| Magnetic forces are among the most potent | | | | charlatan-driven 'medicine' arose. Magnets |
| power sources in the known universe. And just | | | | were said to be able to cure anything, though |
| like the force of (1)gravity, magnetic forces | | | | their track record in that arena was utterly |
| are ever-present, constantly at work, and | | | | disastrous. |
| they have a dramatic impact on our daily | | | | |
| lives. In fact, were it not for magnetism and | | | | Even today we are flooded with magical and |
| all of its inherent forces, our species would | | | | mystical cures based on magnetism. |
| not (could not) exist on this planet. | | | | Unfortunately, they do not bear up well under |
| | | | scientific inspection, or even close |
| We owe our existence to magnetism | | | | scrutiny. But there are some amazing |
| | | | applications of magnetism in modern medicine. |
| At the center of our small solar system | | | | The most commonly known implementation of |
| resides a massive nuclear power plant. We | | | | magnetism is surely MRI (magnetic resonance |
| call it the Sun. It is a rather puny, | | | | imaging), which allows physicians to see |
| mediocre star - as stars go. Still, its | | | | incredibly clear, quasi-3D images of the |
| constant, countless nuclear explosions create | | | | inner workings of the human body - and |
| unimaginable forces, one of which is referred | | | | without radiation. |
| to as the 'solar winds.' By the time these | | | | |
| radiation-laden solar winds reach Earth, they | | | | The uses and applications of magnetism are |
| are still hundreds of thousands of degrees, | | | | constantly growing, and constantly yielding |
| and traveling at about 1,000,000 miles per | | | | some amazing products and tools. The hard |
| hour. Yes - that's one MILLION miles per | | | | drive in your computer uses magnetism to |
| hour. That equates to about 16,666 miles per | | | | write and read your files. Magnetism is |
| minute, or 278 miles per second. Were it not | | | | responsible for the electric motors that run |
| for the Earth's natural magnetism, and | | | | everything from your car's windshield wipers |
| massive magnetic field, the solar winds would | | | | to your office escalator. Magnetism is used |
| course unimpeded over the planet's surface. | | | | to manufacture traffic light signal changers, |
| Remove the Earth's magnetism and our | | | | such as the industry pioneering Signal |
| beautiful blue planet would instantly become | | | | Sorcerer - legally used worldwide on vehicles |
| an uninhabitable place teeming with intense | | | | to trigger traffic signals. Magnetism keeps |
| radiation, unbelievable winds, and | | | | your kitchen cabinets closed, and tells your |
| temperatures capable of melting or | | | | icemaker when to refill. Magnetic locks are |
| disintegrating almost everything. | | | | famous for being secure, and magnetic sensors |
| | | | called "inductive loops" sense everything |
| Magnetism was one of the first controllable | | | | from baskets of goods in automated packing |
| power sources that man became aware of. Then, | | | | systems, to traffic waiting at intersections. |
| only naturally occurring magnets were present | | | | |
| in the form of (2)lodestone. And while it is | | | | Magnetic magic |
| clear that humans became aware of magnetism | | | | |
| thousands of years ago, it was not until much | | | | There are places in the world where small |
| more recently that the powers were | | | | hills have large magnetite deposits in them - |
| implemented for the benefit of the species. | | | | towards the top. This means that when iron is |
| Save for folklore-based applications, the | | | | placed at the bottom of the hills or |
| first known practical use of magnetism was in | | | | inclines, it will 'defy' gravity and move |
| the making of the compass - an invention of | | | | upward! One such hill in Mexico is said to be |
| the Chinese in the 12th century AD. | | | | able to pull a small car up the hill in |
| | | | direct defiance of the Big G. Needless to |
| An early application of magnetism | | | | say, great legends have arisen over time |
| | | | about these inclines. |
| The Chinese used lodestones as early as the | | | | |
| 4th century AD in a divination ritual called | | | | The most famous magnetic magic of all is the |
| "Geomancy." Geomancy, which is believed to be | | | | Aurora Borealis - aka the Northern Lights. |
| of Arabic origin, is about 'reading' various | | | | Under specific conditions, at the ends of the |
| natural markings on the ground, or by having | | | | earth's magnetic field, one can observe the |
| someone throw dirt in the air, and then | | | | solar winds passing overhead in a brilliant |
| reading the 'signs' created by the pattern of | | | | display of color and light. These openings in |
| the dirt after it falls to the ground. There | | | | the earth's magnetic field can also be |
| are absolute ties between Geomancy and | | | | deadly. Records have shown that people, and |
| various religious belief structures. By using | | | | perhaps even small villages have been sucked |
| lodestones in the practice of Geomancy, the | | | | up into space by these amazingly beautiful, |
| Chinese were able to create exciting, unique | | | | unbelievably powerful natural phenomenon. |
| readable patterns that were unmatched by any | | | | |
| other civilization of the era. Part of the | | | | Magnetism and transportation |
| allure of this practice in China was the fact | | | | |
| that the dirt could move 'on its own,' even | | | | Magnetism plays such a huge part in the world |
| after it had hit the ground. Subtle shifts in | | | | of transportation that it's hard to know |
| gentle winds, or small vibrations on the | | | | which things to mention. Magnets are used |
| ground were enough to cause the stationery | | | | throughout vehicles nowadays. Of course they |
| dirt to move - right in front of the eyes of | | | | run all the electric motors that control |
| believers. | | | | windshield wipers, fans, etc. They also are |
| | | | used to control sensors in transmissions, |
