One of the most easily recognizable uses of electromagnets is in the development of maglev trains: trains that "levitate" above the track, suspended by large numbers of powerful electromagnets. Because maglev trains offer the potential for faster, smoother travel than conventional trains and do not significantly contribute to greenhouse gas production as do airplanes, numerous maglev lines are already in operation, under construction, or in the planning stages.
Another use of electromagnets in moving things (though in this case not over great distances) is in the separation of ferrous from non-ferrous materials. This application is used in the recycling and garbage-disposal industries, but it is not uncommon for medical personnel to use electromagnets to do something such as remove shrapnel from wounds
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses electromagnets to obtain clear, non-invasive images of the inner workings of the human body. MRIs and other forms of medical imaging are essential to future medical advances, so future use and development of MRI is guaranteed. Current advances in reducing the size and increasing the strength and sensitivity of electromagnets are constantly being considered in the development of new medical imaging. Also, micro-electromagnets are being used in the development of bio-molecular manipulation (Reference 1), a field of medicine with far-reaching future potential.
Most recorded data is stored in magnetic mediums such as hard disks and video tapes. More advanced types of magnetic storage are still under development, such as MRAM, which uses electromagnets for recording and retrieval. Also, new methods for achieving faster data storage are being developed. By manipulating a phenomena known as nanomagnetism (the controlled manipulation of very tiny fluxes in a magnetic field), researchers in 2007 achieved the fastest magnetic switching speeds ever recorded (Reference 2). Such advances promise to greatly increase the speed of data storage and retrieval.
Electromagnets continue to play critical roles in the development of stronger and more advanced particle accelerators, a key tool in scientific research. Electromagnets are used in circular accelerators to accelerate particles in a non-linear direction. Given that circular particle accelerators have significant advantages over linear (straight-line) accelerators (smaller size and the possibility of continual acceleration), the need for stronger electromagnets will continue into the foreseeable future. Electromagnets also will likely play a major role in the generation of electricity should the promise of fusion reactors ever be realized. The generation of plasma is a key step in the development of fusion power, and electromagnets are essential to the production of more efficient, more powerful plasma streams (Reference 3).