# magnetic death **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2001, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148 "2001-07-20T03:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Micro\_Furry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Micro\_Furry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Micro_Furry)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/1 "2001-07-20T03:53:03Z")
If you had a strong enough magnet, would it be possible to rip someone’s blood right out of their body due to the iron in the hemoglobin? Or would a magnetic force of that magnitude rip apart a city like a nuclear weapon, meaning you’d probably die of debris, explosions, and gravity-warp before the blood extraction got you? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/2 "2001-07-20T04:21:41Z")
No. And no. ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/3 "2001-07-20T14:01:38Z")
I recall watching a 16mm film about such as thing back in H.S. You remember those wonderful physics films I’m sure. They had a vial of blood suspending on a string, balanced somehow. After a progression of magnets, a large electromagnet finally pulled the vial of blood toward it. Now I saw that over twenty years ago, and the film was probably made in the mid to early sixties, so perhaps the physics has changed since. On a side note, if anyone has old 16mm physics films, I’d be interested in hearing about them, as it is something I collect for fun. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/4 "2001-07-20T14:54:23Z")
I’m tempted to agree with Goose. The strongest magnet I can think of is one that is in a MRI. Those things don’t even cause a nose bleed. Also the EMP from the detonation of a nuclear bomb isn’t supposed to harm people, and it’s stronger than an MRI. -Beeblebrox “Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/5 "2001-07-20T20:13:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Now I saw that over twenty years ago, and the film was probably made in the mid to early sixties, so perhaps the physics has changed since. Physics doesn’t change that much anymore, unless it’s Einstein ammending Newton. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/6 "2001-07-20T20:45:33Z")
Oh, for heaven’s sakes. :rolleyes: [http://www.csicop.org/si/9807/magnet.html](http://www.csicop.org/si/9807/magnet.html) > [@](#): > > Some dubious literature suggests that magnetic fields attract blood, citing all the iron it contains. However, iron in the blood is very different from metallic iron, which is strongly magnetic because the individual atomic magnets are strongly coupled together by the phenomenon we call ferromagnetism. The remarkable properties of ferromagnetic materials are a result of the cooperative behavior of many, many magnetic atoms acting in unison. The iron in blood consists instead of isolated iron atoms within large hemoglobin molecules, located inside the red blood cells. Although each of the iron atoms is magnetic, it is not near other iron atoms, and remains magnetically independent. > > The net effect of the weak paramagnetism of the isolated iron atoms in hemoglobin is only a slight decrease in the overall diamagnetism of blood. Blood, like water, is weakly repelled by magnetic fields, not attracted. > **[STATS check - Sense About Science USA](https://senseaboutscienceusa.org/stats-check/)** > > Free service to help journalists with understanding data and statistics run in collaboration with the American Statistical Association > [@](#): > > Physicist Robert Park pointed out in his recent book Voodoo Science that “the iron in hemoglobin molecules is in a chemical state that is not ferromagnetic.” In plain English, magnets don’t attract your blood. Have you ever been scanned in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine? It contains magnets fantastically more powerful than those used in magnet therapy. According to Dr. Stephen Barrett of Quackwatch (“your guide to health fraud, quackery, and intelligent decisions”), the MRI “can cause tiny changes that the equipment can detect but are temporary and have no known health effect.” If magnets had a serious impact on your blood flow, an MRI scan would probably blow you to bits. No. And no. I’m going back to work now… P.S. to NotMrKnowItAll: this is a website devoted to Fighting Ignorance. I submit that you are misremembering or misinterpreting what you may have seen. ---
**Author:** ![RufusLeaking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c5a1d2/32.png) [@RufusLeaking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RufusLeaking)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/7 "2001-07-20T21:22:54Z")
Well if not blood, then something in the human body interracts with a magnetic field. Years ago I worked in a physics lab that was building an experiment for the Pioneer spacecraft. One of my jobs was to measure the residual magnetic fields of various parts for this experiment. I did this in a specially shielded room with an extremely sensitive device that meassures magnetic fields. I found that my own body had a residual magnetic field that could be detected with this setup. ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/8 "2001-07-20T23:25:39Z")
Duck Duck Goose, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to misrepresent that film I saw. I resent the implication that I misremembered it however. I, one of those stupid A/V people, saw it many times. As for if it was proof of ferromagnatism in hemoglobin, I doubt it. probably an imperfect power supply sending a bit of A/C through the solenoid, inducing a B field via Faraday’s law (blood cell are nice little toroids you must admit). Anyway, in retrospect, I too, am quite annoyed by all these magnet wearing idiots. If I had know this was such a touchy subject, I would have wisely advoided it. I really was hoping someone would have that particular film, so I could maybe, possibly, add it to my collection. Collectors are goofy sometimes. Forgive me for sending you on a web-crusade peace? ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/9 "2001-07-20T23:39:29Z")
Oh Dammit, A solenoid that big would have been a great inductor, so it probably would have choked off any variability in the B field. I don’t have a clue what was ferromagnetic… ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/10 "2001-07-21T00:47:47Z")
I would guess that research and industry uses much more powerful magnets then MRI’s. IIRC some research magnets require you to remove any metal (watch, buttons, zipper) before you go near them in the off position. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/11 "2001-07-21T03:00:47Z")
