Art recalls interviewing Marcum around 18-20 years ago, fascinated by his daring experiments which Art believed could have dangerous consequences. Marcum, known for his experiments in time travel, had been out of the public eye for years, leading Art to worry he might have met with an accident during his experiments.
Art begins the show by giving his audience a brief tutorial on how to use Skype to call into the show, emphasizing its ease of use for listeners both in North America and internationally. He then expresses gratitude to his team and family for their support in his work.
The interview with Marcum starts with a reflection on their first meeting, which was likely initiated by a newspaper article about Marcum’s experiments. Marcum had begun with an intention to create a fancy version of a Jacob’s Ladder, a device that produces a visual electrical arc. He then evolved his experiment by incorporating lasers to ignite the arcs. Marcum describes the early stages of his experiments, including the use of a laser to lower the air resistance and create an electrical arc, which was about seven or eight inches long at its peak.
A peculiar incident during these experiments was the appearance of a shimmering, mirage-like effect above the Jacob’s Ladder when the laser was fired. This unexpected phenomenon, described as a spherical shimmer, piqued Art’s curiosity and set the stage for a deeper exploration of Marcum’s experiments and theories on time travel.
Marcum describes a pivotal moment when, during his experiments with a Jacob’s Ladder and lasers, he noticed a strange, almost invisible shimmering effect above the device. Curious, he decided to test this phenomenon by throwing a screw into the shimmering area. To his astonishment, the screw disappeared and then reappeared a half-second later at a different location. This bizarre occurrence led him to believe that something extraordinary was happening, possibly related to time travel or invisibility.
Marcum recounts his attempts to record this phenomenon with a camcorder, but his plans were thwarted when the laser, salvaged from a CD player, overheated and caught fire. This setback prompted him to consider upgrading his equipment, specifically by using a more powerful and durable CO2 laser. Despite the setbacks and the rudimentary nature of his setup, Marcum was driven by curiosity and a desire to understand the strange effects he was witnessing.
Art and Marcum discuss the nature of these experiments, with Marcum admitting that he initially set out to create an impressive light show rather than a time machine. The conversation touches on the challenges Marcum faced due to limited resources and the lack of internet access in 1995, forcing him to learn through trial and error. They also explore the possibilities of what could have happened to the screw during the experiment, speculating on theories of invisibility and time travel.
Mike Marcum discusses his quest for more powerful equipment for his time travel experiments. He recalls spotting several unused transformers near a substation in King City, Missouri, which he believed could be repurposed for his experiments. Despite the risks, Marcum, with the help of a friend and a coworker, managed to transport these heavy transformers, each weighing between 215 to 350 pounds, to his house.
Marcum humorously recounts how he convinced his friends to assist him, acknowledging that they could be considered co-conspirators in this endeavor. Despite the legal implications, Marcum was primarily focused on advancing his experiments. He explains that he initially planned to use only a couple of transformers but ended up taking more, driven by the thought that the legal consequences would be the same regardless of the number.
He further details the technical aspects of his experiments, explaining how he intended to use the transformers. These transformers, typically used to step down power line voltage for residential use, were to be used in reverse to step up the voltage significantly. Marcum’s plan was to connect several transformers in parallel and series to achieve the desired voltage for his experiments.
However, before he could fully implement his plans, Marcum was arrested, having had the transformers for about 4 to 6 weeks. He did manage to conduct some preliminary experiments with one transformer, but his activities started causing disruptions in the local power grid. This power anomaly caught the attention of the local utility supervisor, leading to Marcum’s eventual arrest.
Marcum discusses the consequences of his experiments, which led to his arrest. He clarifies that his jail time was due to the theft of the transformers, not because of the disruptions he caused to the power grid. Marcum had been using the stolen transformers to power a new, larger Jacob’s Ladder, which required half-inch metal rods instead of clothes hanger wire due to the high voltage involved.
