Had the hi-tech tests vindicated him in a Dubai court, a Yemeni gems dealer's so-called "bulletproof" stone would have been enough to make James Bond jealous.
While the fictional British spy merely brandished a watch capable of radiating a super-strong magnetic field to repel bullets, the precious-gems dealer arrested for fraud in Dubai made the same claim about a supposed magnetic onyx he tried to sell for Dh1.8 billion.
Before his conviction in June, the pedlar claimed that his rock created a magnetic force field that protected the user - or, in his case, a test sheep - from flying bullets.
While his defence was more science fiction than science, electromagnetic forces can be incredibly powerful, scholars of geophysics concur.
Electric currents in the Earth's liquid outer core create a magnetic field as the planet rotates. Rocks acquire magnetism when volcanoes spew magma, which contains magnetic minerals such as molten iron from deep within the Earth.
When the magma cools to form igneous rock, the magnetic properties remain frozen in the hardened rock.
As it happens, Yemen - where the disputed onyx was purportedly discovered - has 13 active and extinct volcanoes. Still, a geologist who studied flood volcanism in the country for 18 years doubted that the area's volcanic eruptions would have given rise to such a "uniquely special" onyx.
"There's a lot of volcanic rock in western Yemen and most of the mountains around the Red Sea have volcanic rocks that are about 30 million years old, but I don't know of any special properties they might have," remarked Martin Menzies, who is now a professor in the earth science department at London Royal Holloway College.
Certain areas of the Earth, however, have been identified as magnetic hot spots due to the crashing of tectonic plates underneath the Earth's crust. The magnetism becomes evident in stripes on the mid-Atlantic Ridge due to molten rock that is forced up from the mantle after the tectonic plates crashed.
Some archaeologists have also studied so-called "ley lines", or alignments of places of geographical interest that can often stretch for several miles between markings.
Conspiracy theorists believe that UFOs use ley lines as travel routes and that the ley lines radiate magnetic or mystical energy.
The most infamous ley line, the Rose Line, was popularised in the Dan Brown novel The Da Vinci Code. It is believed the Rose Line formed a line of magnetic force that
travelled through the prime meridian connecting the Earth's north and south poles.
"The earth itself acts like a reactor, so rocks can produce magnetic fields," said Maamar Benkrouda, the head of the physics department at UAE University.
As for whether rocks can produce an "invisible shield" strong enough to alter the trajectory of a fired bullet, Mr Benkrouda was unequivocal.
"Impossible," he said. "That rock would require very specific conditions: you would have to have very cold temperatures first of all - less than minus 250 Celsius and helium or nitrogen to get to that low temperature, and then you would need superconducting materials working through an electric current," he said.
Magnetic fields do have at least one military use. Navies look for magnetic anomalies underwater to spot submarines that may skew the Earth's natural magnetic footprint.
Scientists measure magnetic conductivity by units called Tesla and Gauss, with 10,000 Gauss equalling 1 Tesla. A magnet on your fridge measures about 20 Gauss.
Superconductors, however, occur when metals are cooled to such low temperatures that the materials no longer have any electrical resistance. Often, these "critical temperatures" must dip somewhere around absolute zero (-273 Celsius) until the lack of electrical resistance allows electrons to flow freely through the metals.
It is through the power of superconducting magnets attached to a rail line that Japan's famous ultra-fast maglev trains are able to levitate.
By inducing a magnetic field with a superconductor, the train is able to "float" on a magnetic field powered by the repulsion of two magnetic fields.
To reduce friction, thus increasing speed, the train floats on a layer of magnetic force allowing a train to exceed 580 kph.
In technologies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scans), which use superconducted magnets to show images inside a patient's body, a built-in cooling apparatus required for superconducting magnets (usually powered at 0.5-tesla or 2-tesla) can show images inside a patient's body.
Mr Menzies said that although a strong enough or dense enough piece of onyx or agate "could indeed be struck by a bullet and act to deflect the bullet", he dismissed the idea of an electromagnetic force-field as "nonsense".
Experimentalist Fatthala Hamed, who works at UAE University's physics department, also noted that bullets are typically made of lead or a lead alloy that has no magnetic characteristics.
"Even if it had a strong field, this would not slow down the bullet because bullets are not made of magnetic material," Mr Hamed said. Given the velocity of a flying bullet, there would also need to be a resisting force in the opposite direction to slow it down. "I assume there were no strings attached to this speeding bullet," he said.
Haydar Baker, a geophysicist at UAE University, said there was no natural magnet he knew of that could be so powerful. Of course it depends on the size of the rock.
But something like a 10 centimetre-long magnetite rock will pull a nail from 10 or 15 centimetres away," said Mr Baker. "You can imagine how strong a field would have to be to pull something weighing 50 grams, let alone a bullet at such a speed."
Investing in any so-called "bullet-deflecting rock" would not be wise, Mr Baker concluded.
And in the case of the Dubai gem dealer now serving time, he said the shop owner's testimony in court that he successfully tested the onyx at point-blank range four times on a sheep in front of witnesses was hard to believe.
"From a technical opinion, I don't think it's true," Mr Baker said. "If this rock exists, the first to buy this rock will be the army. All the armies in the world will want this magic rock."
@email:mkwong@thenational.ae
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
T20 World Cup Qualifier, Muscat
UAE FIXTURES
Friday February 18: v Ireland
Saturday February 19: v Germany
Monday February 21: v Philippines
Tuesday February 22: semi-finals
Thursday February 24: final
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
The winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
- 1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
- 2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
- 3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
- 4th ODI, Sunday, April 16
Squads:
- UAE: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
- Zimbabwe: Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Esperance de Tunis 0
Al Ain 3 (Ahmed 02’, El Shahat 17’, Al Ahbabi 60’)
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE FIXTURES
Thursday, September 21
Al Dahfra v Sharjah (kick-off 5.35pm)
Al Wasl v Emirates (8.30pm)
Friday, September 22
Dibba v Al Jazira (5.25pm)
Al Nasr v Al Wahda (8.30pm)
Saturday, September 23
Hatta v Al Ain (5.25pm)
Ajman v Shabab Al Ahli (8.30pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Match info
UAE v Bolivia, Friday, 6.25pm, Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium, Dubai
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
Most%20ODI%20hundreds
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Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
More from UAE Human Development Report:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
