What Will Happen When the Earth’s Magnetic Field Switches

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.

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Robins Can Actually See Magnetic Fields (But Only in One Eye)

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.

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Where the Hell Is the True North Pole?

The North Pole is just at the top of the Earth, right? Well, not really: there isn’t really a ‘top’ of a sphere spheroid and, anyway, depending on how you measure things the pole can be in one of many different spots. So which one’s right?

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This Perpetual Motion Machine May Not Be Perpetual, But It’s Awesome Anyway

This guy claims that this invention is a perpetual motion machine, the Philosopher’s Stone of physics, the Holy Grail of power. Play the video and check it out for yourself. More »

The World’s Fastest Train Will Float on a Cushion of Electromagnetism

The fastest train in America, the Amtrak Acela line running from Boston and DC tops out at 110MPH. Sure, that’s way faster than taking a Greyhound, but pathetically pokey compared to the 311MPH bullet of the Mag-Lev train currently being developed by Japan’s JR Tokai. More »

Bits Stored on a Single Molecule Could Lead to Petabyte SSDs [Science]

If there’s one fact of computing life, it’s that there’s never enough damn storage, and if you think it’s bad now, just wait ’til you’re downloading 4K movies. Still, research is at least keeping up, and now scientists can store bits of information on single molecules—which could pave the way for petabyte SSDs. More »

IndoorAtlas uses disturbances in the (geomagnetic) force to map interiors, plot a path to aisle 3 (video)

IndoorAtlas uses disturbances in the geomagnetic force to map interiors, keep us on track in aisle 3 video

Interior navigation is only just coming into its own, but IndoorAtlas has developed a technology that could make it just as natural as breathing — or at least, firing up a smartphone’s mapping software. Developed by a team at Finland’s University of Oulu, the method relies on identifying the unique geomagnetic field of every location on Earth to get positioning through a mobile device. It’s not just accurate, to less than 6.6 feet, but can work without help from wireless signals and at depths that would scare off mere mortal technologies: IndoorAtlas has already conducted tests in a mine 4,593 feet deep. Geomagnetic location-finding is already available through an Android API, with hints of more platforms in the future. It will still need some tender loving care from app developers before we’re using our smartphones to navigate through the grocery store as well as IndoorAtlas does in a video after the break.

Continue reading IndoorAtlas uses disturbances in the (geomagnetic) force to map interiors, plot a path to aisle 3 (video)

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IndoorAtlas uses disturbances in the (geomagnetic) force to map interiors, plot a path to aisle 3 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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