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China breaks record and creates the most powerful magnet in the world: 800 thousand times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field, surpassing the USA!

Written by Deborah Araújo
Published 03/10/2024 às 08:57
China breaks record and creates the most powerful magnet in the world 800 thousand times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field, surpassing the USA!
Photo: DALL-E

China’s creation of the world’s most powerful magnet opens up new possibilities for discoveries and advances in areas such as medicine and technology. With an impressive strength, 800 times greater than the Earth’s magnetic field, this innovation puts China ahead of the United States.

Scientific advancements continue to amaze, and this time, China is leading the way with an impressive achievement. Chinese scientists at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have built the world's most powerful magnet, surpassing the previous record held by the United States. With a magnetic field of 42,02 tesla, this force is 800 thousand times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field!

This breakthrough is not only a victory for science, but also opens doors to countless discoveries and improvements in various areas, such as medicine and technology. Let's understand better what this means and how this feat can impact our future.

What is the Earth's magnetic field and what are teslas?

Before diving into the achievements of Chinese scientists, it is important to understand a few concepts. The Earth's magnetic field is the invisible force that surrounds the planet and protects all living beings from solar winds and dangerous radiation. It is responsible for phenomena such as northern lights and guides compasses. To give you an idea of ​​comparison, the Earth's magnetic field has a strength of only 0,00005 tesla.

Now, imagine a 42,02 tesla magnetic field created in a laboratory. That is extremely powerful! Just to give you an idea, the tesla unit measures the intensity of the magnetic field, and the higher the number, the stronger it is. In the case of the Chinese magnet, it is 800 times stronger than the Earth's field, making it the most powerful magnet in the world.

China's progress in building the world's most powerful magnet

The construction of this new magnet is a historic milestone for China and the world. With this achievement, the country surpasses the United States, which held the record since 2017 with a magnetic field of 41,4 teslas, generated at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida.

The new Chinese record of 42,02 teslas was achieved with a 32,3 MW power source, and it is not the first time that the Chinese laboratory has surprised the world. In 2022, they had already created the most powerful hybrid magnet in the world, with 45,22 teslas. This feat shows how Chinese technology is increasingly standing out in scientific research and development. new technologies.

How can the world's most powerful magnet impact science and technology?

You might be wondering, “Okay, that’s a very strong magnet, but what does that mean in practice?” The answer is: a lot! Creating such powerful magnetic fields could revolutionize many areas of science and technology.

One of the main benefits of these magnets is the development of electronic materials and medicines. With such an intense magnetic field, scientists can better study materials and develop high-efficiency superconductors, which are capable of conducting electricity without losses. This would revolutionize the way electricity is generated and distributed, and could drastically reduce energy costs.

These powerful magnetic fields also have important applications in medicine, particularly in imaging tests. nuclear magnetic resonance. These exams are essential for detailed diagnoses, and with stronger magnetic fields, the images obtained would be even more accurate, helping to detect diseases more efficiently.

Another important point is the progress in research on superconductors e semiconductors, which are essential for the production of increasingly faster and more powerful electronics. Imagine a future in which our computers, cell phones and even electric cars are more efficient and durable, all thanks to these new materials developed with the help of high-field magnets.

The Different Types of High Field Magnets

There are three main types of high field magnets: resistive magnetssuperconducting magnets e hybrid magnets. Let's quickly understand the differences between them:

  • Resistive magnets: These are the first high-field magnets used in science. They have the advantage of allowing faster and more flexible control of the magnetic field, which makes them very useful for various research projects. However, they tend to generate a lot of heat and therefore require efficient cooling systems.
  • Superconducting magnets: Unlike resistive magnets, these magnets do not generate heat, which is a great advantage. However, they still have one limitation: the magnetic fields generated by superconducting magnets are not as intense as resistive ones.
  • Hybrid magnets: As the name suggests, these magnets combine the best of both worlds, being a mix between resistive and superconducting. They can generate even stronger magnetic fields and are one of the most promising tools in science.

China, when building the most powerful magnet in the world, used a resistive magnet, which remains one of the main tools for materials science, as its fast and flexible control allows detailed and precise research.

What’s Next? The Future of Powerful Magnet Research

The creation of the world's most powerful magnet is just the beginning. China is planning to use this breakthrough in a variety of areas, including the study of superconductors, the development of innovative electronics and even in the treatment of serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

These powerful magnetic fields help scientists better understand how materials behave under extreme conditions. This could lead to important discoveries about human memory, new medicines and even new ways of generating and transmitting energy.

And Chinese scientists aren’t stopping there. The next step is to create even stronger magnets, with the aim of further advancing superconductivity technology and improving materials used in electronic and medical devices.

The race for technological leadership

China’s advance in building powerful magnets is yet another sign of the ongoing global competition for technological leadership. For many years, the United States held the record for its advances in magnetic fields, but now China is taking the lead with its massive investment in science and technology.

This technological race between the great powers is driving world-changing scientific discoveries in many areas. And with China setting new milestones, we’re likely to see even more innovations in the years ahead, from new types of superconductors to breakthroughs in medicine.

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Deborah Araújo

I write about renewable energy, automobiles, science and technology, industry and the main trends in the job market. With a close eye on global developments and daily updates, I am dedicated to always sharing relevant information.

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