$400 USB stick probes magnetic fields

lab-hallprobe01.jpg

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.

About Rob Beschizza

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6 Responses to $400 USB stick probes magnetic fields

  1. SamSam says:

    $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 says:

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

  3. semiotix says:

    But is it danceable?

  4. AirPillo says:

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

  5. Patrick Arcee says:

    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 says:

    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!

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