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Magnetic Element Could Give Humans Shark-Like Magnetoception

This Could Be The Implant That Turns You Into Magneto
Ryan Barrell
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IFW Dresden

A new device developed by German scientists could grant humans the shark-like sense of magnetoception.

Yes, that's a real thing. Some sharks, insects and birds use it to detect magnetic fields, which helps them to orient themselves.

Now researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research in Dresden have created a light, flexible sensor that would allow humans to get in on the magnetoception action.

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The sensor can be crumpled and straightened without damage

The wearer cannot yet feel any feedback from the patch, but data can be relayed to a screen where LEDs will light up.

"These ultra-thin magnetic field sensors readily conform to ubiquitous objects including human skin and offer a new sense for soft robotics, safety and healthcare monitoring, consumer electronics and electronic skin devices," the scientists say.

It's hard to see what real-life applications this could have, but in everyday terms it could help you do some pretty cool stuff with your phone.

If you don't want to wait for this tech to become fully functional, you could always just get a magnetic implant in your hand.

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RFID Implants(01 of05)
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At a Washington state hacker conference in August of last year called Toorcamp, technologist Amal Graafstra set up shop to give enthusiastic hackers radio-frequency identification implants, Forbes reports. The tiny chips give each implantee a radio frequency identifier -- a long string of implanted digital data that, with the right equipment, can be scanned at a distance.Hackers with radio frequency implants generally use them as identifiers to get access to cars and other valuables. The IDs are more reliable than fingerprints and more secure than passwords, but can still be copied by other enterprising hackers. (credit:Amal Graafstra)
Magnetic Fingers(02 of05)
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Ever wanted to pick up paperclips with your fingers? Well, now you can -- provided you insert a neodymium magnet into your fingertip. The traditional magnets used for the surgery aren't strong enough to wipe credit cards or hard drives, but they do allow users to sense electric fields. According to magnet-wearer Dann Berg, "power cord transformers, microwaves, and laptop fans became interactive in a whole new way," he wrote on Gizmodo.But be warned -- if the surgery isn't performed by a doctor, it's not legal to use anesthetic to dull the pain. (credit:Dann Berg)
Danger Sense(03 of05)
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You'll literally "feel" nearby objects when you don this sensor suit, made by the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Slate reports. The suit uses ultrasonic pulses to detect stimuli up to 60 feet away, and applies skin pressure based on how close the objects are -- and how fast they're approaching.In tests, blindfolded wearers were able to detect "danger" (and walking pedestrians) coming from any direction, and even hit the "danger" (or maybe the walking pedestrians) with a cardboard version of a Japanese weapon called a shuriken. (credit:Image provided by L. Long of the Electronic Visualization Laboratory)
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The Compass Belt, designed by a German inventor, is studded with vibrating panels, but only the panel pointing north moves at any given time. In experiments in 2004, subjects who wore the belt continuously over six weeks gained a greatly enhanced sense of direction, Wired reports.However, when subjects finally took off the belt, they were claustrophobic, disoriented and easily got lost -- almost as if they were missing a sixth sense. (credit:Flickr:axisworks)
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