$400 USB stick probes magnetic fields

Remember Steorn, the Irish company that pitched a perpetual motion machine a couple of years ago? They’re back with the USB Hall Probe, a $400 wand that detects fluctuations in the woo.

At Wired, Charlie Sorrel takes it down.

1. [SamSam]

   $400?!? Are they insane?!?

   High end: A sensor probe like Vernier’s Hall effect sensor: $66, plus $40 for the connection to your computer if you don’t already have it (connection works with dozens of other probes). Comes with all the software you could need.

   Medium end: any voltage sensor that attaches to your computer (like Vernier’s, $40), plus a $20 gaussmeter.

   Low end: Practically anything at all that attaches to the USB of your computer (e.g. Arduino Mini USB Adapter, $19) plus a $20 gaussmeter chip. Requires some very, very basic programming.

   This is just dumb dumb.

2. [phisrow]

   On the plus side, doesn’t violate the laws of physics. On the minus side, overpriced…

3. [semiotix]

   But is it danceable?

4. [AirPillo]

   It may be worth the sticker price for collectors of concentrated failure.

5. [Patrick Arcee]

   Well, this is great! If this ionization rate is constant for all ectoplasmic entities, we could really bust some heads! In a spiritual sense, of course.
   Hey, Dean Yeager!

6. [Chuck]

   Well, they have to use most of the money to pay the settlement from the lawsuit (Physics v Steorn).

   Homer Simpson: Lisa, in this house we obay the laws of thermodynamics!