My research in a nutshell
After graduating from the School of Physics and Mathematics (now the School of Science) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, I researched the physicochemical properties of polymer solutions. Between 1979 and 1983, I became involved in first studying Polymer Dynamics in the Glass-Rubber Region Using Laser Photon Correlation Spectroscopy. It granted me a Master's Degree (MSc) in Physics. My postgraduate studies continued in Low-Frequency Laser Raman Scattering from Amorphous Polymers, which awarded me a Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) in Physics.
I conducted further research on how the molecules of amorphous polymers behave to shape their bulk properties. I observed that matter in a noncrystalline state behaves similarly in bulk, whether on a smaller scale (a piece of polymer) or a larger scale (solid earth's motion during an earthquake). I applied a mathematical model to describe this universal behavior of amorphous solids. However, other researchers did not use my findings as much as I expected. On the other hand, my study on developing a non-destructive tool to assess the purity of plastic has been well-received and applied extensively by other researchers. I did not anticipate this outcome! I also expanded my scope to include the study of the molecular behavior and properties of crystalline polymers, sol-gels, and semiconductors within the field of material science.
While exploring the behavior of matter, I became curious about the role of the mind in physical reality. Regardless of academic backgrounds, many of us are fascinated with the intriguing and thought-provoking question of whether our thoughts can directly shape the world around us. This inquiry is related to the measurement problem in quantum theory. Starting from 1991, I conducted experiments using random number generators (RNG) to explore this question. In the process of these tests, I applied mathematical tools in fractal data analysis to investigate possible long-range correlations in the RNG data time series. These methods were expanded and introduced in the research of my graduate students in Condensed Matter Physics. By publishing the mathematical steps to perform a fractal Rescaled Range (Hurst) Analysis of time series, I have been able to help other interested readers and researchers.
The experiments related to the quantum measurement problem were in psychokinesis (PK), aimed to test whether focusing thoughts on the outcome of an RNG could shift the statistics of the numbers it generates in the direction of wish and intention. It is like flipping a fair coin multiple times and getting more heads than tails because someone wished for it. After conducting a small series of such experiments, I analyzed an independently assembled database of 380 psychokinesis tests performed by 62 principal experimenters over 35 years with tools I had already employed in my research and further novel methods of scientific investigation. In the same line of 'mind-over-matter' research, I reviewed the experimental setup and associated graphs reported in a series of experiments claiming evidence for the collapse of photon wavefunction by thought and intention.
Following the scientific method, my investigation of the PK hypothesis in both an extensive database and a single case revealed the typical human bias mechanism behind the claimed false experimental evidence:
Experimental data from psychokinesis (PK) tests contained (predominantly unintentional) small-scale errors driven by human biases. These errors led to false statistical evidence that our minds could directly influence physical processes from a distance.
As proven by PK tests performed over 35 years, the mind, including consciousness, intention, attention, wishes, and thoughts, does not have a direct magical influence capable of remotely affecting objects, events, or physical processes.
If one wonders how an experimenter could intentionally or unintentionally introduce inaccurate data during experiments, there are documented cases in psi research. My comments #1, 4, 12, and 14 to my reviewers provide an example of such a tendency in experimenters for data manipulation. There are records, too, of how it occurred in sciences outside psi research.
In addition, I explored the History of the Greek Society for Psychical Research, founded by Dr. Angelos Tanagras. Most of my publications are available online, with the ones in psychokinesis and telekinesis (part of The History of Greek Psychical Research) receiving more reads and downloads. It is not surprising as I (too) have observed that people, including scientists and academics, are often drawn to or supportive of unscientific ideas. The following quote summarizes this phenomenon quite well:
There's the world of the mind, defined by intention and conscious experience, and the world of outside reality, defined by matter and deterministic forces. We instinctively treat the mind as though it had physical properties, and we treat the physical world as though it had mental properties. (...)
It makes no difference how clever you are, or how reasonable you try to be (...)
This behavior is a result of (...) magical thinking. (...) It offers a sense of control, and a sense of meaning, making life richer, more understandable, and less scary.