Can Aluminum Foil Hats Amplify 5G Radio Waves?

You may have seen photos of people wearing aluminum foil on their heads to block radio waves, which is a symbol of conspiracy theorists. The MIT research team examined whether wearing aluminum foil on the head can really block radio waves, and found that while it can attenuate some radio waves, it amplifies radio waves of the frequency used in 5G communications.

Inside the aluminum foil hat made by the research team, receiving antennas were installed at positions corresponding to the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and occipital lobe, and the frequency characteristics were measured using an Agilent Technologies Network Analyzer 8714ET. The experimental equipment, including a recording laptop, is said to have cost $250,000.

Can aluminum foil amplify radio waves

The measurement results found that the three types of aluminum foil caps amplified and attenuated radio waves of the same frequency regardless of the antenna position. Specifically, it was confirmed that 1.5GHz radio waves were attenuated by 10dB, 2.6GHz radio waves were amplified by 30dB, and 1.2GHz radio waves were also amplified by 20dB.

Radio waves with a frequency of 1.5GHz, which have the attenuation effect shown by the aluminum foil cap, are used in LTE communications, etc. Therefore, the aluminum foil cap has the potential to attenuate some of the radio waves used in LTE communications. Since 5G services use 2.6GHz radio waves, the aluminum foil cap can amplify 5G radio waves. The 1.2 GHz frequency is used for broadcasting, GPS, earth exploration satellites, aeronautical radio navigation, and various radars. These waves can also be amplified by the aluminum foil cap.

Material and characteristics of aluminum foil caps
The aluminum foil cap is mainly made of aluminum foil, which is a thin metal sheet with good conductivity and shielding properties. Aluminum foil is able to block or shield electromagnetic signals, including radio waves.

Characteristics of 5G radio waves
5G radio waves are a type of electromagnetic wave with specific frequencies and wavelengths.
5G communications have the characteristics of high speed, large capacity, and low latency, and require stable electromagnetic signal transmission.

In real life, aluminum foil caps are usually used to prevent the potential impact of electromagnetic radiation on the human body, rather than to amplify radio waves. Aluminum foil caps cannot amplify 5G radio waves, but instead block or weaken their transmission. Therefore, for devices or scenarios that need to receive 5G signals, it should be avoided to cover them with aluminum foil caps or other items with shielding properties.