Marcum’s experiments began to cause significant power fluctuations in his town, leading to brownouts where the voltage dropped from 120 to 80 or 90 volts. These power issues were so widespread that the utility supervisor started investigating heavy industrial activities in the area, suspecting them as the cause.
Interestingly, Marcum mentions an odd occurrence where a couch disappeared from his house during a party, though he’s unsure if it’s related to his experiments. He initially thought his friends were playing a prank on him, as only a few close friends knew about his experiments at that time.
The story of his arrest unfolds when a relative of a friend, not the brightest individual according to Marcum, decided to shoot birds with a BB gun, accidentally damaging a neighbor’s sliding glass door. This incident led to a police investigation for vandalism. When the police arrived with a search warrant for the BB gun, they discovered the transformers in Marcum’s living room. The presence of these large transformers, typically used on utility poles, raised suspicions, leading to Marcum’s arrest.
Mike Marcum recounts the aftermath of his arrest for stealing transformers. He was caught red-handed and ended up serving 60 days in jail, followed by five years of probation. The theft was classified as a crafty felony due to the value of the transformers. Marcum’s former employer, fearing contamination of their plant with PCBs, did not welcome him back after his jail term.
Art reflects on Marcum’s nickname, “Mad Man,” which he earned due to his dangerous experiments. Art mentions other guests on his show involved in time travel who have since disappeared, emphasizing the risky nature of such endeavors.
After his release from jail, Marcum was determined to continue his experiments but on a larger scale. His appearance on Art Bell’s show had garnered him support in the form of donations, equipment, and even a warehouse offered by a supporter for his experiments, provided he paid the electric bill. Despite moving to a new town and facing skepticism from locals who viewed him as a nutcase for attempting to build a time machine, Marcum was undeterred.
Marcum’s new experiments focused on using magnetics, theorizing that a rotating plasma might be key to his success. He aimed to create a plasma tornado using a magnetic field, a concept he described in a previous interview with Art Bell. His new setup involved cascaded transformers, generating an astonishing 3 million volts at one amp across 24 phases. To avoid drawing attention from the utility company, he used generators for his power needs.
Marcum delves into the technical details of his advanced experiments. He had moved away from a traditional Jacob’s Ladder setup to a more complex arrangement involving two cylinders, one inside the other, surrounded by a circle of electromagnets. This setup was designed to create a rotating magnetic field, stirring plasma within the cylinders. Marcum mentions that he was using square waves for better control over the voltage and duty cycle, a significant departure from the 60 Hz sine waves used in his earlier experiments.
Art Bell draws a parallel between Marcum’s setup and the rumored technology used in the Philadelphia Experiment, which also involved rotating magnetic fields. Marcum acknowledges the similarity but clarifies that his approach was different, focusing on narrow frequencies and square waves.
Marcum spent considerable time in a warehouse in Overland Park, Kansas, working on his project. He describes the setup as generating 3 million volts at one amp across 24 phases, creating a series of sparks in a configuration similar to a Jacob’s Ladder but with a much higher voltage and more complex phase arrangement.
Recognizing the extreme danger of working with such high voltages, Marcum admits the risks involved. He had to use generators to supplement the power supply, as the warehouse’s electrical infrastructure couldn’t handle the load by itself.
The culmination of his efforts was a large-scale test, which attracted the interest of the warehouse owner and others who had supported his work. Marcum initially tested the device with small animals like hamsters and guinea pigs, observing that they would disappear for one to two minutes and reappear at a distance of 100 to 150 yards from the device. This outcome suggested that his experiments were having a tangible, though still mysterious, effect on the subjects.
Marcum continues to describe his advanced experiments. He had created a complex setup involving two cylinders surrounded by electromagnets to generate rotating magnetic fields. This setup was used to conduct experiments with small animals like hamsters and guinea pigs. Marcum observed that these animals would disappear and reappear at a distance of 50 to 150 yards from the point of disappearance, exclusively in the east or west direction, which he speculated might be influenced by the Earth’s magnetic field.
