6 Ways That Magnets Are About to Change Our Lives

attracter . You already know what they are and everything about them . Or do you ? Magnets are important to many more emerge technology than you might expect . The tried - and - true magnet is about to change everything – from how we drive and handle cancer to how we play sports .

1. Maglev Trains

Lightning - riotous trains that hover using magnets , like this one in Japan see in 2010 , are positioned to be the next major transportation find . Credit : Getty

Earlier this year , Japanbroke a Earth speed recordfor a railroad train : 366 miles an hour . How ’d they do it ? magnet , of course of action .

Japan used a maglev gearing : a special type of in high spirits - speed string that nixes wheel for magnets . How do magnets help trains go quicker ? It ’s pretty simple-minded : Friction is all winnow out . The trains hover above the rails , wheel - spare , and are pulled along at nutso speeds using electromagnets .

Here ’s how Japan ’s Guinness - worthytrainworksusing the Graeco-Roman principle of magnetic repugnance . The forces being repelled from one another are the train ’s onboard superconducting magnets and magnetic coils in the sides of the surrounding guide track . These opposing personnel with alternating north and south poles create a push button - and - pull effect that impel it forward .

Also built into the usher track are more coils that become electromagnets as those superconducting magnets aboard the gear pass through . This creates a 2d push - and - drag force that lifts the train a few inch off the ground . ( Those guide rail that cradle Japan ’s maglev are U - mould to keep derailments . )

Thanks to this simple whimsey in magnets and physics , magnetic levitation trains are greener , faster , quieter , and fork up smoother rides than traditional power train .

High - speed runway has existed in developed countriesthe world over for decades , but these winking - and - you’ll - miss-’em maglev models mark the next stage of geartrain evolution . In fact , when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the US in the first place this year on a diplomatical misstep , he said he wants the Japanese government to help build a maglev train link up Baltimore and Washington , DC . Since magnets entail fully grown infrastructural project , they mean bragging business , too .

Countries ‘ polish the Earth have all jump pursuing this new transportation technical school , as well . Shanghai ’s beenrunning a maglevin China for over a 10 , and Seoul ’s Incheon Airport will frolic a smaller graduated table magnetic levitation trainof its ownstarting this summer .

2. Hoverboards

The Hendo Hoverboard by Arx Pax is shown here in 2014 . It ’s a commercial hoverboard that uses magnets to swim about an inch from terra firma . Credit : AP

Earlier this calendar month , Lexusdebuted itshoverboardSlide ( whichJalopniktested ) , achieving what was thought to be unattainable : Though heavy and clumsy , it was a ridable , skateboard - alike aim that actually floated an column inch off the ground . Lexusdescribesthe board as “ assembling maglev technology onto a board . ” Gizmodo tested another hoverboard using exchangeable maglev engineering calledHendo .

The body of Lexus ’s circuit board contains superconductors beleaguer by liquid atomic number 1 reservoirs that plummet the superconductors to -322 degrees Fahrenheit , plus two magnets on each end of the board . The board is aim on a story with magnets built into it , and lifts the board in a similar way to a maglev train .

Do n’t get us wrong ; there ’s still plenty to be questioning of . These boards are voiceless to navigate , can only hover under certain term , and the battery in the one we tried died lickety split . But , as is the case with those supertrains popping up across the planet , attraction mean bad things for tomorrow ’s transportation – not to refer tomorrow ’s toy .

Image : Gizmodo

3. Cancer-detecting Pills

pathologist , like this one examine biopsy samples , might one day be able-bodied to harness the mogul of magnetized fields to help fight cancer cells in humans . Credit : Shutterstock

Emerging technology often seem like moonshots at first , and Google X ’s armoury of out - there project is no exception . One in particular uses magnets in a really cool , surprising style : Stick ‘ em in smallpillsto sniff out mortal disease in the human body .

How does it make ? The solution lies in magnetic nanoparticles — preposterously small particles hold back a harmless magnetic cloth that would attach themselves to circularize genus Cancer cells in a patient role ’s bloodstream . Google wants to grow a swallowable pad filled with these nanoparticles that would , upon consumption , cruise the exploiter ’s bloodstream in search for cancerous cells . Those findings would be relayed back to a wearable sensing element on the wrist , where the bewitch , Crab - observe nanoparticles would pull together . This would help oneself doctors find malignant neoplastic disease early in patient .

Other folk have go after attracter as Crab - busting top-notch weapons , as well . In2012 , South Korean investigator state they came up with a style to utilize a magnetised field to actually demolish cancerous cells . That ’s advantageous to chemo , they said , since chemotherapy can also inadvertently harm noncancerous cells in the body .

