According to new findings presented at the Oxford TED Global Conference, electricity can be possible without wires. Eric Giler of Witricity made his case with a presentation of a device that offers wireless electricity by making use of magnetic fields – rather than electrical fields – and wave frequency resonance to convey power via the open air.

As BBC News explained in its report, the technique just uses simple physics to charge a number of electronic devices across a specific distance. In the presentation Giler gave, he used batteries from the Google G1 and Apple iPhone to demonstrate. The iPhone proved to be the least responsive of the two, however the G1 was able to achieve a charge. This experiment alone could be huge for the future of energy as people look to save on their energy bills.

This technology, should it develop, could potentially save on the use of expensive cables and billions of single-use batteries. In addition, since this technology uses only magnets, it can theoretically eliminate any safety concerns associated with airborne electricity.

Posted by Jay Roberts at 04:39 PM | Permalink

Scientists in New York promoted the growth of new neurons in the brains of mice using a magnetic stimulus in the region associated with memory.

Presenting the results at the American Academy for Neuroscience conference, the researchers said the results may lead to treatments for Alzheimer's.

However, if proven the technique is more likely to be a way of slowing progression of the disease than a cure. To Read More Click Here....

Posted by Jay Roberts at 03:08 PM | Permalink

What Exactly are we Talking about Here??

 What is rTMS?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a technique for gently stimulating the brain. It utilizes a specialized electromagnet placed on the patient’s scalp that generates short magnetic pulses, roughly the strength of an MRI scanner’s magnetic field but much more focused. The magnetic pulses pass easily through the skull just like the MRI scanner fields do, but because they are short pulses and not a static field, they can stimulate the underlying cerebral cortex (brain). Low frequency (once per second) TMS has been shown to induce reductions in brain activation while stimulation at higher frequencies (> 5 pulses per second) has been shown to increase brain activation. It has also been shown that these changes can last for periods of time after stimulation is stopped. TMS was first developed in 1985, and has been studied significantly since 1995.

What disorders has TMS been shown to be useful for?

TMS is currently being investigated as a potential treatment for patients with major depression, patients who experience hallucinated "voices" and a variety of other psychiatric and neurological disorders. Over 1500 patients have been studied with TMS. For patients with major depression,... Click Here To Read More

Posted by Jay Roberts at 08:53 PM | Permalink

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an experimental procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain in the hope of improving chronic depression symptoms. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is one of the newer types of brain stimulation methods designed to treat depression when standard treatment hasn't worked.

There are different ways to perform transcranial magnetic stimulation. But in general, a large electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp near your forehead. The electromagnet creates painless electric currents that stimulate nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood regulation and depression.

Posted by Jay Roberts at 08:50 PM | Permalink

The Sun's Magnetic Field

Magnetic field lines from a computer simulation of the solar corona show some of the complexity of the Sun's magnetic field. Colors on the Sun's surface show the strength of the magnetic field (yellow is largest). Click on image for full size (14 Kb)

The Sun has a very large and very complex magnetic field. The magnetic field at an average place on the Sun is around 1 Gauss, about twice as strong as the average field on the surface of Earth (around 0.5 Gauss). Since the Sun's surface is more than 12,000 times larger than Earth's, the overall influence of the Sun's magnetic field is vast.

The magnetic field of the Sun actually extends far out into space, beyond.....Click Here to Read More

Posted by Jay Roberts at 10:28 PM | Permalink

Posted by Jay Roberts at 06:59 PM | Permalink

According to the latest research, hybrid cars may be ale to approve the way that they run by using magnets. The study, which was conducted by researchers at the St. Polten University of Applied Sciences in Australia, looks into the best composition for vehicle magnets and how this new technology could impact overall efficiency. So far, the research shows that scientists can now use high performance magnets to conserve raw materials in hybrid cars.

Professor Thomas Schrefl, the lead author on the project, says that the findings of this study could indicate a raw material change in all new hybrid or electric cars. The materials in question, neodymium and dysprosium, offer high performance properties of magnets and could eventually improve the quality of all hybrid cars by simplifying problems that could emerge just after a few years of owning a car.

