Nuts & Volts - September 2004

The Enigma Machine — Part 4

gests that living things can be directly affected by polar conductivity. Admittedly, this is just speculation; however, consider an electronic medical device that could be tuned to prevent specific pathogens from replicating. Obviously, such a product would have a tremendous impact at many levels.

Full Circle

This series started, "This is one of those things that seems just a little interesting at the start; however, as you look closer, it gets stranger and stranger." There does not seem to be an end to the strangeness. Like the battery bunny, it just keeps going and going and going.

This series was developed to illustrate a number of aspects of science and learning. The first and most obvious was the actual development of The Enigma Machine from concept to product. Next was the scientific approach to gathering information and learning from it. Common sense and attention to detail are absolutely necessary. There was also the convoluted path of discovery from the first odd observation of hearing a sound when my ear brushed an electromagnet to the present.

Learning from mistakes is still learning. Hopefully, you found this series interesting and fun. That's what science and engineering is to me. NV

SEPTEMBER 2004

Enigma Machine Safety Notice!

Please use common sense ...

1. This article deals with high voltage and high voltage effects. When built and used as described, The Enigma Machine is felt to be completely safe. Improper use and construction can cause electrical shock.

2. Several Enigma Machine experiments demonstrate effects that pass through the body of the user. Therefore, it is not recommended that anyone with a pacemaker or other embedded electrical device participate in these experiments, nor should it be used in very close proximity to any electrical equipment where electromagnetic interference could cause safety concerns.

3. Several experiments have shown subtle biological effects on plants with continuous exposure of days to weeks. (See last month’s article.)

4. The high power version of the Enigma Machine presented here should not be built or operated by anyone who is not experienced with high voltage circuits. Severe electrical shocks or burns are very possible.