Auras are (not) real

For anyone who wants to groan about how bad our local press can be, there's an article from the Telegraph, reprinted by the Herald and titled "Scientists discover humans produce invisible aura of air-cleansing molecules", that talks about the idea of the existence of an “aura” around our bodies. The article uses a recent study that looks into a small amount of “free radicals” that are generated by our skin to argue that, technically, these chemicals could be considered to be an aura.

This was not a helpful choice of image by the Herald!

The science says “squalene, a chemical which keeps skin supple, reacts with ozone and produces the OH oxidation field via a sequence of complicated chemical reactions”, but the article chose to lead with the more salacious “Humans have an invisible aura around our bodies which could be cleaning the air we breathe, scientists have found”. The “could be” is important here, as Professor Williams told the Telegraph “the other possibility, which is more concerning, is perhaps a compound which is considered to be harmless could become more toxic than its precursor when it's oxidised in the OH field. Now we've discovered this, more research has to be done”. I have my suspicions that the amount of OH created in this way is probably too small to be relevant either way, and won't turn out to be a significant benefit or harm to us - just an interesting piece of science.

Unsurprisingly the level of discourse online about this article is not focused on the science, but the silly headline about “auras”. Here's just a taste of what kiwis have been saying in the comments of the Herald's Facebook post for this article:

_Auras are our energy field..there is nothing new or satanic in this..we are all energy producing energy..I can see them and so can anyone who wants to try..its completely different from the glow you see around a light bulb for example..there is simply more to life than what meets the eye

Oh good, so glad science has caught up.

Huh so that's what it is, when I'm walking past someone I always feel a light push, like we are in bubbles that bounce off each other when we walk past, maybe some people are more sensitive the the auras than others

Is probably something dogs can see, they seem to have a fifth sense, I've never met a dog that has had a problem with me, so mine can't be too dark lol

Aura's have been spoken about since forever. The bible is full of references to the auric field. Eastern practices are jam-packed. African, Asian. The world is full of auric knowledge. It's just religion and "civilisation" tried to bury it and yell blasphemy and destroy the ancient knowledge in the name of God (which ever God was the victor on the day).

We have known this for years. The aura is the doctor of your body it gives off colours which shows where you are spiritually and what you need to work on or it will hold you back. There are hundreds of things that aura does to much to list here.

Just ask the kids to paint pictures of people. They'll show you people's auras. Been lucky enough to have a few gifted to me. Knowing your aura can be a valuable tool in your own development; acknowledging gifts and confronting vices.

Tip of the iceberg, I at times see them and can feel them on anyone, I also know quite a few others who are sensitive to this energy.

Well..... that's a bit progressive of WESTERN science, once again, a bit late to the party but points for getting here eventually... tell me again why it's such a big deal

Actually, it's visible if you look with the right attitude.

I remember my mother telling me when I was a child that everyone has an aura so can someone please explain to me how scientists have 'discovered humans have an invisible aura' just now?_

There are some decent comments questioning the quality of this journalism, but they seem to be drowned out by credulous people talking nonsense. Thankfully I don't think this is a damning indictment of the level of science literacy in New Zealand. I'm guessing it's more a case of selection bias - firstly, people are more likely to read the article and comment if they have an active interest in auras, and secondly Facebook's algorithms are probably choosing to promote the article to people who are likely to react positively to it rather than those who are either disinterested or skeptical.