Prof Said Jade Amulets May Block COVID--and Became a Science Supervillain

[riversedge]

The few remaining paragraphs in this story talk of how this story might have gotten by a peer -reviewed science journal. I am not familiar with the Journal.



Prof Said Jade Amulets May Block COVID—and Became a Science Supervillain





https://www.thedailybeast.com/moses-bility-at-university-of-pittsburgh-said-jade-amulets-may-block-coronavirus-and-became-science-pariah?ref=home



Unlike bogus far-right conspiracy theories about COVID-19, this idea did not emerge from the digital fringe, but from a respected academic journal, resulting in a total shitshow.

Published Nov. 29, 2020 5:00AM ET

Scientists have started sounding the alarm over a strange new theory circulating online about the novel coronavirus. Basically, it argues that the coronavirus may not really be all that novel. Instead, the thinking goes, it could be an ancient virus hidden in our DNA that does not directly make people sick—until shifts in Earth’s geomagnetic field create a cascade of effects that ultimately activate that latent genetic code and cause COVID-19.

The wildest part: Thanks to its own unique geomagnetic properties, the theory maintains, “nephrite-jade amulets, a calcium ferromagnesium silicate, may prevent COVID-19.” In other words, you may be able to wear a physical piece of armor to ward off the deadly illness.


Unlike the bogus far-right conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and other diseases that have percolated over the years, this idea did not emerge from some secretive digital fringe. Instead, it originated in a peer-reviewed article in Science of the Total Environment (SOTE), a reputable academic journal, thanks in part, its authors claim, to funding “through grants from the United States National Institutes of Health.” (The National Institutes of Health did not respond to a request for comment for this story.)........................................




https://img.thedailybeast.com/image/upload/c_crop,d_placeholder_euli9k,h_1688,w_3000,x_0,y_0/dpr_1.5/c_limit,w_1600/fl_lossy,q_auto/v1606515081/201125-jade-amulet-hero_amsbus

Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

[Chainfire]

1. In lieu of bleach, or in conjunction?

[TxDemChem]

2. Wow.

The amount of bullshit here is astounding

[Marcuse]

3. The Emperor's Stone: The Rebirth of China's Jade Market

Unlike with diamonds and precious metals, there is no international pricing system for jade. Outside of public auctions, prices are set in private transactions between the seller and the buyer, meaning the value of jade can vary dramatically. For example, the price of nephrite jade from Canada ranges between C$90 and C$910 per pound, while prices for Russian sources are ranging between US$227 and US$900 per pound. In China, top end white nephrite, known as ‘mutton fat’, has been previously sold for US$68,000 per pound.[link:https://investingnews.com/innspired/chinas-jade-market-rebirth/|

[yardwork]

4. The abbreviation for this journal is incorrect in the article.

The journal is abbreviated STOTEN or Sci. Total Environ.

This was a peer review fail. The article says the author is an assistant professor - which probably means he doesn't yet have tenure - and most of the co-authors are undergraduates.

The article is interesting as it includes quotes from experts on peer review failures, when scientists fall prey to magical thinking, etc.

[Midnight Writer]

5. "may be able to wear a physical piece of armor"? I think I'll just go with a mask.

[dalton99a]

6. Dumb idea. They should have investigated highly polished crystal PYRAMIDS