A video demonstration of the phenomenon known as 'quantum locking', which shows a supercooled disc levitating and spinning above a metal track, has taken the web by storm.

In the video a scientist from Tel Aviv University is able to suspend a supercooled disc in mid-air, spin and rotate it, and even send it spinning around a track.

The clip brings to mind sci-fi devices such as Marty McFly's hoverboard in Back To The Future II, but is in fact a well-known phenomenoncalled quantum locking (and not 'levitation') which is explained through the relationship between superconductors (materials that conduct electricity with no loss) and electromagnets.

The demo has risen to the top of the Viral Video Charts in the past 24 hours, and has amazed users of Twitter.

In another video the effect it is demonstrated in even greater detail.

Needless to say the subtlety of the experiment has been largely lost on the commenters below the YouTube clip.

"He's a warlock. BURN HIM!" reads the current most popular comment below the video.