@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

> why are radiation levels set lower in some countries than others

Because lawmakers in different countries are pressured by different lobby groups.

In fact, every stone on the planet contains some radioactive elements and their concentration is very different. If you have more granite in your area, you background radiation levels will be higher - see map for UK as an example.

@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

On average every human on the planet receives around 3-6 mSv natural background radiation from the soil, Sun, food, water and everything else that surrounds us but people in some places in Iran or Brazil live in areas where background radiation exceeds 100 mSv per year... and they're just fine.

@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

> schools in Europe removing WiFi

I have not heard about it but it's definitely possible if there's enough illiterate parents pressuring the school management based on FUD they found on Facebook. There's no scientific evidence that WiFi has any harmful effect on humans and there won't be simply because the power is too small and distance is too big to be able to pass any energy to human body.

@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

Mobile phones are different story because in order to talk to a base station located possibly a few kilometers away they need to apply larger power AND you keep them very close to your head. So if you talked for hours, this could have a physical effect of heating your brain, which in turn could slightly increase chances of damage. But you can easily break this chain of "could" by using headset and moving to a place with better coverage (=less power needed).

@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

So the closer you are to the base station, the less power your device needs to transmit data or voice. The old analog mobile phones were the worst because base stations were like 30 km from each other but the trend is now to build more and more stations so they're closer to people. 5G tries to build even more dense network than 4G which will result in even more power needed for communication.

@kravietz
Nice to talk to you.

Do you mean "even less energy" not "even more energy"? Because that last loint contradicted your point

We're supporters of #meshNetworking (for #bitcoin/#crypto) combined with #fibreToTheHome and even #satelliteTransmission. So we are not afraid of radiation, but the standards are a concern to us without proper #publicDiscourse. Also who controls the #broadcasting systems? An accountable govt or private interests?

#meshnet
@mplammers @rysiek

@kravietz @mplammers @rysiek
@kravietz

It's very interesting that #Brazil and #Iran are points of intense radiation. Are they at opposite ends of the #earth (ie. could there be a #magnetic aspect to this) or is it purely #geology? If so, maybe the govts in those places need to explore #faraday cage-like systems for #housing as a means of basic #shelter to assess whether there's a #publicHealth benefit?

Maybe we need more #transparency around radiation generally. :)

@mplammers @rysiek

@kravietz @mplammers @rysiek

A measuring device for every houshold might be good place to start.

@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

> or is it purely geology

In these two specific cases it's purely geology but magnetic field of Earth stops a lot of cosmic radiation, so altitude and latitude also matter a lot. On the poles you got more radiation, high in the mountains you get more than on sea-level, in plane even more, but it still has zero biological effect at these doses. If you're interested, this is probably the most informative lecture:

https://scitech.video/videos/watch/60a7b2c5-739b-40ac-8ab1-009d1aa653cd

@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

> need to explore faraday cage-like systems

There's no need for that simply because it still has no biological effect on the residents. People have been living there with this radiation for thousands of years. There is *some* scientific evidence that background radiation actually has beneficial effect on human body (which would be logical because we evolved with it). In some countries people actually do "radon bathes", one of them Germany which is rather ironic.

@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

> Maybe we need more transparency around radiation generally

There are few topics in the world that are better studied and documented than radiation, specifically due to the widespread fears around it. The problem is that few people wants to learn anything about it because it's easier to just be scared.

This worldwide radiation monitor network is probably the best I've seen

https://map.safecast.org/

@kravietz
We'll check out these resources.

Good to converse with you today.
@mplammers @rysiek

@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

> Do you mean "even less energy"

Precisely, I reworded the paragraph and forgot to change. Thanks for pointing this out.

@dsfgs @mplammers @rysiek

The latter - regulation and monopolies - are the biggest obstacle to mesh networks in the UK - and I've seen that in both my attempts to build one locally and also even in case of low-power small-bandwidth networks like LoRAWAN.

People won't engage into mesh networks because they are scared to even route someone else's ping packed due to alleged restrictions of anti-terrorism laws. And broadband and LTE absolutely suck in the UK in terms of both bandwidth and price.

@kravietz
If you know anyone who still thinks the threat of terrorism was real. Direct them to a series called The Century of the Self (#BBC (before they turned to mush), 2002).

It details how groups are manipulated by triggering subconscious #desires and #fears. How its refined and automated over the past century to generate consent for #imperialWars. ;)

The first 15 minutes are a must:
https://invidio.us/watch?v=DnPmg0R1M04

There's much more where that came from.

@mplammers @rysiek