Does the Million Dollar Challenge apply to bomb detectors now?

[NWO Sentryman]

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6935574.ece


The American magician James Randi has condemned the device as a “blatant fraud” and offered $1 million if the manufacturer can prove that it works. It has declined

[William Smith]

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6935574.ece

Yes.

If you want a detailed and official answer, please contact challenge@randi.org

[hokie]

This is the funniest line in the article:
Another reason for the doubts is that apart from the aerial the device contains no working parts at all.

[Gr8wight]

Does the Million Dollar Challenge apply to bomb detectors now?

No, but it does apply to bogus, scam devices masquerading as bomb detectors.

[cwalner]

No, but it does apply to bogus, scam devices masquerading as bomb detectors.

Exactly, the device in question is nothing more than a gussied up dowsing rod. It just happens to dowse for explosive chemicals, instead of the more common rods that dowse for certain metals or H2O.

I believe dowsing has always been subject to the MDC.

[kedo1981]

Don’t even bother trying to get the fraudulent company to take the MDC.
Find a young Iraqi prosecuting attorney to take the challenge and then televise the whole thing, then start tossing people in jail.

[rjh01]

Don’t even bother trying to get the fraudulent company to take the MDC.
Find a young Iraqi prosecuting attorney to take the challenge and then televise the whole thing, then start tossing people in jail.

No, you get fully trained Iraqi solders to do double blind tests supervised by Iraqi prosecutors (or police), advised by skeptics. Anything that happens after that is up to the Iraqis.

[tuoni]

I must admit, I personally like:

[Jim McCormick, the managing director of ATSC Ltd] said: “We have been dealing with doubters for ten years. One of the problems we have is that the machine does look a little primitive. We are working on a new model that has flashing lights.” (emphasis mine). That's hysterical :D

[Careyp74]

5 days and not a single response by the OP.
like this one
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=160453
and
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=160581
and
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=160649
and
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=160660
and
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=159760
and
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=160828
and
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=159347

ad nauseum.

Threads like these are a waste of time, when they are silly questions that insinuate something, and the thread starter doesn't even bother to participate in the thread. There should be warnings and suspensions to clean up the forum.

Although, there could be a reason for not being online, except each thread is started on different days, when he could respond to others if he wanted to.

[Beady]

This is the funniest line in the article:

No it's not. THIS is the funniest line: He said: “...One of the problems we have is that the machine does look a little primitive. We are working on a new model that has flashing lights.”

[hokie]

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/14/bad-science-iraq-ben-goldacre
General Jabiri challenged a New York Times reporter to test the ADE651, placing a grenade and a machine pistol in plain view in his office. Every time a policeman used it, the wand pointed at the explosives. Every time the reporter used the device, it failed to detect anything.

"You need more training," said the general.

Beady there are lots of funny comments about this scam in other articles as well.

Another article:
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/11/the-bomb-sniffing-gadget-thats-definitely-not-saving-iraq/

A bomb clearing effort gone bad is shown at this blog:
http://bloodandtreasure.typepad.com/blood_treasure/2009/11/dowsing-for-bombs.html

The NY skeptics have written this piece:
http://www.nycskeptics.org/blog/?p=1370&cpage=1

[Elvis666]

The NY skeptics have written this piece:
http://www.nycskeptics.org/blog/?p=1370&cpage=1

Go ahead, Randi, tell us what you really think!

[Blue Wode]

Head of ATSC 'bomb detector' company arrested on suspicion of fraud
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6997859.ece

When anti-science kills: Dowsing for bombs
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/763-when-antiscience-kills-dowsing-for-bombs.html

A Direct, Specific Challenge from James Randi and the JREF
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/231-a-direct-specific-challenge-from-james-randi-and-the-jref.html

[Rasmus]

We are working on a new model that has flashing lights.

lusXJIfB4ys

They are *working* on it? I have absolutely no knowledge about electronics at all, but even I could get lights to flash before I was 15.

[zooterkin]

There is also this thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=128253) on the topic.
Head of ATSC 'bomb detector' company arrested on suspicion of fraud
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6997859.ece


Mr McCormick, a former Merseyside police officer, told The Times that his devices, which consist of little more than a telescopic antenna on a molded plastic handle, are able to detect explosives in the same way as a dowsing rod finds water.

Well, technically he's not wrong...

[Blue Wode]

More...
http://brucemhood.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/woo-bomb-detector-exposed/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BruceMHood+%28Bruce+M.+Hood%2 9

Apparently the story will be covered by BBC Newsnight tonight.