Wang CX et al. · 2019
Researchers exposed participants to Earth-strength magnetic fields while monitoring their brain activity with EEG. They discovered that specific magnetic field rotations caused measurable changes in brain waves (alpha oscillations), but only when the field was oriented as it naturally occurs in the Northern Hemisphere. This suggests humans possess an unconscious magnetic sensing ability similar to migratory animals.
Ozdemir E, Demirkazik A, Taskıran AS, Arslan G. · 2019
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for 2 hours daily over 15 days and found the fields produced pain relief (analgesia). They discovered this pain-blocking effect works through serotonin receptors in the brain - the same chemical system involved in mood and sleep. The study shows that extremely low frequency magnetic fields can directly alter brain chemistry and pain perception.
Karimi SA, Salehi I, Shykhi T, Zare S, Komaki A. · 2019
Researchers exposed male rats to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) for 2 hours daily over 60 days at various intensities. They found that certain exposure levels improved memory retention and passive learning, but also increased anxiety-like behaviors and oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules). This suggests ELF-EMF exposure creates a complex mix of both beneficial and harmful effects on brain function.
Consales C et al. · 2018
Researchers exposed lab-grown nerve cells with ALS-related genetic mutations to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for up to 72 hours. They found that while the magnetic field didn't kill cells or increase oxidative stress, it disrupted iron metabolism genes specifically in cells with the SOD1G93A mutation linked to familial ALS. This suggests that power frequency magnetic fields may interfere with cellular iron regulation in genetically susceptible individuals.
Ikeda K, Nakamura K. · 2018
Researchers studied nearly 2,800 Japanese high school students to see if heavy mobile phone use was linked to mood problems. Students using phones more than 33 hours per week showed significantly higher levels of depression, tension, and fatigue compared to lighter users. This suggests that excessive phone use may negatively impact teenagers' mental health.
Lozano-Soto E et al. · 2018
Researchers tested whether placing a static magnet on the back of the head could reduce light sensitivity (photophobia) in 20 healthy volunteers. They found that 10 minutes of magnetic field exposure significantly reduced discomfort from bright lights compared to a fake treatment. This suggests the visual cortex in the brain contributes to light sensitivity and that magnetic field therapy might help treat photophobia in migraine patients.
Kirimoto H et al. · 2018
Researchers applied static magnetic fields to the brain's motor cortex for 15 minutes and found it reduced how strongly participants responded to painful electrical stimuli. The magnetic stimulation appeared to change how the brain processes pain signals, with effects lasting at least 10 minutes after the treatment ended. This suggests static magnetic fields might potentially be developed as a non-invasive treatment for chronic pain conditions.
Dileone M, Mordillo-Mateos L, Oliviero A, Foffani G. · 2018
Researchers applied static magnetic fields to the motor cortex of 45 healthy volunteers for 30 minutes and measured brain activity changes using magnetic stimulation tests. They found that longer magnetic field exposure (30 minutes) created lasting changes in brain excitability that persisted for at least 30 minutes after exposure ended, while shorter exposure (10 minutes) produced only temporary effects. This suggests that magnetic field duration matters significantly for how our brains respond to electromagnetic stimulation.
Piccinetti CC et al. · 2018
Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to 100 MHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to FM radio frequencies) to study developmental effects. They found the radiation triggered oxidative stress, slowed growth, and activated cellular damage repair mechanisms during critical early development stages. This study demonstrates that EMF radiation can cause measurable biological effects beyond just heating tissue, providing important evidence for non-thermal health impacts.
Ertilav K, Uslusoy F, Ataizi S, Nazıroğlu M. · 2018
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone frequencies (900 and 1800 MHz) for one hour daily, five days a week for an entire year, then examined brain tissue for damage. They found significant cellular damage including cell death, oxidative stress, and disrupted calcium channels in the hippocampus (memory center) and nerve tissues. The higher frequency (1800 MHz) caused more severe damage than the lower frequency, suggesting a dose-response relationship.
Akimoto T et al. · 2018
Researchers exposed human brain cancer cells to alternating magnetic fields (280 kHz frequency) for 30 minutes while treating them with an anti-cancer compound called Compound C. The magnetic field exposure significantly enhanced the cancer-killing effects of the drug, causing more cancer cells to die and preventing them from multiplying. This suggests that magnetic fields might be used to make cancer treatments more effective while potentially allowing lower drug doses.
Kimsa-Dudek M et al. · 2018
Researchers exposed human skin cells to fluoride and static magnetic fields to study gene activity. While fluoride damaged genes that protect cells from harm, magnetic field exposure restored normal gene function. This suggests magnetic fields might help protect cells against certain chemical toxins.
