How have fault zones and interrelated geomagnetic systems influenced global zones of conflict?
Shaping Faults | (Final) Part 4.3
Causation 3: Bioelectric Effects on Conflict Dynamics
Arriving at the last of our three previously mentioned correlations, I have to be honest with you: this one is as theoretical, moreover, as speculative, as it gets. True, the entire “Shaping Faults” thesis is both of those things–summarised as:
Amplified around fault zones, electromagnetic systems have “coupled” with biological systems—plants, animals, and yes, humans—through fundamental bioelectric mechanisms, and in the process have heavily influenced (and continue to do so) key developmental processes.
But the correlation between zones of conflict and fault zones in this final installment stretches this thesis even further. Into grounds that some may feel uncomfortable treading. When we factor in the electromagnetic (EM) elements discussed throughout this series, the current working hypothesis becomes:
EM, seismo-electromagnetic (SEM) and geomagnetic systems have been a significant contributing factor in group conflict and instances of warfare.
Superficial deduction was first drawn in Part 1.2 by looking at the following “map”:
This map is actually an amalgamation of the Geography of Violence’s “Map of Every War Ever” (over the past 4,500 years) and a NASA’s “Quake Epicenters, 1963 – 1998” graphic (which follows the general outline of long-term active fault zones across the planet for at least the past 5,000 years). For reference, the black regions are active fault zones, and the red and yellow dots are recorded instances of conflict.
In air of full transparency, I ran the above amalgam of conflict and seismographic maps (plus two more fault zone maps for added posterity) through an AI programme designed to provide the probability (p-value) that conflicts would occur “naturally” within <100km of fault zones. If the p-value is high (near to, or at, 1), we fail to reject the null hypothesis, which suggests we have no evidence that the observed association differs from random expectation. In this case, such a correlation between fault zones and zones of conflict would not be considered significant.
However, estimates put only about 13% of the world’s landmass within <100 km (<60 miles) of an active fault zone.1 After accounting for and removing active fault zones within oceanic regions, and only accounting for instances of warfare within 100km either side of the remaining seismic zones, it was determined, quite surprisingly, that roughly one in three historical wars occurred in just one-fifth of Earth’s land—that land being the space immediately on, or flanking within 100km, faults zones.
The results of this analysis produced a very low p-value—10⁻¹⁵—basically 0.2 Such a low p-value means the pattern we observe (over twice as many wars on or around fault zones) is neigh-on impossible to be a fluke of random placement. After adjusting for data biases (e.g. thinning the over-represented European sample), the likelihood of a war raging on or within 100km of a a fault zone is still about 2.5 times the global average. In other words, if wars and fault zones were not positively correlated in some way, this analysis suggests you could rerun world history trillions of times and you’d almost never get a concentration this strong purely by chance.
Because such a correlation would most commonly be interpreted as indirect (e.g. fault zones do not directly cause wars, just as wars do not directly cause fault zones), in Part 1.2 conventional “geographic-determinist” explanations were discussed in order to suggest a more direct causation between “fault zones → zones of conflict”. For example, one direct line of causation could be a result of spatial dynamics—over hundreds and thousands of years (depending on the specific societal/civilisational cycle) routine “iterative destruction” of seismic destruction breaks down societal structures, causing conditions where instability, chaos, and ultimately conflict may emerge. Another direct causal line could be a result of spatial conditions—the topography of fault zones themselves (e.g. mountainous regions and fertile plains) causing the “funnelling” and “squeezing” of human action and behaviour into tighter and more circumscribed spaces, so that intergroup conflict is an emergent property of groups developing over time in these fault zone regions.
All this to say, I know there are many other geographic, social, economic, political and technological influences that underpin the correlation between fault zones and zones of historical conflict. But, given the correlation between the other two human markers (cult—tech innovation & belief systems), plus the host of other data points regarding EM effects on bioelectric systems mentioned, at this point, ad nauseam throughout this series, let us, for the sake of coming full circle, revisit this highly speculative place one last time.
“Seasonal Electromagnetic Aggression”
It is rather common to think about the relationship between mood and the weather.3 But nobody has ever declared war because it was grey and moody outside.4 However, when we set aside rain and hail, and swap-in geomagnetism, things get a little more interesting.
