We begin by giving you a brief historical glimpse, tracing the origins of humankind's fascination with magnets. The history of magnets dates back a few centuries, and we can tell you that it is rich and fascinating. So, here is an overview of their historical significance;

Ancient discoveries - the discovery and use of magnets can be traced back to ancient civilizations, with the earliest known magnetic material being the lodestone, which is a naturally occurring magnetized mineral composed mainly of magnetite. Ancient cultures, such as the Greeks, Chinese, and Egyptians, were aware of the magnetic properties of lodestone as early as 600 BCE. They used it for various purposes, including navigation, divination, and religious rituals.

Chinese compass – secondly, one of the most significant advancements in magnetism occurred in China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). It was during this period that the Chinese invented the compass, which utilized the magnetic properties of lodestone. This compass revolutionized navigation, allowing sailors to determine their direction accurately and explore distant lands.

Arab scholars – fast-forward to the Middle Ages when Arab scholars made significant contributions to the understanding of magnets. You see, around the 8th century, Persian scholar Al-Kindi wrote about the attractive properties of lodestones and explored their use in navigation. Arab scientist Al-Biruni also studied magnets and wrote about their magnetic fields.

Scientific studies – come the 16th and 17th centuries, significant progress was made with regard to the scientific principles behind magnetism. During this time, William Gilbert, who was an English philosopher and physician, conducted extensive experiments with magnets and published all his findings in his book called 'De Magnete' in 1600. Gilbert essentially laid the groundwork for the scientific study of magnetism.

In the 18th century, scientists then began to understand the concepts of magnetic poles as well as the behaviour of magnets. French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb formulated Coulomb's Law, which explained the force between magnetic poles and the inverse square relationship. This understanding of magnetic polarity and the behaviour of magnets basically paved the way for further advancements in the field. Then in the 19th century, a connection was made between magnetism and electricity, which now led to the development of electromagnetism. At this point, it was established that an electric current creates a magnetic field by a Danish physicist, Han Christian, and then later, the British scientist Michael Faraday expanded by formulating the laws of electromagnetic induction.