A Bitcoin mine moved to a small town in Texas. One by one, the residents fell ill.

Over the course of several months in 2024, TIME spoke to more than 40 people in the Granbury area who reported a medical ailment that they believe is connected to the arrival of the Bitcoin mine: hypertension, heart palpitations, chest pain, vertigo, tinnitus, migraines, panic attacks. At least 10 people went to urgent care or the emergency room with these symptoms. The development of large-scale Bitcoin mines and data centers is quite new, and most of them are housed in extremely remote places. There have been no major medical studies on the impacts of living near one. But there is an increasing body of scientific studies linking prolonged exposure to noise pollution with cardiovascular damage.

  • Justin@lemmy.jlh.nameEnglish
    92·
    5 months ago

    People talk so much about how *latest technology* is killing them, like wind turbines, cell phones, etc. Meanwhile cars are literally killing hundreds of people every day and we don’t do anything about it.

    • 2484345508@lemy.lolEnglish
      212·
      5 months ago

      wind turbines aren’t doing anything.

      Cell phones on the other hand…

      Bluetooth headphone…

      • Justin@lemmy.jlh.nameEnglish
        81·
        5 months ago

        No they don’t. https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/radiation-and-health/non-ionizing/base-stations-wireless-technologies

        Not only are all radio devices regulated to not exceed maximum power, but many portables devices are regulated to limit radio wave exposure. And even if that regulation didn’t exist, radio waves are not harmful to the human body unless you’re sticking your hand in a microwave and burning yourself. Claiming that radio waves hurt people is misinformation.

        • ReveredOxygenEnglish
          4·
          5 months ago

          I’m gonna give them the benefit of doubt and say they’re not claiming about the radio waves, but about the distraction and lack of situational awareness resulting from Bluetooth headphones

        • 2484345508@lemy.lolEnglish
          14·
          5 months ago

          Studies have never been proven wrong after decades when larger data samples are available.

          • calcopiritus@lemmy.world
            2·
            5 months ago

            Well, prove it wrong if you’re so sure of it.

            “Some people are wrong, therefore all people are wrong” is a stupid statement.

          • mindbleach
            1·
            5 months ago

            Therefore you get to make up whatever shit feels most special and clever.

            Who the fuck is left to study? A billion people have cell phones. It’s been decades. Get over yourself.

            • 2484345508@lemy.lolEnglish
              11·
              5 months ago

              I’m not going to die on that hill because I’m just being pedantic, but I’ll mention that it was public opinion tetraethyl lead was safe for gasoline. Thank the left for regulations.

              Fun fact, leaded gas was still used until 2021! The first study to show it was harmful came out in 1924.

              • mindbleach
                1·
                5 months ago

                Hey buddy? This is you, dying on that hill.

                You’re not pedantic. You’re a crank. People have been freaking out about radio waves since the late 1800s and literally all of the evidence says you’re wrong. Stop playing make-believe, and stop aping how scientists sound when they deal with people like you.

                • 2484345508@lemy.lolEnglish
                  1·
                  5 months ago

                  Please stand directly in front of a broadcast radio transmitter and let me know the results.