How does a magnetic compass work? Well, it’s all down to basic physics and human ingenuity. The key component of a standard baseplate compass is its magnetized needle, which is allowed to spin freely ...

Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field generated by electric currents from within the planet. Compasses take advantage of this field to identify north and serve as a navigational aid. But one social ...

Many of us treat magnetism like gravity -- for us Earthlings, it’ll always be there, and that compass will always point north... right? Well, believe it or not, Earth’s magnetic field has flipped back ...

The compass—oldest known navigating instrument—has been revolutionized. Last week Bendix Aviation Corp. announced a new automatic compass that makes the old magnetic needle* look as obsolete as a ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a story Feb. 4 about the magnetic north pole, The Associated Press erroneously described the pole’s change in speed. Its speed jumped from about 9 miles per year (about 15 ...

Eventually, the blob of molten material beneath Canada split in two and the stronger one slowly shifted toward the blob ...

Check your compass again – Earth’s north magnetic pole is moving toward Siberia. Since at least the early 19th century, Earth’s north magnetic pole has been situated in the Canadian Arctic and slowly ...

Magnetic compasses have long been reliable tools for navigation, especially before the advent of satellites and digital GPS. These timeless instruments align with Earth’s magnetic field, guiding ...

North isn't quite where it used to be. Earth's north magnetic pole has been drifting so fast in the last few decades that scientists say that past estimates are no longer accurate enough for precise ...