[FriedPickles]

I was intrigued to see a lady at the crosswalk the other day wearing earbuds with thick tubing instead of wires. Googling it, I discovered they were "EMF free headphones". Apparently enough people think electromagnetic radiation in the ears is a problem that there are now dozens of these headphones on the market that put the driver half way along the cord, with tubes proceeding to the earpiece.

[Aurornis]

> Apparently enough people think electromagnetic radiation in the ears is a problem

Even Andrew Huberman, one of the most popular health science podcasters, has dabbled into anti-EMF quackery. On one podcast he claimed that his Bluetooth headphones produced notable "heat effects", implying that the electromagnetic energy was enough to produce palpable heat in his body.

It's obviously placebo effect to the extreme (physically impossible given the amount of RF energy) but nevertheless he made the claim. Millions of people listen to that podcast.

Of course, people are catching on that Andrew Huberman isn't really a good source of scientific information (nor really a good person, given recent revelations) but the damage is done.

[t0mas88]

If Bluetooth headphone batteries can produce significant heat for 8 hours we would have discovered a lot of free energy :-)

[thunfischtoast]

Ear warmers and headphones in one, that would be nice

[lostlogin]

Bluetooth ear warmers would be great if the Bluetooth bit could be made to work properly.

[QuercusMax]

I've only watched a little bit of Huberman, but I can't take him seriously because:

a) he's obviously done a LOT of steroids or something, which aren't really great for you

b) At least half of what he says appears to be made up woo-woo nonsense

[saberience]

What are the recent revelations you’re referring to?

[harry8]

ny mag did a hit piece on him which seemed to be without much substance. First I've heard of him, no opinion at all about him.

[4gotunameagain]

I found it did have substance. The substance was that he is also a human being, and also flawed in his personal life.

That takes nothing away from his work in my point of view.

I don't understand why we hold impossible standards of perfection and sainthood to successful people.

[harry8]

Would you or I or anyone look less flawed if they went for us like that? Why believe ny mag? How would the author of that piece look under similar treatment? What consequences are there if the article is shown to be full of half truths and lies? By my reckoning, none. That makes it a hit piece.

He may be deeply flawed, he may not be at all. I have no opinion on it and lack the necessary information to form one, even if i wanted to.

NY mag’s reputation is the one damaged here in my eyes.

[lostlogin]

If you put yourself in the public eye I think you are inviting more scrutiny.

Is this the article everyone is referring to?

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/andrew-huberman-podc...

[4gotunameagain]

I would look much more flawed. I could not withstand the scrutiny of fame.

I do not see his reputation as damaged, I just acknowledge that he is not perfect, something I was sure about beforehand.

Can I know whether the information presented in the article is factual ? Of course not. Is it single sided or even intentionally harming ? Could definitely be.

[heavenlyblue]

> Even Andrew Huberman, one of the most popular health science podcasters, has dabbled into anti-EMF quackery. On one podcast he claimed that his Bluetooth headphones produced notable "heat effects", implying that the electromagnetic energy was enough to produce palpable heat in his body.

If this is true it take a lot away from his work in my point of view.

[vmfunction]

Well, non-ionizing radiation (NIR) cause cancer has being debated such as this [1]. It wouldn't surprise me that it will be a bit like the Roundup/Monsanto situation. I don't blame people wanting to use these kind of protection just in case.

And iPhone also had this in their Product Information Guide:

"When using iPhone near your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission over a cellular network, keep iPhone at least 15 mm (5/8 inch) away from the body, and only use carrying cases , belt clips, or holders that do not have metal parts and that maintain at least 15 mm (5/8″) separation between iPhone and the body."

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S02697...

[gumby]

To be fair, EMF is 1/r^2 so the transducers (speakers) are indeed far from the ear. Not that they need to be, but...

[edward28]

It would be a real shame if EMF could propagate.

[77pt77]

As long as it's slowly maybe you can catch it.

It it was at the speed of light we might have a problem.

[Terr_]

Despite the questionable goals of the consumer, I have to credit hollow-tube technology as at least a reasonably non-fraudulent attempt to satisfy them.

In contrast, consider the glut of products involving magic nonsense about hematite beads or whatever.

[jollyllama]

They're also more durable; i.e. resistant to running over the tube portion with a chair.