4. Concussion-proof Football Helmets

Denver Broncos strong safety David Bruton being plow for suspected concussion deep last yr in a match against the Oakland Raiders . Credit : Getty

Magnet technology is even mouse its way into sports . By using magnets in protective train in American football , the industriousness could best prevent concussions and other serious head injury among its players .

Football used to be straight up deadly , as Sciencereportedlast November . When those indulgent , leather helmet of yore were switch for polycarbonate helmet shells , the number of fatalities go way down . Still , America ’s most - watched sportsman has been under intense fire recently , and rightfully so : Last class , 123 concussions werereportedin the NFL , most of them receive by justificative players . Now , football helmets might be on the scepter of another design revolution .

severe helmet protect skulls , but still go away mental capacity vulnerable to combat injury since they just drift in intellectual spinal fluid . But Raymond Colello , a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University , insist that adding lightweight magnets to the front and sides of all football game helmets could play as “ brakes ” in head - to - caput collisions , Science reports . As two player come on either mid - fishing gear , the magnetized helmets slimly drive each other , decreasing the thou - force that would rack up each player ’s head in the hit .

Of course , this only safeguards against bean - to - noodle traumas , not noggin - to - genu , say . But Colello ’s plan could provide engineering science that might importantly quash the overall act of concussion sustained among instrumentalist in an incredibly dangerous sport .

5. Controlling Heat and Sound

This year , scientists proved magnets can cook the amount of warmth traveling through a semiconducting material . credit entry : The Ohio State University

It sound like an ten - Men subplot , but scientists late showed that charismatic fields can be used manipulate warmth and sound .

Researchers at the Ohio State Universityannouncedearlier this class that they can control heat energy with magnetic study . But their find affects auditory sensation , too . They examined the magnetized prop of phonons , which are subatomic particle that air both strait and estrus . Using an MRI - sized magnetic playing area , they controlled the behavior of phonons and lower the amount of heat that flowed through a semiconductor machine by 12 percent . Their body of work is a cock-a-hoop deal because it shows that magnetic subject can rig heat in materials that are n’t traditionally charismatic , like ice , charge plate , or stone . presently , however , doing so requires a giving - ass magnet .

The squad also said they could conduct sound wave magnetically – again , if the magnetic field was healthy enough .

Until now , phonons were n’t as extensively hit the books as say , photons . But their heat and sound both involve atoms vibrating – expression of the same configuration of quantum mechanic zip , the university says . The university admits that this discovery is still largely bound to labs . The experiment used a 7 - tesla magnet , which are n’t just growing on trees out in the real world , and also involved cool the phonons to near infrangible zero in fiat to slow their motion for study . ( Hoverboard and maglev trains need wicked cold temperature to activate attractive feature ’ potential , as well . )

Still , it ’s a fully grown discovery that could make scientist seriously reassess the way they reckon at and study phonons . Using charismatic fields to steer heat and sound could open a lot of doors in energy output down the route .

6. Roads for Self-Driving Cars

Volvo announced last yr project to apply magnets that can help aline self - driving cars on the road . acknowledgment : Volvo

Driverless vehicles are currently the hottestrace among technical school companies , auto company , and startups of all stripes . And it ’s becoming a more crowded arena all the metre . But given howaccident - pronethese human - free chariot might be , we need to make certain our main road are ready for their widespread arrival . Again : cue the magnets .

Volvoannouncedlast yr that it had completed a research project that showed the advantages of implanting magnetic sensing element in street . These could do as “ tracks ” to aid guide the society ’s self - drive cars . These magnets have an boundary over other technology , like GPS , which might fuzz out in certain condition and can sometimes be unreliable .

Plus , we ’ve still yet to full sympathise how self - drive elevator car perform in untoward conditions like rainwater or nose candy . But Volvo says these magnets can assist driverless cars sail that kind of gross weather , too . While ego - drive railway car can function without these magnet - embedded ace street , they would provide a nice complement .

Of naturally , they also acquaint acolossal infrastructural challenge : Like the Slide hoverboard , Volvo ’s plan involves specially design tracks that would be ready for the fomite beforehand of time . Having to totally vamp the roads — and build some from scratch — might make the technology way more hassle than it ’s deserving .

you’re able to see the challenge that many of these magnet - orient engineering brass going forrad : Idiosyncratic substructure , monstrously low temperature , and other tricky requirements must be meet in rules of order for magnet to work this kind of magic .

Starship Test 9

But , like all emerging technologies , once these undertaking gradually start out to leave the science laboratory and approach commercialisation , we ’ll see humans unlocking magnets ’ potential in a ton of sectors , from sports to practice of medicine and , peculiarly , to fare .

The most familiar tools can sometimes afford the most astonishing results . The time to come has prominent plans for magnets , and they go way beyond your fridge door .

Image by Jim Cooke

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