Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Maglev sleep chamber

Watch out for the liquid nitrogen flood.
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You've all seen the superconducting magnet levitation trick; I'm curious as to how large one of those would have to be in order to levitate a sleeping person wearing some sort of magnetic pj's.

(I'm also curious as to whether your brain would function at all in such a huge amount of magnetic flux. Course, that way it might be the best sleep you've had in awhile). The other trick will be keeping the temperature in check; sure I like my window open when I sleep, but -196 Deg C sounds a little too cold for me to consider sleeping above it peacefully. And the final dilemma: how exactly to get down. Shutting off the system is to be avoided, and probably some form of backup power source would be required to keep it operational. Maybe a simple grab-handle could be within reach to pull yourself out of the levitation point.

RayfordSteele, Apr 15 2002

Electromagnet Mattress http://www.halfbake...romagnet_20Mattress
[phoenix, Apr 15 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Molecular Magnetism http://www-hfml.sci.kun.nl/froglev.html
Currently limited to frogs and mice. [waugsqueke, Apr 15 2002]

[link]






       I can't help with the physics, but croissant for the magnetic pajamas. Would they be powerful enough to attach you to metallic surfaces where you might want to catch a few Zs? You know, like the metal ceiling of a crowded airplane, or the underside of a patio table?
spartanica, Apr 15 2002
  

       WARNING: RayfordSteele Mattress Corp. accepts no liability for misuse of this product. This product should not be used by people with braces, pacemakers, metal bone pins, metal hips or back braces. It is recommended that all metallic objects within 10' of this product be removed. This includes (but is not limited to) radios, eyeglasses, ceiling fans, crutches, lamps, silverware, wheelchairs, watches, computers or computer accessories, candle holders, remote controls and sexual aids. Do not allow food or drink in the vicinity of this product. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. Please refer to the Owner's manual for operating instructions. Do not attempt to open or repair this product as there are no user servicable parts inside.
phoenix, Apr 15 2002
  

       This would be ideal in an isolation chamber. It would be even better if you could get rid of the PJs (everything is improved by getting rid of pyjamas). Molecular magnetism may be the way to do this, provided it improves. (il y a un linky)
waugsqueke, Apr 15 2002
  

       Use those magnetic pajamas to sleep on the outside of the Chrysler Building.
mrthingy, Apr 15 2002
  

       Somebody should post magnetic PJ's as a separate idea.
RayfordSteele, Nov 19 2004
  

       The handle has GOT to be plastic!
DesertFox, Nov 19 2004
  

       (to summaraize) Waugsqueke's link is an example of diamagnetism, that is, the propensity for certain materials to be weakly repelled by magnetic fields, regardless of polarity. Water is realtively strongly diamagnetic, which is why most animals can be (theoretically) levitated this way.   

       Incidentally, the 16 Tesla (16,000 Gauss) field used in the floating frog example is an incredibly strong magnet. By contrast, rare-earth magnets max out at around 1 Tesla (1,000 Gauss), ferrite (refrigerator) magnets top out around 100 Gauss, and the Earth's field is on average about 0.5 Gauss.   

       Unfortunately, magnetic force drops off rapidly over distance--this is why you don't levitate in an MRI machine, which usually maxes out at 10 Tesla. I don't know the strength you'd need to levitate a human-sized object but it would be gigantic.
5th Earth, Nov 20 2004
  
      
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