---
title: "Magnet Spun at Record Rate Within Superconductor Trap"
url: https://newscentral.site/magnet-spun-at-record-rate-within-superconductor-trap/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Science"
published: 2026-11-06T19:00:00.000Z
updated: 2026-11-07T00:30:25.282Z
id: add447f7-0de2-43fd-b6fc-6d2a140343b1
source: "New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/article/2597816-record-breaking-fast-spinning-magnet-could-help-uncover-new-physics/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=home&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/magnet-spun-at-record-rate-within-superconductor-trap/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Magnet Spun at Record Rate Within Superconductor Trap

Researchers have achieved an unprecedented rate of 138 million revolutions per minute by spinning a tiny magnet within a superconductor trap.

A tiny magnet has been set spinning at an unprecedented rate within a superconductor trap, making it one of the fastest spinning objects ever created and potentially visible to the naked eye.

This achievement is significant because it could aid in experiments searching for mysterious dark matter particles and contribute to the development of quantum technologies. The researchers behind this feat are exploring new physics and pushing the boundaries of what is thought possible with magnets.

The magnet, made from neodymium, iron, and boron, was placed above a superconductor and began to levitate due to repulsive magnetic forces caused by the Meissner effect, a phenomenon where superconductors expel any magnetic field that tries to penetrate them. This allowed the researchers to manipulate the magnet in ways that would be impossible with ordinary magnets.

To achieve such high speeds, the team used a spherical magnet approximately 30 micrometres wide, roughly the width of a fine human hair, and placed it within a cylindrical container made from lead, which was then sealed inside a vacuum chamber.

The team took their experiment to extreme temperatures using liquid helium to cool the setup to approximately -269°C (-452°F), just a few degrees above absolute zero.

Under these conditions, the lead container behaved as a superconductor, allowing the magnet to float within it without encountering any particles due to the absence of air.

A magnetic coil was used to set the tiny magnet spinning at an astonishing 138 million revolutions per minute, pushing the limits of what is thought possible with human-made objects.

The magnet's rotation was remarkably stable, taking a significant 17 days for its speed to decrease by half, which would typically happen more quickly due to interactions between the magnet and its environment.

The team has been exploring the magnet's potential applications beyond its initial purpose as a testbed for vacuum technology.

They've already successfully used it to measure extremely low temperatures, which could be beneficial for builders of quantum computers. These computers require precise control over their environment to function correctly, and this levitated spinning magnet can provide that level of precision.

The researchers believe the magnet's unique properties make it an ideal tool for studying fundamental physics phenomena, including the search for dark matter particles and gravitational waves at previously unexplored frequencies.

---
Source: [New Scientist](https://www.newscientist.com/article/2597816-record-breaking-fast-spinning-magnet-could-help-uncover-new-physics/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=home&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/magnet-spun-at-record-rate-within-superconductor-trap/