Is it true that it is useful to place a cactus near the computer? Why does a computer need a cactus - a computer is a killer? Why does a cactus need a computer?

It is unknown where, but a belief was born that cacti somehow attract and absorb computer radiation. Moreover, this opinion spread so quickly that you are simply amazed. One can only philosophize: since this happened, it means someone needs it.

Let's try to figure it out. Most of the high-frequency waves do not come from the computer itself (system unit), but from the monitor. Moreover, 4/5 of this radiation passes through the screen, and 1/5 through other sides. To absorb frontal radiation, either protective screens or the monitor tube are built in with special grounded grids. And monitors with a screen size of 17 inches or more, by modern standards, are necessarily equipped with all-round shielding protection. It is also clear that radiation (if any) spreads radially, in all directions. But cacti do not absorb the radiation from the monitor. they absorb (if they absorb) only the amount of rays that hit them - a person, in the absence of protective devices, receives the same radiation dose as without plants. Therefore, you should not rely on cacti and sacrifice your health - you need to purchase new generation equipment with circular screening, or purchase protective screens as a half-measure.

Thus, the benefit of a cactus near a computer is doubtful, but the harm to plants is obvious - if no measures are taken, then it is doomed to death - without proper lighting, cacti will not last long.
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Computer users are divided into two camps. Some believe that the unpretentious thorn can protect them from harmful radiation, while others are skeptical and do not recognize any “green” help. The first ones surround their computers with a dense ring of cacti and place them directly on the monitor. There are also those who, just in case, place a lonely small thorn next to the monitor in the hope that it will also collect harmful rays.

What does a computer monitor emit?

A computer monitor actually emits a certain type of radiation - electromagnetic radiation. It is not beneficial to humans, since the alternating electromagnetic field causes vibrations of ions in the human body, which leads to metabolic disorders.

Electromagnetic radiation is relevant for all older types of CRT monitors (based on a cathode ray tube). The most dangerous in this regard is their back part, less radiation comes from the sides and even less from the front. If a person’s workplace is under crossfire from the backs of several monitors, then it’s worth thinking about rearranging and pointing the “tails” of the monitors at the wall. However, even better is to find an opportunity to replace CRT monitors with LCD (liquid crystal) screens or plasma panels.

Modern screened monitors, made using new technologies, are practically harmless to health, since they almost do not emit electromagnetic waves. Keep in mind that the more secure a computer monitor is, the more expensive it is.

Will a cactus help?

The cactus can really help. However, it does not act as a reliable protection against electromagnetic influence, but as an air ionizer. Although for yourself the proximity to a CRT monitor will have the best effect. It has been noticed that thorny plants grow better when in the field of electromagnetic waves.

An electron beam gun directs a stream of electrons into a cone with an angle of 90 degrees. Therefore, it will feel better to be on the side and slightly in front, that is, on a line running from the middle of the back of the CRT monitor through the right or left edge of the front side. This is where the cactus will receive maximum radiation and grow better.

Since the ribs of the cactus resemble a corner reflector of electromagnetic waves, it was this feature that attentive scientists paid attention to. The inhabitants took the message too literally, which is where the belief spread throughout the world that a home cactus is an ideal means of salvation from harmful waves.

Surely, you have heard more than once that a cactus protects against monitor radiation. And even nowadays it’s not uncommon to see a pot of cactus standing near the computer screen. Is there any benefit from it and is the cactus really capable of absorbing radiation? From this article you will learn the truth.

There is an opinion that the cactus absorbs radiation from a computer monitor. But the fact is that the monitor does not emit any radiation; there are electromagnetic radiations, the same as in other electrical devices. In old CRT monitors, the emissions were much stronger than in modern ones, but what about the new LCD monitors?

New LCD monitors are virtually harmless. A special mesh is installed to protect against radiation. The main radiation comes from the back of the monitor, but as a rule we place monitors against a wall or some kind of fence. So what does this have to do with the cactus?

Cactus attracts radiation: truth or myth?

Let's say a cactus near a computer has taken root since the days of CRT monitors, which, as we already know, emitted much more electromagnetic waves than modern monitors. And many people, out of habit (from hearsay), place cacti near LCD monitors. But the whole point is that the cactus does not attract or magnetize radiation, which means that it is simply not capable of protecting against radiation.

