atmospheric resonant frequencies)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "living organisms (vertebrates and invertebrates), including humans",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "characteristic frequency maxima of electrical activity in organisms (<50 Hz)",
    "proposed link between natural atmospheric ELF resonant frequencies and organism electrical activity"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The authors propose that natural electromagnetic resonant frequencies in the atmosphere, continuously generated by global lightning, may have provided background electric fields influencing the development of cellular electrical activity over evolutionary time. They state that they present evidence for a link between natural ELF fields and those found in many living organisms, including humans.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Abstract describes a proposed evolutionary link; specific methods, data, and strength of evidence are not provided in the abstract.",
    "No quantitative exposure characterization or health endpoints are described in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.62,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF",
    "extremely low frequency",
    "natural electromagnetic fields",
    "atmosphere",
    "lightning",
    "resonant frequencies",
    "Schumann resonance",
    "bioelectricity",
    "evolution",
    "humans"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-01864-6
PubMed: Not supplied

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