Check this out. Train, or simply science fan would appreciate this.. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeS_U9qFg7Y"]YouTube - IFW-Dresden Superconducting Maglev Train Models[/ame]
Interesting phenomenon. Researchers are looking for higher temperature superconductors. I think they are now down to -100 C.
Sooooooo.......instead of cuts from X-acto knives, paint fumes, electrical shorts, and lost Kadee knuckle coupler springs, we only have to worry about severe frostbite........but think of the wiring issues we'd get out of!
This is running on liquid Nitrogen at 77 Kelvin. Liquid Nitrogen is pretty cheap these days thanks to its wide use as a coolant. I think it is around 2-4 bucks a gallon. We use it extensivly at the school I'm attending. As far as freezing things, it takes a bit of time. It took us about 2 minutes to freeze a bananna in the stuff, of course is shattered like glass when we threw it on the ground. Here's another interesting note, in most states it is illegal to drive with a duer (a thermos like container) of liquid nitrogen in the car because if it were to spill the windows would fog instantly.
Actually, this would be classified under state law as transportation of a federally regulated chemical. A state would generally would require transporting such materials in compliance with federal regulation. Liquid nirtogen is UN 1977 and as such is an enforcable substance by both OSHA and DOT and falls under TDG regulations. I was a certified First Responder in the state of Tennessee in the late 1990's.
