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What happens when radio waves penetrate the human skin

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Andrija Puharich · 1974

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1974 research showed radio waves can penetrate human skin, raising questions about biological effects from today's much higher EMF exposures.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1974 research by Dr. Andrija Paharich examined how radio waves interact with and penetrate human skin tissue. The study focused on understanding the biological mechanisms involved when electromagnetic radiation encounters the skin barrier, with implications for both therapeutic applications and potential health effects.

Why This Matters

This early research represents pioneering work in understanding how radio frequency radiation interacts with human tissue at the cellular level. Dr. Paharich's investigation into skin penetration mechanisms was decades ahead of its time, exploring questions that remain central to EMF health research today. The study's focus on transdermal effects and corona discharge phenomena provides foundational insights into how our bodies absorb and respond to electromagnetic fields. What makes this research particularly relevant is that it examined these interactions when EMF exposure levels were far lower than what we experience today. The radio waves studied in 1974 pale in comparison to the constant bombardment from WiFi, cell phones, and wireless devices that now surround us 24/7. Understanding how even lower-intensity radio waves can penetrate our skin's protective barrier highlights why we need robust research into today's exponentially higher exposure levels.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagram extracted from the original research document.

diagramPage 2 - Fig. 1. Transdermal instrument (TD-100).
p. 2 of the original PDF

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 7-30 kHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 7-30 kHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

To investigate the effects of radio waves penetrating the human skin and explore potential applications in hearing rehabilitation and extra-sensory perception.

The study used a Transdermal Instrument (TD-100) which applies radio waves directly to the skin thro...

The study found that when radio waves penetrate the skin and are amplitude-modulated, they can be de...

Radio-wave penetration of the skin in a precisely controlled manner is the only known means at our disposal to give aid in cases of severe or total human deafness of sensorineural origin. The research suggests a new way to energize the human biological system through injection of free electrons into the biological system. The findings open new possibilities for medical diagnosis, disease treatment, enhancing learning processes, and extra-sensory perception research.

Cite This Study
Andrija Puharich (1974). What happens when radio waves penetrate the human skin.
Show BibTeX
@article{what_happens_when_radio_waves_penetrate_the_human_skin_g6862,
  author = {Andrija Puharich},
  title = {What happens when radio waves penetrate the human skin},
  year = {1974},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

Paharich studied how radio frequency electromagnetic fields interact with and penetrate the skin barrier. His research examined the biological mechanisms involved when radio waves encounter human tissue, focusing on transdermal effects and corona discharge phenomena.
This was pioneering work that examined EMF-tissue interactions decades before widespread wireless technology. It provided early scientific evidence that radio waves can penetrate the skin barrier, establishing foundational knowledge for understanding electromagnetic field effects on human biology.
Corona discharge refers to electrical discharge that can occur when electromagnetic fields interact with conductive surfaces like human tissue. Paharich's research examined this phenomenon as part of understanding how radio waves affect the skin's electrical properties.
Yes, the study included investigation of transdermal instruments for deafness treatment. This suggests Paharich was exploring how controlled radio wave penetration through skin might be used therapeutically, while also documenting the biological mechanisms involved.
The radio wave exposures studied in 1974 were minimal compared to current levels from cell phones, WiFi, and wireless devices. If radio waves could penetrate skin at 1974 exposure levels, today's exponentially higher exposures raise significant biological concerns.