Magnetic Boy

A 7-year-old Serbian boy named Bogdan is making international news for an apparently paranormal ability.

According to MSNBC, Bogdan attracts household objects such as spoons, knives and forks with almost supernatural ease. The idea that a person could generate a strong magnetic field is bizarre, but what’s even stranger is that other things such as small plates, small flat glass objects and even a remote control stick to him too.

• According to Benjamin Radford, renowned skeptic and managing editor of the magazine Skeptical Inquirer, there are several clues in the videos as to what’s really going on.

• “A lot of times when you see these videos, the people are leaning back slightly,” Radford told Life’s Little Mysteries. “If there really is some magnetic attraction, the person should be able to lean over. If a magnetic force is overcoming gravity, we should see that. That’s one strong clue that what we’re seeing is not any sort of magnetism.”

• Second, glass plates and a non-metallic remote control, as well as metal objects, are shown sticking to Bogdan’s chest. “Glass is not magnetic. If a smooth piece of glass is sticking to him and a smooth piece of metal, what do those have in common? A very smooth surface. Not magnetism.”

• That shows that quite a different physical effect is at play. “These people aren’t magnetic, it’s just that things that have smooth surfaces stick to skin,” said Radford, adding, “Often these magnetic people have smooth skin and hairless chests.”