Tag Archives: magnet

Revolutionary Small Magnet Matches Strength of Large Magnets for the First Time

Posted on by
Reply

Even Small Magnets Can Be Extremely Powerful

ResonX/Jasmin Schoenzart

In a groundbreaking development, researchers have designed a magnet small enough to fit in your palm that rivals the strength of the world’s most powerful magnets.

High-performance magnets are crucial in various scientific fields, being utilized in applications ranging from MRI machines and particle accelerators to advanced nuclear fusion research. The strongest magnets available typically use superconductors, which are materials that conduct electricity nearly without loss.

However, most superconducting magnets are sizable. Often, their smaller counterparts share similar dimensions with traditional superconductors. Take for instance Star Wars‘ R2D2; at its largest, it resembles a two-story structure. According to Dr. Alexander Burns from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, his team has engineered a superconducting magnet capable of matching the strength of larger counterparts, yet it’s only 3.1 millimeters in diameter. They achieved this by coiling a thin tape made of a ceramic known as REBCO, which becomes superconducting at cryogenic temperatures, generating a magnetic field when current flows through the coils.

Dr. Burns stated that the team procured REBCO tape from a commercial source, embarking on a rigorous exploration to determine the optimal magnet design, which involved creating and testing over 150 prototypes. “We adopted a ‘fail fast, fail often’ approach in our strategy,” he noted.

Design and Strength Comparison

Eventually, they refined a design using two or four pancake-shaped coils, achieving magnetic field strengths of 38 Tesla and 42 Tesla, respectively. To provide context, conventional refrigerator magnets typically generate fields less than 0.01 Tesla. The most powerful magnets currently in existence generate field strengths of around 45 Tesla, each weighing several tons and consuming up to 30 megawatts of power. In contrast, Burns and his team’s magnet is hand-sized and operates on less than 1 watt.

The ultimate goal for this groundbreaking technology is to enhance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), a technique that utilizes magnetic fields to unveil molecular structures, including those of drugs and industrial catalysts. This technology has long been hindered by the large size and cost of traditional magnets, but the research team intends to democratize access to such advanced tools for chemists. Ongoing tests are being conducted to integrate the magnet into NMR setups.

“Historically, achieving magnetic fields exceeding 40 Tesla necessitated massive and costly facilities, making it crucial to utilize superconducting tape to attain similar strengths in a compact device,” stated Dr. Mark Ainslie from King’s College London. “This innovation indicates that ultra-high-field magnets may soon be accessible to a broader range of laboratories.”

Despite these advancements, several challenges remain before widespread adoption. Questions concerning how to maintain uniform magnetic fields and manage the electromagnetic behavior of the coils must be addressed.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Indulgent Habits Can Make You a Magnet for Mosquitoes

Posted on by
Reply

Mosquitoes may not bite indiscriminately

Hugh Sturrock/Alamy

Individuals who indulge in beer, practice poor hygiene, share beds, and skip sunscreen could be more attractive to mosquitoes, according to a study focused on festival attendees.

In their investigation of mosquito attraction, Sarah Lynn Blanken from Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, along with her team, attended the 2023 Lowlands Festival near Amsterdam. They surveyed 465 festivalgoers on their health habits, dietary choices, hygiene practices, sunscreen usage, substance consumption, blood type, and whether they had slept alone the previous night.

The researchers established a makeshift lab inside a shipping container with mosquitoes that had previously survived 1,700 prisoners of war (Anopheles Stephensi), which are capable of transmitting malaria.

While the mosquitoes sought to land on the participants, they couldn’t actually bite; 20-35 of the insects were placed in transparent plastic containers with perforated dividers to separate the arms of the participants from the mosquitoes.

The team recorded the number of times mosquitoes attempted to land on the arms of the festivalgoers for three minutes, comparing this to cotton pad decoys soaked in glucose.

“Mosquitoes showed a clear preference for individuals consuming hops and grapes, indicating a preference for well-hydrated bodies,” the researchers noted. “Those who drank beer experienced significantly more landings compared to individuals who were sober for at least 12 hours.”

Blanken highlighted, however, that this doesn’t mean she’s extending her beer consumption. “I just rely on long sleeves and insect repellent,” she stated.

The study also indicated that “participants who had companions in their tents the previous night seemed to attract more mosquitoes.” Sunscreen appeared to deter mosquitoes, likely by masking the scent of the skin or acting as a repellent. No evidence was found to suggest that different blood types influenced mosquito attraction or repulsion.

