HumanCharger
From the Finnish company Valkee comes the HumanCharger, aka ear lights. Ear buds shine bright lights into your ears, and this is supposed to stimulate “light sensing proteins” in your brain and make you feell more energized. Specifically, the manufacturer offers the gadget as a cure for jet lag.
Many are skeptical. Back in 2015, a reviewer for the Guardian described them as “a very expensive flashlight.” (They retail for over $150). While the website earlightswindle.com has been trying to debunk them for years, noting:
Many are skeptical. Back in 2015, a reviewer for the Guardian described them as “a very expensive flashlight.” (They retail for over $150). While the website earlightswindle.com has been trying to debunk them for years, noting:
The swindle was busted in 2012 in Finland, and Valkee was awarded the HuuHaa (flim-flam) prize for the earlight device. Having lost their home market, Valkee is trying elsewhere to trick people into buying this expensive toy
Comments
Um...no. A very basic knowledge of human physiology is enough.
agent j
agent j
Posted by agent j on 06/07/19 at 08:18 AM
Considering how little we know about light-sensing proteins, and how each new discovery is unexpectedly amazing, I would have put this in the "somewhat plausible" category. I don't remember the details because it didn't apply directly to what I was looking for, but I remember reading that light-sensing proteins trigger bacteria to start producing chemicals to protect themselves from sunlight. It's quite a leap to go from that to changing brain chemistry, but such leaps are not uncommon (from penicillin to smallpox vaccine, the initial observations seemed like little quirks, not the basis for game-changing fields of research). They wouldn't have gotten my money, but I wouldn't have taken up arms against them.
Posted by Phideaux on 06/07/19 at 09:26 AM
They would do no good in my case - there's nothing in between to shine upon.
Posted by KDP on 06/08/19 at 05:55 PM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams | Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil