Brazil's Magnet Boy Attracts Skeptics (VIDEO)

A Brazilian boy who is wowing millions with his supposed ability to make metal objects stick to his chest may simply be a hoax, experts say.

Recently, Brazil's Globo TV network broadcast images of Paulo David Amorim, an 11-year-old boy from Messoro, demonstrating how forks, knives, scissors, cooking pans, cameras and other metal objects seem drawn to his body and remain stuck on his chest, stomach and back.

The boy's dad was inspired to test his son's magnetic attractiveness after hearing reports about Ivan Stoiljkovic, a 6-year-old Croatian boy, had become world renowned as a "human magnet."

Paulo says he was surprised to find "a fork and knife stuck to his body," the Associated Press reported. Yet as a result, he is now, like Ivan, called "Magnet Boy."

But while Paulo's doctor, Dr. Dix-Sept Rosado Sobrinho, says this is the first time in his 30-year career that he has seen a case like this, skeptics wonder if he'll be sticking to his story for very long.

According to We Are All Magneto Boy, a Facebook page designed to debunk the Croatian Magnet Boy, anyone can attract a metal object by generating a bit of static and placing the object onto a smooth, hair-free part of the body.

In addition, James Randi, a magician and founder of the James Educational Foundation, an organization that works to expose paranormal and pseudoscientific frauds and hold media organizations accountable for promoting dangerous nonsense, also points out a few inconsistencies.

"The fact that aluminum pots -- as well as copper and silver coins -- stick to this kid, rather shows that his touted 'magnetism' -- unless it has been drastically improved to pick up normally non-magnetic materials -- is simply due to sticky skin," Randi wrote in a blog post about the Croatian Magnet Boy.

So far, none of the photos of either Magnet Boy show them wearing a shirt. Until one is taken, the story will likely attract skeptics.

Comments

[Brett Goulder]

12:33 AM on 08/10/2011

This kid isn't magnetic, he's just really sweaty and sticky

[Bluesman2008]

07:38 AM on 07/16/2011

"The kid's coming for dinner. Hide the good silver".

[Livio Angileri]

03:37 AM on 07/16/2011

for those whom speak Portuguese

[nicko68]

04:04 PM on 07/14/2011

he'll have fun with the girls with the tongue piercings

[Myong Jin Kim]

04:05 PM on 07/12/2011

It's a sad comentary on the lack of education/knowlege in the so-called modern and highly wired word. We are overloaded with information but we have no sense of discernment.

STAINLESS STEEL POTS AND LIDS ARE NOT MAGNETIC SO THE BOY IS NOT A MAGNET, PERIOD!

[Ty Treadwell]

11:06 AM on 07/12/2011

Have you seen his sister? She's a real chick magnet.---Ty Treadwell, author of Last Suppers: Famous Final Meals from Death Row

http://lastsuppersbook.blogspot.com/

[John Roman]

09:37 AM on 07/12/2011

I live in S Florida. I get clammy, I can't stick anything to my skin. On the other hand, aluminum isn't magnetic and does go thru shirts. Randi's always right....

[Dean Rains]

09:51 PM on 07/11/2011

sweat+fat = magnetism. I had something witty to say about that, but it escaped me...

[Oilygarch]

08:17 PM on 07/11/2011

He's been eating way too many raisins!

[Oilygarch]

08:15 PM on 07/11/2011

Wait 'till he's older with his animal magnetism.

Wait, I guess he will only attract people who are have a high hemoglobin count. ;-P

[arliobserver]

04:29 PM on 07/11/2011

See if your local library has a copy of LuLu Hearst the Georgia Magnet Girl. It will be in the magic section. She dated back to the 1870's and was nationally famous for about 18 months - she "lifted" her parents mortgage and put a fortune in the bank and retired. Fascinating story - and I must come down on the same side as my friend James Randi. "No."

[Pig Bodine]

02:56 PM on 07/11/2011

Of course he's a fake. Just a gooey, sticky, unwashed kid.

[doctorcastille]

02:25 PM on 07/11/2011

Just a really clammy kid.

[magrace]

01:03 PM on 07/11/2011

Parents should really research magnetism before subjecting their children to this.

Brazil has one silver coin (50 centavos)[as seen above the boy's navel], it is made of cupronickel which is non-magnetic, due to the being mostly copper and very little nickel.

The only shared factor between these two boys is the fact that they are both over weight.

[arliobserver]

04:31 PM on 07/11/2011

Not a hard and fast rule - as a Magician I long ago noted that Canadian Cupro Nickel coins are all magnetic.

[tomasino]

01:01 PM on 07/11/2011

Can he hang a spoon from his nose?

I can.