Human magnetism

Human magnetism is a popular name for an alleged ability of some people to attract objects to their skin. People alleged to have such an ability are often called human magnets. Although metal objects are the most popular, some are also alleged to be able to stick other types of materials, such as glass, porcelain, wood or plastic as well as metals with no ferromagnetic properties such as brass and aluminium.[1] However, none of the recorded claims of human magnetism corresponds with the physics of magnetism, indicating that this "ability" is in fact nothing more than a misunderstanding of the physics and meaning of the term and a misapplication of it to what has been shown to be nothing more than unusually sticky skin.

A man with a hammer attached to his skin

Selected claimed human magnets
  • Aurel Răileanu from Romania, also known as Mr. Magnet; is said to be the strongest human magnet[2]
  • Etibar Elchyev from Georgia, Guinness World Record holder for most spoons on a human body[3]
  • Ivan Stoiljkovic, a boy from Croatia[4]
  • Liew Thow Lin, known as Mr. Magnetic Man[5]
  • Wang Baoqiang, from Shaoxing, China.[6]
  • John Greenwood, a former flea weight boxing champion, patron and MVP of the Greenwood Grizzlies netball team, from New Zealand, is said to have a magnetic field around him which he claims stops watches.
  • Dalibor Jablanović from Serbia,Guinness World Record holder for most spoons on a human face[7]

Explanations

Many of the people who can adhere objects to their body can do so not only with metal but also other materials. That would suggest that the phenomenon can't be explained by magnetism and uses a different kind of physical effects. Skeptic Benjamin Radford has used a compass to check the magnetic field of a person that claimed to be a human magnet. He concluded that person did not produce magnetic fields. He also noted that those people usually have smooth and hairless skin and lean back slightly while sticking objects - which wouldn't be necessary if they possessed magnetic powers. Many scientists and proponents of science, including James Randi, claim that this ability can be explained by friction and is caused by unusually sticky skin; to prove that, Randi has demonstrated that human magnets lose their powers when they are covered in talc.[1][8][9]

See also

References
  1. "Are There Really Magnetic People?". Science-Based Life. March 14, 2012.
  2. "Most powerful Human Magnet-world record set by Aurel Raileanu". worldrecordacademy.com.
  3. "Magnetic Man Attracts 50 Spoons to his Body to Break Guinness Record". ibtimes.com. December 15, 2011.
  4. "Is Ivan Stoiljkovic, Croatia's Magnet Boy, A Hoax?". Huffington Post. May 24, 2011.
  5. "Meet Liew Thow Lin aka Malaysias Mr. Magnetic Man". Mystery History TV. November 14, 2012. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  6. "It's the real life Magneto! Chinese man claims he's a human magnet and can hold a KILO of metal on his chest". Daily Mail. 4 October 2016.
  7. "Records Smashing melons and juggling chainsaws: Guinness World Record breakers tell their stories". theguardian.com. September 10, 2015.
  8. "Famed Magnetic Boy Is Probably Just Very Sticky". LiveScience. February 25, 2011.
  9. "Magnetic Boy: Mystery or Simple Physics?". Discovery. February 24, 2011.
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