Encapsulating Earth, the magnetosphere is a result of our planets geodynamo—the dynamic movement of the molten core, which causes electrical convection currents, in turn causing massive magnetic fields to extend out and around our planet. When solar processes (like solar wind) bombard our planet, thankfully the magnetosphere takes the brunt of the impact. In the process, however, the magnetic fields contort and change shape, whilst some solar energy inevitably manages to pierce the protective layers. This combination in turn causes “trickle-down” effects on the Earth’s geomagnetic field (GMF). Back down on the surface, we notice these disturbances as “geomagnetic storms”.
Interesting to our thesis, a study conducted by Professor Michael Persinger suggests a link between geomagnetic activity and the occurrence of wars.5 Put simply, during periods of increased EM activity, the number of global armed conflicts rose significantly. In fact, Persinger’s analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between geomagnetic fluctuations and warfare during the first half of the 20th century; up to 25% of the variance in the number of wars potentially influenced. When reframed, the shaping faults thesis suggests the correlation between conflict and fault zones might, in part, be more than just anthropocentric—it could also be affected by Earth’s own geomagnetic and more general EM systems, amplified, as it were, even more so around fault zone regions.
Addressed in greater detail earlier in Parts 3.1 & 4.1, the “Five Spheres Model” (FSM) is a way of thinking about the interrelation of Earth’s various planetary systems. In Persinger’s case, the FSM suggests solar-based disturbances in the magnetosphere “filter down” to the GMF, in turn affecting the ionosphere (part of the atmosphere) and, because of the high interrelation of planetary systems, continue in a “top-down” manner to the biosphere (as well as the geosphere, which then “switches” causal direction to “bottom-up”, back to the biosphere), in the process producing a causative effect biological systems (via bioelectric mechanisms), resulting in changes to human behaviour (e.g. aggression).
Visual model for thinking about the “Five Spheres Model” in relation to the “top-down and bottom-up” (multilateral) causation when it comes to bioelectric mechanisms and larger planetary systems. Highlights structure of nested hierarchical systems within systems.
(Image: Author)
To understand this causality it must be noted that biological systems (like humans) are influenced by geomagnetic fields. It is well known that “the GMF at the Earth's surface shows a broad range of magnitudes, ranging from less than 30 microteslas (µT) to almost 70 µT”. Energy of a similar magnitude—1µT - 100 µT—causes fundamental effects on biological systems like changes to the reproductive system. In other cases, such EM change can elicit both therapeutic and damaging outcomes on various physiological components and biochemical processes. In a general sense, planetary EM energy certainly influences both the evolution, and the current function of, biological systems.
Certain effects are related to the similarity in energy magnitudes between the brain’s energy density and the Earth’s geomagnetic field. Changes in geomagnetic activity, including shifts of 20–50 nanoteslas (nT) have been shown to influence right hemispheric brain activity—particularly the right frontal lobes—which can be sensitive to shifts as low as 1–10 nT. Among other variables, magnetite crystals within brain tissue physically change positions in response to changing external magnetic fields.
These shifts, however slight, can modulate nearby ion channels, which we have seen already throughout this series is, along with gap junctions, a crucial component ro bioelectric mechanisms, biochemical signaling, and thus, cognition. EEG measurements suggest the effects of geomagnetic shifts primarily take place in the alpha (8–13 Hz) and theta (4–7 Hz) brain bands.6 Alpha bands are typically associated with inhibition of sensory processing or internally-directed cognition, whereas theta bands are known more for memory consolidation and emotional processing. Predominantly found in the retina, blue-light-sensitive proteins called cryptochromes are involved in functions like circadian rhythm regulation, and thus are assumedly also mood-affective and, more generally, cognition-affective. Cryptochromes are also highly sensitive to geomagnetic fluctuations.
Geomagnetic disturbances, although magnetic in origin, can further induce very weak electric fields within biological tissues (via mechanisms like Faraday induction, which states that magnetic fields can induce electrical fields and currents in “conductors” including biological tissue). Given our own bioelectric circuity is sensitive to externally applied electric fields between 0.1-10 V/cm, the recorded electric fields produced as a by-product of shifts within the Earth's geomagnetic environment can also reside in this range. While generally much smaller than lab-applied electric fields, those associated with geomagnetic changes may well affect cognitive states under the right conditions.
