There are studies of electro-magnetic fields that have been inconclusive, and “the Ghost Meter” is a curious name for scientific device. But nobody is going to want a green box in their front yard that sounds like this:
From Amazon.com:
The Ghost Meter has been calibrated to ignore the extremely subtle EMF emissions surrounding the human body, yet is still sensitive enough to detect the small, distinct, erratic EMF energy fluctuations frequently found at reputed haunted locations. The Ghost Meter provides three corroborating indicators of EMF emission strength. A needle based display, LED lights, and an adjustable audio signal. The response time of this meter is excellent, easily outperforming more expensive EMF meters. It can also be operated in silent mode so it doesn’t interfere with EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) recordings or distract other investigators during an investigation. Compare the value this meter offers compared to other brands. There is no other offer that comes close to providing these levels of features and performance for the price. You’ve seen television ghost hunters use similar detectors. Now you can get your own and start investigating the unknown.
The plants growing behind the box don’t seem to have a problem with it. Run that ghost meter where you sit next to your computer… I bet it will spike into the “red” (danger) zone.
Complete rubbish IMO.
@Jack, was thinking the same thing. Very interested to see that “meter” next to a TV, printer, toaster, etc
I’d rather use a properly calibrated and certified industrial EMF meter than a questionable Chinese made “gadget” that can be purchased on-line for fifteen bucks.
I assume the green box in the front yard is a transformer, which converts from high voltage to standard residential voltages. You can find lots of similar devices in your home, including your refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine, dryer, range, etc. So you’re surrounded by EMFs all day, green box in the front yard or not.
Here’s a fun video of a homebrew EMF detector: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf-FbK8ieHY&feature=player_embedded
It shows EMF readings from the wall socket, lamp, and even the guy’s cat. 🙂
Love meters of all kinds. Good post. I think we got the point of the buzzing in the first few seconds though so could have turned that buzz sound off.
Very interesting. I’m curious to see how that thing might light up underneath heavy power lines. Would it be different from your test in the middle of the street with EMF’s from underground lines?
One of my clients runs a review blog that reviews all of those EMF meters. I helped her SEO the site. I can tell you: the keyword search volume for those things is MASSIVE. I had no idea how many people buy those gizmos.
Yes, it’s a transformer…I grew up in a rural area and we had one in our yard a few hundred yards from our house. Pretty common in more rural areas. Even here in Solana Beach, we walk past one on the street whenever we’re out walking. And yeah, they all hum.
-Erica
I have usally have total faith in devices like this. However, my BS meter is going off after viewing this.
Maybe the green box is just filled with ghosts…
Atleast the guys who are done with kids can save money on vasectomies.
Whether EMF can be potentially harmful depends on both its dosage (intensity x time) and the subject. Several posters are right that we’re living in an environment where EMF is ubiquitous. However, its intensity varies greatly due to the fact that intensity decreases with the inverse of the square of distance to the source. For example, EMF is well above 5 miligause in a computer case, near a power supply, might be above 1 miligause immediately outside the case, but at normal sitting position a few inches away, it should be well below 1 miligause. So even we have sources emitting strong EMF, we are safe as long as we keep some distance from them. 2.5 miligause is the safety standard established by Swedish government. I think it might be a concern for long time chronic exposure above this level.
BTW, I have such a meter and it worked as I tested it in the above cases. The absolute level is by no means accurate, but the measurement of dramatic changes in intensity is very reliable.
Things ubiquitous in our environment are not necessary safe when intensity/dosage change. There’s low intensity of ambient radiation in environment which are considered safe; but for a chest X-ray, still safe for most parts of the body, reproductive organs should be shielded; while for a CT scan, everyone should not take lightly. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121436092
Physically, there are so many small particles in a cell such as ions, slightly charged molecules etc. are essential to physiological functions. These particles are certainly affected by EMF and more so on stronger EMF. We just do not know if it’s to the point of interfering their normal functions. There is no conclusive research to show its health effects in aggregate, but it would surprise me if we find out later.
Lastly, our knowledge is still very limited. For something we don’t know if it’s safe, it doesn’t mean it’s safe. A good example is the recent study on the links between pesticide and ADHD. http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/17/pesticides.adhd/index.html
We knew high level of pesticide exposure is harmful, and thought the normal level of pesticide is safe. However, the above study shows that even moderate level of pesticide exposure increased ADHD risk significantly in kids.
So for me personally, as a father of a toddler, I would never live on such a street, where he can be exposed to high EMF while playing in front of his own house.