Gizmodo: anti-gravity

NASA's New Super-Magnet Is So Strong It Could Make Lab Rats Levitate

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

NASA scientists have created an magnetic field powerful enough to make lab mice levitate, which is a big Where's My Back to the Future Skateboard breakthrough. The only problem is that the mice have to be high as kites too.

Scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, have created a superconducting magnet that generates enough energy to lift lab rats animals off the floor. While there were experiments with tiny animals like frogs and bugs before, this is the first time they have made a large animal like this fly under these conditions. The magnet pushes the water inside the mice up, making them fly.

The amazing fact is that the JPL magnet works at room temperature (Correction: the space the rat is in is room temp, not the magnet) ~~—not the ultra-cooled down environments typical of these magnets~~—and it's powerful enough to make these rodents levitate, something that wasn't possible before.

The mice were high in more than one way, though. According to researcher Yuanming Liu, the "first mouse actually kicked around and started to spin, and without friction, it could spin faster and faster, and we think that made it even more disoriented." So they gave a mild sedative to the next mouse, who was happy to float. [Live Science via Yahoo News]

Axon Anti-Gravity RC Racer Hovers Past the Competition at 50 MPH

Sean Fallon — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:00:00 EDT

The problem with wheels is that contact with the ground generates drag. So, a simple solution would be to develop an anti-gravity car. No sweat—one already exists. Sure it's only a few inches tall but hey, this thing could give your action figures the ride of their tiny plastic lives. Thanks to dual ducted fans and a brushless motor, the Axon can hover above the ground and hit speeds of 25 mph almost instantly—and a dual brushless motor upgrade will bring it up to 50 mph.

The car is also damn near indestructible with a body made out of lexan polycarbonate resin thermoplastic on a polyethylene foam base. The resin was used by NASA for the visors on the helmets of Apollo astronauts and it is the same stuff that is currently used in modern day race cars. If the video above is any indicator, you are going to need every inch of that material to protect your $250 investment. The Axon will be available starting in September. [Axon via Techpin via DVICE]

Alter-G Anti-Gravity Treadmill Approved by the FDA

Sean Fallon — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:20:46 EST

The Alter-G treadmill has been given the greenlight by the FDA for classification as a medical device. The powers that be were no doubt swept away by the treadmills ability to reduce the weight of the user by as much as 80% (In 1% increments) using a NASA designed air pressure regulation system.

The best part about the technology is that the user is free to wallk, jog, or run with a full-range of motion in both the upper and lower body. And the design of the enclosure is such that the user feels very little of the force needed to hold their weight. It will probably cost a fortune, but a device like this should find a home in plenty of medical facilities and gyms (hopefully) in the near future. Naturally, the Alter-G has the potential to be an invaluable tool for injured patients and the elderly, but it would be an exceptional tool to get those who are just plain fat and out of shape up and moving. [Alter-G via MedGadget]

Magnetic Shot Glasses Stay Put Even When You're Sloshed

Charlie White — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:35:49 EDT

Attach this magnetic sextet of colorful 1.5-inch shot glasses to their included stainless steel tray, and the conical vessels stay put even if you hold the tray upside down. At first we thought there was some magical way to hold the contained liquid in place while the glasses were held upside down, too, but what do you want for $24.99? [Home WetBar, via 7 Gadgets]

Cat+Toast=Anti-Gravity

blongo3 — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:15:32 EDT

For this anti-gravity experiment we will need one cat (preferably cute) and one piece of toast buttered on one side only. Now this experiment relies on two constants, one being a cat in motion will always land on its feet. And the other being when buttered toast travels from point X to point Y, it will always land butter side down.

Once the cat and toast have been properly joined together with the butter side facing away from the fur step back and enjoy, because there is no way for this paired object to reach the ground according to our newly proven scientific laws. Think about it, if the toast were about to land buttered side down that would void the kitten from landing on its feet. However, if the kitten was to land on its paws then the buttered side of the toast wouldn't be face down on the floor. There is no conceivable way for them both to land.

There you have it, the first ever kitten n' toast anti-gravity device. Now we must work on securing them to snowboards only then will we be on to something truely great.

Cats Anti-Gravity Device [Funnymos]