Another study from 2005 concluded that, “During strong disturbances of geomagnetic conditions, the negative emotional background of the person is amplified.” Even more intriguingly for the shaping faults thesis, the authors went on to note how an “investigation of geomagnetic storms’ effects on human brain in different latitudinal and longitudinal areas of the globe could give more detailed and interesting results”.7 Considering this entire series suggests fault zones could be those “different areas”, in the case of behavioural changes the superficial spatial correlation from the map above, plus the very low p-value from subsequent analysis, adds to such interest.
Following this, a new hypothesis must be added to the core thesis, proposing that:
Geomagnetic storms may exhibit amplified effects on, or near to, planetary fault zones. This is due to three primary mechanisms: (i) enhanced geospheric conductivity, (ii) heightened “localised” interaction among planetary systems, and (iii) interrelated fault-based SEM and EM phenomena. Such conditions are labelled “EM-coupled-amplified” planetary spaces.
Such a hypothesis should not be too surprising. Recent data has shown fundamental forces such as gravity are not uniform across Earth’s surface, changing in intensity given certain spatial locations. In previous articles (including Part 2 & 3.2) it was shown that the geospheric spaces relating to fault zones characteristically feature elevated EM conductivity due to a variety of factors, including conductive minerals, fluid-saturated fracture networks, and mineral material piezoelectricity. Recent studies into the lithospheric magnetic field supports the idea of a non-uniform intensity distribution of geomagnetic fields within the geosphere.
Thus, fault zones seem to contain features that have the potential to “enhance” or “amplify” episodes of geomagnetic disturbance.8 These zones represent unique regions of cross-system planetary interactions.9 Demonstrated by ionospheric anomalies and “radon-induced atmospheric ionization” preceding seismic events, empirical data indicates a systemic coupling across Earth's nested set of “systems within systems”. Further still, stress-induced SEM output further amplifies “localised” EM activity along fault zones, originating from the dynamics of these interrelated systems. When factoring in phenomena like telluric currents, piezoelectric and triboelectric effects, the “coupling” of fault zones and intensifying responses during geomagnetic storms should not be dismissed a priori.
While further empirical validation is needed, returning to our previous findings that it is 2.5 times more likely zones of conflict spring up around fault zones, the existing interdisciplinary evidence strongly suggests a high likelihood that geomagnetic storms and planetary fault zones exhibit significant EM coupling and amplification effects within <100km of tectonic boundaries. Because of the interrelation of the biosphere within such EM-coupled-amplified planetary spaces, it follows that any biological system within this range, especially during periods of heightened geomagnetic disturbance, would be more likely have their bioelectric mechanisms, their cognition, and yes—their behaviour—affected in a not-so-insignificant way.
The physical effects of geomagnetic storms on biological systems have long been established—but the connection such EM activity has on group-scaled changes in emotion, behaviour and cognition is still an open question with much room for research. (Image: Sarimov et al, 2023)
Just as the solar winds disrupt Earth's magnetic field, these EM disruptions may well influence the collective behaviour of our species—in this case, manifesting in collective aggression and, when scaled, open conflict. So, what psychological states exactly can be influenced by EM activities? In laboratory settings, EM stimulation has been noted to lead to heightened states of vigilance.10 Some cases even resulted in panic attacks.11 In 2018, a study at Cambridge University found an association between geomagnetic storms and hospital admissions of depressive states. In particular, the study found a 36% correlation with male “manic-depressive” illnesses, characterised by extreme changes in behaviour, mood and even increased rates of anger. Whilst manic-depressive (or bipolar) disorders in no way signify a 1-1 correlation with aggression, when sudden geomagnetically induced change is compounded against other geographic deterministic causal factors (e.g. iterative-destruction and fault zone topography) as well as anthropocentric causal factors (e.g. social, economic and political pressures), the hypothesised causal link between EM systems along fault zones and rates of group aggression cannot be ruled out.
