Benjamin Weiss is conducting laboratory magnetic studies on rocks from Mars, the Moon, and Earth to understand the evolution of planets, magnetism, and life. He is using SQUID microscopy, a new technique several orders of magnitude more sensitive than standard SQUID moment magnetometry that makes high-resolution magnetic maps of room temperature samples.

His research team is broadly interested in the role of magnetic fields on planets in the early solar system. This area of research has all sorts of interesting implications--from the climatic history of Mars to the formation of planets.

In this interview he talks about his research and how he originally got interested in the field of paleomagnetism.

Video credit: Helen Hill