Quantum Levitation

Video courtesy of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), representing the science center and museum field worldwide. To learn more, visit www.astc.org. Follow us on Twitter: @ScienceCenters.

Tel-Aviv University demos quantum superconductors locked in a magnetic field (www.quantumlevitation.com). For an explanation of the physics behind this demonstration, visit www.quantumlevitation.com/levitation/The­_physics.html.

With the theme "Knowledge that Works: From Theory to Practice," the 2011 ASTC Annual Conference featured more than 100 sessions, which highlighted how science centers and museums are putting new ideas to practical use to serve their communities. The conference was hosted by the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, October 15-18.

• Category

  Education

[Micah Houghton]

If we don't have hover boards before 2015 I will be severely disappointed after seeing this.

[Joshua Lintag]

So we can now make a real life Columbia?

[Jason Jusino]

This is cool! How can this be used to benefit travel?

[john deer]

now make columbia minus all the bad stuff

[blackmail1807]

nothing really that quantum. superconductivity has been known for 102 years now, and the levitation effect is absolutely trivial to anyone who studied physics on the level of Faraday's laws (discovered long before superconductors). The only quantum effect is the very existence of superconductors. So please don't think that humanity just invented that toy.

[Isaac Jensen]

yes,but maybe with giant superconductors around the US

[Aksel Tahir]

So basically we can have the city of Columbia (from Boishock infinite) IRL !!!