Radical changes in psychological states, sadly, do not stop there. Other studies have shown a correlation between geomagnetic fluctuations and increased rates of suicide. Even the odds an individual develops schizophrenia has been linked to geomagnetic influences during the initial 2—7 month gestation period (whilst the individual is still a fetus!). One simplified heuristic that can be used to think about this connection is the phenomenon of seasonal depression—only in our case, “electromagnetic depression” may be more apt. The key difference is that instead of our mood being causally affected by grey clouds and lack of sunshine, seasonal electromagnetic aggression posits EM storms rewire our cognitive (bioelectric) circuits from both the outside—in and the inside—out.
Geomagnetically Amplified Tensions
In 2021, a study concluded that low-level magnetic fields “alter the human mental state, influencing the behavior and decision-making in diverse essential fields, such as the investment and trading domains.” Under normal conditions, the right frontal lobe region helps to inhibit impulsive behaviours and regulate emotional responses12 but, as shown above, there is a chance that during geomagnetic disturbances, especially within range of the more conductive, EM-coupled-amplified regions of Earth’s fault zones, this inhibitory function can be compromised. When inhibited, the right frontal lobe can result in emotional changes involving delusional jealousy, pride, dominance, and even the development of emotional states related to psychopathy.13 In the broader context of societal health and overall cohesion, both the concepts of the “interpersonal circumplex” and the “compassion–compersion vs jealousy–sadism axis” suggest that, when such negative emotional changes are scaled-up to the group level cognition of an entire society, the amplified geomagnetism around fault zones may well have a direct conflictual effect on the people inhabiting the space.
Geomagnetic changes do elicit a “stress-response” in groups of people.14 Inhibited behaviours can lead to heightened arousal,15 with downstream effects on decision-making.16 While it must be noted “Brain stimulation clearly does not produce uniform benefits, even applied in the same configuration during the same tasks, but may interact with traits to produce markedly opposed outcomes”,17 depending on where it occurs (as well as individual genetic and contextual predispositions), EM stimulation can even lead to reduced vigilance to threatening stimuli.18
Reduced threat vigilance can result in conflict—just think about the European powers that were complacent about the risks after decades of peace, despite underlying tensions. Before they knew it, WW1 was raging. If a society becomes less vigilant toward smaller acts of violence or aggression, these behaviours can escalate unchecked and the normalisation of violence can erode collective responses. When threats go unaddressed, extremist ideologies gain traction, group polarisation ensues, and divisions between groups deepen. Negative downstream effects include—yep—mass violence, instability and conflict. And, given the right (or wrong) circumstances, this can lead to large scale group conflict—war.
Back in 1990 a study showed a correlation between increased rates of violence and sunspots. As part of the Sun’s 11-year cycle, increasing sunspots correlate to increasing geomagnetic disturbances. However, the study concluded that an “alternative hypothesis is that the relationship may rest on a linkage between solar activity and some geophysical variable other than the magnetic field.”19 Given what we are now learning about through frameworks such a “Scale-Free Cognition”, could this “geophysical variable” relate to the EM effects on cognition around “amplified” fault zones? When we scale these emotional states up into larger group dynamics, it is not hard to see how conflict could emerge from EM-coupled-amplified spaces. Especially when these spaces already feature, in a geographic determinist sense, topography more inclined to cause heightened tensions.
“This copper engraving by Matthaus Merian illustration depicts the Athenian naval defeat near Corinth over the Corinthian and Spartan fleet around 430 B.C.E” (Source: National Geographic)
Historically speaking, we do see some weaker evidence of this. In the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece’s geographic location near several fault zones, including the Hellenic Arc, makes the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) an intriguing case. Drawn-out and devastating, it is well established that the timeline of conflict between Athens and Sparta is pockmarked with frequent seismic activity. Less well known is that it may also be coupled with periods of increased geomagnetic disturbance. Thucydides, an Athenian general and historian, notes how, on two separate occasions, once in 431 BCE and again, in 413 BCE, the Greeks experienced full eclipses. Whilst we cannot know for certain the scale (if any) of associated effects, eclipses have been connected to disturbances in the GMF. Couple this with at least five devastating earthquakes in the surrounding region between 426—425 BCE, and the associated SEM externalities (e.g. piezoelectricity and even telluric currents), given the undeniable influence that EM systems play on bioelectric mechanisms foundational to human cognition, it would be impossible to rule out the potential impact being situated along fault zones may have had on promoting aggressive behaviour in this time period. Not ruling out political, cultural and geographic elements of this conflict, this simply adds another causal layer to an already boiling set of tensions in this particular spatial location.
