The Type One Psionics Machine engineered by Thomas Galen Hieronymus is a unique example of magical technology that was first introduced in 1957. Martin Gardner, a debunker, who referred to the machine as “even funnier than Dianetics,” brought it to public attention. The Hieronymus machine is an advanced version of radionics devices that were created earlier.
The editor of Astounding Science Fiction, John W. Campbell Jr., played a significant role in introducing the Hieronymus machine to the public. It is worth mentioning that he also provided the first public platform for “Dianetics” by L. Ron Hubbard. The most distinct feature of this machine is its capability to detect “eloptic radiation” – a type of energy that according to Hieronymus, is emitted from every animate and inanimate object, each vibrating at a different frequency.
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Hieronymus envisioned potential practical uses for his machine, such as military intelligence, pest control, chemical analysis, horticulture, and animal husbandry. He even proposed that eloptic energy conducted along light rays can be found in photos, making it possible to identify the subject of the image captured.
To everyone’s surprise, John Campbell built a device using the Hieronymus machine’s circuit diagram, believing that it would be a joke, but it performed beyond his expectations and worked remarkably well. The machine, made of electrodes, condensers, prisms, and dials, can be operated psychically, hence earned the distinction of being the only psychotronic device to have received a US patent for the detection of radiations from materials.
Later on, Hieronymus developed an eloptic transmitter capable of remotely healing living beings and even transmitting sustenance to plants in a lightless room. The transmitter also proved useful in pest control, as it could clear an entire field of parasites with just a sample bug and a photo of the field.
Although the Hieronymus machine is widely popular among Astounding Science Fiction readers, science has since forgotten about it. However, for those curious enough to put Campbell’s claims to the test, the device’s plans are available online.