The Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE) is excited to announce a new series of Frontier Science Grants funded by SSE member Josh Mitteldorf, Ph.D. These grants support bold, carefully designed experiments that push beyond conventional boundaries and test hypotheses that mainstream science has overlooked, dismissed, or never dared to examine. 

These grants reflect Dr. Mitteldorf’s conviction that scientific progress depends on researchers willing to explore unasked questions, unsettled anomalies, and unconventional mechanisms with methodological integrity.  Researchers from all disciplines — independent investigators, academic scientists, or early‑career scholars — are invited to submit proposals in one of the three tracks below.

Research Track 1: Plant Psychokinesis

Can living systems influence random physical processes when the outcome directly affects their survival? This track invites proposals that test whether plants can modulate quantum random number generators under conditions where REG output determines access to light or water. 

Eligible project directions include:

• REG‑controlled light exposure experiments using Gro‑Lights in dark environments
• Variable-threshold REG templates to test sensitivity across probability levels
• Continuous‑intensity REG modulation rather than binary on/off designs
• REG‑controlled irrigation as an alternative stimulus
• Distributed replication kits for citizen‑science validation

This track is ideal for researchers interested in plant cognition, biofield hypotheses, or the interface between biology and information theory. Read the RFP here 

Research Track 2: Biological Transmutation

For more than two centuries, credible scientists have reported elemental changes in living systems that defy biochemical expectations. This track supports empirical attempts to replicate and extend the work of Vysotskii and Kornilova, Kervran, and others who have documented anomalous isotope ratios and unexpected elemental transformations. 

Eligible project directions include:

• Seed‑sprouting ash analysis comparing elemental composition before and after germination
• Quantitative emission spectroscopy to detect shifts in elemental profiles
• Mass spectrometry of isotopic ratios where available
• Microbial culture experiments involving Cs‑137 or other isotopes
• Replication of historical French studies on calcium, potassium, and magnesium balances

Projects should emphasize careful controls, contamination safeguards, and transparent reporting. Read the RFP here

Research Track 3: Lamarckian Inheritance

Modern evolutionary theory assumes random mutation plus natural selection—yet mounting evidence suggests that organisms may bias variation in response to environmental pressures. This track supports experiments that test non-random mutation, epigenetic inheritance, and soma‑to‑germline feedback in plants and animals. 

Eligible project directions include:

• Cross‑environment breeding studies (e.g., blind vs. sighted fish raised under different lighting conditions)
• Salt‑tolerance inheritance experiments using graded parental exposures
• Stress‑induced mutation rate studies in model organisms
• Transposon‑mediated genomic changes and their heritability
• Novel plant or animal models proposed by applicants

Projects should aim to distinguish genetic inheritance from epigenetic effects through sequencing or other molecular assays. Read the RFP here 

Funding Details

Grants are intended to support high‑leverage studies that can produce decisive data with modest resources. There is no pre-determined limits on budgets, rather all proposals will be considered on their merits relative to scope and feasibility. However, priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate: 

• Clear experimental design
• Strong controls and falsifiability
• Potential for replication
• High signal‑to‑noise payoff
• Courageous but disciplined inquiry

How to Apply

Applicants should submit a detailed proposal including 

• Project title and research track
• Researcher CV
• One research paper you have recently written
• Background and rationale
• Experimental design and methods
• Budget and timeline
• Expected outcomes and potential implications

Proposals will be reviewed by Josh Mitteldorf. Simply email your materials to: aging.advice@gmail.com

A Call to the Frontier

These grants are designed for investigators who feel the pull of unexplored territory—those who believe that science advances not only by refining what is known, but by venturing into what is not yet understood. If you have a bold idea, a careful design, and the willingness to test the improbable with rigor, Dr. Mitteldorf invites you to apply.

Disclaimer

The Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE) is providing this announcement solely for informational purposes. SSE does not participate in the review, selection, funding decisions, or administration of these grants. All aspects of the grant process, including proposal evaluation and award distribution, are managed exclusively by the sponsoring individual.

Applicants should direct all questions and submissions to Dr. Mitteldorf at aging.advice@gmail.com.