The project itself is a collaboration between the researchers at St. Polten University and the University of Sheffiled. Of course, more work still needs to be done on how magnets can be used to truly improve the way that these new cars run, but researchers say that so far, there is an improvement when higher quality magnets are used.

Posted by Jay Roberts at 04:08 PM | Permalink

Rating: Excellent

Posted by Jay Roberts at 04:27 AM | Permalink

When it comes to alternative energies, so many forget the power of magnets. However, for Harsha Vardhan, magnets prove to be the secret behind the newest design for transportation: the Transporter TW. This electric vehicle is propelled by magnetic fields, but what benefits can driver expect? Apparently, according to Vardhan, the resulting ride would be whisper-quiet, incredibly smooth, and of course completely green.

In the picture above, notice the two large wheels. These are filled with a superconducting fluid, generating a constantly-shifting magnetic field that works to turn the wheels. These wheels then rotate around a small back-entry cockpit, complete with a swivel chair and a steering mechanism that looks incredibly futuristic.

Though this concept car doesn't seem to be in the works just yet, it is exciting to see alternative energies taking the forefront in the development of new technologies that can make getting around, faster, cleaner, and more efficient. After all – what's cooler than riding around on magnets?

Posted by Jay Roberts at 08:51 PM | Permalink

Over 30 million people are estimated to live with migraine pain and out of that number, about 40 to 50 percent do not respond to conventional medical treatment. However, there's a new future of treatment in sight: transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation has gained a lot of attention recently in its treatment of various psychological and personality disorders, specifically depression. But according to recent studies from Ohio State University Medical Center and the University of California, using transcranial magnetic stimulation to aid in the treatment of migraines, specifically those with aura, has proved to be successful.

In the Ohio State study, 164 patients were treated using magnetics. Nearly 40% of that group reported having no pain two hours after treatment, compared to the 22% in the placebo group. These findings were presented at the annual American Headache Society meeting in Boston in June 2008.

In addition, researchers conducted an animal study at the University of California. One of the main findings of the experiment that magnetic pulses have a biological basis for working for people with migraines. The research was reported to the American Academy of Neurology and more studies could follow as neurologists look for new approaches to treatment.

Posted by Jay Roberts at 06:25 PM | Permalink

According to a controversial new study, the flow of seawater across our planet's surface could be the cause of small fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field. Earth's magnetic field extends thousands of miles into space and shields surface life from the solar wind—a potentially harmful stream of charged particles emanating from the sun.

The author of the study, Gregory Ryskin, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering at Northwestern University in Illinois, says that the current dynamo theory about Earth's magnetic field – which states that the field is generated by a churning molten planet core – could  fall apart as a result.

In the study, published in the New Journal of Physics, Ryskin argues that variations in the magnetic field may be due to circulating seawater. Ocean currents are already known to bring up nutrient-rich cold water from the depths and carry it to different parts of our planet, plus it's also known that dissolved salts in seawater can conduct electricity. With churning currents comes a secondary magnetic field, which Ryskin calculates is nearly the same to measurements of the variations in the planet's variation.

Although this new study hasn't met its criticism. Other geophysicists have dismissed the idea as poor science. We'll have to watch and see what happens in the coming months with more releases due out from Ryskin.

Posted by Jay Roberts at 02:34 PM | Permalink

According to a recent article in Psychiatric Times, the latest method for treating psychological disorders could now be used to improve memory. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, which uses magnetic field pulses to produce localized neuronal changes, was found in a recent study to produce improvements in key areas of cognition and in short-term verbal memory in patients with major depressive disorder, with no adverse cognitive effects. The results of this research were presented by Mark Demitrack, MD, vice president and chief medical officer of Neuronetics, Inc, and colleagues at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in May.

In several recent articles, transcranial magnetic stimulation has been explored as an alternative treatment for depression, schizophrenia, and other related forms of psychosis with much attention gathering around it's noninvasive and systematic approach. Rather than having to deal with prescription drugs, surgery, or other treatments to combat hormonal and neurological issues, patients may soon have to potential to harness the power of magnetics to treat their illness to live healthier, more functional lives.

To read more about the study, see the article in the Psychiatric Times.

Posted by Jay Roberts at 02:30 PM | Permalink