William Bown received a degree in Mathematics before working as a journalist at The Independent and New Scientist.
The physics of a dowsing pendulum
1 February 1991
Dowsing, the art of searching for water or minerals using a hand-held pendulum, may really work, according to an Australian engineer. Frank Irons of the University of New South Wales has analysed the chaotic swings of dowsing pendulums. His analysis shows that diviners might be able to detect ore deposits by the variations in the force of gravity they produce (European Journal of Physics, vol 11, p 107).