[Red Badger]

Aggregated red-cell clusters have a streamlined shape, leading to further viscosity reduction. (Credit: Image courtesy of Temple University)

Amazing!................I can see the late nite infomercials now!...........

[Moonman62]

My mom has had two severe bleeding episodes requiring hospitalization (one in the ICU) since being put on blood thinners. I have a feeling that doctors over prescribe blood thinners to avoid lawsuits.

[Terry Mross]

So, will all paramedics carry magnets now?

[blueunicorn6]

Stupid blood rolling around in your blood vessels like mud wrestlers. Just needs some blood Drill Sergeants to get them to march straight.

[Steely Tom]

Apparantly hemoglobin's magnetic moment changes -- just a little -- when it picks up an oxygen atom. Here:

Within one year, Pauling, in collaboration with research fellow Charles D. Coryell, wrote two articles on the magnetic properties and structure of hemoglobin and its derivatives. One paper dealt with the question of how oxygen and carbon monoxide bind to hemoglobin. In order to answer this question, Pauling devised a new approach for examining hemoglobin – through its magnetic properties. Pauling and Coryell found that oxyhemoglobin and carbonmonoxyhemoglobin have no magnetic moment and therefore all electrons are paired. In comparison, hemoglobin exhibits paramagnetism, meaning that hemoglobin has unpaired electrons. Specifically, Pauling and Coryell stated that each heme has four unpaired electrons. Thus, they determined that the iron in hemoglobin forms ionic (not covalent) bonds with nitrogen and the globin, while oxyhemoglobin and carbonmonoxyhemoglobin form covalent bonds at the same locations. They remarked: "It is interesting and surprising that the hemoglobin molecule undergoes such an extreme structural change on the addition of oxygen or carbon monoxide." According to Pauling and Coryell, the formation of covalent bonds (rather than ionic bonds) most likely explained why hemoglobin bonded more readily with oxygen and carbon monoxide than with other substances. Pauling reflected in 1970 upon the importance of his work with Coryell: "These studies of the magnetic properties of hemoglobin and its compounds led to a great increase in understanding of the structure of the hemoglobin molecule in the neighborhood of the heme groups."

Source. Just to point out, though, a 1.3 Tesla field is a hell of a powerful magnetic field. Immersing an entire body in a field of that strength requires superconducting solenoids. Big bucks.

Also makes me wonder: is oxygenated blood a contrast agent for MRI scans?

[Hodar]

When the magnetic field was taken away, the blood's original viscosity state slowly returned, but over a period of several hours.

So, it won't be long before this phenonia is used to enhance sports play. Taking a quick MRI scan before the Olympics to enhance blood flow.

[Ronald_Magnus]

All this time I thought living under these high voltage power lines was a bad thing. I’m thinking I just might live forever now.

[Steely Tom]

Given the geometry shown in the image you gave, one has to ask the nagging little question: how will blood flow be affected in blood vessels that are oriented perpendicular to the B-field lines? Like, you know, capillaries?

[Ancient Drive]

One time I read that I cap made of just magnets for you head helped in your brainwave patterns normalizing. I’m sure it is fairly easy to build one.

[sweetiepiezer]

ping

[donhunt]

FLASH!! FLASH!! Cell phones are now good for you.
I gotta’ contact TracPhone.

[algernonpj]

... Amazing!................I can see the late nite infomercials now!...........

I wonder how the strength of the magnets in the study compares to the magnetic bracelets and necklaces that are sold to improve one's health>

[Buckeye McFrog]

so....is the electromagnetic radiation coming from your cell phone good for you, or not? I’m confused.

[steelyourfaith]

bttt