Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Transfers Groundbreaking Magnetometer Technology to Nextage
Launching Affordable, NASA-Grade Technology to Revolutionize Education and Global Science
By: Brooke Owen
November 14, 2025
What if you could collect the same magnetic field data NASA scientists use to study space weather with a device small enough to fit in a lunchbox? Thanks to a licensing agreement between Nextage and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), that vision is becoming a reality.
Introducing NextMAG: a low-cost, science-grade magnetometer kit that brings high-quality magnetic field data collection and instructional resources within reach for educators, researchers, industrial users and citizen scientists around the world.
From NASA Outreach to Global Science Education
Every second, the Sun emits a stream of charged particles known as solar wind. During geomagnetic storms, these particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field, generating electric currents over the poles called auroral electrojets. These currents create stunning auroras–but they can also disrupt satellites, power grids, and other critical infrastructure. NASA’s Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) mission aims to study Earth’s auroral electrojets to better understand how our planet and the Sun interact as a connected system, and to help identify ways to protect our technology and infrastructure from space weather impacts.
Originally developed as part of NASA EZIE mission’s public outreach program, the NextMAG magnetometer technology was specifically designed to be deployed and operated by middle and high school students to gather ground-based measurements of Earth’s magnetic field and overhead current systems in the upper atmosphere. Aligned with the EZIE mission’s commitment to sparking scientific curiosity and enthusiasm through hands-on learning, Nextage’s NextMAG includes access to customizable lesson materials that fit easily into both formal classrooms and informal learning settings giving students the tools to explore real-world space weather science and contribute data like practicing researchers.
Today, NextMAG is positioned to transform how we teach science, monitor Earth’s magnetic field, and enable large-scale data collection across industries. By combining science-grade technology, a user-friendly design, and Next Generation Science Standards-aligned lessons NextMAG empowers learners, researchers, and industry users to collect and analyze magnetic field data.
Students Turning Data into Discovery
The NextMAG curriculum enables students to participate in real-world science through hands-on exploration. Paired with each magnetometer comes classroom-ready lesson plans, customizable presentations, interactive activities, and opportunities to access and contribute to a global database of shared magnetic field measurements.
Built around active learning principles, the curriculum helps students move beyond theory to collect, analyze, and share scientific data. As award-winning educator and NextMAG curriculum writer Sheree Lynn Golding explains, “The NextMAG curriculum uses scaffolding of knowledge gains from classroom instruction to NextMAG lessons. The lessons are based on national education standards and benchmarks in math, science, history, and geography.”
After building a foundational understanding of magnetic fields and how magnetometers work through the provided curriculum, users can head into the field to collect data, interpret their findings, and upload results. Using NextMAG’s online database, participants can compare their measurements with data from other schools and research groups around the world joining a global learning community.
Nextage makes it easy for educators to integrate NextMAG into their curriculum by bundling each magnetometer with ready-to-use lesson materials tailored for classrooms, science labs, after-school clubs, camps, museums, and other STEM learning environments. Students don’t just learn about Earth’s magnetic field, they actively contribute to scientific research while developing real-world skills, confidence, and lasting curiosity.
Beyond Education: Real Scientific Applications
Originally developed for education and public outreach, NextMAG is now recognized as a powerful and versatile tool for both academic and industry use. Its precision, portability, and ease of deployment make it ideal for a wide range of applications from monitoring space weather and tracking solar activity to studying earthquakes, power grid research, archaeological sites, and even oil exploration.
Despite its compact size, NextMAG delivers the performance of professional-grade research equipment. It allows users to collect high-quality magnetic field data that supports real-time monitoring of Earth’s magnetic field, solar storms, and geomagnetic activity while also advancing research in areas such as environmental change, navigation systems, infrastructure resilience, and disaster preparedness. Flexible by design, NextMAG can be applied in ways limited only by your imagination.
Thanks to its affordability and accessibility, NextMAG is ushering in a new era of grassroots scientific participation. It offers a unique opportunity for individuals, classrooms, and institutions to join a growing network of magnetometer stations dramatically expanding the reach and impact of magnetic field data collection worldwide.
Why NextMAG?
Traditional magnetometers can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. They require specialized infrastructure, demand substantial energy, and have regular maintenance needs. As a result, only about 400 scientific-grade ground magnetometer stations exist worldwide.
NextMAG is designed to change that by offering a portable, low-maintenance solution that delivers accuracy at a fraction of the cost. Weighing just a few hundred grams and roughly the size of a small shoebox, it provides three-dimensional magnetic field measurements while running on a power source as simple as a portable phone charger.
Its affordability and precision make magnetic field data collection scalable, reliable, and accessible anywhere on Earth, unlocking opportunities to dramatically expand global monitoring across classrooms, research labs, and even remote field sites.
What’s Inside the NextMAG Kit?
NextMAG includes everything you need to start collecting and interpreting high-quality magnetic field data:
- Three-axis magneto-inductive magnetic field sensor – delivers accurate, science-grade magnetic field strength and direction data
- Built-in GPS – provides precise time and location stamping for each data point
- Gyroscope and accelerometer – tracks device orientation and motion for accurate data interpretation
- Thermistor – calibrates temperature-induced data variations with a high-precision temperature sensor
- Single-board computer – manages all core data processing, device control, and communication
- Collaborative online database platform – enables users to view, share, and explore data in a global database of magnetic field measurements
- Educator-developed instructional materials – supports formal and informal learners to engage with NextMAG through materials designed by teachers
Expanding Access to Real-World Science
NextMAG is set to transform how we teach science, monitor Earth’s magnetic field, and engage people around the world in hands-on data collection and analysis. Through the licensing agreement with APL, Nextage is introducing this innovative magnetometer to market, enabling users across industries to access cutting-edge technology.
From classrooms to remote field sites, NextMAG makes professional-grade magnetic sensing possible anywhere. Users can not only collect and share their own data, but also access a growing global database of magnetic field measurements–unlocking new opportunities for learning, collaboration, and scientific discovery.
If you’ve ever wanted your students–or your team–to do real science with real impact, this is your moment.
Be Among the First to Bring NASA-Grade Science to Your Classroom or Research
Purchase your own NextMAG at https://nextage-llc.com/store/
Want early access to innovative space science tools and curriculum? Sign up now to:
- Access beta testing opportunities
- Explore early versions of the curriculum
- Stay informed about availability, pricing, and educational resources
Sign up for NextMAG updates at https://forms.gle/wvbHV4zNEJgUjLMfA
About Nextage
Headquartered in Maryland, Nextage specializes in avionics and aerospace systems engineering services, electrical engineering services, software design, and automated test system development. Our solutions deliver accuracy, quality, and efficiency to clients. With a team of dedicated engineers, we proudly support global missions, bringing integrity and technical excellence to every project.
This technology transfer marks an exciting step forward as we grow our product line and continue delivering innovative solutions to meet future demands across industries.