To: Sterling D. Allan

Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 10:47 AM

Subject: Re: Discover Magazine magnetics quote...

Sterling:

 

A friend just lent me a copy of the Dec. 2002 "Discover" magazine in which is an article by a Robert Kunzig entitles "More Magnets Please".  The article is about a discovery by scientist Tatiana Makarova who has created magnetic carbon.  The author makes the following statement which I think is vital to the F.E. community and in particular those who are experimenting with permanent magnet related anythings:

 

......For the moment, nonmetallic magnets are laboratory curiosities, and the curiosity starts with a fundamental question:  Why are they magnetic?  No one really knows.  Moreover, asking that question inevitably lets you in on a surprising secret:  Physicists are also a little fuzzy about those bits of iron alloy attached to your refrigerator.  "Only a few people understand or think they understand how a permanent magnet works," says Makarova.  "The magnet of everyday life is not a simple thing.  It's a quantum-mechanics thing."

If a top scientist/researcher in magnetics has the above opinion, then the magnetic motor naysayers had best be quiet.  Few, if any, really understand what's going on....which leaves room for discoveries like Howard Johnson, Mike Brady, etc..

 

Thought you would appreciate the piece.

 

Richard