That time a physicist levitated a frog in a magnetic field and won an Ig Nobel prize (before the real Nobel).
In 1997, in a laboratory at the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands, something unusual happened: a frog began to float in mid-air. This was not a magic trick, but a scientific experiment conducted by physicist Andre Geim, who would become famous for this and other much more revolutionary research.
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The levitating frog episode has become an emblematic example of how science can be both serious and playful, paving the way for unexpected discoveries. But how did we manage to levitate an amphibian? And what implications did this curious experiment have?
Serious science with a touch of madness
It all started one evening, after normal working hours. Geim, who was researching magnetic fields at the time, decided to try something new. As he says, after drinking a few beers with colleagues, he took it into his head to levitate water using magnetism. The idea might seem bizarre, but it was based on solid physical principles.
The experiment worked: Geim observed with fascination the drops of water floating in the magnetic field, poetically calling them “kissing drops” for the way they moved and interacted. Encouraged by his success, the physicist decided to push himself further. He tried other objects: strawberries, cherry tomatoes and finally, at his wife’s suggestion, a frog.
To levitate the frog, Geim used an extremely powerful magnetwith a magnetic field about 10 times stronger than that of an MRI machine. The principle underlying the experiment is diamagnetism: some materials, when subjected to a strong enough magnetic field, develop a weak magnetization opposite to the field. In the case of the frog, this force was enough to counteract gravity, allowing it to float in the air.
The image of a frog suspended in midair captured the imagination of not only the scientific community, but also the general public. The levitating frog experiment earned Geim and his colleague Michael Berry the Ig Nobel Prize for Physics in 2000. The Ig Nobels are satirical prizes awarded annually at Harvard for unusual or bizarre scientific researchwith the slogan “first they make you laugh, then they make you think”.
But Geim’s story doesn’t end there, and demonstrates how creativity and unconventional thinking can lead to surprising results in the world of science. In 2010, the same scientist won the real Nobel Prize for Physics for his studies on graphenea two-dimensional material with extraordinary properties. Geim became like this the only person in the world to have won both an Ig Nobel and a Nobela record that underlines his ability to move between “serious” research and seemingly frivolous experiments.
The levitating frog experiment, although it may seem like a mere curiosity, has actually opened up new perspectives in the study of diamagnetism and its possible applications. Magnetic levitation, in fact, is not just a laboratory trick, but has potential practical applications in various fields.
For example, magnetic levitation (maglev) train technology is based on similar principles to make trains “float” on the tracks, eliminating friction and allowing very high speeds. In the medical field, magnetic levitation could be used to manipulate cells or tissues without direct contact, opening up new possibilities for biological research and therapies.
Furthermore, the experiment highlights the importance of creativity and lateral thinking in scientific research. Often, great discoveries arise from seemingly trivial questions or unconventional approaches. Geim’s ability to move from a “for fun” experiment like the levitating frog to fundamental research like graphene demonstrates how important it is for scientists to keep an open and curious mind.
Geim himself, reflecting on this experience, commented: “Knowledge is a lot of fun.” A phrase that perfectly sums up his approach to science and serves as a reminder that research, even at its highest levels, can and should maintain an element of playfulness and curiosity.
The episode of the levitating frog also invites us to reflect on the role of scientific communication. Experiments like this, which capture the public imagination, can serve as a “gateway” to getting people interested in more complex scientific concepts. In an age where trust in science is sometimes questioned, finding ways to engage the public and show the fascinating and surprising side of research can be crucial.
And the frog? He’s fine. After the experiment she was returned safely to the biology department, probably with an incredible story to tell her pond mates.
In the cover image, the levitating frog. Credit: Lijnis Nelemans, , from Wikimedia Commons.
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