'Antimagnet' Cloak Hides Objects From Magnetic Fields

ananyo writes "Researchers have made a cloak that can hide objects from static magnetic fields, realizing a theoretical prediction they made last year. This 'antimagnet' could have medical applications, but could also be used to subvert airport security. The cloak's interior is lined with turns of tape made from a high-temperature superconductor. Superconductors repel magnetic fields, so any magnetic field enclosed within a superconductor would be undetectable from outside. But the superconductor itself would still perturb an external magnetic field, so the researchers coated its external side with an ordinary ferromagnet. The superconductor tries to repel external field lines, whereas the ferromagnet tries to draw them in — together, the two layers cancel each other out (abstract)."

Airport security?

[hpa]

"Hey, mind if I take in this superconductor cooler through the checkpoint?"

Tinfoil hat replacement

[Anonymous Coward]

Finally, a tinfoil hat replacement. Everyone knows that some aliens use magnets and not EM waves.

Re:Airport security?

[Anonymous Coward]

Amazing isn't it? Rea searchers make a breakthrough in practical physics, and all anyone can think about is terrorists!

Be afraid people! There could be one under your bed right now!

Re:Airport security?

[Anonymous Coward]

There's a red under every bed.