Researchers Demonstrate Quantum Levitation 133
UnknownSoldier writes "Wired reports that researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered you can 'lock' a magnetic field into place with a superconductor. They have a very cool demonstration of a frozen puck and some of the neat things you can do with it while its orientation remains locked but its location is movable. Might we someday see high speed trains that will be 'impossible' to tip over, or a new generation of batteries with this technology?"
Old news (like 1980 old) (Score:3, Interesting)
This has been around since the time of Carl Sagan. For a much better explanation of what is happening (and the science behind it), see this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeS_U9qFg7Y&feature=player_embedded [youtube.com]
They haven't invented anything new so don't get excited about wipeout ships and hoverboards just yet. The problem is the immense amount of energy to keep the superconductor cooled.