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US researchers demonstrate in a laboratory that it is possible to generate electric current from the Earth's rotation. The experiment used a ferrite cylinder and sparked debate among physicists.
A team of researchers from Princeton and California Universities, in partnership with Spectral Sensor Solutions, has just proven that the Earth's rotation can indeed generate electricity. The study, published in March 2025 in the journal Physical Review Research, is considered an unprecedented advance in the field of applied physics and proposes a new — still embryonic — form of energy generation.
The research demonstrated that the interaction between the Earth's magnetic field and the planet's rotation can induce an electric current, provided certain materials with specific magnetic properties are used. The discovery raises new possibilities for alternative sources clean energy, although the challenge of scaling the technology is still enormous.
The experiment: ferrite, Earth's rotation and microvoltage
According to the Olhar Digital website, scientists built a hollow cylinder of manganese-zinc ferrite (MnZn), approximately 30 cm long. The material was placed on a stationary support, and as the planet rotated, it interacted with the Earth's magnetic field. The result: a voltage of about 17 microvolts was detected — a weak signal, but enough to confirm the physical phenomenon.
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According to the study, the magnetic field induces a movement of electrons in the magnetoelectric material, generating the current. The measurement was performed with extreme precision, taking into account all possible external interferences.
An old idea that is starting to come to fruition
The proposal to generate electricity from rotation of the earth has been discussed in theses and theoretical simulations over the last few decades. However, no experiment has been able to prove this hypothesis in a practical way until now.
Nature magazine highlighted that the study relies on materials with very specific topological and magnetic properties, which are capable of reacting to the Earth's rotation without requiring an external mechanical system. This approach paves the way for more compact and efficient future technologies — at least in theory.
Scientists divided: promising energy or practical limitation?
Despite the enthusiasm generated by the experiment, the scientific community is still dividedPhysicist Daniel Cole of Boston University told Nature that the discovery “is fascinating from a conceptual point of view, but practical application could take decades.” He points out that 17 microvolts is a negligible fraction for real use, and that a substantial breakthrough is needed to make the system viable.
Other experts, such as researcher Julia Hsu from Stanford University, see the study of the Earth's rotation as a gateway to new methods of passive energy capture, especially in extreme environments or those with difficult access to traditional electrical infrastructure.