| Prehistoric navigation with magnetism | | | | gearboxes, shifters, fuel systems, and more. |
| | | | Motorcycles, mopeds, and smaller vehicles |
| There is bacterium that is composed of single | | | | have benefited greatly from the newest |
| pieces of magnetite that form a string inside | | | | applications of magnets. One giant leap for |
| of its microscopic-sized body. It is actually | | | | automotive technology has been the invention |
| a "living magnet" as the majority of its bulk | | | | of magnetic oil filtration systems such as |
| is comprised of the magnetite pieces. The | | | | the universal fit Engine Sentry. These little |
| creation of minerals inside of living | | | | spheres drop into your disposable oil filter, |
| organisms is not uncommon. The teeth and | | | | and using the immutable forces of magnetics, |
| bones of humans, for example, are minerals | | | | provide a wealth of benefits - starting with |
| formed by, and inside of, living tissues. | | | | 2-5 TIMES the engine life. It's simple, |
| These have only recently been discovered, and | | | | really. The abrasive particles of steel that |
| it took an electron microscope set at | | | | wear engines down, rob them of power, and are |
| 100,000x to see the miniscule magnetite | | | | way too small for conventional oil filters to |
| chains. Many animals, including humans, have | | | | seine out, are effectively plucked from the |
| similar magnetic components. It is widely | | | | re-circulating oil. And let us not forget |
| believed that because some animals are | | | | about all those tiny specialty magnets that |
| clearly using magnetism for their navigation, | | | | are at the hearts of all the computer |
| such as the notorious homing pigeons, that | | | | technology inside of our modern vehicles. No |
| magnetic tissues and minerals exist for the | | | | doubt, magnetism has made an indelible and |
| host's navigational purposes. Recently, some | | | | eminently worthwhile mark on automotive |
| researchers have started to think it's there | | | | technology. |
| for much more than just helping us find | | | | |
| north. It is quite possible that magnetism, | | | | The future of magnetism in the world |
| for example, guides the directional growth | | | | |
| and strength of bones in humans. In humans, | | | | The sky's the limit - really! It has been |
| by the way, these tiny living magnetic | | | | proffered that if a perpetual motion machine |
| systems are in our brains - and maybe in | | | | is possible, it will run on magnetism. And |
| other places as well. | | | | there is some extremely promising research |
| | | | which implements magnetism to drive |
| Oddly, humans still don't really know how | | | | starships. It's an incredible concept that |
| magnetism works - anymore than we know how | | | | seems to only require some creative |
| gravity works. We have equations to express | | | | engineering. Magnets are awesome sources of |
| both, and rules to follow regarding both - | | | | power that have unbelievably long lives. If |
| but we really don't know how they work. It | | | | you go to your local hardware store and buy a |
| was not until the mid-20th century that man | | | | small ceramic magnet, it will likely retain |
| actually started to get a solid understanding | | | | its power for something like 10,000 years. |
| of the rules of magnetism, and ways to | | | | AND if you break it in half, each half is |
| implement it. In 1950, the average American | | | | just as powerful as the other - though the |
| household had fewer than five magnets | | | | poles will instantly reverse on both pieces. |
| employed. By the end of the century, the | | | | |
| average household employed hundreds of | | | | Magnetism is interesting and amazing. It |
| magnets. They are everywhere in our culture | | | | drives and improves our lives in ways most |
| today - controlling and powering and amazing. | | | | people never even know. It saves lives, keeps |
| | | | our foods cold, or cooks them, protects our |
| Magnetism and marriage | | | | fragile planet, and someday, may be the |
| | | | source of power that drives vast fleets of |
| It was once believed, and not that long ago, | | | | interstellar vehicles through space - on |
| that if you placed a piece of lodestone under | | | | trade and discovery missions to other worlds. |
| the pillow of your spouse while they slept, | | | | Beam me up, Scotty! |
| in the morning, they would voluntarily tell | | | | |
| all about their illicit, extra-marital | | | | (1) Early man actually engaged the force of |
| affairs. They say all folklore has a basis in | | | | gravity in a number of ways. One way he |
| fact - one's mind boggles at contemplating | | | | engaged it was to drive large animals over |
| how this one got started... | | | | cliffs to kill them, instead of risking |
| | | | injury in a direct confrontation. Also, a |
| Magnetism and medicine | | | | rock or log rolled down a hill, courtesy of |
| | | | gravity, makes and excellent defensive |
| Late 1700's, a Frenchman named Franz Anton | | | | weapon. |
| (3)Mesmer announced that he had discovered | | | | |
| "animal magnetism." But not the way we use it | | | | (2) Also spelled "loadstone." Herein |
| colloquially - meaning when one person | | | | referring to: oxide Fe3 O4 - the mineral form |
| attracts another. Franz Anton Mesmer believed | | | | of iron known as "magnetite." |
| the magnetism of the earth flowed around and | | | | |
| through people. If it flowed correctly, you | | | | (3) Franz Mesmer's actions did have one good |
| were healthy. If it didn't, you got sick. He | | | | effect. Because of his readings about the |
| treated people by rubbing them with magnets. | | | | works of Mesmer, a physician named James |
| He held "séances," during which the | | | | Braid pioneered hypnosis in 1842. This is |
| participants sat around a vat of sulfuric | | | | largely why some people still interchange |
| acid (H2 SO4) holding lengths of iron. It was | | | | (incorrectly) the words "hypnosis" and |
| said they were "Mesmerized." As a result of | | | | "Mesmerize. |
| this man's activities, an entire branch of | | | | |