To be able to instantly detect contraband like this would be a gamechanger in Iraq, where the (effectively) free transit of roadside bombs and IEDs is a constant threat, so the Iraqi government is willing to pay a premium for devices that promise as much—they've already bought 1,500 of the detectors, which are almost definitely just electric whisks with antennae, at a price of $16,500 to $60,000 each. Despite the steep price and fierce user loyalty, though, US government officials say the devices don't work at all:

Dale Murray, head of the National Explosive Engineering Sciences Security Center at Sandia Labs, which does testing for the Department of Defense, said the center had "tested several devices in this category, and none have ever performed better than random chance."

The device as even earned its own rhetorical "show us" bounty from the Capital "S" Skeptical James Randi Educational Foundation, which flags the ADE 651's manufacturer's claims that the device works with spooky-sounding "electrostatic magnetic ion attraction." This is by far the highest honor in pseudoscience.

ATSC, the company that manufactures the device out of the UK, wouldn't even talk to the New York Times, cementing an already obvious conclusion: This is a case of a bogus company taking advantage of credulous, vulnerable consumers by selling a device that seems like it works by virtue of being many users' only means of bomb detection, meaning that they'll never notice when it doesn't work—it's just one more shady car passing through a checkpoint; who knows if the massive bombing later that afternoon had anything to do with it!?—and will always notice when it "does," even if it's a function of pure chance.

You may have failed miserable at designing a universal contraband detector, ATSC, but hey, at least your scam is well engineered. [NYT]

$10.69 (plus $5.49 shipping) gets you two battery-powered inserts.

Features from the site:

* Quickly improve, firm and increase your bust.
* Electronic Breast Enhancer Enlargement Massager Vibration.
* Inserts Breast Massager into your bra and gently massage your breasts to against age and gravity to help your breasts healthy.
* Most women wear Electronic Breast Enhancer at home, initially, just a half hour per day and then as required by seeing the results.
* The soft vibration was enjoyable for the women who have trailed the bra insert, which is have a small battery powered device built into it. ( each piece only powered by a AG13 cell )
* Dimensions: 9.3 x 4 x 0.4cm
* Color: picture show
* Weight: 119.9g

[Uxsight via RedFerret]

First, a little recap: In 2006, a little-known IT company announced that it had, in effect, circumvented the law of conservation of energy with its "Orb" generator, which produces "Clean, Free and Constant" power. To mitigate the inevitable response from rational people horrible skeptics, they issued a challenge to the world's scientists in The Economist, claiming they would assemble a qualified, unbiased jury to evaluate their technology. And so they did.

The next—and many assumed, final—chapter of the Steorn saga was a botched demonstration in 2007. Steorn blamed heat from the camera lights for the failure, but by then, people weren't really listening.

Today, we get this terse announcement from the jury, who has been silently plugging away all the while:

Twenty-two independent scientists and engineers were selected by Steorn to form this jury. It has for the past two years examined evidence presented by the company. The unanimous verdict of the Jury is that Steorn's attempts to demonstrate the claim have not shown the production of energy. The jury is therefore ceasing work.

But guess what! They didn't see the new stuff, apparently. Cue Steorn's (familiar) response:

[D]uring 2009 the company had resolved the key technical problems related to the implementation of Orbo and is now focused on commercial launch towards the end of this year, at which time academic and engineering validation would be released concurrent with public demonstrations

In other words, Steorn has discovered an unlimited source of energy, and they're using it to power their PR department, forever. [Steorn Jury via Ben Goldacre's Twitter]

According to the company, this "micro-computerized, low-voltage, intensity adjustable" Magic Massage Bra will do all these things:

• Make breast up.
• Dredge breast glands.
• Eliminate blood stasis.
• Effectively prevent women from breasts diseases and flaccid
• Also can move fat and make a well-shaped figure.
• If use it often, you can have a sound sleep, immunity from disease and better internal
secretion.

Whatever all that pseudoscientific crap means, don't buy this snake oil. If you are a woman, get a magnetic bra or a bra booster instead and call the boyscouts for your breast massages. [Alibaba via Nerd Approved]

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