In the invisible spaces around us, a silent force is constantly at work.
You can't see, hear, or touch them, but electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are a fundamental part of our modern environment. From the humble computer monitor to the complex wiring inside walls, these invisible areas of energy are generated whenever electricity is used. For the general public, exposure is usually low. But in many workplaces, employees may encounter more persistent or intense EMFs, making understanding their impact a crucial question for both worker safety and scientific inquiry.
So, what exactly are these invisible fields? An electromagnetic field is a physical field produced by moving electric charges. It's helpful to think of it as two related components:
These are created by voltage—the simple presence of electric potential, like when a cord is plugged in but the device is off. The higher the voltage, the stronger the electric field. They exist even when no current is flowing.
These are created when the electric current is actually flowing—when you turn the device on. The greater the current, the stronger the magnetic field. They can pass through most materials, making them harder to block.
EMFs are categorized by their frequency on the electromagnetic spectrum. The fields associated with everyday electrical power and appliances are known as Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) radiation. This 50 to 60 Hz range is of particular interest for occupational health because it is the frequency of electrical power distribution and the alternating current used in most equipment.
The central question is whether the EMFs encountered in occupational settings can impact human health. The scientific community has been investigating this for decades. The key distinction, as noted by health authorities, is between biological effects and adverse health effects.
A biological effect is a measurable physiological response, which may be temporary and harmless.
An adverse health effect causes detectable impairment to health.
The consensus from major bodies like the World Health Organization is that current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields 6 .
However, some studies have pointed to potential concerns. For instance, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences notes that while most adult studies show no evidence of a link, some research from the 1990s suggested a possible weak association between ELF field strength and an increased risk for childhood leukemia 8 . The evidence remains controversial and inconclusive.
The primary recognized mechanism of interaction is induction. Low-frequency magnetic fields induce tiny, circulating currents within the human body. Under virtually all ordinary environmental conditions, the levels of these induced currents are far too small to produce any obvious effects, especially when compared to the natural electrical currents that power our nerves and heart.
In the quest to understand and harness magnetic phenomena, scientists at MIT recently observed a new form of magnetism for the first time. This discovery, published in the journal Nature in May 2025, could revolutionize future technologies, including those in the workplace 2 .
The kind in a fridge magnet, where electron spins all point in the same direction, creating a strong net magnetic field.
Where the spins of electrons on neighboring atoms alternate directions, perfectly canceling each other out and resulting in no macroscopic magnetism.
The MIT team discovered this state in a synthesized two-dimensional material called nickel iodide (NiIâ‚‚). In this material, the spins of electrons form unique, spiral-like configurations that are mirror images of each other, much like a left and right hand.
The team began by growing single-crystal flakes of nickel iodide. They deposited powders of nickel and iodine onto a crystalline substrate and placed them in a high-temperature furnace. This process caused the elements to settle into ultra-thin, two-dimensional layers, each arranged in a perfect triangular lattice 2 .
To test the material's properties, the researchers applied a beam of circularly polarized light—light whose electric field rotates either clockwise or counterclockwise—onto the tiny nickel iodide flakes 2 .
They reasoned that if the traveling electrons interacting with the spin spirals had a spin aligned in the same direction as the rotating light, the light would resonate and produce a characteristic signal. This signal would confirm that the material was indeed a p-wave magnet 2 .
In a final, crucial step, the team applied a small electric field to the material. They found they could easily flip a left-handed spiral of spins into a right-handed spiral, and vice-versa. This "spin switching" is the fundamental operation needed for spintronic memory 2 .
| Feature | Traditional Ferromagnet | p-Wave Magnet (Nickel Iodide) |
|---|---|---|
| Spin Alignment | All spins aligned in the same direction | Spins form left- or right-handed spirals |
| Macroscopic Magnetization | Yes | No (spins cancel out overall) |
| Spin Manipulation | Requires strong magnetic fields | Switched with a small electric field |
| Potential Application | Conventional data storage (HDD) | Ultrafast, low-energy spintronic memory |
| Component | Description | Role in the Experiment |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Nickel Iodide (NiIâ‚‚) | The two-dimensional platform exhibiting p-wave magnetism |
| Probe Method | Circularly Polarized Light | Used to excite electrons and detect their spin polarization |
| Control Mechanism | Applied Electric Field | Used to switch the handedness of the spin spirals |
| Operating Temperature | ~60 Kelvins (-213 °C) | Ultracold temperature required for the effect to be observed |
"We showed that this new form of magnetism can be manipulated electrically," said research scientist Qian Song. This paves the way for spintronic memory devices—a future where data is stored using electron spin rather than charge. Such devices could be orders of magnitude faster, denser, and more energy-efficient than current electronics, potentially saving "five orders of magnitude of energy."
What does it take to conduct such pioneering research? The following table outlines some of the essential tools and materials used in the field of advanced electromagnetic research, as exemplified by the MIT study and other related work.
| Tool / Material | Function | Example from Research |
|---|---|---|
| Crystalline Substrates | A base material on which new crystalline materials, like 2D layers, are grown. | Used as a foundation for synthesizing nickel iodide flakes 2 . |
| High-Temperature Furnace | A controlled environment for heating elements to high temperatures to facilitate chemical reactions and crystal growth. | Essential for synthesizing the single-crystal nickel iodide samples 2 . |
| Circularly Polarized Light Source | A light beam used to probe the electronic and magnetic properties of a material, sensitive to the direction of electron spin. | Key for detecting the spin polarization of electrons in the p-wave magnet experiment 2 . |
| Magnetic field-free Atomic Resolution System | Advanced electron microscopes that can image materials at the atomic level without interference from background magnetic fields. | Systems like the JEOL MARS enable nanoscale imaging of electromagnetic fields in new devices 9 . |
| High-Powered Capacitor Banks | Devices that store electrical energy and release it in a powerful, controlled pulse. | Used to generate the extremely strong, pulsed magnetic fields needed for high-energy physics experiments 7 . |
Essential for synthesizing advanced materials like nickel iodide.
Used to probe electronic and magnetic properties of materials.
Enables nanoscale imaging of electromagnetic fields.
The journey into the world of EMFs reveals a landscape that is both familiar and full of scientific wonder. For occupational health, the current consensus provides reassurance, but it is coupled with a commitment to continued research, particularly for workers who may have higher exposure levels. The discovery of p-wave magnetism at MIT is a testament to this spirit of inquiry, showing that even a force we've known about for centuries can still surprise us.
Current evidence does not confirm health consequences from low-level EMF exposure, but continued monitoring and research are essential for occupational safety.
Breakthroughs like p-wave magnetism pave the way for future technologies that are faster, more efficient, and more powerful.