Friction typically scales with load but magnetic systems can defy this rule. Sliding arrays of magnetic rotors reveal that energy dissipation peaks where competing magnetic orders dynamically clash. This non-monotonic magnetic drag arises from sliding-induced hysteresis, offering a blueprint for tunable, contactless braking at any scale.
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Niguès, A., Siria, A. Magnetic drag from frustrated order. Nat. Mater. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-026-02566-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-026-02566-x
