Physics Colloquium: Magnetic Levitation of Water Droplets, Mice and other Biological Systems

In this talk I will describe successful levitation of large water droplets and mice using a newly built variable gravity simulator. The simulator consists mainly of a superconducting magnet with a room temperature accessible experimental levitating space. The superconducting magnet generates a field and field gradient product that is large enough to levitate water and many other common liquids. The warm bore of the magnet has a diameter of 66 mm, large enough to levitate small mammals. We demonstrate that water drops up to 50 mm in diameter and young mice can be levitated in the system. Video clips about the levitation will be presented. The capability of levitating large water drops and biological systems offers new opportunities for conducting detailed and in-depth study of properties of fluids and biological systems in reduced gravity environments. The simulator also provide a platform for growing crystals of soft matters, such as proteins which are very sensitive to the externally imposed stress.