magnet

Kitchen tools and gadgets come in all shapes and sizes. While the variety may do wonders for being able to use the right tool for the job, it doesn't necessarily make it any easier to find the right tool for the job.

Hiding in plain sight, the Joseph Joseph Nest Utensils stands out on the counter, in terms of both its at-the-ready design as well as its vibrant color palette. The set of five utensils consists of a slotted spatula, a spaghetti server, a slotted spoon, and a solid spoon--all of which nest inside the business end of a … Read more

Apple's MagSafe magnetic connector system is one of those nifty little design touches that's cool but not necessarily earth-shaking. Or is it?

According to an Apple patent application discovered by Patently Apple, the company could have big plans to expand its use of magnets in its future products. The relatively complex patent was filed in July 2011 and describes the use of coded magnets that are able to transfer data between devices and lay a foundation for tons of potential uses.

So imagine that MagSafe connector not only holds itself in place thanks to its magnets, but the magnets also communicate information about what's being connected, meaning a single port could be used to connect multiple devices.

The patent application also describes possible uses for coded magnets involving new methods to securely pair accessories like a stylus to devices such as an iPad. On top of that, the stylus could have programmable magnets in its tip, opening up new possibilities for data transfer and user interfaces--just when we were finally getting the hang of multitouch gestures...… Read more

Apple earnings reach record highs, Xbox rumors ramp up, and Obama tackles energy and tech industry concerns in his State of the Union address.

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

Scientists at the U.K.'s University of Bristol have created what they say is the world's first magnetic soap, and it's gaining attention as a potential method for cleaning up oil spills.

As first reported in the Angewandte Chemie chemistry journal, the team of researchers created the magnetic soap by dissolving iron atoms, which give the soap particles a metallic center, into a chlorine and bromine solution similar to what's found in mouthwash and fabric softener.

To test its magnetic properties, the group inserted a magnet into a test tube containing the soap solution, water, and oil and found that the soap was able to rise through the water and oil to reach the magnet. … Read more

Data storage has long been a function of Moore's Law. But researchers at IBM say it's time to throw that equation out the window and start from the atomic level rather than waiting for the limits of physics to be halted at the same place.

This infographic, created by IBM, demonstrates the future of information storage.

IBM Research Atomic Scale Magnetic Memory

SAN JOSE, Calif.--With a discovery that could some day fundamentally alter the scale of mass data storage, nanotechnology researchers at IBM say they have found a way to store a bit of information in as little as 12 magnetic atoms.

That's a radical improvement over today's storage devices which, IBM argues, require about a million atoms to hold a bit of information. For those keeping score at home, IBM's discovery could mean storage could one day be possible at 1/83,000th the scale of today's disk drives.

And while the IBM researchers behind the … Read more

That scrabbling sound you're hearing is social networking clawing its way into the real world in the form of MagnetU, a social proximity gadget.

MagnetU is a tiny $24 device that travels along with you and seeks out other MagnetU users. If two social profiles are a good fit, it will notify users of each other's proximity.

Here's how it works. Load up the MagnetU application, create a set of "social desires," and hook it up with Facebook and Twitter. The gadget connects with your phone using Bluetooth.

Hit the bars or wander down the street. When social desires mesh, you get a message on your phone that ranks the match as "attractive," "hot," or "red-hot."

Clinking two MagnetU devices together links up your social profiles so you can stay connected with your new BFF after you've parted ways.… Read more

Magnetic resonance imaging scanners produce images of the body using strong magnetic fields and radio waves to scan several images of the same area. By comparing these images, the scanner reveals even the most subtle abnormalities, such as young tumors.

Considering the nature of MRI scanners, it stands to reason that math might improve the time it takes to get and compare these images.

Electrical engineers and computer scientists at MIT's Research Laboratory of Electronics thought so, and they are publishing an algorithm they have devised that speeds scanning time threefold, reducing the amount of time someone would have … Read more

Most headphones have tiny dynamic drivers, basically miniaturized versions of the drivers used in box speakers. The Audeze LCD-2 features a completely different technology: it uses thin-film planar magnetic drivers. I first checked out the Audeze LCD-2 headphones last year and absolutely loved them. The company redesigned the drivers to produce even better sound, made the earpads thicker, and now covers the headband in real leather. I found the sound improvements of the revised model significant enough to warrant a new review.

The styling is bulky and retro, but the quality feel of the LCD-2 is more than skin deep; … Read more