Test of the influence of cyclotron resonance exposures on diatom motility

An attempt was made to test the hypothesis (McLeod et al. 1987; Smith et al. 1987) that a certain combination of direct current and alternating current magnetic field exposures at room temperature results in an increase in motility of a marine diatom (Amphora coffeaeformis) to a maximum value. Diatom motility increased as a function of calcium concentration in the medium, as reported by McLeod et al. (1987) and Smith et al. (1987). There was, however, no effect of the magnetic field exposures on diatom motility. The exposures employed 16-Hz magnetic fields with amplitudes of 21 or 29.7 μT (21 μT rms) as well as 21 μT (amplitude) fields at frequencies above and below the reported “resonance” frequency. All experiments were conducted double blindly, and each trial had its own positive control.