Marcum had witnesses and even recorded video footage of these experiments. The device he built was substantial, with an outer diameter of about 17 feet and a height of 15 feet, elevated 35 feet off the ground to manage the 3 million volts it generated. The complexity of the device was such that adjacent phases had significantly less voltage than the full 3 million volts, but it was still a highly dangerous setup.
When the animals reappeared after disappearing, they were found to be physically unharmed. This led Marcum to ponder the nature of what he was observing: whether it was a form of time travel, spatial displacement, or something else entirely. He also experimented with inanimate objects like baseballs and fruit, observing similar disappearance and reappearance patterns. The distance of reappearance seemed to correlate with the power and voltage used in the experiments.
Marcum was trying to determine the factors controlling where the objects would reappear, whether it was the voltage, power, speed of the rotating magnetic field, or some other variable.
Marcum discusses the theoretical implications of his experiments and his decision to test the device on himself. He had previously conducted over 200 tests with various objects and animals, noting that the higher the power and voltage, the further away the objects would reappear. However, the exact mechanism controlling the reappearances remained unclear.
Marcum describes the setup of his experiment, which involved a large structure with an inner diameter of only five feet and a height of 50 feet off the ground. He was aware of the risks, including the possibility of severe injury or death if the experiment failed. Despite these dangers, he decided to proceed, driven by a high tolerance for risk.
He climbed onto a cherry picker to position himself above the device. After contemplating for a short time, he decided to jump, not wanting to overthink the risks. He did not use any cushioning for the jump due to the high voltage involved, which would have incinerated any material placed underneath.
Upon jumping, Marcum describes feeling like he was hit with a flashbang. He claims to have woken up 800 miles east of the original location and two years into the future. To achieve this, he had cranked the device to its maximum settings, hoping to ensure a significant leap rather than a fall to the ground.
When he regained consciousness, he was disoriented and unsure of his condition.
Marcum describes the aftermath of his experiment, which he claims transported him 800 miles east and two years into the future. After jumping into his device, he experienced total amnesia due to the electromagnetic fields, which he believes affected his brain. He woke up in a field near Fairfield, Ohio, disoriented and unable to remember his own name for a brief period.
Marcum explains that it took about an hour for his memory to start returning. He realized that he had jumped from 1998 to the year 2000. During this time, he was effectively missing, with no records of his existence for those two years. He had no identification on him, as he had removed all metallic objects, including his wallet, before the jump.
Finding himself homeless and without ID in Fairfield, Marcum eventually made his way to a homeless shelter. He struggled to recall recent memories but gradually began to remember his identity. He had to visit the DMV to get a new ID, starting from scratch to rebuild his life.
Marcum discusses his realization of time travel and the challenges he faced after his experiment. He describes how, from his perspective, the time travel experience felt like only a couple of seconds, contradicting the linear passage of two years. Upon waking up in a field near Fairfield, Ohio, he was initially disoriented and in shock, gradually regaining his memory over the course of an hour.
Marcum realized he had traveled from 1998 to the year 2000 when he saw a newspaper at a homeless shelter in Cincinnati. This revelation led him to accept that he had indeed traveled in time. He then began the process of re-establishing his identity, obtaining new identification, and taking temporary jobs to save money.
Upon returning to the warehouse where he had conducted his experiments, Marcum found that all his equipment and documentation had disappeared during the two years he was missing. This loss made it difficult for him to track down the people who had donated to his project or to recreate his experiments.
Marcum expressed uncertainty about whether he would attempt to rebuild his time travel device, acknowledging that the experience had significantly affected him. He also mentioned the skepticism of theoretical physicists regarding his claims, addressing their doubts about the feasibility of his experiment.
Marcum discusses the technical aspects and personal experiences of his time travel experiment. He reflects on the lack of physical evidence of his journey, such as RF burn marks, attributing the lack of injury to the magnetic fields’ effect on his brain. Marcum believes he retained enough knowledge of his system to potentially rebuild it, although he acknowledges significant financial and technical challenges.
