What Happens When You Levitate Flies?

Everything is a little bit magnetic, says physicist Richard Hill, of The University of Nottingham. So with a powerful magnet, it is possible to levitate almost anything–strawberries, water, insects. In a recent study, Hill levitated fruit flies to see how they behaved when they didn’t have gravity pulling them down.

For more magnetic fun, check out this educational activity OR this one!

Credits

Levitation video courtesy of Richard Hill

Meet the Producer

About Flora Lichtman

Flora Lichtman was the host of the podcast Every Little Thing. She’s a former Science Friday multimedia producer.