# Is this real? "Quantum trapping" video - levitating disc of liquid nitrogen

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-real-quantum-trapping-video-levitating-disc-of-liquid-nitrogen/600092>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 19, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-real-quantum-trapping-video-levitating-disc-of-liquid-nitrogen/600092 "2011-10-19T01:23:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-real-quantum-trapping-video-levitating-disc-of-liquid-nitrogen/600092/1 "2011-10-19T01:23:51Z")

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[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player\_embedded&v=Ws6AAhTw7RA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ws6AAhTw7RA)

I’m not quite sure what to make of this video. This seems pretty, well, unbelievable. They are claiming that this disc of nitrogen (he calls it “liquid nitrogen”, and while it appears to be inside a clear plastic baggie of some kind it looks more solid than liquid) is “superconducting and locking the magnetic field in three dimensions”, allowing it to hover over some (what I assume are) magnets, but remaining “locked” in place even as he moves the board around. He also does a spinning demonstration, and another where it rotates about a track, remaining on the same relative axis.

First of all, how is he even touching that with his bare hands? I can’t imagine the thin piece of cellophane around it would insulate something that cold well enough for it to be handled safely. Second, if this is real, I can’t believe it’s not drawing more of a crowd because it seems like it would be pretty amazing. Third, if this _is_ real, what is going on exactly? And if it’s not… why not?

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-real-quantum-trapping-video-levitating-disc-of-liquid-nitrogen/600092/2 "2011-10-19T01:31:38Z")

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[Another current thread on the same topic](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=628245)

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**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-real-quantum-trapping-video-levitating-disc-of-liquid-nitrogen/600092/3 "2011-10-19T01:34:06Z")

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Ah, missed that one. Should have known that someone on the Dope would beat me to it. Mods, you can lock this.

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**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-real-quantum-trapping-video-levitating-disc-of-liquid-nitrogen/600092/4 "2011-10-19T01:38:41Z")

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> [@Rigamarole](#):
>
> Ah, missed that one. Should have known that someone on the Dope would beat me to it. Mods, you can lock this.

Your wish is my command. 😉