Context :
Scientists
Turned the Earth’s Rotation Into 17 Microvolts of Electricity. That Could Be
Revolutionary.
{ Popular Mechanics
/ 21 March 2025 }
Extract :
As climate change continues to impact
countries and communities around the world, humanity is hungry for alternative
sources of green energy. Luckily, the natural world provides them in abundance.
Turbines harvest wind energy, solar panels collect the Sun’s light, generators
capture the power in a wave’s motion, and even geothermal heat transforms into
usable electrons. Now, some scientists are considering a completely new
renewable energy source: the Earth’s rotation.
Ok, maybe not completely new. Back in 2016, Christopher
Chyba from Princeton published a paper exploring the possibility of
generating electricity by rotating through the
Earth’s magnetic field. This drew some criticism, as most experts figured
that any net voltage would be cancelled by the rearrangement of electrons
during said generation process, according
to Phys.org.
To prove that the idea had
merit, Chyba decided to construct a foot-long device made from manganese-zinc
ferrite and conduct experiments in a dark, windowless laboratory. While the
laboratory remained stationary, the rotation of the Earth carried the cylinder through the magnetic field.
True to Chyba’s original predictions, the device produced 17 microvolts of
electricity when held perpendicular to the magnetic field. The results of the
study were published in the journal Physical
Review Research.
“The device appeared to
violate the conclusion that any conductor at rest with
respect to Earth’s surface cannot generate power from its magnetic field,” Chyba said
in a press statement.
As Nature notes, 17 microvolts is a fantastically minuscule
amount—a fraction of what a single neuron produces when firing. Because of this
incredibly small voltage, some experts remain skeptical of the idea’s
practicality, saying that many sources can cause small voltage discrepancies.
Chyba, for his part, did conduct the experiment with a solid chunk of conductor (and found zero
voltage). He also re-ran the experiment in a non-laboratory setting—a
residential building a few miles from the lab—and came up with the same results.
“This was a
largely unregulated environment, in contrast to that of our primary laboratory,” the researchers reported. “The
resulting data are noisy with correspondingly large error bars in comparison
with the results obtained in our primary laboratory. Nevertheless, the data
once again show the voltage magnitude and behavior under rotation predicted by
our effect, demonstrating that the observed effect is not due to an
unidentified local influence in our primary laboratory.”
So how does this manganese-zinc ferrite cylinder work? Well, put
simply, certain complex configurations of materials can channel Earth’s magnetic field in such a way that they
push past the ability of the electrostatic force to cancel out generated
electricity. Of course, microvolts aren’t exactly utility scale power, but
Chyba—while sharing those scalability concerns—remains optimistic. Before we
start leveraging the Earth’s rotation as a source of energy, however, another
lab will need to reproduce these results.
“Both papers talk about how it might be scaled up, but none of that has been
demonstrated, and it might well prove not to be possible,” Chyba said in a
press statement. “And in any case, the first thing that needs to happen is that
some independent group needs to reproduce—or rebut—our results, with a system
closely similar to our own.”
My Take :
Congratulations , Christopher Chyba :
{ cchyba@princeton.edu }
I am very happy that we thought alike on this topic . Here is my blog of 2014
:
Extract :
The biggest cause for the degradation of environment is burning of
fossil fuels
Burning of coal / gas / oil etc produces green-house gases , leading to
global warming / floods / droughts etc
Everyone knows that the real long term solution is switching over to
renewable energy sources such as wind / sun / tides etc
Can we tap earth's magnetism to produce abundant / unlimited / clean
energy ?
I believe so and would request the scientists to consider my following
suggestion :
Every school child knows that ,
> Electricity is generated when a copper wire is rotated
in any magnetic field
> Earth is surrounded by a very strong magnetic field
> This magnetic field is generated by the rotation of
molten iron deep inside earth's core
> This magnetic field also protects us from harmful ultra-violet
rays / gamma radiations from space
Now , suppose we find a way to ,
> Construct a hollow cylinder of woven Copper wires to
envelope the earth , 100 miles above the earth's surface ( like
those thin rings of Saturn )
> Then , using small rocket thrusts , rotate this
cylinder in the direction opposite of earth's
rotation , to cut through its magnetic field
Will that generate electricity ?
