Bomb-detecting “Divining Rod” Banned for Export

ECN ^ | 1-29-10 | Jason Lomberg

[bigbob]

They say truth is stranger than fiction. Since 2008, Iraq’s military and police have utilized a divining rod (err, a “bomb detection device”) known as the ADE 651 to detect explosives. With no electrical components and no scientific basis for its effectiveness, the ADE 651 has undoubtedly cost countless lives. Thus, justice was served when its creator, Jim McCormick, was arrested on suspicion of fraud. The 53-year-old former UK police officer was taken into custody last week, and his device banned for export.

ADE 651The ADE 651 looks like a barcode scanner with a rod attached to the end. Truth be told, a barcode scanner would probably be more effective.

[bigbob]

Iraqi military police relying on crap science straight from the Algore playbook, presumably to detect bombs.

Iraqi officials need to wise up.

[21twelve]

I helped find a pvc pipe for some guy. He said he had a diviner come out, but the diviner had it going off in a direction he knew it didn’t go.

There is a scientific basis for using hand-held coat hangars to finding metal utilities, but not PVC. I asked the guy how the diviner did it. I guess the diviner had his witching stick, and then had a vial attached to the end with string. Then - you just fill the vial up with whatever you’re trying to find. In this case - pvc shavings! I didn’t laugh too hard in case my client actually believed in that crap.

[SunkenCiv]

With no electrical components and no scientific basis for its effectiveness... its creator, Jim McCormick, was arrested on suspicion of fraud. The 53-year-old former UK police officer was taken into custody last week... The ADE 651 looks like a barcode scanner with a rod attached to the end. Truth be told, a barcode scanner would probably be more effective.

Thanks bigbob.

[DBrow]

bump

[cajuncow]

I’ve found pvc pipe with water flowing through it using the hand-held coat hangers.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Modern day snake oil.

[21twelve]

Oh - good point. (Streaming potential electricity). I’ve never been able to get the coat hangers to work for me. I think it has to do with the chemistry of the person as well. (Iron rich blood or something!?)

[the_daug]

willow divining rod

[EggsAckley]

Heck, I've been locating our water system PVC lines for 30 years with two metal coat hangers. I agree with you that the coat hangers don't actually pick up the PVC, but I believe that any water that may be in the lines IS picked up because water is mineral based.

I have about a 99% success record in finding lines. Once I was diverted to what we were sure was a wrong direction, but the hangers insisted. We dug up the spot and found not our current lines, but a very old line that had been abandoned decades earlier. It had a slight amount of water in it.