As the demand for rare earth materials continues to grow, innovative solutions are emerging to address this need. UK deep-tech company Materials Nexus has announced the development of a new rare-earth-free permanent magnet, created using its advanced AI platform. This AI-driven process was 200 times faster than traditional methods, offering a promising alternative in a world increasingly reliant on powerful magnets.

With the shift from internal combustion engines to electric mobility, the need for compact, high-power motors is skyrocketing. Currently, permanent magnet motors are the dominant choice in the automotive industry, powering over 80% of modern electric vehicles (EVs). Materials Nexus projects that the demand for permanent magnets in the EV sector alone will increase tenfold by 2030. Beyond automotive applications, these magnets are essential in robotics, drones, wind turbines, and HVAC systems.

In a potential game-changer for affordable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and future electrified transport systems, scientists have developed the world’s strongest iron-based superconducting magnet using artificial intelligence (AI).

Superconducting magnets are highly valued for their ability to produce strong and stable magnetic fields without significant power consumption. This capability is crucial for technologies such as MRIs, which rely on magnetic fields to generate clear, three-dimensional images of soft tissue.