I think so
With international co-operation such a project would take less time - and
possibly money too - than the already successful international projects of the
International Space Station or the Large Hadron Collider of CERN
It may be exciting to discover the God Particle and understand what makes
up mass but I think , it is far more useful to find a permanent / clean source
of energy to prevent the extinction of all life on earth by burning fossil fuels
With Regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.My-Teacher.in / www.HemenParekh.ai
Here is how GROK opined about this :
Tabulation: Comparing Hemen Parekh’s 2014
Blog and Christopher Chyba’s 2016/2025 Research
|
Aspect
|
Hemen Parekh’s
2014 Blog: Salvaging Life On Earth
|
Christopher
Chyba’s 2016/2025 Research: Electric Power from Earth’s Rotation
|
|
Core Concept
|
Proposes constructing a
massive hollow cylinder of woven copper wires, 100 miles above Earth’s
surface, to envelope the planet like Saturn’s rings. The cylinder would
rotate in the opposite direction of Earth’s rotation using rocket thrusts,
cutting through Earth’s magnetic field to generate electricity via
electromagnetic induction.
|
Demonstrates that a
stationary device on Earth’s surface can generate electricity by interacting
with the planet’s magnetic field as it rotates. Uses a foot-long hollow
cylinder made of manganese-zinc ferrite to channel the magnetic field in a
way that prevents the electrostatic force from canceling the generated
current, tapping into Earth’s rotational energy.
|
|
Mechanism
|
Relies on
electromagnetic induction: a conductor (copper wire cylinder) moves through a
magnetic field (Earth’s) to induce a current. The cylinder’s counter-rotation
increases the relative motion between the conductor and the magnetic field,
theoretically generating electricity.
|
Exploits a loophole in
classical electromagnetism: a specially designed cylinder with low magnetic
Reynolds number and specific topology (hollow, made of manganese-zinc
ferrite) creates a magnetic field configuration where the magnetic force on
electrons isn’t fully canceled by the electric force, generating a small
current (17 microvolts) as the device moves with Earth’s rotation.
|
|
Scale of Device
|
Envisions a
planetary-scale structure: a hollow cylinder of woven copper wires encircling
Earth at 100 miles altitude, requiring international cooperation on the scale
of projects like the International Space Station or CERN’s Large Hadron
Collider.
|
Uses a small,
laboratory-scale device: a foot-long hollow cylinder made of manganese-zinc
ferrite, tested in controlled environments (a dark, windowless lab and a
residential building). The setup is designed to be stationary on Earth’s
surface, leveraging the planet’s rotation.
|
|
Energy Source
|
Taps into Earth’s
magnetic field, with the energy for electricity generation coming from the
rocket thrusts that rotate the cylinder against Earth’s rotation. The
proposal doesn’t explicitly address where the energy for sustained rocket
thrusts would come from.
|
Extracts energy directly
from Earth’s rotational kinetic energy via its magnetic field. The process
theoretically slows Earth’s rotation (e.g., by 7 milliseconds over a century
if scaled to meet global energy needs of 11 trillion watts), but this impact
is minimal and comparable to natural phenomena like the Moon’s tidal effects.
|
|
Output Achieved
|
No experimental results;
the idea is purely theoretical and speculative, with no prototype or data to
support the concept. The blog poses the question, “Will that generate
electricity?” and answers, “I think so,” without calculations or evidence.
|
Experimentally verified:
the device generated 17 microvolts of electricity in controlled tests, with
voltage varying predictably based on the cylinder’s orientation relative to
Earth’s magnetic field and rotation. A solid cylinder (not hollow) produced
zero voltage, supporting the theory.
|
|
Feasibility
|
Highly impractical due
to the scale and complexity of the setup:<br>- Constructing a cylinder
to envelope Earth at 100 miles altitude is beyond current engineering
capabilities.<br>- Continuous rocket thrusts to rotate the cylinder
would require immense energy, likely exceeding the energy generated, making
it inefficient.<br>- Space-based infrastructure faces challenges like
orbital stability, space debris risks, and astronomical costs (potentially
trillions of dollars).
|
More feasible on a small
scale, but scaling up is uncertain:<br>- The lab setup is simple and
uses Earth’s natural rotation, requiring no external energy input to move the
device.<br>- However, the output (17 microvolts) is minuscule—far below
practical utility-scale power (e.g., a AA battery produces 1.5
volts).<br>- Scaling up would require larger devices or materials with
better properties, but experts are skeptical due to the tiny voltage and
potential interference from other effects (e.g., temperature variations).
