Sep 15 2009I Smell Hoverboards!: Scientists Successfully Float Mice Using Magnetic Fields
That's right folks, scientists have successfully hovered mice using nothing but magnetic fields. You read correctly: no black magic this time! (I'm still skeptical)
Scientists working on behalf of NASA built a device to simulate variable levels of gravity. It consists of a superconducting magnet that generates a field powerful enough to levitate the water inside living animals, with a space inside warm enough at room temperature and large enough at 2.6 inches wide (6.6 cm) for tiny creatures to float comfortably in during experiments.
The researchers first levitated a young mouse, just three-week-old and weighing 10 grams. It appeared agitated and disoriented, seemingly trying to hold on to something."It actually kicked around and started to spin, and without friction, it could spin faster and faster, and we think that made it even more disoriented," said researcher Yuanming Liu, a physicist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. They decided to mildly sedate the next mouse they levitated, which seemed content with floating.
I want to float! Remember that time in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where Charlie and his alcoholic grandfather drank the Lifting Fizzy Drink and then floated around the bubble room? Yeah, I did that one time when I was tripping. It was awesome. Well, until I swallowed a bubble and got the hiccups. I was hiccuping colors!
Mice Levitated in Lab [yahoonews]
Thanks to Totex, who once made his assistant hover before somebody in the audience yelled, "I can see the wires!" and ruined the illusion.
Reader Comments
1. Katie - September 15, 2009 9:13 AM
First!
So they are affecting the magnetic fields in the water?
2. Mr. cow - September 15, 2009 9:14 AM
Moo
3. Genocide - September 15, 2009 9:15 AM
Jesus whats next floating gerbils... god damn scientist fruitcakes!!!!!
4. Robalot - September 15, 2009 9:15 AM
Hey genius! A side-view picture would probably be MUCH more effective.
5. Spikey DaPikey - September 15, 2009 9:17 AM
Mmmmmmm trippy !
6. $.02 and a pocket full of FAH-Q - September 15, 2009 9:18 AM
Why do we always use mice? Why not midgets?
7. Fact Guy - September 15, 2009 9:29 AM
NOT SO FUN FACT
#1 is the first useful first comment I've seen.
8. Jaded Icon - September 15, 2009 9:33 AM
Later the mouse exploded.....but that was probably because of the fiery burritos they fed it.
9. John - September 15, 2009 9:36 AM
Old.
10. Batman - September 15, 2009 9:39 AM
Wow...
So everyone. Whose down for the next big game of naked twister while levitating??
Thats what all the scientists are acutally doing. They have to test it somehow !!
11. naas - September 15, 2009 9:40 AM
this was accomplished in space years ago, OLD
12. ObamaPacman - September 15, 2009 9:54 AM
Need video of mouse spinning with Benny Hill music.
Come on scientists, you can levitate small animals but can't figure out how to use YouTube? =p
13. Dream - September 15, 2009 9:57 AM
You are mistaken my friend,
In the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" movie, they didn't drink the thing and started floating, they didn't even mention it, it was really in the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory".
And lol at the "Alcoholic Grandfather"
14. Your Mom - September 15, 2009 9:58 AM
@4
How are you supposed to get a picture from the side view, if its in a tube?
15. Ste - September 15, 2009 10:03 AM
@14
Totally agree, when WILL they invent somesort of, i dunno...transparent solid.
Ooh, look at me! I'm asking stupid questions! I'm the Magical Man from Happy-Land, in a gumdrop house on Lollipop Lane!
Oh, by the way: I was being sarcastic.
16. greg - September 15, 2009 10:08 AM
this time I have to agree with Dayse
really looks like a photoshoped img
17. LSDiesel - September 15, 2009 10:19 AM
"...and we think that made it even more disoriented,"
Excellent hypothesis! Write that theory down. Spinning will cause dizziness and disorientation....brilliant!
18. Freddy K - September 15, 2009 10:28 AM
So Yeah. I can totally see it. In the first pic you are looking down at a mouse... in the second pic you are looing down at..... a mouse.
FANTASTIC!!! WOO HOO!
Maybe the picture was actually an after thought.
19. pedo pedro - September 15, 2009 10:30 AM
levitate my dick
20. j - September 15, 2009 10:31 AM
fizzy lifting drink- not lifting fizzy drink KADOOCHE!
like a turd in the toilet
21. Your Mom - September 15, 2009 10:39 AM
@15
a lot of stupid people seem to post stupid questions
can't always tell who is being sarcastic.
22. Dogless - September 15, 2009 11:13 AM
Yep, definitely not the regular GW.
23. Dishy Dishyington - September 15, 2009 11:19 AM
Magneto can float mice, but only if he puts iron filings in their feed.
24. Genocide - September 15, 2009 12:04 PM
@14........
http://www.blanson.com/images/ww/page/acrylic-cols-tubes-01-lg.jpg
25. Your Mom - September 15, 2009 12:06 PM
@24
I'm sure the tubes they used had some type of magnetic properties (i.e. to help levitate the mouse) which is why they couldn't use clear tubes.
26. $.02 and a pocket full of FAH-Q - September 15, 2009 1:05 PM
13 - Who said anything about the movie?
27. Mr. pig - September 15, 2009 3:34 PM
Oink
28. Shayne - September 15, 2009 3:49 PM
that's pretty cool. haha, lol @ 23
29. c45j - September 16, 2009 4:12 AM
wtf, where the videos at? stupid scientists.
30. Geekogee - September 16, 2009 7:30 AM
Must See!!!
http://alturl.com/obg7
________________
31. Blastphemer - September 16, 2009 10:44 AM
Just don't start trying that $hit on freakin spiders and/or sharks and I'm cool. Just sayin...
32. Troest - September 16, 2009 2:17 PM
So they are affecting the magnetic fields in the water?
well.. yes.. they do.. as you know water concists of 1 oxigen and 2 hydrogen atoms.. and due to the electronegativity differance of the two its is polarised. so its possiable.. but its not healthy. but how knows.. for more info on magnetic water check this out. http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/magnetic.html
33. jordans for sale - September 20, 2009 10:01 AM
jordans for sale
34. Michelle - October 14, 2009 10:49 PM
No big deal - David Blaine does this all the time