Magnetism

An experimental maglev train has crashed in Germany killing 23 and bringing the future of such systems into doubt.

The accident is reported to be due to human error, and occured when the train struck a maintenance vehicle while travelling at 125mph. Wreckage was scattered over a wide area.

Only one of these magnetically propelled trains is operational worldwide. Located in Shanghai the train connects the Pudong International Airport and the Lujiazui financial district.

This video gives you some idea of how it feels to travel over 300 miles an hour, on a vehicle that floats on a magnetic forcefield 0.4 inch above the track.

Posted by Lodestone at 02:03 AM | Permalink

A rather intriguing declassified 1946 British Intelligence report draws the following conclusions about Hans Coler's Stromzeuger, a magnetism based energy "producing" apparatus.

The project was reportedly supported by Hitler's Admiralty. A diagram from the report follows

Report conclusions:

1. It was judged that Coler was an honest experimenter and not a fraud, and due respect must be paid to the judgment of Frohlich in the matter as deduced from his report to Seysen.

2. The result obtained was genuine in so far as could be tested with the facilities available, but no attempt has yet been made to find an explanation for the phenomenon.

3. It is felt that further investigation by an expert in electromagnetic theory is warranted, and that Coler’s offer to construct a model of the "Stromzeuger" should be taken up.

Posted by Lodestone at 02:34 PM | Permalink

The finger below belongs to an individual who "had magnets implanted in my fingertips in order to allow me to sense electromagnetic fields".

Well that could come in useful no doubt. But in this case it, wasn't so, well, handy.

While agressively opening a jar of pickles, one of the magnets split. The split magnet spilled potentially cytotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic neodymium particles into the body.

Nasty.

As one would expect, extraction was deemed necessary.

NOTE: The following linked pages include rather bloodcurdling images.

This page deals with the logic and logistics of getting magnet implants

And this page deals with how to get your magnet implants out when it all goes horribly wrong.

Posted by Lodestone at 01:24 PM | Permalink

New safety concerns have arisen over a toy called Magnetix, a popular toy building set.

The toy is suspected to have played a part in the death of two year old Kenny Sweet. An autopsy revealed two magnets from the toy he'd swallowed had pinched his small intestine shut. As a result bacteria was forced into the bloodstream killing him.

And a five-year-old boy is in serious condition in a Seattle hospital after doctors say he swallowed two small magnets from the toy.

Sad indeed.

Posted by Lodestone at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

An MRI machine produces a magnetic field between 5,000 and 20,000 gauss (10,000 gauss = 1 tesla). Magnetic fields greater than two tesla are not approved for use in medical imaging.

Compare that with the 0.5-gauss magnetic field of the Earth (the force that pulls compasses around) and you can see how incredibly powerful these magnets are.

In fact the magnetism in an MRI is strong enough to cause scalpels, watches and even beds to fly across a room into its massive field.

The story of a floor polisher being pulled into an MRI even made into newspapers.

But nothing demonstrates that power as graphically as this shot.

Those floor pallets are very heavy. Especially when fully loaded like the one depicted.

Posted by Lodestone at 05:16 AM | Permalink

You're looking at things that some people don't believe really exist.

They're cow magnets.

Each is 1/2” diameter and 3” long

These things are used by dairy farmers and veterinarians to help prevent Hardware Disease.

And no, Hardware Disease is not something your PC picks up from the web.

While grazing, cows eat everything from grass and dirt to nails, staples and bits of bailing wire (referred to as tramp iron). Tramp iron tends to lodge in the honeycombed walls of the reticulum, threatening the surrounding vital organs and causing irritation and inflammation, known as Hardware Disease.

The cow loses her appetite and decreases milk output or her ability to gain weight. Cow magnets help prevent this disease by attracting stray metal from the folds and crevices of the rumen and reticulum.

One magnet reportedly works for the life of the cow.

No word on how you convince a cow to swallow this thing.

Posted by Lodestone at 01:03 PM | Permalink

A magnetic storm is brewing at this website over "parallel path electromagnetism", described as a new technology from Flynn Research.

This is explained as a method of controlling and directing magnetic flux within the core of a motor to provide an exponentially greater motive force than conventional motors.

The promotors of this technology claim it will lead to powerful and highly-efficient electric motors.

Others say phooey. It's just another perpetual motion machine based on poor science. Sadly, this is more likely explanation.

The so-called "new" technology was patented by Flynn Research in 1998, and their website looks like it was abandoned shortly afterwards.

Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

Posted by Lodestone at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Here's an innovative use of our favorite fundamental force.

China has unveiled the world's first permanent magnetic suspension wind power generator in the city of Guangzhou.

It sounds like a mean green dream machine indeed.

The thing reportedly costs a tenth of the traditional wind generator, needs much less wind to operate, and can generate 20% more power.

It's reckoned that these will one day be used to power street lamps and zap power into the grid.

It may also be a good idea to locate one in front of the mouth of your local politician.

Posted by Lodestone at 12:19 PM | Permalink