It’s just that I know actual people who believe this: [http://www.stuckonyou.com/code/template.ghc?direct=howitworks](http://www.stuckonyou.com/code/template.ghc?direct=howitworks) > [@](#): > > THE MAGNETIC FORCE[sup]TM[/sup] > FIRST IN PROPER POLARITY MAGNETIC THERAPY > HOW IT WORKS > > Magnetic Therapy in its natural state is the dominant North Pole field of the Earth dominating over the life processes of the body. With a full magnetic field from the Earth the body goes through many actions to promote good growth, strengthen tissue and fight disease and damage from accidents or injury. However most of the Earth does not have a full magnetic field. Scientists tell us that as a normal process the Earth’s poles reverse approximately every 5,000 years. This could explain the loss of a lot of dinosaur. > > \< snip \> > > An interesting note is that there are only four places left on Earth with full magnetic fields. Two habitable and two not. The not are the North Pole and the South Pole. The habitable are Sedona, Arizona and Lourdes, France - both known for healthy living and healing. > > \< snip \> > > Magnetic Therapy works by affecting our blood. Normally the blood operates in a North Pole orientation, or under a North Pole effect. In this polarity the blood is oxygenated and its process of distributing nutrients and pulling wastes and toxins from injured tissue is made most efficient. When the body is ill or injured the polarity of the site is switched by the body to a South Pole orientation. This creates faster, excited movement meant to draw blood cells to the area for healing. The blood does not work well in a South Pole orientation. Its movement does not allow normal function and an acid state is developed, which micro-organisms, viruses and malignance thrive in. > > \< snip \> > > By applying a structured North Pole magnetic field, using high strength Neodymium magnets or a patterned North Pole pad, we can convert the polarity of the blood in the injury/illness area allowing the blood to work as it should, pulling wastes and toxins away to the kidneys and other cleansing organs, clearing a path for good cell growth aided by the nutrients the blood can now deliver. Simple and totally natural. Use a Natural field to act as a catalyst to normal blood functions. The body can now heal itself naturally. Of course if there are broken bones or vertebrae out of place the magnets will not do it alone, this is time for a good chiropractor. There’s more, but you get the general drift. :rolleyes: So you say “blood is magnetic” and I… 😉 [sub] > [@](#): > > Apply a natural North Pole magnetic field. Convert the polarity of the blood to the North Pole orientated working polarity. Let the body heal itself. What is more natural than that? [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/12 "2001-07-21T22:18:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RufusLeaking \* > \*\*Well if not blood, then something in the human body interracts with a magnetic field. Years ago I worked in a physics lab that was building an experiment for the Pioneer spacecraft. One of my jobs was to measure the residual magnetic fields of various parts for this experiment. I did this in a specially shielded room with an extremely sensitive device that meassures magnetic fields. I found that my own body had a residual magnetic field that could be detected with this setup. > \*\* Your body has an electrical current to it. Your body has iron in it. Iron + electricity = magnetism –Tim ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/13 "2001-07-21T22:24:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homer \* > **Your body has an electrical current to it. Your body has iron in it. Iron + electricity = magnetism** I don’t think iron has anything to do with it. An electric current will produce a magnetic field by itself. In fact, any moving, charged particle will produce a magnetic field. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/14 "2001-07-21T23:22:02Z")
Live by the magnet, die by the magnet. That’s my motto. Anyone interested in a bracelet? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/15 "2001-07-22T02:57:12Z")
Extremely strong magnetic fields can levitate small living things, such as a small frog and a grasshopper, with no apparent harm. You can see mpegs of this here: [http://www.anomalous-images.com/messages/726.html](http://www.anomalous-images.com/messages/726.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/16 "2001-07-22T03:57:23Z")
> [@](#): > > (blood cell are nice little toroids you must admit) Honest question: Why are blood cells nice little toroids? ---
**Author:** ![Linear\_Crack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Linear\_Crack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linear_Crack)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/17 "2001-07-22T05:01:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rowrrbazzle \* > \*\*Extremely strong magnetic fields can levitate small living things, such as a small frog and a grasshopper, with no apparent harm. You can see mpegs of this here: [http://www.anomalous-images.com/messages/726.html](http://www.anomalous-images.com/messages/726.html) \*\* Ok…that made my night. A floating frog. It doesn’t get much better than that. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-death/73148/18 "2001-07-22T22:18:37Z")
The nearest I can get to harm by magnetic fields is the damage caused by lightening strikes. You can be killed by lightening strikes if you have been 1 Struck directly 2 Struck by splashover arcs, like if you were sheltering near a tree and it travels down and an arc emanates from said tree into you. 3 Struck by the ground wave differencial, this is more serious for large four legged animals such as cows where a concentric field of electric charge exists around the groundstrike point and the differance between front and back legs can be in excess of 110V which can be enough to stop its heart. It is possible for this differencial to be greater over a shorter distance, like between your feet but the path taken is not likely to stop your heart though it might just tingle the naughty bits somewhat. 4 This is the one that relates to the OP, you need not have direct passage of current at all, instead the current can be induced through the body by the changing magnetic field that accomapnies a lightening strike. This can be a significant current since induced current is proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic field, in other words how fast it rises and falls, which in the case of lightening can be very fast, in the order of 10[sup]-9[/sup] seconds and the large change of current ([sup]dI[/sup]/[sub]dT[/sub]) There was a case of four golfers in the US who were victims of a nearby strike, 3 were hit by splash arcs and survived but the fourth was not hit at all but yet his heart stopped and unfortunately he died. This prompted further investigation, and other cases of the deaths of young fit backpackers out on high ground with no marks upon them were further reinvestigated. It now seems that the heart has a more vulnerable period in its cycle called the re-polarisation time or T[sub]2[/sub]. If there should be even a fairly minor shock to the heart at this time then there is a strong possiblity it will stop. The induced currents due to the magnetic field caused by lightening, although relatively small, were badly timed as far as that golfer was concerned, a few milliseconds later and he would probably have survived.