Whilst this sounds like wild speculation, physiologically patterned magnetic fields have been shown to produce “dramatic changes in behavior,” especially during periods of synaptic plasticity —those moments when our brain is most ready to change and learn, often during high-stress situations like wars.
“Takeda Shingen deflects Uesugi Kenshin's strike at the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima during the Sengoku period.” (Source: Public Domain)
Between 1467–1603, Japan, a country located in the highly seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, witnessed the protracted and bloody Sengoku Period, otherwise known as the Warring States Period. For over a century, feudal lords fought tooth-and-claw for dominance in a war-torn landscape. Interesting to our hypothesis then, that between 6–8 March, 1582 a red auroral storm (simultaneously reported in Japan, China and Korea), is thought to have raged with an intensity on par with the 1859 Carrington Event—the largest geomagnetic storm ever recorded.20 Coupled with the stress of continuous earthquakes (in 1498, 1586, and 1596) and associated tsunamis, the internal political instability of the era could have been exacerbated by Japan’s geographical location nestled within a highly active fault zone, exposing the population to high levels of geomagnetic and SEM activity. Geomagnetic and heightened EM activities may have caused disturbances in cognitive function, contributing to a long-lasting, brutal civil war. Modern research adds further credence to this. In 2019, a Japanese study found that sudden onset geomagnetic storms correlated to “13 of 16 leading causes of death in Japan between 1952 and 2004”.
No way conclusive, and only a small sample size of wars presented here, yet given the psychological and behavioural effects of geomagnetic activity already covered, plus the working thesis that fault zones act as EM-coupled-amplified spaces on our planet, along with Japan being the world's most seismically active location, it’s not so hard to imagine how entire populations, already under political, social and geographic stress, might be pushed further towards bloody conflict by even more subtle EM nudges.21
Critical Points
Having said all of the above, rooting through mountains of studies looking at the effects of EM forces on human innovation, cooperation, belief systems and conflict, I would be lying if I told you I don’t want at least some of it to be true. I have more than one confirmation bias and, besides, it makes for a bloody interesting narrative. That being said, I am not disingenuous. Atleast, not purposefully. I value transparency and I value good, solid, perhaps a little broad-reaching research. With that in mind, before we bring Shaping Faults to a close, I would be remiss if I did not present a glaring critique to some of my above bioelectric, electromagnetic and fault zone-based correlations.
Many of the studies mentioned in the previous articles, the studies that explored the artificial introduction of EM energy into different regions of the brain and different areas of the body, all had a couple of things in common. Those things are fundamental, and deserve attention. Critically, the straw that broke the electromagnetic camel's back could come down to the mechanism by which EM energy reaches and more specifically, is “introduced”, to our biological systems.
Starting with the methodologies, the studies in this series employed techniques that allow targeted, localised—direct—contact between the source of EM energy and the specific region of the test subject's body or brain. Studies utilising “rTMS” use magnetic coils in order to pulse the desired magnetic frequency towards predetermined areas like the prefrontal cortex. Those employing “tDCS” utilise multiple electrodes in order to generate a weak direct current to accomplish similar outcomes. Whilst “PEMF”—used for inducing weak electrical currents for bone growth stimulation—is somewhat non-local, the other methods of artificial EM stimulation require direct contact between the person and the technology. And therein lies one problem: naturally generated EM energy, derived from fault zones and geomagnetic phenomena, is not directly applied to the biological systems of the hypothetical individuals or groups.
In our hypotheticals the people are in their homes; our early ancestors were in caves, huts and other shelters; early life forms were moving about freely on Earth’s surface and under the oceans; the EM processes emanating up and down would have come into contact with them from afar, without a strictly localised application. How much effect non-localised, non-directed EM systems can have on biological systems is the question this entire thesis hinges upon.
For what it is worth, when we factor in the known effects of planetary EM systems like the GMF on early life up to our present day biological systems, or the effects of geomagnetic disturbances on emotional states and behaviour discussed in this article, empirical data does seem to suggest EM systems, in some way had, and still have, a profound effect. But, despite my eloquent words and flare for scientific vernacular, I am not a practising experimentalist, nobody (yet) trusts me with their funding or their labs, and whilst I would promise to give it my best shot I am not entirely sure I would be the best person to test shooting EM energy at people to see if it influenced their bioelectric circuitry in order to falsifiably test these hypotheses. Sorry about that. Although, never say never.