“Our findings indicate that mosquitoes were drawn to individuals who skimped on sunscreen, indulged in beer, and shared beds,” the team concluded. “They have a clear hedonistic preference among us.”

Festival participants place their arms in a partition where mosquitoes can try to land on them, but not actually do it

Roland Festival/National Wetenschapsagenda Netherlands

Cameron Webb from the University of Sydney mentioned that although it was an entertaining study, it involved only one species of mosquito, meaning the findings may not apply to others.

The researchers discovered that only four participants did not attract mosquitoes. “The key takeaway is that nearly all participants were alluring to mosquitoes seeking a blood meal, regardless of other variables,” Webb noted. “The reality is, as long as we focus on mosquito repellents and ponder why mosquitoes bite, we will still get bitten and increase our chances of encountering mosquito-borne diseases.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

I Tried Using a Magnet on My Face to Enhance Sleep—Here’s What Happened

Posted on by
Reply

“You always seem to make quite the racket in your sleep,” my dear wife says as we get ready for bed. “That’s why I need these.”

On her side, she has a heavy-duty earplug that fits snugly in her ears. On my side, I apply a magnetic strip on the bridge of my nose to see if it helps with the noise levels. Apparently, I’m a snorer (or so she tells me).

The reason I’m using a magnet on my face is to hopefully tackle this issue and improve her sleep. The strip is called Iro, and it costs £60. It’s a curved piece of hard plastic with magnets at both ends.

These magnets adhere to small magnets that attach to either side of my nose, just above it. The magnets gently lift my nostrils as they snap together. It’s an odd sensation, but not unpleasant. It almost feels like my airways are being mechanically eased open for better airflow.

The issue is right beneath your nose

So, why do I need such a device? One of the intriguing physical quirks I’ve discovered is that I have a deviated septum. This is likely why my wife depends on costly earplugs to get her beauty sleep.

A deviated septum (which about 70% of people have) is linked to snoring, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and a compromised sense of smell.

I can feel it when I press on my nose (for the sake of science, of course). My left nostril is significantly more open than my right. The tissue separating them (the aforementioned deviated septum) doesn’t run straight down the middle but instead leans to one side.

This misaligned wall made of bone and cartilage is why I snore and breathe through my mouth. A deviated septum hampers my airways; thus, I often feel like I’m not getting enough oxygen when I breathe through my nose.

A deviated nasal septum occurs when the thin wall dividing the nostrils leans to one side instead of being centered. – Photo credit: Getty

I dislike running because my breathing feels more labored than it should. While sleeping, I end up gulping erratic breaths, similar to snoring.

If that wasn’t enough, I also suffer from occasional night terrors, or sleep paralysis, which leaves me waking up feeling unable to move or breathe.

“Patients with a deviated septum can face numerous challenges,” says Professor Peter Andrews, Chairman of the British Nose Association. “They often resort to breathing through their mouths, which can negatively impact lung function.”

Andrews emphasizes the importance of breathing through the nose. “The nose acts as an air condenser designed to filter and condition air, making it better for oxygen exchange once it reaches the lungs. When your nose is blocked, efficient breathing becomes compromised.”

However, when your nasal passages are open, that’s not an issue. “If you can breathe through your nose at night, you shouldn’t, in theory, snore,” Andrews explains. Iro claims it enhances both breathing and sleep.

The company asserts it reduces snoring “in real-time,” doubles nasal airflow, and grants an additional hour of sleep each night.

read more:

Is breathing easy?

The first night wearing the Iro strip went remarkably well. Despite being attached to my face, it didn’t bother me or disrupt my sleep. It was quite comfortable. The next morning, my wife was astonished that she didn’t have to use earplugs for this test.

“I didn’t hear a sound from you,” she remarked.

The next night was a different story. I had night terrors right after falling asleep, and the following morning, my wife’s brow furrowed. “Last night didn’t go well at all,” she told me. “Not one bit.”

For better or worse, I didn’t notice any significant changes in sleep quality. When I checked the data from my Apple Watch, it confirmed that my overall sleep duration remained unchanged. I was averaging just under 6 hours a night with or without the Airo Strips.

No wonder I feel tired.

Interestingly, the watch tracked various stages of my sleep.

While the Apple Watch isn’t a clinical-quality sleep tracker, I noticed minimal variations in overall sleep duration. However, I found that I received over 30 minutes of REM sleep and about 20 minutes of deep sleep while wearing the Airo. It also seemed to shorten the instances of waking up throughout the night.

