Briefencounters4.

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Author: Hans Laroo

March 10, 2015

A Philosophical/Scientific approach to the question: DOES WATER HAVE MEMORY?

Before such s question is answered, semantics should be applied as to what type of memory is being
considered. With humans, memory is divided into short term and long term memory for processing
the encoding and storing of information for retrieval at a later date. Dogs and other animals have
cognitive memory as well, and the memory of an elephant is legendary. All such memories
processes however, are under the control of the mind, the brain and central nervous system.
Water however is a completely different matter. No brain and no central nervous system to process,
store and retrieve information such as living things do. Water is just a combination of hydrogen and
oxygen in a ratio of two to one. No central hub that is more intelligent than the remainder of the
substance. Al water can do is what comes natural, i.e. be a liquid within a certain temperature range,
turn into steam and or evaporate when hot and freeze soli d into ice when cold enough.
Rather than consider that water has memory or a memory of past events, it makes more sense to
state that water knows how to respond to different temperatures and its environment as a whole. It
is an excellent solvent, can form a Leidenfrost layer when confronted with excessive heat and stave
off temporarily evaporation. It is also very good in forming bonds with other materials and decide if
some materials are either hydrophilic or hydrophobic, i.e. water loving or water hating.
Memory relates to life in general. In particular, biofeedback strategies coupled with memory can
either prevent or seek a repetition of an event. You would not want to place your hand on a hot
stove if it had happened before. You should be able to prevent your hand from being burned and
injured again. Likewise the memory of a pleasant event may wish to be repeated or just thought
about. In many animals and plants, instinctive behaviour may be laid down in the DNA. Something
that is like a memory not previously experienced, but nevertheless available for the survival of the
species.
Memory, like the operation of the mind are virtual and most likely only exist as quantum mechanical
effects and only able to process within a quantum entanglement existence. For that reason both
memory and mind cannot be observed or detected by any means. Only via an equally unknown
interface can the brain act or react with measurable electrical impulses, albeit in the range of
millions of a volt.
It is highly debatable if water has a memory, as it has no mind that we know of. It is really a bonding
of the two elements Hydrogen and Oxygen. If water were to have memory, than most likely
Hydrogen and Oxygen would also have memory. Having made that leap, perhaps all other elements
would have memory as well. If that were the case, our entire Universe would need to have a
gigantic memory so as to keep track of every single particle that exists within it. To extend on that
thought, we could ask the question: Is there a difference between 'Memory' and ' A Memory'. I read
something in an old notebook today (Author unknown) " Artificial Intelligence is no match for
natural stupidity".
Hans Laroo