Thread: Tell me if extreme magnetic fields have an effect on life

You haven't defined "effect" yet, so I'm just gonna say yes.

They would have to. Any magnetic field effects another electric currents including our entire nervous system. What is extreme?

Well, very high magnetic fields can disrupt the flow of charge calcium and potassium, which would render your nervous system useless. Insanely high magnetic fields can tear ionic bonds apart and pull you apart at a molecular level. Yes, magnetic fields can destroy life, but the teslas required would be uncharted.

I agree with the above and... Oh look, a flying frog!
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ_gzB0WKF0

cool frog video

I once read a SciAm article about spaceships and how they'll deal with cosmic rays and the like on long journeys. One idea to deflect the charged particles was to set up a strong magnetic field around the ship. The downside was that the magnetic field would also permeate the crew compartment (although it would be easy to set up a short range field to counteract that). Anyway, one of the scientists commented that he once stuck his head in a 20 T field and he saw flashes when his eyes moved.

So there: 20 Teslas makes you see flashes. Not so bad for a field 2,000,000 times stronger than the Earth's.

Hmmm. A very broad question - But I can tell you right now if it weren't for our planets flowing iron core that creates a magnetic field around earth to deflect harmful solar products, life most definitely wouldn't be here right now.

I tried to make it a broad question because I really didn't know what kind of answer I would've wanted.

Could anyone tell me if magnetic fields can effect consciousness? Or more specifically the way we think? After all our minds are electrical activity aren't they?

Originally Posted by NeoSioType

I tried to make it a broad question because I really didn't know what kind of answer I would've wanted.

Could anyone tell me if magnetic fields can effect consciousness? Or more specifically the way we think? After all our minds are electrical activity aren't they?

Yes. They can. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is currently being researched as a treatment for clinical depression (using it to increase activity in the left frontal lobe). A much better treatment than ECT, in my opinion.

I found this interesting article if anyone wants to read it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencean...my-speech.html