Floating frogs: anti-gravity using diamagnetism

Synopsis

Andrew Geim et al. successfully levitated living frogs, grasshoppers and other so-called “non- magnetic” matters (e.g. strawberry, flowers, water, etc.) in a very strong magnetic field of strength 16 T (~5x105 times the Earth’s magnetic field). We can easily lift ferromagnetic materials (e.g. iron nails) using simple bar magnets. But in day to day life, objects those are not made of iron, nickel etc. do not seem to interact with magnets. However, every molecule experiences a repulsive force because of diamagnetism when placed in a magnetic field. If this repulsion is strong enough to cancel the gravitational attraction, an object can levitate. If the material is homogeneous, this force is balanced uniformly over the whole body of the object. It can float in a frictionless weightless environment. Thus, one can perform experiments (crystal and plant growth, etc.) in a microgravity condition on Earth without going to space.