This persnickety number determines the strength of magnetic fields. It figures in everything from motors and generators to audio speakers. Oh, and without it we’d live in eternal darkness.

How does a magnetic compass work? Well, it’s all down to basic physics and human ingenuity. The key component of a standard baseplate compass is its magnetized needle, which is allowed to spin freely ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The sun likes to remind us that Earth is merely one part of a joined ...

When the sun reaches its period of peak activity, known as solar maximum, our star's magentic field will suddenly reverse. But why does it happen, and will it impact Earth? When you purchase through ...

Today, materials scientist Peter Mullner answers a child’s question about magnets: ‘What are magnets made of, and how do they ...

If you took introductory physics, you learned about the “fundamental forces.” It goes something like this: All interactions are the result of one or more of five basic forces: strong nuclear, weak ...

New computer simulations suggest the first magnetic fields that emerged after the Big Bang were much weaker than expected — ...

Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) is one of the modes of scanning probe microscopy (SPM). As the name implies, it is used to map magnetic characteristics. MFM investigates the local magnetic fields at ...