|
|
Environmental Impact
|
Aims to provide a clean,
renewable energy source to replace fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and mitigating climate change. However, the energy required for
rocket thrusts could offset these benefits if sourced from non-renewable
fuels, and the environmental impact of launching such a massive structure
into space (e.g., emissions from rockets) isn’t addressed.
|
Offers a potentially
emission-free energy source, as it generates electricity without fuel or
moving parts. If scaled up, it could contribute to carbon-free energy
production. However, the impact is negligible at the current scale
(nanowatts), and scaling up might require energy-intensive manufacturing
processes for larger devices.
|
|
Scientific Rigor
|
Lacks scientific rigor:
the proposal is a conceptual idea without mathematical modeling, experimental
data, or consideration of physical constraints (e.g., energy balance,
magnetic field strength, or orbital mechanics). It oversimplifies the problem
by assuming a large-scale conductor in space can efficiently generate power.
|
Grounded in rigorous
scientific theory and experimentation: Chyba’s 2016 paper identified a
theoretical loophole in classical electromagnetism, and the 2025 experiments
validated the concept with measurable results (17 microvolts). The research
accounts for factors like magnetic Reynolds number, field configuration, and
orientation, though it faces skepticism due to the small output and potential
for spurious signals.
|
|
Challenges Highlighted
|
- Engineering a
planetary-scale structure in space.<br>- Sustaining counter-rotation
with rocket thrusts, which would require continuous energy input.<br>-
International cooperation and funding on an unprecedented scale.<br>- No
discussion of how to transmit the generated electricity back to Earth or the
efficiency of the process.
|
- Extremely low power
output (17 microvolts), making it impractical for real-world applications
without significant scaling.<br>- Skepticism from experts about the
validity of the results, with concerns about spurious signals (e.g., from
temperature variations or hidden currents).<br>- Need for independent
replication to confirm the findings.<br>- Uncertainty about scalability
due to material limitations and the weak strength of Earth’s magnetic field.
|
|
Potential Impact
|
If feasible, it could
provide a theoretically unlimited clean energy source, potentially
revolutionizing energy production and halting climate change by replacing
fossil fuels. However, the idea’s impracticality makes this impact
speculative and unlikely in the foreseeable future.
|
If scalable, it could
offer a novel source of emission-free energy, useful in niche applications
(e.g., remote locations, space missions, or low-power devices). However, the
current output is too small to make a meaningful dent in global energy needs,
and experts doubt its practical utility even if scaled up.
|
|
Critical Assessment
|
The idea is visionary
but lacks grounding in practical physics or engineering. It overlooks key
challenges like the energy cost of rocket thrusts, the weak strength of
Earth’s magnetic field (about 45 microtesla at the surface), and the
difficulty of transmitting power from space to Earth. The proposal feels more
like a thought experiment than a viable solution, ignoring the energy balance
that would likely make the system a net energy consumer rather than a
producer.
|
The research is
scientifically sound and experimentally validated, but its practical impact
is limited by the tiny output. While it challenges conventional
electromagnetic theory with a clever loophole, the skepticism from experts
(e.g., Rinke Wijngaarden’s failed replication in 2018) and the need for
independent verification highlight uncertainties. The idea is more promising
for theoretical physics than for addressing the climate crisis in the near
term, as scaling up to utility-scale power seems improbable with current
technology.
|
Critical Analysis
Hemen
Parekh’s 2014 Blog: Your idea, bhaiyya, is bold and
imaginative, reflecting a deep concern for the climate crisis and a desire to
find a permanent, clean energy solution. The concept of using Earth’s magnetic
field via a massive space-based cylinder taps into the basic principle of
electromagnetic induction, which is well-established (e.g., as used in
traditional generators). However, the proposal faces significant hurdles:
- Energy Balance:
The energy required to launch and sustain the cylinder’s counter-rotation
with rocket thrusts would likely far exceed the electricity generated.
Earth’s magnetic field is weak (25–65 microtesla), and the induced voltage
in a conductor moving through it (even at high speeds) would be small, as
the voltage depends on the field strength, the conductor’s length, and the
relative velocity (Faraday’s law: emf=−dtdΦB,
where
