Magnetic Field

All materials consist of magnetic domains, minute areas

comprising of dipole-bonded atoms. These bonds are produced
by small charges from atoms and their constituents. The material
will exhibit magnetic properties if these dipole bonds are
aligned in the same direction. The dipole bonds in iron are far
easier to align than in other materials, which is why iron seems
to be the only openly magnetic material.
Materials can become magnetised by drawing another magnetic
along the material surface, the charges within the dipole bonds
react to the effect of the magnet and align accordingly. Another
way is to expose the material to electric current. When two
wires have current running through them they will repel is one
current is forward-bias and if the other is backwards-bias, but if
the currents are directed in the same way they will attract.
The Earth is a natural magnet due to the electric current running
through its molten core, although the source of these currents is
still being researched. Without the magnetic field life on Earth
would be exposed to the potent solar radiation from the Sun.