Multi-Color Changing Levitating Globe Magnetic Levitation Floating Globe World Map Educational Gifts for Home Desk Decoration

This is a very cool idea. However the item I received was NOT NEW. It was likely returned by another (disappointed) user, as evidenced by the parts being un-bagged and the wire-tie floating loose in the box, along with the bags that should have been protecting the product components.I immediately identified the box as somebody else's return, but gave it a try anyway, theorizing that someone else may not have read the instructions, or not had the steady hand required to place the globe in the magnetic "well" formed by the base. I was wrong. The unit I received has an intermittent failure. Right out of the box I got it to work as designed. But when unplugged and moved to another room, it would not work. According to the instructions, after failing 3-5 times, one should unplug and allow the base to cool for 5 minutes before trying again. I've spent over 40 minutes trying to get it to work. Only twice did I get it to levitate. When it works, the globe settles in to a magnetic "well" or shallow "cup" about 1 cm above the base. When it doesn't work, the magnetic well isn't present. You feel the repulsion, but the globe will not balance. Instead, it slides sideways, adhering to the base. (The same behavior you observed when you try to balance one static magnet on top of another by opposing 2 north poles.)I have some familiarity with the concept of magnetic levitation, having bought a magnetically levitating top years ago. The top takes skill to levitate. The globe (when it works) is easier, because electronics generate the spinning magnetic field that produces the levitation. When it's working, all one need do is to gently lower the globe onto the powered base until the globe is suspended about 1 cm above the base. Your fingers will feel the magnetic "well" in which the globe will sit comfortably. It feels like a shallow "cup" in space. When this globe works, it's not all that difficult to find the "cup". When it doesn't work, no amount of fiddling will get it to work. Mine either has an intermittent failure or the troubleshooting instructions are incomplete (in fact, there are no troubleshooting instructions other than, "try again.")For those interested in the physics, it has been demonstrated--and I believe proven--that it is impossible to suspend an object in free space using only static magnetic fields. Most people interested in a product like this have probably been fascinated by magnetic repulsion, and perhaps even tried to use repulsion to suspend one magnet above another? The rather brilliant discovery was that if one of the magnets is ROTATING, within a certain rpm range, the suspension is possible. Thus the levitating top works for many minutes until the tops slows.The brilliance of this instrument (it's too tricky to call a "toy") is that electronics in the base create the rotating magnetic field for you. All you have to do is lower the globe and sense the magnetic "well" that the base produces. I do not know the particulars of how this is done in this product. It could be entirely electronic, but I think that the base has sensors that govern a strong, rotating magnet in the base. As the globe is lowered, the rotating magnet would be spun up to create the magnetic well or pocket for the globe.How does a biologist like me know this? Because the magnetic top that I purchased from Amazon years ago came with a complete explanation. I find it fascinating, and eagerly learned how to spin the top and get it levitating. It was worth the effort.This globe comes with terse instructions written by someone who is not a native English speaker; but they are clear enough to follow. There is no supporting information on how it works, or troubleshooting.I requested a replacement and am returning this one. When the new one comes I will photograph it as I open the box, to document it in case someone is selling returned items repeatedly.A word about returned items: I've ordered many thousands of items from Amazon since 2002. I've identified about 5 items in which USED or RETURNED items were sold as new. In one case, I kept the item because it worked, although it had cosmetic damage. In other cases I returned the items. I report these abuses to Amazon, because they cannot improve without knowing what's happening. No one of us alone can determine whether a vendor (or Amazon) is selling returned merchandise as new, but together through reviews we can identify such vendors.If you have read this far in the review, you are clearly fascinated by magnetic levitation. I urge you to try this or a similar product. If you open the box and it doesn't look new. please report in a review.ADDENDUM: It's now Dec 8. I received a replacement. It works better than the original. I'm leaving my review at 1 star, because I want to signal that sometimes the Vendor (or Amazon) is sending out RETURNED or USED merchandise. The replacement does something the original did not: once placed, it will slowly rotate forever, in the correct direction of Earth's rotation. My original would rotate for a while in whatever direction you spun it, slowing to a standstill after 15-20 mins. This automatic rotation is much better than simply sitting there, suspended 1 cm above the base. Perhaps the manufacturer is working on the product, upgrading it? Or maybe that was part of the defect in my original? It's hard to know, because the instructions are so terse.The Amazon product page has 2 videos. The second one shows someone levitating the globe very quickly and roughly, after about 2-3 bounces. Does it work like that for any one? I do it much more slowly and carefully, as some other reviewers have mentioned. I can say that when the levitation works, it is not difficult or subtle: one feels the magnetic well as the globe is lowered, and the globe easily nestles into that invisible, magnetic well. When it doesn't work, no amount of fiddling will make it work. Turn it off for many minutes, then try again. (The instructions say try again after 3-5 minutes; I've never been able to get it to levitate 3-5 minutes after a failed session. It seems to be 30 minutes.)I've contacted the seller regarding the exact method it recommends to get the globe levitating. Hope to hear back in 48 hours. I noted a groaning or scuffing sound from the base as I try different speeds for setting the globe into the levitated state. I asked what this means. I also asked the seller about the warranty; I have some apprehension that this is a product that's in a state of development. I would like the product to last for several years. If it fails just after the Amazon return window, I would be disappointed.Having said all that, now that I have a working product that I can levitate with some patience & time, it is indeed very cool. My seven-year old daughter, who loves to play with magnets, finds this levitation fascinating. The levitating globes opens a discussion of maglev trains, and the physics of magnetism in general. For that feature alone, it is worth the purchase price.

I love it its hard to get it balanced on the base but super satisfying when you finally get it spinning

Right to it then. The globe works as advertised. It is excellent in action; I would definitely recommend as a gift. However, here are a few things to think about. It is extremely difficult to get in place the first time. My wife, my daughter, and me tried dozens of times each to get it centered and failed. *** It is extremely important to let the base cool down after a few tries. We began around 8am Christmas morning and didn't get it working until around noon. No, it wasnt constant work, we let it cool down in between. Since then, I can get it working in seconds with no more than 2 or 3 tries. **** Pay strict attention to the size dimensions. Get a ruler and see what your getting because the pictures MISREPRESENT the actual size. The size in some of the advertising pictures is 2 or 3 times bigger than actual. Finally, my globe will levitate for about 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours before it shuts off. I don't know if this is normal or mine is defective or if thats plenty long enough for you but, that is how long mine goes for. I hope this answers any question you might have. I love the Levitating globe and would get it again in a heartbeat. Order this and enjoy!!! (ShadowReviews) 2 months after this great review. My globe stopped lighting up on the inside. One month after that, the power stopped coming on in the base and now the whole set won't work at all.

Gifted this to my aunt for her birthday! She loves it

Strong magnet