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[Freddy]

This is probably the coolest thing I have ever seen. 

Quantum Levitation

[Diesel]

I wonder how that works ?. Any idea anyone ?.

[Data]

Wow that is an amazing video, some how I get the feeling this type of thing is going to open many new doorways.

Me and Snowy have had conversations about superconductors in the past, mainly me listening to Snowy I admit, but its good to see it in action.

@ Diesel, ask Snowy 

[Snowcrash]

Didn't you hear? It's quantum locking. 

I have never heard of this either. I have seen various things (strawberry, grasshopper) levitated using magnets and things.
I have never seen a magnet work upsidedown when repelling. Very weird. Good find.

There must be some cool tech to come of this and other superconducting effects.

I want it all, I want it all and I want it now. (Queen)

[Freddy]

Found this : http://www.zmescience.com....

[Freddy]

Some more people playing with this phenomenon :

MagSurf : Skate supraconducteur Université Paris 7 hoverboard

[DaveMorton]

You know? That's the first time I've seen a (somewhat) practical application for super-conductive levitation. In every other video I've ever seen, it's always a tiny, frozen disk, floating above a few rare-earth magnets. This video, short as it is, is well and away the coolest one I've seen!

[Snowcrash]

What we all want is a superconducting maglev train. The problem is building miles of track with all the cryogenics. I assume the cost is prohibitive and I'm sure maintainence would be an issue.

The only stats I remember is when CERN went from normal magnets to superconducting magnets (the ring before the LHC). They doubled the power of the ring and used 1/4 of the electricity overall. That's inculding all the cryo.

We need to understand the 'why' of superconductivity better.

[Freddy]

Here's a new video using this, quite cool (no pun intended)...

Controlled Quantum Levitation on a Wipe'Out Track

[DaveMorton]

Ok, where do I sign up to get one of those?

That's got to be one of the coolest "Inner Geek" toys EVER!!!

[Snowcrash]

Way better than scalectrics or TCR.

I want one!

[Carl2]

  Back in the 1970's I worked with liquid nitrogen, never thought of putting a magnet near it.  I remember reading liquid oxygen becomes magnetic when cold enough.
  Never learned what a magnet was to my satisfaction, when I asked I was told think of it as a whole bunch of little magnets lined up in the big magnet. 
Carl2

[DaveMorton]

That has got to be the single most UNhelpful explanation of a magnet that I've ever heard of. O.O

Briefly, when the molecules in certain elements/alloys are aligned in a certain way, the individual magnetic fields that these molecules naturally produce also get aligned, causing the fields to join and intensify. Get enough of them to align within the piece of material they're making up, and you have a magnet. There are several ways to "make" a magnet, even some that anyone can do. Just take a simple nail, and a magnet, and rub the magnet in one direction repeatedly against one end of the nail, and this will cause a tiny number of the molecules in the nail to align temporarily, creating a weak magnet from the nail. You can use it to pick up paper clips, staples, or other small ferrous (iron, or iron-like) metal objects.

(BTW, even my explanation is exceedingly primitive, but at least it's better than the "tiny magnets, bigger magnets" explanation, which, while true, isn't very informative)

[Freddy]

I remember this from my Physics teacher too... you can make a weak magnet using the Earth's magnetic field.  Lay a piece of metal aligned to North South and hit it with a hammer a lot of times.  This makes the molecules jump around and they will fall into place.  Then eventually you have a magnet...never tried it no.

[Data]

Talking of magnets have you guys heard of Rare-earth magnets?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earth_magnet

I noticed that they have started using them in loud speakers, on a shopping channel they showed how powerful they are, a guy put two together and couldn’t pull them apart no matter how hard he tried.

They are also used in wind turbines and powerful motors.

[Today]

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