Magnet Facts

In 1908, US Navy engineer Robert Peary claimed to be the first person to reach the North Pole. Equipped only with wooden sleds and dogs, Peary and his team trekked across the frozen waters of the Arctic Ocean, arriving at the point in early April. However, Peary’s claim has been met with much skepticism. Many critics say the team was not equipped with enough navigational instruments, others say Peary was simply lying. Continue reading →

Just in time for Halloween, we bring you one of the scariest scenarios we can imagine: a world without magnets! It’s easy to take magnets for granted, but the truth is that without them and other magnetic forces, life on Earth would be pretty different and frankly, pretty terrible. Here are just a few things that would definitely change. Continue reading →

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of neodymium magnets here. We think they’re pretty great - whether you’re doing a home renovation project, creating a cute seasonal DIY, or running a fun educational project, there are so many ways they’re useful. However, as with anything in life, it’s worth knowing how to handle these powerful, versatile tools safely. Continue reading →

We’ve been there: You’re perusing Pinterest or browsing blogs when you catch a project that you absolutely must make. Maybe you even saw it on our magnet blog! You hit the purchase button to get all the supplies you need and a few days later, a box arrives at your door. It’s time to jump right in and make the gorgeous, Instagram-ready project you’ve been dreaming of, right? Hold on there, sailor, because we’ve got some news for you: While your magnets can be useful and educational, they also have a few limitations. If you find yourself making any of these magnet mistakes, you may actually damage your magnets. Continue reading →

You may not realize it, but if you carry cash, you’re also carrying around a wallet full of magnets. This is also true if you have a checkbook. Magnetic ink is used in both paper money and checks to keep them secure by deterring things like forgery and counterfeiting. And while magnets are constantly used in the world of innovation and new ideas, magnetized money has remained virtually unchanged since it was first introduced. Continue reading →

If you’re unfamiliar with the ultra-popular BBC scifi show, Doctor Who, the series follows the unnamed Doctor travelling through space and time in his blue box (TARDIS) and saving the universe time and time again. Like many science fiction series, Doctor Who employs a lot of imaginative, if not inconceivable, technology. There’s the TARDIS itself, which any Whovian will tell you is bigger on the inside; the Doctor’s trusty sonic screwdriver that’s capable of unlocking almost any door; and psychic paper that shows the reader exactly what they want to see. Yes, the tech in Doctor Who is what you’d expect from a show about time travel and aliens. This piqued our interest. Surely there had to be some instances of magnetism in its historic 50 years on air! We’ve searched space and time to bring you our favorite magnets from Doctor Who: Continue reading →

Since 1962, James Bond has marvelled audiences with his debonair charm, world-saving feats, and of course, his amazing gadgets! While the list of gadgets is certainly extensive, one very devoted blogger examined all 24 films for any magnetic tech .007 has used on Her Majesty’s secret service. Continue reading →

Magnetic hard drives store so much personal information in this day and age. So how do you get rid of them securely when your computer’s time is up? According to Tim McIntyre, program manager at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Electrical and Electronics Systems Research Division, 115 million hard drives will reach the end of their use in 2016 alone. Why not put them to good use? Especially when that use does wonders for the world of magnets. Continue reading →

We use the word “magnetism” quite a bit. In general, magnetism is thought of as the simple attraction of two metals. However, magnetism is much more nuanced than this. Magnetism is classified in several different ways. It all comes down to the atoms that make up each element or compound. Furthermore, it depends on the charge of those atoms’ electrons and how they react (if at all) to magnetic fields. Physicist Michael Faraday determined that all objects are either diamagnetic (and repel magnetic fields) or paramagnetic (attract magnetic fields). Continue reading →

Back in 2003, The Toy Industry Association released its Century of Toys List. This comprehensive roll call looks at toys and playthings from nearly 100 years of American history. There are familiar faces for each generation. Continue reading →