Quack Science

cooperguy

Im not sure if this is the right forum but this is a leaflet I picked up in a shop the other day about "salt crystal ionizers". I had a read through it and as far as I can see its the biggest load of crack-pot science iv seen in a long time. Id like to see what ye think of it though. Am I just missing something?

AlmightyCushion

Release of chi energy/clockwise spinning energy.

I lol'd. Good ol' psuedo-science nonsence.

ApeXaviour

"The negative ions they release..."

Is it a beta source? Or maybe they're released by thermionic emission.


"Negative ions are health enhancing for the human body."

Ah here...

nesf

cooperguy wrote: »

Im not sure if this is the right forum...

Well this is definitely the right forum to have a good laugh about it with people...


Their sister products cure cancer through the ingenious healing effects of right-spun neutrinos.

Fremen

"Ionisers are needed in rooms with several electrical appliances. It is in those rooms that we suffer from a surplus of positive ions"

Likewise, in a room with several ionisers and no electrical appliances, we suffer from a surplus of negative ions.
You can counteract this by plugging in several toasters and sellotaping them up so that they're stuck in the "on" position.
It's all about balance, people.

ga2re2t

It's probably based on a little (and I mean a little) scientific fact which is then blown out of proportion. For example, the notion of molecular clusters being charged positively or negatively is real, but it is not the charge which holds them together, nor is it keeping them airborn so neutralising them with negative ions should have no effect. In fact, if you really wanted to do damge to the cluster you would add positive ions so that the strong coulombic forces break them apart.

But before you guys split your sides laughing with this whole thing, you would do well to do some bibliographic research in the area. I was quite surprised to come across the following article in the American Journal of Psychiatry:
Controlled trial of naturalistic dawn simulation and negative air ionization for seasonal affective disorder.

Further Googling throws up this nice gem:
I haven’t heard of negative air ionization therapy before. What is it?

The chances that these salt lamps produce enough negative ions, though, are between little and none. You'd probably need some whacky noisy thingymegig to get the right dose.

cooperguy

Anybody any guesses as to what they mean by "clockwise spinning energy":D

SOL

It is the way of the universe, left handed and all, doncha know

kevmy

cooperguy wrote: »

Anybody any guesses as to what they mean by "clockwise spinning energy":D

Presumably when the salt crystals release enough negative ions they will start spinning. This clockwise spinning energy will then be used to power your warp drive with which you can visit the druid God of Gamma-4 you will give you the magic stick of Belgupria. By tapping this magic stick twice on an eastwards facing windowsill in your home you can communicate with the original inventors of electrical appliances and tell them not to make their inventions release as many positive ions which will then solve all your problems.





On a lighter note this reminds me of the old joke for some reason: Two atoms were walking down the road.
One says to the other "I think I'm an ion"
The other one goes "Are you sure"
"Yes I'm positive"

thetaxman

Quack science, global warming, need i say more.

Fremen

thetaxman wrote: »

Quack science, global warming, need i say more.

Get back under yer bridge :mad:

Red Hand

Tsk! You are all so ignorant! This technology was used in the Flux Capacitor in Back to the Future. The Time Circuits were a work of semi conductor genius though.