Defying physics: This rare crystal cools itself using pure magnetism

Deep successful Chile’s Atacama Desert, scientists studied a greenish crystal called atacamite—and discovered it tin chill itself dramatically erstwhile placed successful a magnetic field. Unlike a regular fridge, this effect doesn’t trust connected gases oregon compressors. Instead, it’s tied to the crystal’s antithetic interior structure, wherever tiny magnetic forces get tangled successful a benignant of “frustration.” When those tangled forces are disrupted by magnetism, the crystal abruptly drops successful temperature. It’s a strange, earthy instrumentality that could someday assistance america physique greener, much businesslike ways to chill things.