cosmic rays
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Based on the following references, it is scientifically conceivable that cosmic rays have affected chess players' minds in some way during a game. Do you believe that has ever happened to you, and if so, when? Describe the experience, and whether you believe cosmic particles helped you win or caused you to lose any particular games.
If there are enough documented cases perhaps we can consider amending tournament rules to allow rematches in the case of cosmic ray bombardment during a game.
Now while there are those of you, who, observing any of my threads, believe I have a sense of humor, and think I might be posting this as some kind of joke, I assure you I have no sense of humor. I just checked medical reference and there is no physical biological sense called "humor". And the four humours of ancient medicine are no longer used in mainstream medicine.
What are cosmic rays?
Cosmic rays are very energetic charged particles that continually bombard the earth. These particles are usually protons, but can also be larger nuclei. When such a particle strikes the earth's atmosphere, it creates a shower of lower energy secondary particles, and these are observed to reach the ground. In fact, about a hundred of these secondary particles pass through our bodies every second. Exposure to cosmic rays is even greater at high altitudes.
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Cosmic ray visual phenomena, also referred to as phosphenes or "light flashes", are spontaneous flashes of light visually perceived by astronauts outside the magnetosphere of the Earth, such as during the Apollo program. Researchers believe that cosmic rays are responsible for these flashes of light, though the exact mechanism is unknown. Hypotheses include one or all of: Cherenkov radiation created as the cosmic ray particles pass through the vitreous humor of the astronauts' eyes, direct interaction with the optic nerve, or direct interaction with visual centres in the brain.[1]
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BETA PARTICLES AND THE CASE FOR TIN FOIL HATS by the U.S. EPA
Source: United States Environmental Protection agency
Alpha particles can travel only a few inches in the air and lose their energy almost as soon as they collide with anything. They are easily shielded by a sheet of paper or the outer layer of a person's skin. Alpha particles are hazardous only when they are inhaled or swallowed.
Beta particles can travel in the air for a distance of a few feet. Beta particles can pass through a sheet of paper but can be stopped by a sheet of aluminum foil or glass. Beta particles can damage skin, but are most hazardous when swallowed or inhaled.
Cosmic rays do not interact with the brain, only the body. Some well known side effects: invisibility, stretchiness, bursting into flames, or extraordinary strength couple with skin that looks like an orange gravel road.
Cosmic rays do not interact with the brain, only the body. Some well known side effects: invisibility, stretchiness, bursting into flames, or extraordinary strength couple with skin that looks like an orange gravel road.
While I cannot discount what you assert as known side-effects, I must refute your statement that cosmic rays don't effect the brain. As per the last citation of the OP, cosmic rays are believed to affect the visual centers of the brain, producing flashes of light or visual phenomena that can be perceived. Therefore it is conceivable that passing through different parts of the brain, cosmic rays could impact the brain or consciousness itself in different ways.
Your safest bet is to wear a tin foil hat to tournaments as to my most recent edit to the OP above showing the EPA's statement about beta particles implies: BETA PARTICLES AND THE CASE FOR TIN FOIL HATS by the U.S. EPA.
Note: Moved thread to Off Topic
If you believe it is inappropriate in Off Topic and should be moved back to General Chess Discussions because if it's relevance to chess, let me know, and I will consider it.