I guess another significant critique could be the lack of direct experimental evidence showing that naturally occurring EM fields have the same profound effects on cognition that artificial fields do in controlled settings. To this end, I concede the hypothetical nature of how EM fields might subtly influence behaviour over time makes it difficult to distinguish causation from mere correlation in historical events, including wars and large cultural shifts, as proposed in this series. For me it is not about proving EM fields directly cause specific events, but rather that they could have been a significant, unseen influence shaping the evolutionary and cognitive landscape, not just of humanity, but of Life itself. If nothing else, this becomes a fascinating lens through which to interpret the interplay between the Earth's physical processes and the unfolding story of human culture and multi-scaled cognition.
Conclusionary Faults
I started this journey with some questions over the true nature of fault lines. Largely, this search for a deeper understanding was driven by a personal experience I once had in a particular seismic hotspot, against a wild yet spectacular desert backdrop. Known for countless infamous “lines” etched across the barren ground—many so large that you need to take to an observational tower or an aeroplane to really grasp their true shape and size—I intuited symbology that was meant to evoke something. Evoke it did.
After a crazy few days in the town, after listening to some fantastically enchanting stories from local guides, after having felt first-hand the intense energy wrung in the air itself, safe to say as I stood on a railing about 40 feet above the sandy gravel floor looking out over the martian landscape, in seeing the effort those ancient people who once claimed this fault zone as their home had gone through to immortalise the space in history, in time, I had stop, think, and really contemplate what living life along a fault zone was really about.
As the Nazca Lines ran off into the distance, disappearing into the desert landscape, it was obvious: Indigenous people revered those mountains; that ground; this space. Intuition tells you that, after thousands of years, hundreds of thousands even, those mountains are a small yet significant part of giant turning cogs, the same gears that spin when the ground begins to shake, the Earth opens up and the waves roar in, the same mechanisms to which people pray and shamans work their ornate incantations.
Places have an energy to them. This is no longer a woo-woo statement. Whether natural or artificial, “energy”—the entire gamut of the electromagnetic spectrum—is quite literally everywhere, permeating everything, running through all of us—pretty much anywhere, everywhere, all at once. Yet, we have our bodies and moreover our bioelectrical circuits as much to thank for our experiences than anything societal, political and technological.
After learning about the extensive research into EM systems, their interrelation to all other planetary systems, how they are generated by seismic forces, connected with geomagnetic disturbances, and now known to effect the very foundational building blocks that make life Life in a highly significant way, how I look at planetary spaces, especially fault zones, has undeniably changed forever.
Whether or not you want to think Earth’s enigmatic fault zones have something to do with the conflict correlated to the same regions, to the instances of cult-tech innovation, to the shared belief systems and foundation myths arising from these scarred, sacred lands, whatever you want to believe, I will always hold fault lines responsible for something—something I wish to never forget; that thing is curiosity, shoving me head-first down a rabbit hole that promised so much on paper, and gave so much in return.
Figures of 13% and <100km taken as mediums: lower estimates of Earth’s land—fault zone ratio is around 9%, others as high as 15%, hence 13%, and some fault zones sphere of influence is upwards of >200 km, whilst others drop off within 50 km, hence <100km for a control variable.
For reference: 10⁻¹⁵ = 0.000000000000001.
Although my friends remaining in the U.K. might disagree with me on that one…
Mulligan et al, 2010, Pp. 946-947.
Babayev & Allahverdiyeva, 2005, P. 7. (Boldness added for effect).
e.g. interrelations between geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, ionosphere, and GMF.
Kadosh et al, 2014. (See also: Kadosh & Krause, 2014).
Note that 1859 was a very bloody year, bearing witness to at least five wars:
Second Italian War of Independence
Pig War
Indigo Rebellion
Hispano-Moroccan War (1859-60)
Federal War in Venezuela (1859-60)
It must also be noted that wars were all the rage in the 1800’s, and subsequent years like 1863 and 1864 featured even more conflict. An interesting correlation nonetheless.
See: Persinger & Mach, 2009, P. 45.