The Oxygen Conundrum In Space 

In what was only thought possible in a scene out of The Martian, scientists are harnessing the power of magnets to do something never before attempted: turn CO2 into breathable oxygen for astronauts. Utilizing new research on magnetic phase separation in microgravity, a team of international scientists believes they have discovered the next big advancement in space exploration. Currently, NASA's technology to keep astronauts breathing for long-term periods of time in space involves what is known as an oxygen generation system (EOGS), which is both an expensive and complex process. While effective, the EOGS process employs the use of an electrolytic cell capable of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.  The caveat is that those gasses must be removed or the entire system fails. NASA’s solution is a highly advanced centrifuge system that forces the gasses out of the machine. And while effective, the system is also inefficient, requiring a significant amount of power and maintenance, prompting a pursuit for a better solution using magnets.

How Magnets Are Being Used to Make Oxygen In Space

While the concept of using magnets to produce oxygen in space is not new, the technology to test its practicality is. Due to the earth’s gravitational pull, experimentation has been a distant dream for scientists, until now. A long-awaited technological breakthrough, The Center for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) located in Germany, offers the capabilities needed to stimulate microgravity conditions at a special drop tower facility. Stunning scientists around the world, this international team of experts succeeded in "detaching gas bubbles from electrode surfaces in microgravity environments". The first of its kind, the study revealed that "gas bubbles can be attracted to and repelled from a simple neodymium magnet in microgravity by immersing them in different types of aqueous solutions". Given its initial success in trials, Professor Hanspeter Schaub of the University of Colorado Boulder believes the implications of such success could impact the future of space exploration in as little as a few years!

Out Of This World Applications And Everything In Between

Whether you are using magnets to discover the next big scientific breakthrough, or simply to organize your cluttered closet, their applications are vast. Learn more about how magnets are impacting the world we live in, or find crafty creations to fill your weekend when you visit our blog and sign up for our monthly newsletter. Featuring DIY projects, magnetic experiments, facts, crafts, and so much more, be the first to know the latest magnetic news! Have a question? Our experts are standing by to assist you. Contact us, today!