Magnet Facts

In the 1970s, VHS waged a videotape formatting war with the now defunct Betamax, much like the competition between DVD and Blu-Ray within the last decade. VHS may have won out in the end thanks to its affordability, but the format has since been pushed to the limits with today’s streaming, digital, and Blu-Ray technology.  Still, VHS technology isn’t completely obsolete –– or, at least, not yet. It’s true the last manufacturer of VCFS ceased production in 2016 after the industry sold about 750,000 units the year before. As for blank VHS tapes, you can still find them on the bottom shelf at a number of electronic stores.  While the ever-rolling train of technological revolution leads us to abandon certain products in favor of “the next best thing,” we can’t help but mourn the decline of VHS since these tapes really go the distance when it comes to creatively harnessing the power of magnetism.  Continue reading →

At one point in time, Mars – arguably the most similar planet to Earth in our solar system –  wasn’t the frozen desert we know today. In fact, researchers suggest that oceans and rivers once existed on its surface before solar winds from the Sun completely wiped them out. Continue reading →

In its essence, the Sun is considered the heart of our solar system. From Earth’s standpoint, the scorching yellow star of glowing gases directly dictates its seasons, ocean currents, climates and aurorae. If the sun were the size of a front door, Earth would be about the size of a nickel. And without its energy, human life wouldn’t even exist. Crazy to consider, right? However, that example only provides a slight sliver of the Sun’s impact. In actuality, it holds the entire galaxy in place, keeping everything from the largest of planets  – Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus – to the smallest particles of debris in orbit within a magnetic field called the heliosphere that stretches 23 billion miles. Continue reading →

One hurdle to acquiring permanent, rare earth magnets is their environmental and economic cost. Mining for elements like neodymium can be difficult, and this relative inaccessibility creates higher prices, especially since much of the mining is completed overseas. Complicating things even further, permanent magnets have also been difficult to recycle, especially because they’re typically used deep inside other products, which makes them hard to access.  Continue reading →

As early as the 19th century, electric cars were primed to take over the automotive industry and change the face of travel forever, specifically when it came to speed. In fact, an electric car held the land speed record until the early 20th century.  However, for the rest of the 1900s, the popularity of electric cars waned, stagnating the progress of electric vehicle technology. In the past two decades, the industry has begun to make a resurgence, but it still has major drawbacks. Similarly to their gas-powered counterparts having to stop and refuel, electric cars have to stop and recharge. Wouldn’t it be great if electric cars were like the latest cell phones though? You could park them on any surface, and they would charge wirelessly –– no cables, no outlets. This is a concept German startup Magment has turned into a reality. Magment’s product, also called “magment,” allows for dynamic charging so that electric cars can recharge while in motion. Theoretically, under the right conditions, you could drive from New York to Los Angeles without making a single pit stop.  Continue reading →

When there’s an E. coli outbreak, we all hear about it. A less common—but still serious—concern is the potential for foreign metal particles to slip into our food. These particles could come from anywhere along the supply chain, including the machinery used to process food and wire meshes used to filter ingredients. If you’ve never heard of something like that happening, it’s likely because these are usually one-off events. Unlike a bacterial strain that can infect an entire production line, a stray piece of metal will typically impact only one package of food.  Continue reading →

You have probably seen them speeding down the highway or stuck beside you in traffic – cars covered in magnetic advertisements. This kind of marketing is growing in popularity, and for good reason. It costs less than it does to paint a car, is far less permanent, and transfers easily from one vehicle to another or into storage. Before you jump into the world of magnetic marketing and mobile advertising, however, we want you to be aware of all the potential perks and drawbacks so that you can make an informed decision. Continue reading →

Permanent magnets are wonderful tools, but they have an inherent drawback depending on the application: you can’t turn their magnetism “on” and “off” with ease. Unless the magnet becomes too hot or is demagnetized by a nearby force, it will generate a magnetic force indefinitely. Continue reading →

By eleventh century AD, the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Chinese all recorded their discovery of a seemingly magical rock that attracted iron and other stones: the naturally occurring lodestone. After its discovery, it didn’t take long for the Chinese to develop the first compass between 400 and 200 BC. Thus began the history of the magnet.  Continue reading →

Magnes the Shepherd might be the very first of the Magnetic Personalities! Origin stories were popular in numerous ancient cultures and it seems like every aspect of human life has a legend associated with it. This is particularly true of the ancient Greeks. Pandora’s Box explains how evil came into the world. Your voice’s echo is really just a mountain nymph responding to you. Even the passing of the seasons is tied up with the story of Demeter and her daughter Persephone. Continue reading →