Isn't it a thing where the magnet induces a current in the pipe, which creates a magnetic field, which attracts the magnet slowing it's descent, but also decreasing the induced current and strength of the magnetic field until it finds a nice equilibrium point for itself?
Copper works because it is 'paramagnetic', it has an unpaired 4s electron. Other things that would presumably work would be liquid O2.
I *think* this works because the induced field in the pipe has a toroidal shape and applies a force proportional to the entire magnetic flux of the neodynium magnet, as opposed to a small piece of it (like when he taps it from the outside).
That is still the coolest thing I have seen in ages.
Aluminum gives the same result. If the magnets are strong enough you can feel the forces just by sliding the magnets quickly along the metal with your hand.
Pull the neodymium magnets out from a dead HDD and rub them against the bottom of a heatsink, and you can feel the magnetic braking. And if you can get your hands on magnets + liquid nitrogen + a wafer of superconductor, you can really blow some fucking minds.
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