# The human magnetic field. Do some people have more magnetic properties than others? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 31, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635 "2003-10-31T13:48:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/1 "2003-10-31T13:48:55Z")
I’ve noticed that I can not wear analogue watches. After a few days they stop running. After sending it back and getting brand new ones, and having the same things happen, I began to wonder. Is there something about my magnetic field that is doing this to the watches…? For an interesting article on human magneticism see [here](http://mirrors.meepzorp.com/thestar.com.my/magnetic/) . Kinda cool, I’m just unsure of the science behind it. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/2 "2003-10-31T13:53:53Z")
My father has the same problem with watches. He’s had dozens over the years, but none of them every keep accurate time when he wears them. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/3 "2003-10-31T14:01:20Z")
Humans don’t have magnetic fields. That article you linked to is a hoax (well, the article might be genuine, but it’s genuinely about a hoax). Maybe your dad’s just rough on watches. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/4 "2003-10-31T14:20:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Humans don’t have magnetic fields… Got a cite for that **Curt**? Not that I don’t believe you, just would like to see a cite… ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/5 "2003-10-31T14:23:44Z")
Possibly a stupid question, but why would a very weak magnetic field ruin an analogue watch? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/6 "2003-10-31T14:51:40Z")
**Shade** - this is exactly my question. Why would a very weak magnetic field ruin an anologue watch… Wait…I’m not thinking of the right type of watch…I meant digital analogue watch…Doh! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/7 "2003-10-31T14:57:14Z")
Humans have a magnetic field. Here’s an interesting (haha, as if) article on the changes in it during bowel movement. [http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lsp/abstracts/bradshaw-ieee-embs-1997.htm](http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lsp/abstracts/bradshaw-ieee-embs-1997.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/8 "2003-10-31T14:59:24Z")
This one is slightly more interesting because it allows you to imagine having Luke Skywalkeresque powers: > **[Detection of extraordinary large bio-magnetic field strength from human hand...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1353653/?dopt=Abstract)** > > It is generally accepted that more than 10(-6) gauss order magnetism was not detected in normal human condition. However, we detected 10(-3) gauss (mGauss) order bio-magnetic field strength from the palm in special persons who emitted External Qi... (About the magnetic field in someones palm increasing during mystic ninja stuff… well, Qi) ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/9 "2003-10-31T15:48:35Z")
From **Stoneburg** ’s second link: > [@](#): > > We suppose that the extraordinary large bio-magnetic field strength might be originated from “Qi” energy in the oriental medicine or in the oriental traditional philosophy. You know, I’m more than willing to defend Qi as a global abstraction type of concept. I do not consider it pure bunk, as it has a certain usefulness. However, saying that " large bio-magnetic field strength might be originated from ‘Qi’" is like saying that “large bio-magnetic field strength might be originated from ‘intelligence’.” If their data is accurate, it _is_ an interesting observation, unfortunately their conclusion is rather un-scientific, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/10 "2003-10-31T17:50:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CurtC \* > **Humans don’t have magnetic fields.** Please know something about a subject before you post, Curt. [Levitating Frogs](http://www.hfml.kun.nl/froglev.html) ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/11 "2003-10-31T18:55:52Z")
OK, a watch with electronics in makes magnetics a better bet. Never mind. Still, even the guys talking about Qi were only reporting 0.001 Gauss - isn’t that like a fraction of even the earth’s magnetic field? ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/12 "2003-10-31T19:20:16Z")
Oh, no doubt–the magnetic/electric field of a human body is pathetically feeble. It does exist. Is it responsible for such watch damage? Who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/13 "2003-10-31T20:39:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toadspittle \* > **Oh, no doubt–the magnetic/electric field of a human body is pathetically feeble.** Well, everything is “magnetic” to one degree or another, in that no material has a permeability of 0. (I believe bismuth has the lowest permeability of any material, with a value slightly less than that of air.) Wasn’t there a thread recently about the properties of diamagnetic and paramagnetic materials? > [@](#): > > **Is it responsible for such watch damage?** Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![bbeaty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@bbeaty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbeaty)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/14 "2003-11-01T04:58:39Z")
For a magnetic field to be strong enough to damage a watch, it has to be much stronger than the Earth’s field… which means that it would be easily detected with a compass. If your watches tend to stop, there could be many explanations. But if a compass goes crazy when you wave your wrist near it, THAT would be interesting! ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/15 "2003-11-01T11:32:14Z")
Far more likely to be breaking the watch is what you’re doing while you are wearing it. Suggesting it’s being broken by your magnetic field is kind of like wondering if your heartbeat is shaking it to pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/16 "2003-11-02T02:27:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toadspittle \* > \*\*Please know something about a subject before you post, Curt. > > [Levitating Frogs](http://www.hfml.kun.nl/froglev.html) \*\* The frog isn’t levitating because it has a magnetic field - it’s levitating because the molecules that make it up are [diamagnetic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamagnetic) (a different phenomenon). AFAIK, the human body does [not have a magnetic field](http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/feb2000/950296280.Bc.r.html). ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/17 "2003-11-02T04:20:53Z")
Slight Hijack, A show like Ripleys had a Japanese famil that has so much magnetism in their bodies, irons, forks and other metal objects stuck to the chest and back of there bodies. I don’t know how Unique this is, but it should give a resounding “Yes” to the basic question. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/18 "2003-11-02T04:34:44Z")
**Meeko** - I saw that. Some of that stuff was glass, aluminum, etc and those objects weren’t sticking due to magnetism. It’s like hanging a spoon off of your nose - tackiness of the skin and a slight incline and the stuff doesn’t slide off. Heck take a penny, breath on it, and stick it to your forehead. It’s got nothing to do with magnetism. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-magnetic-field-do-some-people-have-more-magnetic-properties-than-others/210635/19 "2003-11-02T08:57:55Z")
**Meeko** The stuff you describe is _exactly_ the stuff the link in the OP is describing (and later debunked). **Eleusis** is right - any who can fog a mirror can do that.