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Related Concept Videos

Magnetic Fields01:27

Magnetic Fields

A moving charge or a current creates a magnetic field in the surrounding space, in addition to its electric field. The magnetic field exerts a force on any other moving charge or current that is present in the field. Like an electric field, the magnetic field is also a vector field. At any position, the direction of the magnetic field is defined as the direction in which the north pole of a compass needle points.
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
Magnetism01:30

Magnetism

Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...
Other Unique Bacteria01:18

Other Unique Bacteria

Magnetic bacteria exhibit a directed movement called magnetotaxis, driven by structures called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes consist of chains of magnetic particles made of either magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or greigite (Fe₃S₄) and are organized in a linear conformation by a protein scaffold within invaginations of the cell membrane. The bacteria align along the north–south magnetic field lines, much like a compass needle. They are typically microaerophilic or anaerobic and are commonly found near the...
Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability01:31

Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability

In linear magnetic materials, like paramagnets and diamagnets, magnetization is proportional to the magnetic field intensity. The constant of proportionality, a dimensionless number, is called magnetic susceptibility. The value of the susceptibility depends on the type of material.
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
Magnetic Field Lines01:19

Magnetic Field Lines

The representation of magnetic fields by magnetic field lines is very useful in visualizing the strength and direction of the magnetic field. Each of the magnetic field lines forms a closed loop. The field lines emerge from the north pole (N), loop around to the south pole (S), and continue through the bar magnet back to the north pole.
Magnetic field lines follow several hard-and-fast rules:
Ferromagnetism01:31

Ferromagnetism

Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...

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Updated: May 9, 2026

Assessing the Influence of Personality on Sensitivity to Magnetic Fields in Zebrafish
07:47

Assessing the Influence of Personality on Sensitivity to Magnetic Fields in Zebrafish

Published on: March 18, 2019

Why are living things sensitive to weak magnetic fields?

Abraham R Liboff1

  • 1Department of Physics, Oakland University , Rochester Hills, MI , USA.

Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine
|August 7, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Weak extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields interact with biology. This study proposes the daily geomagnetic field swing, driven by solar tides, may explain these interactions and influence biological clocks.

Keywords:
Biological clockchronodisruptioncryptochromemagnetic diurnal changemelatoninweak-field interactions

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Last Updated: May 9, 2026

Assessing the Influence of Personality on Sensitivity to Magnetic Fields in Zebrafish
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Published on: March 18, 2019

Enhancement of the Initial Growth Rate of Agricultural Plants by Using Static Magnetic Fields
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Published on: July 8, 2016

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13:29

Electric and Magnetic Field Devices for Stimulation of Biological Tissues

Published on: May 15, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Geophysics
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Robust interactions between weak extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and biological systems are documented.
  • The physical basis and evolutionary advantage of these interactions remain unclear, given the lack of comparable environmental signals.
  • Existing research highlights the impact of environmental factors like light and sleep disruption on biological clocks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a biological basis for the observed interactions with weak ELF magnetic fields.
  • To investigate the potential role of the daily geomagnetic field variation in chronobiological processes.
  • To explore the hypothesis that sensitivity to ELF magnetic fields is linked to ancient geomagnetic cues.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis and synthesis of existing data on geomagnetic field variations and biological responses.
  • Comparison of the diurnal geomagnetic field swing with known environmental time cues.
  • Postulation of a chronodisruptive basis for ELF magnetic field sensitivity.

Main Results:

  • The daily ∼50 nT swing in the geomagnetic field, caused by solar tidal forces, is a constant and reliable signal.
  • This geomagnetic variation is synchronized with the solar-derived diurnal rhythms in living organisms.
  • The diurnal geomagnetic effect may act as a surrogate for solar variation, influencing chronobiology.

Conclusions:

  • The biological basis for weak ELF magnetic field interactions may stem from the diurnal geomagnetic field variation.
  • This effect could play a role in chronobiological processes, potentially acting as a time cue.
  • Sensitivity to weak ELF magnetic fields might be a vestigial response to this ancient geomagnetic signal, homologous to disruptions caused by artificial environmental changes.