Marcum speculates on the nature of time travel, suggesting that traveling backward in time might be more energy-intensive and less feasible than forward time travel. He explains that to travel back to a specific point in time, a time machine would need to have been operational at that point, making visits to distant historical events impossible.
Upon realizing he had traveled from 1998 to 2000, Marcum faced the challenge of reestablishing his life without any identification or memory of the past two years. He managed to get temporary jobs and eventually returned to the warehouse where he conducted his experiments, only to find all his equipment and documentation gone.
Marcum addresses a rumor about an experiment with a cat, denying its validity and expressing his discomfort with the publicity surrounding his experiments. He emphasizes his lack of interest in fame and his focus on the scientific aspects of his work.
Mike Marcum discusses the public’s reaction to his experiments and his personal feelings about fame. He likens himself to Jodie Foster, enjoying occasional attention but finding constant public scrutiny disconcerting. Marcum also addresses the possibility of using his time travel experiments for financial gain, such as obtaining lottery numbers from the future. However, he explains that his ability to travel in time is limited to forward movement, as he has not figured out how to travel backward.
Marcum then responds to a caller’s question about sending information back in time, stating that he hasn’t explored that possibility and is unaware of a method to do so. He expresses his desire to rebuild his time travel device but acknowledges the uncertainty of this happening.
A story circulating on the internet about Marcum traveling back to 1930 is mentioned, which he dismisses as not having occurred, at least not yet. He reflects on the lack of safety precautions he took during his experiment, such as not wearing a Faraday cage, and acknowledges the risks involved.
A caller, expressing skepticism, asks about the possibility of two-way time travel, which Marcum agrees would be ideal and more convincing. Another caller inquires about the reaction of Marcum’s family and loved ones during the two years he was supposedly missing.
Marcum discusses the reactions of his family and the public to his time travel experiment. He reveals that his family thought he had vaporized himself and were understandably distressed. However, there were no missing person reports filed during his absence, which he discovered after checking at a library.
Marcum also addresses a suggestion from a listener about starting a Kickstarter page to fund another project and keeping a video blog to document his results. He expresses doubt about the feasibility of this idea due to skepticism from the public.
Regarding writing a book about his experiences, Marcum admits his weakness in writing but is open to the idea of collaborating with a ghostwriter or coauthor. Art Bell encourages him to document his story in more detail, including drawings of his equipment and the warehouse.
A caller questions the lack of police intervention to stop Marcum from jumping through his device, to which Marcum responds that only the people who donated to his project knew about it. Another caller inquires about witnesses who could corroborate Marcum’s story. Marcum recalls one donor’s last name, Sanderson, but admits difficulty in remembering others due to his memory issues.
The segment concludes with Marcum discussing an experiment involving strong magnets affecting speech centers in the brain, drawing parallels to his own experience with memory loss. He reflects on the mystery of where he was during the two years he was missing, suggesting that he might have simply jumped through time and landed in a field without physically aging.
One caller asks if any government agencies contacted him regarding his experiments. Marcum responds that, contrary to Hollywood portrayals, no government officials approached him, and he did not receive any offers of funding or collaboration from agencies like DARPA.
Another caller inquires about the implications of time travel on Marcum’s location relative to the Earth’s movement through space. The caller points out that if Marcum traveled two years into the future, the Earth would have been in a different position in its orbit, raising the question of why he didn’t materialize in space. Marcum acknowledges this as an interesting question but does not provide a detailed explanation.
A caller from Australia asks if Marcum was upset about missing the millennium New Year’s Eve celebration, to which Marcum responds that he was more excited than depressed about his experiences. Another caller poses a hypothetical question about the existence of alternate versions of Marcum in a multiverse scenario, suggesting that another version of him might have achieved time travel. Marcum entertains the idea but focuses more on his own experiences.