During the day, I tried them out at the gym while running. They remained comfortable, and I felt a difference in my airflow. I couldn’t tell if it improved my workout, though.

As I ran, the adhesive began to slip as I started to sweat, and the Airo shifted along the bridge of my nose.

Eventually, I had to remove it before it fell off, but before that, I felt I could breathe more freely.

“The nasal strip definitely contributes to opening the airways,” notes Andrews. Airo’s magnetic strips come in one design. Adhesive strips placed on the nose serve a similar purpose, but other aids are designed to fit inside the nostrils, effectively opening the airways. Research indicates they may help diminish snoring, but overall sleep improvement results are varied.

My wife may not be a sleep expert, but she is open to longer trials, even with mixed results.

Case study

subject: 43-year-old man, snoring treatment

Abstract: Can magnetic nasal strips enhance sleep quality and alleviate night terrors?

test: Quantitative sleep data monitored on my Apple Watch; qualitative sleep data recorded by my spouse.

result: No change in total sleep duration, but improvements in REM and deep sleep. Mixed results on subjective sleep satisfaction.

About our experts

Professor Peter Andrews serves as the chairman of the British Rhinology Society at University College London, UK, and is a professor of reform at the University of London. He has contributed to esteemed journals like Facial Plastic Surgery, Diagnosis, and OTO RHINO European Archives of Laryngology.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Apple Secures $500 Million Rare Earth Magnet Deal with U.S. Mining Firm

Posted on by
Reply

Apple has entered into a $500 million agreement with a US company specializing in rare earth magnets, crucial for the production of electronic devices, following China’s reduction in rare and essential material exports.

This support comes after MP Materials, which runs the only rare earth mine in the US, finalized a multi-billion dollar agreement with the US Department of Defense last week, making the Pentagon its largest shareholder. Both agreements aim to address supply chain vulnerabilities after China limited its rare earth exports earlier this year in response to Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

The deal, revealed on Tuesday, guarantees Apple a consistent supply of rare earth magnets from China, the world’s leading producer. Analysts noted that the cost of bolstering US magnet production is minimal compared to the long-term risk of completely losing access to vital components for Apple.

“We are currently in an era where executives are willing to invest significantly for a dependable supply chain. They want to avoid interruptions,” remarked Greserin Bascaran, director of the Centre for Strategic and International Research’s Centre for Key Mineral Security Program.

Rare earth elements, a collection of 17 metals, are vital for creating powerful magnets, which are found in devices that vibrate mobile phones, as well as in weaponry, electric vehicles, and numerous other electronic products.

China imposed export limitations on rare earths in April in reaction to Trump’s tariffs. In June, the US and China reached an accord that settled many disputes over rare earths, but broader trade tensions still emphasize the need for non-Chinese supplies.

Under the agreement, Apple will prepay $20 million to MP for magnets due to start delivery in 2027. The duration of the transaction and the quantity of magnets involved were not disclosed by the company.

The agreement stipulates that magnets will be produced from recycled materials, aligning with Apple’s longstanding commitment to reducing dependence on mining. The magnets will be processed using operations in Fort Worth, MP, Texas, and recycled at Mountain Pass, MP, California.

“Rare earth materials are critical for developing advanced technologies, and this collaboration will enhance the availability of these essential materials in the United States,” stated Apple CEO Tim Cook in a statement.

Since the government announced its deal, MP Material’s stock price has nearly doubled. This is a notable turnaround from last year when CEO Jim Richinski expressed frustration over rare earth pricing that led to the merger with Australian competitors.

Bob O’Donnell, president of market research firm Technalysis Research, noted that Tuesday’s development is “entirely significant,” given Apple’s substantial requirement for rare earth magnets in its devices.

Skip past newsletter promotions

“Additionally, by prioritizing US-based suppliers, we will help position Apple more proactively within Washington,” he added.

Apple stated that this agreement forms part of a four-year, $500 million investment commitment towards the US, while facing threats from Trump regarding an iPhone not manufactured in the US. Nevertheless, many analysts argue creating an iPhone in the US is impractical, given labor costs and the existing smartphone supply chain.

While Apple did not specify which devices will utilize the magnets, MP mentioned that this deal will provide magnets for hundreds of millions of devices, significantly impacting Apple’s product lineup.

MP expects to start producing mined and processed rare earth materials and commercial magnet production at its Texas facility by the end of this year.

Source: www.theguardian.com