Qureshi MRA, Alfadhl Y, Chen X, Peyman A, Maslanyj M, Mann S · 2018
Researchers calculated how much radiofrequency energy from smart meters gets absorbed by human bodies. Children absorbed the most energy, especially when within 15 centimeters of 2.4 GHz meters. Though levels stayed below safety limits, the study confirms smart meters cause measurable energy absorption in tissue.
Lasalvia M et al. · 2018
Researchers exposed human immune cells to 1.8 GHz cell phone radiation for up to 20 hours. The radiation caused cell deformation, DNA changes, and disrupted cellular energy production. These findings raise safety concerns about long-term EMF exposure effects on human health.
Laszlo AM et al. · 2018
Researchers exposed turkeys to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the type from power lines) for three weeks and found it disrupted their stress response system by reducing a key cellular signaling pathway called beta-adrenoceptor function. The birds' systems returned to normal after five weeks without exposure, suggesting the effects were reversible. This matters because it shows even relatively low-level magnetic field exposure can alter fundamental biological processes in living animals.
Consales C et al. · 2018
Researchers exposed human brain cells and mouse neurons to 50-Hz magnetic fields (the type from power lines) at 1 milliTesla and found significant changes in gene regulation. The magnetic fields altered microRNAs (small molecules that control gene expression) and increased production of alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to Parkinson's disease. This suggests that power-frequency magnetic fields may disrupt normal brain cell function through epigenetic changes that could predispose neurons to degeneration.
Sun L, Chen L, Bai L, Xia Y, Yang X, Jiang W, Sun W. · 2018
Researchers exposed human cells to power line frequency magnetic fields for 15 minutes and found they triggered harmful cellular changes linked to uncontrolled cell growth. The magnetic fields increased damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species, proving these everyday exposures can disrupt normal cell function.
Medina-Fernandez FJ et al. · 2018
Researchers tested whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) using 60 Hz magnetic fields at 0.7 mT could help treat an animal model of multiple sclerosis. They found that TMS reduced brain inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) more effectively than standard pharmaceutical treatments. This suggests magnetic field therapy might have protective effects on the nervous system.
Errico Provenzano A et al. · 2018
Researchers exposed leukemia cells to 50Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) to see how it affected cell development. They found that the magnetic field exposure helped cancer cells mature into normal, healthy blood cells when combined with a standard treatment. This suggests that extremely low frequency magnetic fields might influence how cells develop and could potentially affect blood cell formation in the body.
Budziosz J et al. · 2018
Researchers exposed rats to power-line frequency electromagnetic fields (50 Hz) for 28 days to study effects on brain oxidative stress, which occurs when harmful molecules damage cells. While overall oxidative stress markers remained unchanged, the study found decreased activity of protective antioxidant enzymes in most brain regions. This suggests that even when obvious damage isn't apparent, the brain's defense systems may be working harder under EMF exposure.
Momoli F et al. · 2017
Canadian researchers re-analyzed data from the large Interphone study to see if mobile phone use increases brain tumor risk, using advanced statistical methods to correct for study biases. They found that people with the heaviest phone use (more than 558 lifetime hours) had roughly double the risk of developing glioma, the most common malignant brain tumor. Even after accounting for potential errors in how people remembered their phone use and who participated in the study, this increased risk remained significant.
Schoeni A, Roser K, Röösli M. · 2017
Swiss researchers followed 439 adolescents for one year to see if radiofrequency radiation from mobile phones caused health symptoms like tiredness, headaches, or concentration problems. They found that symptoms were linked to heavy device usage patterns like texting frequency, but not to actual radiation exposure levels. This suggests that behavioral factors from excessive screen time, rather than the electromagnetic fields themselves, may be responsible for reported health complaints.
Schauer I, Mohamad Al-Ali B. · 2017
Researchers studied 468 men at an infertility clinic to see if carrying cell phones in pants pockets combined with varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum) would worsen sperm quality more than either condition alone. They found that both cell phone storage in pants pockets and varicocele individually affected sperm parameters, but the two factors didn't amplify each other's effects. This suggests that keeping your phone in your pants pocket affects sperm quality independently of other reproductive health issues.
Sato Y, Kojimahara N, Yamaguchi N · 2017
Japanese researchers analyzed mobile phone ownership among 82 young brain tumor patients (ages 6-18) and compared it to the general population. They found no difference in phone ownership rates between brain tumor patients and healthy children of the same age. The study suggests that mobile phone use was not associated with increased brain tumor risk in this young population.
Danese E et al. · 2017
Italian researchers exposed blood samples from 14 healthy volunteers to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation from a commercial mobile phone for 30 minutes, then examined the cells for DNA damage markers called gamma-H2AX foci. They found no significant increase in DNA breaks or genetic damage compared to unexposed blood samples. This suggests that short-term mobile phone radiation exposure at typical frequencies may not cause immediate detectable DNA damage in human immune cells.
