Comments on: The Girl With X-Ray Vision, Part 2

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Nov 2004 09:58:43 +0000

For a report on how Natasha Demkina failed a preliminary test of her supernatural abilities:

http://www.csmmh.org/demkina

By: kryptothesuperdog

kryptothesuperdog — Wed, 04 Feb 2004 08:11:44 +0000

I’m obviously misunderstanding this paragraph:

“We have people waiting for months to see Natasha. At first she did it for free but now we charge 400 roubles (less than £10) for a diagnosis.”

Do clear it up for me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Feb 2004 12:46:18 +0000

She’s not making money from her ability you capitalist fool!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Feb 2004 22:19:35 +0000

Actually, here in Fremont, California, I know a Master Zhao who came from China 10 years ago, has the similar capability, and even more, he helps hundreds of people every year, he can “see” all kinds of problem inside people’s body, he even can tell the history of the problem, and he can heal them by Chi Kung.

By: kryptothesuperdog

kryptothesuperdog — Mon, 02 Feb 2004 09:40:24 +0000

No probs, we’ve all done that once or twice.

Given that she “can’t see inside herself”, and that the whole process sounds worryingly mystical, I’m inclined to agree that it’s just a hoax. We’ll see whether she submits to proper scientific testing, which I like to think someone somewhere will have suggested. What are the odds that her parents “won’t want to put her through all that”?

This paragraph particularly amuses me:

“Natasha’s family believe her powers were triggered when she suffered complications from a childhood operation. Doctors left a swab inside her which had to be removed later.”

Uh huh.

By: teece

teece — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 20:37:11 +0000

I meant to hit preview, but hit post. So you were all subjected to my many typos/errors. Sorry.

By: teece

teece — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 20:32:52 +0000

Perhaps her retina could have some fluke of a mutation that allows here to see X-rays. The visible spectrum is about 3000 (4000 – 7000) Angstroms wide in wavelength. X-rays are around around 50 Angstroms, and the band is narrow to (around 100). So we are talking about a major shift/expansion in the ability of the human retina.

As for the Sun emitting, X-rays, it sure does. But the number of them is much lower than in the visible spectrum (a lot lower). So it is not clear to me that she would actually be able to see by the light of the X-ray sun.

If she is legitimate, she will allow scientists to figure out how she sees X-rays.

But the most probable explanation is that she is a huckster.

By: kryptothesuperdog

kryptothesuperdog — Fri, 30 Jan 2004 10:01:15 +0000

It’s not exactly a scientific experiment, and the fact that she earns money through her ‘amazing ability’ makes me even more dubious. Also a quick google search reveals information about the reporter having been in an accident, though I can’t find any details of the injuries.

However, just for fun, why not be open minded for a minute…Is this actually possible without resorting to unscientific explanations?

Could this girl’s retina actually be sensitive to x-rays? Presumably she’d then be sensitive to ultraviolet light, too? Even if so, are there enough x-rays “around” for her to be able to see inside people?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jan 2004 21:53:45 +0000

I saw the movie as a child. Same plot, but the gentleman was a doctor who invented eyedrops that gave him The Power.

I was horrified at the ending.

"What do you do with the eyes that see the Evil One?" asked the priest.

His congregation began to cry out:

"Pluck them out! Pluck them out! Pluck them out!"

By: absurdhero

absurdhero — Wed, 28 Jan 2004 21:15:11 +0000

I concur. Being able to see internal organs makes about as much sense as claiming you proved the moon is made of cheese. It makes no sense and can only be based in literature, not reality. Not to mention, her "ability" has not been and probably cannot be supported by evidence. Hence, fraud is the only possibility.