Science Watch: Cannibalistic Neanderthals and Bogus Magnet Therapy

Time for a bit 'o science today. First up, it seems there's some new evidence that Neanderthals might have been a bit cannibalistic at times (and, no, in case you were wondering, I'm not referring to GOP inter-party squabbling - I mean those other Neanderthals):

Neanderthals suffered periods of starvation and may have supplemented their diet through cannibalism, according to a study of remains from northwest Spain.

Paleobiologists studied samples from eight 43,000-year-old Neanderthal skeletons excavated from an underground cave in El Sidrón, Spain since 2000. The study sheds light on how Neanderthals lived before the arrival of modern humans in Europe.

Researchers found cut marks and evidence that bones had been torn apart, which they say could indicate cannibalism.

"There is strong evidence suggesting that these Neanderthals were eaten," said the study's lead author, Antonio Rosas of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid. "That is, long bones and the skull were broken for extraction of the marrow, [which] is very nutritious."

Now, living in Vermont, let's just say that I see that certain segments of the population are entranced by magical therapies under the guise of 'alternative medicine'. Now, before some of you bite my head off, I am in no way discrediting all forms of non-Western medicine such as chiropracty or some herbalism, but there is also a lot of bullshit stuff out there, and some Vermonters seem to love it, more than other places I've been to, seemingly because some peoples' minds are so open that a bit of their brains seem to have fallen out onto the floor and inadvertently kicked under the table and forgotten about. A big one we hear about in the news is 'magnet therapy'. Now, I can understand why some people might think there's some merit to it; on the surface it sounds scientific. But a great article at the Skeptical Inquirer from a few months back calls the bullshit:

Is there anything in the human body that is affected by magnetic fields? Surprisingly, the answer appears to be no. This seems counterintuitive since most people know that oxygen in our blood is carried by hemoglobin and that hemoglobin contains iron. This is why iron tablets are often recommended for the treatment of anemia. However, the iron in hemoglobin is not ferromagnetic . If hemoglobin contained ferromagnetic iron it would be simple to separate red blood cells from other bloods cells with a magnet. Several studies have shown that static magnetic fields do not affect blood flow . Perhaps more important, if hemoglobin contained ferromagnetic iron people might explode or be flung across the room when exposed to the extraordinarily powerful magnetic field of a MRI scan.

However, for the sake of argument, what if some effect of magnets on human tissue could be demonstrated? What is the likelihood that it would be a therapeutic or healing effect? Probably slim to nil. By analogy, consider chemical compounds. The number of known chemical compounds is on the order of ten million. However, only a handful have ever been shown to have any therapeutic effects. Yet millions are toxic. It would be most unwise to eat or drink anything found on the shelves of a typical chemistry lab. If a magnet had an effect on human tissue, there is no reason to believe that it would necessarily be a healing effect.

The article also points out some of the ridiculousness, such as a magnetic grid you can buy for your bed that will cure cancer. Have a read. Also, for a laugh, have a look at this page that shows what happens when people aren't careful around MRI machines.