A final caller questions the plausibility of the missing equipment from the warehouse, suggesting that Marcum could easily find out who owns the building and potentially recover his equipment. This caller implies that overlooking such a practical step seems inconsistent with Marcum’s intelligence and practicality.
In this segment, callers continue to engage with Mike Marcum about his time travel experiment. One caller questions why Marcum didn’t investigate the disappearance of his equipment and notes from the warehouse. Marcum admits that it didn’t cross his mind to check with the realtor or the building owner, attributing this oversight to his initial memory loss.
Another caller from Japan comments on the possibility of government agencies being aware of Marcum’s experiments but choosing not to intervene. The caller speculates that these agencies might already be beyond Marcum’s level of experimentation and have no need to contact him.
A question is raised about Marcum’s personal belongings and living arrangements before his disappearance. Marcum explains that he had a house in Saint Joseph, Missouri, but it was occupied by other people upon his return. He likens his situation to starting over from scratch, similar to someone who has lost everything in a house fire.
A caller named Dimitri recalls hearing the original broadcast of Marcum’s story in the mid-nineties and expresses fascination with the consistency of Marcum’s account over the years. Dimitri had previously doubted the story of Marcum appearing 800 miles away but now believes it after hearing Marcum confirm it.
The segment concludes with a discussion about the warehouse where Marcum conducted his experiments. The caller is curious about the reactions of the people who were present when Marcum disappeared and whether they could corroborate his story.
Throughout the segment, Marcum’s story continues to captivate the audience, with callers expressing a mix of skepticism, curiosity, and fascination. The discussion touches on various aspects of the implications and challenges of time travel, as well as the personal and social impact of such extraordinary claims.
One caller questions why Marcum didn’t investigate the disappearance of his equipment and notes from the warehouse. Marcum admits that it didn’t cross his mind to check with the realtor or the building owner, attributing this oversight to his initial memory loss.
Another caller from Japan comments on the possibility of government agencies being aware of Marcum’s experiments but choosing not to intervene. The caller speculates that these agencies might already be beyond Marcum’s level of experimentation and have no need to contact him.
A question is raised about Marcum’s personal belongings and living arrangements before his disappearance. Marcum explains that he had a house in Saint Joseph, Missouri, but it was occupied by other people upon his return. He likens his situation to starting over from scratch, similar to someone who has lost everything in a house fire.
A caller named Dimitri recalls hearing the original broadcast of Marcum’s story in the mid-nineties and expresses fascination with the consistency of Marcum’s account over the years. Dimitri had previously doubted the story of Marcum appearing 800 miles away but now believes it after hearing Marcum confirm it.
The segment concludes with a discussion about the warehouse where Marcum conducted his experiments. The caller is curious about the reactions of the people who were present when Marcum disappeared and whether they could corroborate his story.
One caller questions why Marcum didn’t track down the owner of the warehouse where his equipment was stored or why none of the witnesses who were present during his experiment came forward with evidence, such as videotapes.
Marcum explains that all his equipment, including the camcorder with several hours of footage and his personal journal, disappeared along with everything else in the warehouse. He speculates that the people present at the warehouse might have chosen not to take the camera or the tape, either to avoid having evidence of the event or because they didn’t think to do so.
A suggestion is made for Marcum to find a publicist and write a book about his experiences, possibly using regressive therapy to recover lost details. Another caller recommends setting up a GoFundMe account to raise funds for future projects, but Marcum expresses caution, citing a case where someone was imprisoned for securities fraud related to a supposed free energy device.
The conversation touches on the possibility of Marcum creating a Patreon account and a YouTube channel to share his story and potentially gather support for his work. This idea is met with enthusiasm from the callers, who believe many people would be interested in following Marcum’s journey. Marcum is hesitant about becoming a celebrity but acknowledges the potential benefits of such platforms.
A caller questions the technological changes Marcum experienced after supposedly skipping two years. Marcum notes advancements in silicon technology and processor speeds as significant changes he observed.
