About this episode
The episode explores whether holding a wireless garage key to your head can increase its range, featuring listener experiments and expert insights.
CrowdScience listener Doug has been experimenting with holding his wireless garage key to his chin. Why? Because he's testing a strange trick of physics. The range of a key can apparently double when held against your head rather just being held in your hand. Could this really be true, and if so why? Presenter Caroline Steel goes on a wavy journey of self-experimentation with antennas. She follows the story of Doug as he wanders the streets of Calgary in Alberta, Canada testing the key on his head from different distances and even testing it on his dog Maura’s head. To understand the physics behind all this, Caroline meets Dr Lina Mohjazi, Lecturer of Autonomous Systems and Connectivity at the University of Glasgow and Guy Vandenbosch, Professor of Electromagnetic Radiation at KU Leuven University in Leuven, Belgium. Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Tom Bonnett Editor: Ben Motley (Photo: Hand holding a car key remote in front of a red car - stock photo Credit: vadishzainer via Getty Images)
People in this episode
Host: Ben Motley
Guests: Guy Vandenbosch, Dr Lina Mohjazi
Topics covered
- physics
- wireless technology
- self-experimentation
Keywords
- garage key
- antenna
- electromagnetic radiation
Mentioned in this episode
Products: wireless garage key
Places: Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Leuven, Belgium
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