How does a magnetic compass work? Well, it’s all down to basic physics and human ingenuity. The key component of a standard baseplate compass is its magnetized needle, which is allowed to spin freely ...

The magnetized needle of a conventional compass wants to align with Earth’s magnetic field—helpful, unless you’re near the ...

Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field generated by electric currents from within the planet. Compasses take advantage of this field to identify north and serve as a navigational aid. But one social ...

On Earth, the magnetic field of our planet points a compass north, but in space, things are a bit more complicated. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Some inventions are so simple that it’s hard to improve them. The magnetic compass is a great example — a magnetized needle, a bit of cork, and a bowl of water are all you need to start navigating the ...

Just as the ancient Minoans of Crete used the stars for maritime navigation, birds today migrate with the help of Earth’s magnetic field. ⇨ Love animals and science as much as we do? Join Pop Mech Pro ...

Atomic physicists “are jacks of all trades,” according to Alex Sushkov. “You have to have the idea, design the experiment, build the experiment, run the experiment, fix everything, take data, analyze ...

The magnetic compass is the last unknown sense in migrating animals. For some scientists, the monarch butterfly is leading ...