It's a new kind of magnetic medium that had not been previously observed. It is not something that can't be explained by our existing theory of electromagnetism.
> I am not sure it can be called a magnet.
It's an object that has magnetic properties. That's a magnet. It's a different kind of magnet from those we had previously observed.
> Each magnetic medium exhibits its own kind of magnetism.
I agree that it is sometimes described this way, although as one commenter upthread said, such use of language is more common when physicists are talking among themselves, not when they are talking to the public.
The comments in this discussion indicate that I am by no means the only one who was confused by the original wording. So I think the change was helpful.
Comments
> it is a new kind of magnetism
It's a new kind of magnetic medium that had not been previously observed. It is not something that can't be explained by our existing theory of electromagnetism.
> I am not sure it can be called a magnet.
It's an object that has magnetic properties. That's a magnet. It's a different kind of magnet from those we had previously observed.
Each magnetic medium exhibits its own kind of magnetism.
Sometimes words are slightly ambiguous. This is not a hill to die on.
> Each magnetic medium exhibits its own kind of magnetism.
I agree that it is sometimes described this way, although as one commenter upthread said, such use of language is more common when physicists are talking among themselves, not when they are talking to the public.
The comments in this discussion indicate that I am by no means the only one who was confused by the original wording. So I think the change was helpful.