How Cool is Quantum Levitation? Supercool.

How Cool is Quantum Levitation? Supercool.
[youtube:http://youtu.be/lOIAzvQdWzw]

Quantum levitation using supercooled superconductors hit the Internet in a big way in 2011, but it continues to be impressive, especially in person. Dylan Dixon built a track for Maker Faire Bay Area using magnets, liquid nitrogen, and a bit of tin foil. The foil actually provided a bit of insulation, which kept the floating magnet cool longer, so it could go around the track more.

“I’ve had quite a few people come up to this, they saw a video on the Internet, and they thought it was fake,” says Dixon. “Until they saw it here.”

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Nathan Hurst is an editor at Make. He loves anything having to do with science or bicycling. He tweets as @nathanbhurst.

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