What's the matter then?

Where did the myth about the cactus protecting computer radiation come from? - you ask.

They say that cacti grow better in areas of electromagnetic radiation. I only know that they love a lot of light and little water, and botanists and those who grow them professionally know about other places where they grow better or worse.

Therefore, if you have a cactus pot near your monitor, take it and throw it away (just kidding). There is no need to throw anything away, there is simply no point in placing a cactus near the monitor, and now you know this and can tell others.

The conclusion will be this: the cactus does not absorb electromagnetic radiation. It does not protect against radiation (where is that radiation?). And in general, the cactus near the monitor is nonsense. You can protect your health from the computer - move more and do eye exercises, do not sit close and move away from the computer more often.

Do you remember how personal computers became widespread in our country in the 90s? Back then, almost every person who worked on a computer for a long time considered it their duty to acquire a cactus and place it near the monitor. Like, a prickly friend saves you from radiation.

First, let's determine what terrible thing people try to protect themselves from with the help of a cactus? Old monitors actually emitted x-rays. However, those days have sunk into oblivion, and modern computers can only emit electromagnetic waves. Many computers are marked Low Radiation, but this is not radiation, but electromagnetic radiation.

However, in relation to it, technological thought has moved far forward. If a dozen years ago monitors (more precisely, the “tails” of their picture tubes) emitted quite a lot of electromagnetic waves with a frequency from tens of hertz to hundreds of megahertz and could negatively affect the development of cardiovascular diseases, pregnancy, and reduce immunity, then modern monitors have many "lotions" designed to protect the user as much as possible. The newest monitors emit almost nothing. The number of electromagnetic waves from them is comparable to the number of the same waves from any other electrical appliances, or even less. By the way, staying near electrical wiring for a long time (for example, if your bed is near it) gives our body much more harmful effects of waves than a computer.

The wavelengths of this radiation are much larger than the size of any cactus. Therefore, electromagnetic waves seem to flow around the cactus, practically “not noticing” it. However, it turns out that in radio engineering there is such a thing as “effective size,” when the shape of the reflector is even more important than its size. Then the space of its action increases many times over. The cactus, with its rows of needles, exactly resembles the shape of a so-called multi-strip corner reflector, capable of reflecting an electromagnetic signal in the opposite direction.

The only thing is that the reflector itself must be made with precisely adjusted dimensions. As we understand, cacti made by Mother Nature do not have precise sizes and each one is a little different from the others. But there is a solution here too. A system of several reflectors can work effectively even with errors in the sizes of its individual cacti elements. That is, you need to take 5 cacti and place them around the electrical appliance so that they are at the vertices of a regular pentagon, the edge of which is from 5 to 25 diameters of the cactus. They say that this system is an absolute protective screen, beyond which no electromagnetic radiation will escape.

So, as we see, there is no need to be afraid of radiation from a single modern monitor - it is very small in the total mass of waves and rays acting on us. But a cactus (or any other plant) is worth putting on your table, if only simply because indoor flowers, in general, have a beneficial effect on our condition and delight us with their appearance.

A few more factors in favor of cacti near the computer

1. Like most indoor plants, cacti ionize and humidify the air. Placing electrical equipment at high density, for example in offices, worsens the air ion composition, which can cause headaches. Ventilate the room more often and place cacti there, which work as a passive ionizer.

2. Under conditions of electromagnetic radiation, cacti grow better, which means their appearance creates a positive microclimate and improves mood.

Have a nice day!

There is a common belief that a cactus near a monitor or TV absorbs a large amount of harmful radiation, thereby protecting the user or viewer. It would be very good, but, unfortunately, this is completely wrong. It does not protect from anything, although such proximity has the best effect on the plant itself. So, dear flower growers, you are welcome to listen to us about cacti and electronic equipment. Don't worry, it won't take much of your time.

Of course, the myth about the all-absorption of radiation by the cactus is absurd due to the fact that waves of electromagnetic radiation diverge from the cathode-ray tube (CRT - Cathode-Ray Tube) in different directions, and only the flow of electrons emitted by the tube has a directional movement. A lonely cactus does not attract radiation; it is not some kind of magnet. Therefore, its protection is imperceptible, unless you surround the picture tube with a dense ring of cacti.

