Magnet News Roundup 2018

2018 has been a phenomenal year for magnetic discoveries, inventions and magnet news in general. From further development with hyperloop to electromagnetic levitation, 2018 has shown some new and improved concepts surrounding magnets. We’ve taken a look back at a few of our favourite blogs from 2018. Credit Cards Vs. Magnets It’s the most expensive time of year, Christmas. You’re just about to make that all-important last-minute purchase and your card won’t scan. Not to worry, you haven’t exceeded your Christmas budget (yet), it’s a pretty common issue. It just means something’s wrong with your card’s magnetic strip. Credit cards contain what is known as a ‘magstrip’ on the back. Here, numerous tiny magnets are assorted in a way which relays valuable information, such as your name and banking details. It’s important to note that magnets can tamper with this magstrip and thus erase the information on it. If your card is exposed to a magnet for a prolonged period, the magstrip will be thrown out of sequence. Therefore, causing you problems when you try to make a purchase with your card. We’ve listed several ways in which you can prevent this, and what to do if it happens to you. Could Magnetic Concrete Speed Up the Electric Car Revolution? With the latest craze surrounding electric cars, a relatively new concept, magnetic concrete, could enable electric cars to drive open-endedly. 2017 saw a record-breaking 47,000 plug-in cars being registered over the course of the year. However, the same problem remains – drivers need to pull in and charge their vehicle. In a spinoff from wireless charging, magnetic concrete aims to enable dynamic charging so that cars can recharge while still in motion. In theory, under the right conditions, electric vehicle owners could drive without ever stopping. This technology is set to change the way we drive for the better. Given enough time for the infrastructure to adapt, the country’s vehicle-related pollution could be significantly slashed by powering all vehicles on the road with the road itself. However, the concept is still under development, but could this be the future of charging electric vehicles? Goudsmit UK’s Guide to Hyperloop A concept initially proposed by Elon Musk, the hyperloop would propel people or cargo filled pods over long distances through steel tubes. A series of student engineering competitions were launched with hope to encourage involvement in the hyperloop. 360 teams across the world participated in the competition, with Hardt becoming the first international winners of this event in 2017. A similar concept, Virgin Hyperloop One has also made huge progress with the development of their version of the hyperloop. With an investment of $245M to date, Virgin Hyperloop One is hoped to begin development of its first route in 2019, with commercial services starting in 2021. The hyperloop concept as whole proves very promising and would revolutionise the way people travel from place to place via railroad systems. How do Electric Cars use Magnets? When it comes to electric cars, magnets are a key. Magnets are located in the electric motor, in which they are the primary component. In order to work they're made of a coil of wire that spins and is encircled by strong magnets. When an electric current is induced in the coil, it emits a magnetic field, opposing the magnetic field emitted by the strong magnets. This repulsion causes the coil to spin or rotate at a high speed. The coil is attached to an axle that allows the wheels to move. That is the basic model of an electric motor, but it can be more complex. In this blog we’d looked at the advantages, drawbacks and what the future holds for electric cars. Look, No Hands: A look Into Wireless Charging Most smartphone manufacturers have already adapted the concept of wireless charging, and the trend is set to continue. Through electromagnetic induction, inductive charging uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects. Both the base station and the device contain coils—a transmitter coil and a receiver coil, respectively. The interaction between the transmitter coil, located in the base station and the receiver coil located in the device, generates a magnetic field. At this point, the wireless charging process begins. Wireless charging is a game-changer. It could soon apply to larger devices and potentially expand the field of the charge, leaving the possibilities endless. Magnets in Healthcare: Magnetic Therapy Considered as an alternative medical practice that uses motionless magnets to ease pain and other health concerns, magnetic therapy continues to gain widespread popularity. Magnetic therapy is based on the idea that our bodies form an electro-magnetic field that respond to the healing power of magnets. This is because iron makes up around 4% of a human’s blood content, and every ion contained in our cells produces an electrical impulse. These three elements together, make up an electrical magnetic field within the body. Therefore, when the north side of a magnet (negative) is placed on the sore part of the body, it draws fresh oxygenated blood to that area. In contrast, the fresh oxygenated blood creates generates a positive energy field, creating a two-pronged result and accelerating healing. No major side-effects have been recorded from magnetic therapy, however, in this blog we named the minor side-effects. Alongside this, the advantages, disadvantages and precautions were also discussed. Goudsmit UK While 2018 was an exciting year, we’re looking forward to 2019 and all the magnetic revelations sure to come our way. To stay on top of all magnet-related news in 2019 and beyond, be sure to keep an eye on our news section. Goudsmit UK manufacture bespoke magnets and magnetic assemblies for virtually any industry. Get in touch today for more information on +44 (0) 2890 271 001 or email us at info@goudsmit.co.uk. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.

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