Another caller brings up the question of spatial displacement in time travel, wondering why Marcum didn’t end up in space given the Earth’s movement. Marcum explains that the “other end of the wormhole” was aligned with the Earth’s center of gravity, which he believes prevented him from materializing in space.
The discussion also touches on the fate of the animals used in Marcum’s experiments, with a humorous suggestion that they might be waiting for him in the afterlife. Another caller inquires about the physics behind Marcum’s experiment, specifically the use of electricity to manipulate magnetism and gravity. Marcum doesn’t directly address this question but refers the caller to his earlier interviews available on YouTube.
A caller asks if Marcum believes he is still in the same dimension or if he might have traveled to an alternate universe. Marcum seems to affirm that he is still in the same dimension.
One caller suggests that when Marcum vanished, his equipment might have disappeared too, or someone who knew what they were doing took it away. Marcum notes that when he returned to the warehouse, a new tenant was there, and any evidence of his experiment was gone.
A caller from the Sonoran Desert asks about a missing person report, wondering why there wasn’t more panic or investigation from the building owner or Marcum’s family. Marcum explains that his family thought he had vaporized himself, and he couldn’t find any missing person reports when he searched for himself at the library.
A real estate broker calls in to explain that when someone disappears, their belongings are often trashed, and the property is rented to a new tenant, which could explain the disappearance of Marcum’s equipment.
Another caller questions the plausibility of the story, pointing out inconsistencies and the lack of media attention. Marcum responds that there might be a record of him at the homeless shelter where he ended up, but he’s unsure if the footage still exists.
The discussion then turns to Marcum’s relationship with his family and their reaction to his disappearance. Marcum mentions that he wasn’t in frequent contact with his family and that they didn’t file a police report or try to collect on a life insurance policy, assuming he was still alive.
One caller questions the direction in which the small animals teleported, noting they always went either east or west but never north or south. Marcum confirms this pattern but cannot explain why it occurred.
Another caller inquires about the physical effects on the animals after teleportation. Marcum states that they appeared unharmed and showed no signs of physical change or distress.
A suggestion is made for future experiments to use GPS or other tracking devices to monitor the teleportation process more accurately. However, Marcum notes the limitation of not being able to take anything metallic through the portal.
The discussion then shifts to the financial aspects of Marcum’s life after his disappearance. A caller asks about the status of his bank accounts and utilities. Marcum reveals that he had very little money in the bank, having spent most of it on parts for his experiment, and assumes his utilities were shut off due to non-payment during his absence.
A caller references a website that claims Marcum’s equipment melted down. Marcum dismisses this as one of many rumors circulating about his experiment, emphasizing that much of what is said online is speculative and not based on facts.
One caller suggests that body mass might influence the distance traveled in time, to which Marcum agrees it’s a possibility, though it seems counterintuitive.
Another caller questions why the animals teleported only east or west, not north or south. Marcum confirms this pattern but cannot explain why it occurred. He also notes that the animals appeared unharmed after teleportation.
A caller from South Carolina asks Marcum where he would travel if he could go back in time. Marcum responds that his method only allows forward travel, and even if it could go backward, it wouldn’t be possible to return to a time before the machine was turned on.
The discussion then shifts to the future of Marcum’s experiments. He expresses a desire to continue his research and considers writing a book to fund his work. Marcum believes that every possible future exists simultaneously, but we are unable to perceive it.
A caller from Connecticut questions whether Marcum is altering probabilities rather than traveling through time. Marcum references Brian Greene’s books on quantum theory and shares his view that the future consists of all possible outcomes existing at once.
Art thanks Marcum for his participation and encouraging him to continue his experiments safely. Marcum affirms his intention to pursue further research if possible.
Art concludes the show by summarizing the evening’s discussion with Mike Marcum. He acknowledges the widespread interest in Marcum’s story and the updates provided during the show. Bell notes that Marcum has no intention of stopping his experiments and that what lies ahead for him remains to be seen, with only time revealing the next steps in his journey.