For the most part, the cactus family comes from tropical and subtropical countries. Hence such endurance to various types of radiation. Let's even say, not endurance, but simply necessity. Naturally, in our climatic conditions the cactus is slightly lacking in radiation. And the kinescope is like a native cactus.

I had a cactus standing near my monitor for a long time. Surprisingly, all the stems of the plant began to stretch precisely towards the kinescope, despite the fact that on the opposite side there is a window of much greater “luminosity”. I have no idea what processes are going on inside the cactus, but we can definitely say that radiation is good for it.

Not every plant can be placed near a monitor; many plants will simply wither. But not a cactus. He suddenly comes to life, and one gets the impression that he doesn’t care how long the monitor is turned off. Therefore, if you want the cactus to grow better, place it next to a TV, monitor, video intercom, or whatever else you have. By the way, liquid crystal displays (LCD - Liquid Crystal Display) will not work. People traditionally believe that LCD monitors and monitors based on thin-film transistors (TFT - Thin-Film Transistor) emit the same radiation as ordinary picture tubes. This is not true, since LCD and TFT are considered the most harmless. At least no more harmful than a calculator screen or an LED in a tape recorder.

However, you need to skillfully place the cactus near the monitor. The fact is that the dangerous area of ​​the kinescope is far from its front side, as is commonly believed. There are so many protective coatings on the front of the kinescope that more than half the flow of emitted electrons does not even go beyond its boundaries. On the other hand, there is practically no protective coating on the sides of the kinescope, and the rays freely enter the surrounding space. That is, an electron beam gun “shoots” a stream of electrons in the shape of a cone with an angle of about 90 degrees. The screen extinguishes part of the radiation, but through the sides of the monitor the radiation diverges both to the sides of the user, and above his head and to his feet.

Another dangerous area of ​​the kinescope can rightfully be called the backside. The electron beam gun is located, in fact, at the back of the kinescope. It is clear that there is no protection at all. Electron beams are directed towards the screen, but only those that are captured by the beam convergence system. Some of the rays still manage to fly away from the screen. In addition, behind the TV or monitor there are coils of the beam convergence system, power transformers and high voltage transformers supplied to the kinescope. All of them are sources of increased electromagnetic radiation. In addition, some transformers produce high-frequency audible noise. This is why rows of computers in offices are so dangerous. When you work at a computer, it is not your monitor that is much more dangerous, but the one that stands directly behind you and “shoots” and “makes noise” at your back with its butt.

But let's return, in fact, to the location of the cacti near the monitor. Now it’s clear that placing a cactus right in front of the screen makes no sense. It should be placed to the side and slightly in front - right on a line running from the middle of the back of the monitor through the left or right edge of the front side. It is in these places that the cactus receives maximum radiation, and it is here that it grows best.

Because of the convenience of the top of the monitor (like a shelf), cacti are sometimes placed on top of it. It is not recommended to do this, even if this is a radiation-favorable zone. The first reason is that due to carelessness, moisture, soil, needles, etc. can get inside the monitor, causing irreparable damage to it. The second reason is that a cactus supplied with sufficient radiation from below will not tend to grow upward, but more and more to the sides.

A good option is to place the cactus on the table to the left or right of the monitor, moving the cactus slightly forward. It’s even better if there is a recess in the table or the monitor is on a high stand so that the cactus stands in front, but under the monitor. The last case is most suitable for cactus growth. The option where the cactus stands exactly behind the monitor is more suitable for offices, and then only as an excessive and ineffective concern for employees. In an office environment, as a rule, there is no free space, so there is no time for cacti behind the monitors.

However, scientific and technological progress does not stand still. What yesterday seemed like an achievement forever, today turns out to be just a “get by for a while.” Thus, monitors with cathode ray tubes in all previous years seemed to be something irreplaceable. And now TFT monitors are available to the average user. In good Internet cafes there are only TFTs left, in good offices there are only TFTs... It will take a few (and for some many) years, and CRT monitors will disappear from our homes as relics of the past. And then the cacti on the monitors will actually be a design decision rather than a specific benefit for the cacti or for humans.

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