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Study finds exposure to magnetic fields in pregnancy increases asthma risk

A Kaiser Permanente study of 801 pregnant women found a significant link between maternal magnetic field exposure during pregnancy and the development of asthma in their children. Women with high MF exposure were more than three times as likely to have an asthmatic child, highlighting the need for awareness about EMF health effects.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateAug 1, 2011

Putting a new spin on computing

Researchers develop protocol using existing technology to measure and manipulate magnetic spin of electrons for spintronics applications. This breakthrough aims to overcome limitations of conventional computing devices, such as power consumption and data loss.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 21, 2011

Using magnets to help prevent heart attacks

Researchers at Temple University discovered that a magnetic field can reduce blood viscosity by 20-30%, posing a potential new way to prevent heart attacks. By polarizing red blood cells and streamlining their movement, the magnetic field decreases friction against blood vessel walls.

SourceTemple University·JournalPhysical Review E·DateJun 7, 2011

Charge it: Neutral atoms made to act like electrically charged particles

Researchers from NIST have created a new method to make neutral atoms behave as if they are charged particles in an electric field. This allows for the simulation and study of fundamental electrical phenomena, including superconductivity and the quantum Hall effect. The synthetic electric fields mimic the behavior of charged particles ...

Exploding stars and stripes

A pattern of X-ray 'stripes' in the Tycho supernova remnant supports a theory on how magnetic fields amplify near expanding shock waves, accelerating particles to extreme energies. The discovery may provide direct evidence for the production of cosmic rays.

SourceRutgers University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 24, 2011

Solar mystery solved

Computer simulations suggest that changes in plasma flow within the Sun, which resembles ocean currents, contribute to prolonged solar minima. The team discovered that a faster flow during the first half of the solar cycle can lead to an extended period without sunspots and weak polar magnetic fields.

Effect of 6 mT SMF on phagocytosis depends on macrophage differentiation degree

A study by Dini et al. investigates the effect of 6 mT Static Magnetic Field (SMF) on phagocytosis in human macrophages, finding that it depends on the degree of macrophage differentiation. The results suggest that moderate intensity SMF can modify cell surface morphology and influence fluid-phase endocytosis and phagocytosis.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology and Medicine·JournalExperimental Biology and Medicine·DateDec 3, 2010

Mysterious pulsar with hidden powers discovered

A team of astrophysicists has observed dramatic flares and bursts of energy from a weakly magnetized, slowly rotating pulsar, challenging the understanding of how these events occur in normal, low-field neutron stars. The discovery indicates that internal magnetic fields may be responsible for powering these phenomena.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience·DateOct 14, 2010

AGU journal highlights

Scientists are studying how landmass shape affects Arctic sea ice extent, estimating rainfall interception in rainforests, and measuring mountain building rates. Landmass geometry influences Arctic sea ice growth, while forest canopy evaporation accounts for significant water resources loss. Researchers also investigate fault zone resp...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 9, 2010

Powerful new way to control magnetism

Scientists at Rutgers University discovered a material where an electric field controls the overall magnetic properties, leading to ultra-dense data storage. The effect could revolutionize small-scale magnetic bits and potentially lead to more dense storage devices than current terabyte discs.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 23, 2010

IceCube spies unexplained pattern of cosmic rays

Researchers at IceCube observatory discover unusual pattern in cosmic ray data, shedding new light on interstellar magnetic fields and possible sources of high-energy cosmic rays. The finding provides a significant boost to physics and astronomy studies, ruling out some proposed theories about the source of Northern Hemisphere anisotropy.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJul 28, 2010

Magnets trump metallics

Researchers at Rice University discovered that strong magnetic fields can transform highly conductive carbon nanotubes into semiconductors. By applying a magnetic field, a band gap opens up and the material becomes an insulator.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 8, 2010

Mysterious ball lightning: Illusion or reality?

Physicists at the University of Innsbruck suggest that ball lightning observations may be caused by phosphenes induced in the brain by strong magnetic fields. These fields can produce sensations such as noises or smells and are similar to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) used in clinical practice.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysics Letters A·DateMay 18, 2010

Stripes offer clues to superconductivity

New images reveal electrons flowing primarily along crystal grain boundaries, providing clues to the origin of superconductivity in pnictides. The discovery may help physicists develop better high-temperature superconductors that could save energy and enable innovative applications.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review B·DateMay 17, 2010

Magnetic fields drive drug-loaded nanoparticles to reduce blood vessel blockages in an animal study

Researchers successfully delivered paclitaxel using magnetically guided nanoparticles to treat rat arteries, achieving better results at lower doses than conventional therapy. The technique has potential for treating patients with vascular disease and offers opportunities for varying treatment doses and repetition.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 19, 2010

Scientists reveal Milky Way's magnetic attraction

Scientists have discovered that the Milky Way's magnetic field is significantly stronger than initially believed, with a strength of at least 10 times greater than the rest of the galaxy. This finding has important implications for various astronomical data calculations and theories, including star formation and cosmology.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature·DateJan 6, 2010

A see-through surprise

Rice University Professor Junichiro Kono and his team discovered a plasmonic material that can either stop or let through terahertz beams with adjustments to temperature and/or magnetic field. This finding helps close the knowledge gap in the electromagnetic spectrum between electronic and photonic devices.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Physics·DateDec 7, 2009

A bubbling ball of gas

The SUNRISE balloon-borne telescope has delivered images showing the complex interplay on the solar surface with unprecedented detail. The mission reveals a connection between magnetic field strength and solar brightness, with implications for Earth's heat input.