K, so, for whatever reason, this decade has been popular for articles from seemingly scientific sources saying that geomagnetic storms are causing negative health effects on the body, through magnetic field fluctuations. I looked it up…and during the most extreme geomagnetic storms, Earth’s magnetic field fluctuates at a rate of about 500 nanotesla per minute. Is that rate of change enough to induce enough of a current that it acts as a cellular stressor?

edit: I was reading through a Reddit thread earlier where ER staff mentioned how during geomagnetic storms the ER is unusually busy and how their hospital is considering installing magnetic field detecting devices so they can plan accordingly…?

  • CameronDev@programming.dev
    32·
    2 days ago

    Nah, sounds like nonsense. An MRI is 1.5-3 Tesla, and people sit inside those with no negative effects.

    As for the ER thing, how do they know there is a geomagnetic storm going on if they don’t have the detectors already? And how would the detectors help, if they don’t provide advanced warning?

    Edit: neodymium magnets are also in the same region, 1.3-1.5T, and they are in everything. Your headphones have them inside, and those go directly in your ears.

    • coasterrider@lemmy.cafeOPEnglish
      213·
      2 days ago

      I thought so, too, but it does seem like a lot of seemingly reputable sources are talking about it as if it’s common knowledge now… https://magneticstorms.co/health/heart and yeah, good point! I think there are sites where you can track space weather, but if someone’s a paramedic I’d hope they’d be tracking patients more than space weather…

      • CameronDev@programming.dev
        32·
        2 days ago

        talking about it as if it’s common knowledge

        This is basically saying to the viewer “only idiots don’t know this, you’re not an idiot are you?”, common sales/snake oil trick, makes you feel unsafe to push back

        ( of course, this comment also fits into that trick as well :) )

      • Beacon@fedia.io
        15·
        2 days ago

        That is very clearly a NOT reputable source. A reputable source on a scientific topic will almost NEVER be a site that’s entirely about a single highly specific topic and be painting it all negatively or all positively.