logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2023
27m 41s

The magnetic mystery

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Magnets are inside loads of everyday electronic kit - speakers, motors, phones and more - but listener Lucas is mystified. What, he wonders, is a magnetic field?

Our sleuths set out to investigate the mysterious power of magnets, with the help of wizard physicist Dr Felix Flicker, lecturer in physics at Cardiff University and author of the The Magick of Matter, and materials scientist Dr Anna Ploszajski, author of Handmade.

They cover the secrets of lodestones, naturally occurring magnetic rocks, how to levitate crystals, frogs and maybe even people.

Matthew Swallow, the Chair of the UK Magnetics Society, explains why magnets make the best brakes for rollercoasters, and Dr Ploszajski explains how magnetically-induced eddy currents are used to sort through our recycling.

Finally, Dr Flicker persuades Adam and Hannah that to really understand magnetic fields you have to leave classical physics behind, and go quantum. So our sleuths take a leap into the strange subatomic realm.

Up next
Yesterday
The Life Scientific: Claudia de Rham
Claudia de Rham has rather an unusual relationship with gravity.While she has spent her career exploring its fundamental nature, much of her free time has involved trying to defy it - from scuba diving in the Indian Ocean to piloting small aircraft over the Canadian waterfalls. H ... Show More
26m 29s
Aug 18
The Life Scientific: Neil Lawrence
When you think of Artificial Intelligence, does it inspire confidence, or concern?Although it's now generally accepted that this technology will play a major role in our future, a lot of conversations around AI and machine learning come back to the argument over us losing control ... Show More
26m 29s
Aug 11
The Life Scientific: Liz Morris
A frozen, white world at the far-reaches of the globe, where you're surrounded by snow and silence, might sound rather appealing. Factor in temperatures that drop to -57°C and a few of us might be put off - but for glaciologist Liz Morris, that's very much her happy place.Liz is ... Show More
26m 27s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2022
How Powerful Are Magnetars?
When some massive stars go supernova, they then collapse into magnetars -- the most powerful magnetic objects in the known universe. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/magnetars.htm Learn more about your ad-choices a ... Show More
5m 49s
Dec 2022
The Science of Magnetism
Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.In today’s programme: A breakthrough in nuclear fusion: what’s happened and what does this mean in practical terms? A new way to stop your glasses fogging up during this cold s ... Show More
51m 15s
Jul 2020
The Marvelous Mystery of the Muon Magnetic Moment
Can physicists discover new particles by watching how muons wiggle in magnetic fields? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
42m 12s
Mar 2024
Echoes of Electromagnetism Found in Number Theory
A new magnum opus posits the existence of a hidden mathematical link akin to the connection between electricity and magnetism. Read more at QuantaMagazine.org. Music is “Clover 3” by Vibe Mountain. 
20m 39s
Jan 2017
How Magnetic Storage Works
Learn about the amazing world of magnets and how super smart people figured out we could use them to store data. From old wire recordings to magnetic hard drives, we look at the science and tech behind magnetic data storage. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartp ... Show More
52m 1s
Apr 2023
Unlocking the Mystery of Exoplanet Magnetic Fields | Space Nuts 348
In this episode, you will be able to: Explore magnetic fields on exoplanets and their fascinating role in supporting life.Delve into the reasons behind Virgin Orbit's bankruptcy amid SpaceX's thriving success.Uncover the mysterious fast blue optical transient (FBOT) explosions an ... Show More
43m 14s
Dec 2023
Ep. 283 - How To Be Magnetic - Best of 2023
Buckle up for one of our heaviest-hitting episodes of the year – How To Be Magnetic. Now is the perfect time to relisten to this episode, chock-full of insights on how to step into your shinest most magnetic self. Even if you listened to this one back when we originally aired it, ... Show More
1h 4m
Feb 2024
A new kind of magnetism, and how smelly pollution harms pollinators
More than 200 materials could be “altermagnets,” and the impact of odiferous pollutants on nocturnal plant-pollinator interactions First up on the show this week, researchers investigate a new kind of magnetism. Freelance science journalist Zack Savitsky joins host Sarah Crespi t ... Show More
31m 21s