How do divining rods work? - Answers

Divining rods, often Y-shaped or L-shaped, are traditionally used in dowsing to locate water, minerals, or other hidden objects. Practitioners believe that the rods respond to unseen energies or vibrations from the target substance. However, scientific studies have shown that any movements of the rods are likely due to the ideomotor effect, where subtle, unconscious movements by the user cause the rods to move, rather than any supernatural or unexplained forces. As a result, the effectiveness of divining rods is widely regarded as pseudoscience.