Among the many COVID-19 conspiracy theories, I recently came across one that's got an interesting neuroscience twist.
The theory is that infrared thermometers — widely used to screen people for fever — are actually designed to damage the brain's pineal gland with some kind of harmful rays.
The theory is scientifically absurd (although relying on these thermometers is still not a great idea, because they're inaccurate), but it's rather interesting from a historical point of view, because the pineal gland is a brain structure that has long been linked to mysticism and conspiracy.
The pineal gland is a pea-sized body located deep in the brain. Its main function is the secretion of the hormone melatonin, but it has often been ascribed much more mysterious significance.
In the 17th century, Rene Descartes described the pineal gland as the point where the immaterial soul contacts the material body — building on the ...
