Final answer:
It is true that the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory once held the world record for creating a magnetic field of 85 tesla, far surpassing the field strengths achievable with permanent magnets alone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory once held the world record for creating an 85 T (tesla) magnetic field is TRUE. Magnetic fields of 0.500 T are indeed obtainable with permanent magnets in today's technology. However, reaching 85 T is significantly higher than what can be achieved with just permanent magnets and requires the use of powerful superconducting electromagnets or other advanced magnetic field generation techniques. The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has been known for achieving such high magnetic field strengths.