Increased Pediatric Ingestion Related Injuries Due to Neodymium Supermagnets

The rise in popularity in the use of neodymium magnets as desktop ornaments and toys have lead to a rise in ingestion related injuries for toddlers and preteens. In a study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, 2,700 ingestions were observed over a ten year period and it was revealed that ninety four of the cases involved magnet ingestion.

The study also revealed that cases of magnet ingestion increased in the last three years of the study with the age of patients ranged from 7 months to 13 years.

Neodymium magnets are the most powerful magnets around. A neodymium magnet a few cubic centimeters small can cause bodily harm from pinching to even causing broken bones.

Magnets have been a popular accessory for preteens where they use the magnetic property to simulate a tongue stud, nose ring, or earring. This kind of use can lead to accidental ingestion or inhalation. Once ingested, they can cause the digestive tract to fold when pinched by two of these magnets which causes internal injuries or even death.

Magnetic Mystery Behind Lanthanum Aluminate and Strontium Titanate Combine Computer Processors with Memory Chips

Scientists have theorized how two non-conductive and non-magnetic materials, Lanthanum Aluminate and Strontium Titanate, become conductive and magnetic when combined together. This phenomenon can lead to the development of computer memory with data processing capabilities.

Scientist believe that because of a magnetic phenomenon called "local moments", lanthanum aluminate and strontium titanate, become conductive and magnetic when placed together. With these two properties, these two semiconductors have the ability to process binary data (like a computer processor) and also have the ability to store them (like a memory chip) in one device; a computer processor that can store data.

A semiconductor is a material that has conductive properties midway between a conductor like metal and a non-conductor such as glass. Because of this, depending on the flow of electrons in the semiconductor, it can be either on (1) where electrons can flow freely or off (0) when electrons cannot pass through. Data that is streamed through these semiconductors can be permanently stored on magnetic devices.

Nanotechnology and Plastics Develop New Type of Lighting That is Flicker-Free, Bendable and Shatterproof

Researchers using nanotechnology and materials engineering have discovered a new type of lighting material that is safer, more durable, and lasts longer. Field-Induced Polymer Electroluminescent technology (FIPEL), may replace conventional lighting in the future.

In Popular Mechanics' list of 101 Gadgets That Changed the World, the light bulb was ranked number 10. The light bulb provided constant illumination to the world and transitioned the dependence of light from the open flame to electrically produced light.

The light bulb works by passing an electric current to a filament (usually tungsten). This allows the tungsten to heat up and glow, producing light. To protect the filament from oxidizing and burning out, it is encased in a glass bulb which is filled with non-reactive gas like argon.

This lead to the development of the fluorescent lamp which although also has a filament, uses atoms to generate ultra violet light that excites the phosphor (a chemical that can emit light) coating inside the tube to light up. The filament is used to heat up the mercury atoms for it to start generating ultra-violet light which in itself is invisible to the naked eye.

Spin Seebeck Effect Lead To Engines With No Moving Parts And Infinitely Reliable

Schematic illustration of the spin-Seebeck effects
Credit: Tohoku University

The Seebeck effect is a phenomenon in which a temperature difference between two dissimilar electrical conductors or semiconductors produces a voltage difference between the two substances. It is simply the conversion of the temperature differences directly into electricity.

This effect is named for German-Estonian physicist Thomas Johann Seebeck who discovered it in 1821.

Physicists in 2008, discovered what they are calling the spin Seebeck effect. The spin Seebeck effect is seen when heat is applied to a magnetized metal. As a result, electrons rearrange themselves according to their spin. Unlike ordinary electron movement, this rearrangement does not create heat as a waste product.

This development can lead to the manufacturing of faster, more efficient microchips and open up a new class of devices called spintonics devices.

Researchers 1 step closer to new kind of thermoelectric 'heat engine'

Researchers who are studying a new magnetic effect that converts heat to electricity have discovered how to amplify it a thousand times over - a first step in making the technology more practical.

In the so-called spin Seebeck effect, the spin of electrons creates a current in magnetic materials, which is detected as a voltage in an adjacent metal. Ohio State University researchers have figured out how to create a similar effect in a non-magnetic semiconductor while producing more electrical power.

They've named the amplified effect the "giant spin-Seebeck" effect, and the university will license patent-pending variations of the technology.

The resulting voltages are admittedly tiny, but in this week's issue of the journal Nature, the researchers report boosting the amount of voltage produced per degree of temperature change inside the semiconductor from a few microvolts to a few millivolts - a 1,000-fold increase in voltage, producing a 1-million-fold increase in power.

Low Public Awareness on Danger of Swallowing Magnets

Parents of small children should be aware of the dangers of the swallowing of magnets.

Most kids accidentally swallow small objects. Most of the time, this is harmless and can pass through the body unimpeded. But magnets pose a danger specially when another magnet or metal is also ingested afterwards. The two objects may stick together inside the body between tissues (usually in the digestive system) and cause a blockage or fistula. This requires general surgery to correct.

Magnets are being used by children (even up to 15 year olds) as a fashion accessory to simulate a tongue piercing by placing magnets on opposite ends of the tongue. This may cause it to be accidentally swallowed.

Warning to parents over magnet danger to children

The first case involved an 18-month-old child who had swallowed 10 small magnetic spheres and the second involved an eight-year-old who had swallowed two 2-cm long magnetic strips. In both cases, the magnets were from small children's toys. Both of the children had mild stomach pain and on further examination and investigation were found to have the magnets lodged in their digestive systems.

Magnets discovered at gastrointestinal surgery in an 18-month-old child (A) and an 8-year-old child (B)
A: Arrow shows attached magnetic beads lying across the fistula. B: Arrow shows magnets between the caecum and terminal ileum.

Single small objects occasionally swallowed by young children can usually pass through their digestive system without causing any illness or internal damage. However, when several magnetic elements are ingested this becomes a totally different scenario. The multiple magnets can become attracted to each other inside the body, trapping internal soft tissues between them and causing fistulas to develop. A fistula is a condition whereby an abnormal connection is formed between soft tissues inside the body (in these cases, between different segments of bowel), and if left untreated, may lead to serious illness. Notably, the children who swallowed magnets would initially have felt no pain or discomfort, making it difficult for parents to know when their children might be at risk.