#059: iPad on a Fridge
Fridge magnets are still the most boring of all uses for magnets (even though it’s the most ubiquitous use), but with all the fuss over iPad 2 recently we figured this was one way to slightly improve the usefulness of your fridge.
The gadget-gurus at iFixit tore apart the new iPad Smart Cover to see how it works. Result: there are twenty-one magnets inside the cover and a further 10 inside the iPad to make the magic happen.
Take a look at the link to see how it works - there’s some clever trickery going on with the geometry of the magnets to ensure it aligns perfectly every time.
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#042: Magnetic Rubik’s Cube
papacharlieromeo stumbles across the old-school Rubik’s cube with a modern twist - magnets.
#039: Magnetic Silly Putty
remierk discovers the future of silly putty:
I’m not sure, but I think this is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I need to get this.
Woah!
#034: Animag Photo Stands
Photojojo lurrrrve magnets, and their latest magnetic treats are super-cool. These ‘Animags’ are magnetic photo-holders shaped like animals. Check them out!
#029: Magnetic Polaroid Frames
We love Photojojo (they sell great gear for photography nerds), and we love that their online store is increasingly full of magnetic goodies!
Their latest is a nifty magnetic frame for your polaroid photos. Lots of people use magnets to hold photos on their fridge, but these frames give your pics an added retro kick. Nice work, Photojojo!
#028: Catching Bugs Bunny
Here’s one just for fun: follow Wile E. Coyote’s example and use a ten trillion volt electromagnet to catch the elusive Bugs Bunny. It’s not quite as successful as you’d think. (Perhaps he’d have been more successful if he’d chosen Aussie Magnets rather than ACME…)
Skip to 4:23 to see the magnets in action!
#024: Ferrofluid Magnetic Art
Artists Sachiko Kodama and Yasushi Miyajima have created this amazing sculpture using magnetic fluid and electromagnetic fields. A controlled magnetic field interacts with the ferrofluid to create patterns that work beautifully when set to music.
This technique uses one electromagnet, and its iron core is extended and sculpted. The ferrofluid covers the sculpted surface of a three-dimensional iron shape that was made on an electronic NC lathe. The movement of the spikes in the fluid is controlled dynamically on the surface by adjusting the power of the electromagnet. The shape of the iron body is designed as helical so that the fluid can move to the top of the helical tower when the magnetic field is strong enough.
Clever stuff. Where else have you seen magnets in art?
#023: LED Throwies
Combine rare earth magnets, batteries, LED lights and scotch tape, and what do you get? Some of the most amazing street art we’ve ever seen. These self-powered lights will attach themselves to any ferromagnetic surface when thrown at it, easily adding glowing colour to your neighbourhood and brightening buildings at night.
Build your own using:
Find somewhere that needs decorating and then send us your photos!
#022: Palm Pre Induction Charging
Owners of the Palm Pre smartphone (sadly not available in Australia) have a nifty way to charge their phones - wirelessly, and magnetically. Simply place the phone on the ‘Touchstone’ wireless charger, and rare earth magnets hold it in place whilst magnetic induction replenishes the battery.
Now that’s a futuristic way to charge your phone. See how it works and then watch it in action.
#018: Magnetic Grab Handles
The Aston Martin Rapide has grab handles in the rear that are held in place by, you guessed it, magnets! This allows the handles to tuck themselves out of the way when they’re not in use. Very classy.
Apparently there are magnets in other Aston Martin’s as well. I think this needs further research though. Anybody?
Via FifthGearTV on Twitter.
#010: Walking Up Walls
The Mythbusters have used magnets to walk up walls:
On a MythBusters episode, we planned to scale a metal surface. I made aluminum hand and foot rigs (above) that relied on supermagnets that could hold up to 500 pounds each. To move such powerful magnets, I equipped the rigs with bearings that left a 1/8-in. gap between the magnets and the climbing surface. A nonskid separator at the bottom of the rigs kept me from sliding down. By lifting my heel, I could roll the rig with the bearings, one foot at a time. Then I found out the surface would be an air-conditioning duct made of sheetmetal-reducing the magnets’ pulling power to a few pounds. Although the sheetmetal didn’t support my weight for climbing, a thicker metal surface would work well. Jamie Hyneman
Via Popular Mechanics.
#008: Floating Bed
Does your bed satisfy you magnetically? If not, then you might want to consider Dutch architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars and his ‘floating bed.’
The bed is suspended entirely by magnets, and ‘floats’ at about 40cm above the ground. Four small tethers hold the bed steady whilst it supports up to 900kg of weight.
It all happens with simple permanent magnets – there’s no trickery here. These must be some incredibly strong magnets, but the bed apparently remains perfectly safe (though we wouldn’t recommend sleeping with earrings in).
Interested? You’ll need a cool $1.5 million to sleep in levitated luxury. We could be saving for a while…
#007: James Bond’s Rolex
“Ah, Mr Bond, we’ve been expecting you!” But nobody ever expected Roger Moore’s Rolex to contain a hyper-intensified magnetic field.
It’s been called the coolest Bond watch ever, and we’d have to agree. Q Branch’s main effort for Live and Let Die was to fit a Rolex Submariner with a magnet “powerful enough to deflect the path of a bullet at long range.” A simple twist of the bezel activates the magnetic field, allowing Bond to protect himself from incoming fire.
Sheer magnetism, darling.
Make your own compass using a magnet and these instructions from HowStuffWorks. Easy! Great for the kids.
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