How does a magnetic compass work? Well, it’s all down to basic physics and human ingenuity. The key component of a standard baseplate compass is its magnetized needle, which is allowed to spin freely ...

Some inventions are so simple that it’s hard to improve them. The magnetic compass is a great example — a magnetized needle, a bit of cork, and a bowl of water are all you need to start navigating the ...

Picture yourself standing at the Geographic North Pole with a compass in your hand. You'd expect that trusty needle to point straight down, right into the ground. Turns out that's completely wrong.

Check your compass again – Earth’s north magnetic pole is moving toward Siberia. Since at least the early 19th century, Earth’s north magnetic pole has been situated in the Canadian Arctic and slowly ...