Study Suggests Magnetic Fields Can Control Heat And Sound
More than a hundred years ago, physicists discovered that heat is simply the energy stored in the vibrations of atoms. This meant that heat and sound are related. Now, for the first time ever, scientists have experimentally shown that these atomic vibrations have magnetic properties, too. Above: A lopsided tuning fork, made of the semiconductor…
Five Science ‘Facts’ You Learned At School That Are Plain Wrong
Let’s start with a quiz… How many senses do you have? Which of the following are magnetic: a tomato, you, paperclips? What are the primary colours of pigments and paints? What region of the tongue is responsible for sensing bitter tastes? What are the states of matter? If you answered five; paperclips; red, yellow and…
What Will Happen When the Earth’s Magnetic Field Switches
The Earth’s magnetic field protects life on Earth, shielding it from damaging radiation and moderating our climate. So the idea that it could completely flip around, or collapse altogether, should cause us to worry, right? Well, yes and no. Magnetosphere Basics The result of electrical currents generated deep within the Earth through dynamic action, the…
Robins Can Actually See Magnetic Fields (But Only in One Eye)
Despite its unassuming looks and gentle temperament, the humble red breasted robin (Erithacus rubecula) boasts a superhero-like ability. They can see magnetic fields, giving them an almost perfect sense of direction. Just to be clear, we don’t mean that a robin can sense the Earth’s magnetic field or something like that as many other birds…
