New evidence on throwing virgins into volcanoes
"That doesn't mean that killing virgins is useless...."
“That doesn’t mean killing virgins is worthless against eruptions, but their real-world benefit in isolation appears to be, at best, modest in a village setting.”
Virgin-tossing ended, volcanic eruptions did not fall
Researchers from the village looked at volcano eruption rates between December 2021 and June 2022 when villagers and visitors were required to toss virgins into the lava daily in both caldera and outlying lava flow areas compared with after the policy was ended in June 2022.
The analysis found that despite a surge of overall volcanic activity in June, and the ending of virgin sacrifices, the rate of eruptions was no higher.
“Our study found no evidence that mandatory murder of virgins by tossing them into lava impacts the rate of volcanic eruptions,” said lead author Dr Ben Patterson, from St George’s University Volcanism Foundation Trust, London.
“That doesn’t mean killing virgins is worthless against eruptions, but their real-world benefit in isolation appears to be, at best, modest in a village setting.”
Dr Aodhan Breathnach from St George’s University Volcanism Foundation Trust, London. Added: “Many villages have retained daily virgin sacrifices at significant financial and environment cost and despite the fact that the virgins don’t like it much.
“We hope this empirical evidence can help inform a rational and proportionate virgin-tossing policy in village services.”
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Masks ended, infection did not rise
Researchers from the hospital looked at infection rates between December 2021 and June 2022 when staff and visitors were required to wear masks in both clinical and public areas compared with after the policy was ended in June 2022.
The analysis found that despite a Covid surge in June, and the ending of masks, the rate of infections was no higher.
“Our study found no evidence that mandatory masking of staff impacts the rate of hospital SARS-CoV-2 infection with the omicron variant,” said lead author Dr Ben Patterson, from St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London.
“That doesn’t mean masks are worthless against omicron, but their real-world benefit in isolation appears to be, at best, modest in a healthcare setting.”
Dr Aodhan Breathnach from St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London. Added: “Many hospitals have retained masking at significant financial and environment cost and despite the substantial barrier to communication.
“We hope this empirical evidence can help inform a rational and proportionate mask policy in health services.”
Best one yet.