Hoverboards Coming Soon? [Video]

In Back to the Future Part II, Marty McFly, finds himself a hoverboard in the year 2015. We're still a few years off from that, but with quantum trapping it looks like we could indeed have hoverboards by 2015! First the Nike shoes, now hoverboards!!! Oh happy day! Check out the video of how it works after the jump!

Discovery News gives this explanation on what's happening:

Quantum trapping uses a stable magnetic field to “clamp” this super-frozen,
super-thin disc in three-dimensional space. With the stability of quantum
trapping, the disc will hang in space even when the whole apparatus is inverted.
Quantum mechanics deals with the motion and interaction of matter on the
subatomic level, which means physics concerning particles smaller than the
individual atoms that make up matter.

In the video is a single crystal layer of crystal sapphire, paired with a
ceramic layer. The super thin layers are then cooled to -301 Fahrenheit (-185
Celcius). At these frigid temperatures, the ceramic becomes a superconductor and
conducts electricity with no resistance at all.

In addition to electricity, the disc also experiences the Meissner effect.
Hang on, it’s not that difficult. This Meissner effect explains the magnetic
properties of superconductors. Normally, a magnetic field would pass through a
disc, attracting or repelling all parts at the same time. But when the disc is a
superconductor, the magnetic field travels around the disc and only forces
itself through the weakest points. It’s at these points where quantum mechanics
takes over. The disc becomes trapped in space, a concept aptly named quantum
trapping.

Man, I can't WAIT to get me a hoverboard...name your price, science!

And just for funsies...Here's what I can't wait to do!