Dependence of Gravity Induced Absorption Changes on the Earth’s Magnetic Field as Measured during Parabolic Flight Campaigns

Werner Schmidt

1Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universit?t Marburg, Marburg, Germany 2Fachbereich Biologie, Universit?t Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.

DOI: 10.4236/jmp.2013.411190                

Abstract

Various spectroscopic experiments performed on the AIRBUS ZERO G—located in Bordeaux, France—in the years 2002 to 2012 exhibit minute optical reflection/absorption changes (GIACs) as a result of gravitational changes between 0 and 1.8 g in various biological species such as maize, oats, Arabidopsis and particularly Phycomyces sporangiophores. During a flight day, the AIRBUS ZERO G conducts 31 parabolas, each of which lasts about three minutes including a period of 22 s of weightlessness. So far, we participated in 11 parabolic flight campaigns including more than 1000 parabolas performing various kinds of experiments. During our campaigns, we observed an unexplainable variability of the measuring signals (GIACs). Using GPS-positioning systems and three dimensional magnetic field sensors, these finally were traced back to the changing earth’s magnetic field associated with the various flight directions. This is the first time that the interaction of gravity and the Earth’ magnetic field in the primary induction process in living system has been observed.

Keywords

MDWS (Micro Dual Wavelength Spectrometer); GIAC (Gravity Induced Absorption Change); AIRBUS-300-ZERO-G; Parabolic Flight; Micro- and Hypergravity; Three Dimensional Earth’s Magnetic Field; Global Positioning System (GPS); Google Earth

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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