X-Nico

2 unusual facts about magnetic levitation


Magnetic levitation

1961 James R. Powell and BNL colleague Gordon Danby electrodynamic levitation using superconducting magnets

1939 Braunbeck’s extension showed that magnetic levitation is possible with diamagnetic materials


Lathen train collision

The Lathen train collision occurred on 22 September 2006 when a Transrapid magnetic levitation (or "maglev") train collided with a maintenance vehicle near Lathen, Germany, killing 23 people.

Technological applications of superconductivity

Promising future industrial and commercial HTS applications include Induction heaters, transformers, fault current limiters, power storage, motors and generators, fusion reactors (see ITER) and magnetic levitation devices.


see also

Ground effect

Ground effect train, an alternative to a magnetic levitation train, using ground effect in aircraft to prevent the vehicle from making contact with the ground