Gallery: Video: Bizarre Magnetic Ferrofluids Will Blow Your Mind

  • Brenner Beast
    01

    brenner-beast

    There is no CG in the video above. What you’re seeing is pure, awesome science. The black liquid mixture is known as a [ferrofluid](http://mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/background/ferrofluid/index.html), and is made up of nano-sized, iron-containing particles suspended in water or an organic solvent. When a magnetic field is applied, the ferrofluid puffs out, creating some alien-looking shapes and formations. Originally discovered in the 1960s at NASA, ferrofluids have found many modern uses. They form liquid seals around the spinning drive shafts of hard disks, dampen unwanted resonances to help improve the sound quality of loudspeakers, and have even found their way into museum art exhibits. In this gallery, Wired takes a look at some of the best videos, both artistic and scientific, featuring these magical ferrofluids. __Above:__ Brenner Beast ------------- A beastly black creature rises out of a ferrofluid lake in this video, created by artist Paul Brenner. *Video: [Paul Brenner](paulbrenner.de/jufo)*
  • Twin Towers
    02

    twin-towers

    Twin Towers ----------- This incredible sequence shows off ferrofluid spiraling up a pair of corkscrewing towers. From artist [Sachiko Kodama](http://www.kodama.hc.uec.ac.jp/profile-e.html), one of the first to work in this medium, the installation is titled "Morpho Towers - Two Standing Spirals." Wired has [something of a love affair](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2008/09/ferrofluid-art/) with Kodama, featuring her work at [Nextfest 2007](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR8pWrzclyY). *Video: [Sachiko Kodama](http://www.kodama.hc.uec.ac.jp/index-e.html)*
  • Ferroux and Ferreum
    03

    ferroux-and-ferreum

    Ferroux and Ferreum ------------------- Artist Afiq Omar created two gorgeous videos for an installation featuring ferrofluids. The first, Ferroux, fills the screen with shallow ferrofluid and mirrored sequences. It’s a trippy video reminscent of Rorschach inkbolt drawings. The second, Ferreum, is a sultry composition of music and ferrofluild. The soundtrack intensifies the motion of the ferrofluid. <script src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js" type="text/javascript"></script><object class="BrightcoveExperience" id="myExperience1549157309001"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"></param><param name="width" value="660"></param><param name="height" value="423"></param><param name="playerID" value="3698508001"></param><param name="publisherID" value="1564549380"></param><param name="isVid" value="true"></param><param name="dynamicStreaming" value="true"></param><param name="@videoPlayer" value="1549157309001"></param></object><script type="text/javascript"> runMobileCompatibilityScript('myExperience1549157309001', 'anId'); </script><script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script> *Videos: Afiq Omar/Vimeo 1) [Ferroux](http://vimeo.com/38850535) 2) [Ferreum](http://vimeo.com/35494836)*
  • Magnetic Metal
    04

    magnetic-metal

    Magnetic Metal -------------- Different metals are used to channel ferrofluids in this video from Gary Johns. The results, which were displayed at the Johns Hopkins 2011 Physics Fair, look like something out of a strange dream. *Video: [garyleejohns](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CgKmfInv_k)/Youtube*
  • Magnetic Chaos
    05

    magnetic-chaos

    Magnetic Chaos -------------- This kinetic video features multiple forms of magnetism and different liquids set to a high-energy soundtrack. *Video: [Ramajac](https://vimeo.com/user9471613)/Vimeo*
  • Ferrofluid Strip
    06

    ferrofluid-strip

    Ferrofluid Strip ---------------- University of Colorado Boulder students Joshua Bourquin, Andrew Carter, Dominic Di Marco, John Berry, and Shawn Noland experiment with ferrofluid in these two videos, passing a small strip of liquid between two pointy balls of material. <script src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js" type="text/javascript"></script><object class="BrightcoveExperience" id="myExperience1547339224001"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"></param><param name="width" value="660"></param><param name="height" value="423"></param><param name="playerID" value="3698508001"></param><param name="publisherID" value="1564549380"></param><param name="isVid" value="true"></param><param name="dynamicStreaming" value="true"></param><param name="@videoPlayer" value="1547339224001"></param></object><script type="text/javascript"> runMobileCompatibilityScript('myExperience1547339224001', 'anId'); </script><script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script> *Videos: [colorado.edu/MCEN/flowvis/](http://www.colorado.edu/MCEN/flowvis/)*
  • Magnetic Maze
    07

    magnetic-maze

    Magnetic Maze ------------- A shallow ferrofluid liquid is manipulated into an ever-shapeshifting maze, with spectacular results. *Video: [Roadnarrows](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiaVWd1TMFg&list=UUDt0kWfRCB9ZkrbwH4moe4w&feature=plcp)/Youtube*
  • Dusty Dance
    08

    dusty-dance

    Dusty Dance ----------- Particles containing iron dance and whirl across a surface in this clip from Robley McDonnell. *Video: [Robley McDonnell](https://vimeo.com/26869255)/Vimeo*
  • Gravity Defying
    09

    gravity-defying

    Gravity Defying --------------- Ferrofluid defies gravity, swarming upward toward a spiky ball of more ferrofluid material. *Video: [Nicolas Rocco](https://vimeo.com/7136313)/Vimeo*
  • Hardcore Ferrofluids
    10

    hardcore-ferrofluids

    Hardcore Ferrofluids -------------------- This video, created by visual design studio Sparkle, syncs dancing ferrofluid material to thumping music. *Video: [Sparkle](https://vimeo.com/sparklemedia)/Vimeo*
  • Bolt of Ferrofluid
    11

    bolt-of-ferrofluid

    Bolt of Ferrofluid ------------------ A bolt acts as a conduit for a ferrofluid, which slips and spirals up and down the threads, creating mind-bending shapes. *Video: [Stirling Elmendorf](http://www.stirlingelmendorf.com)*
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