News tagged with magnetic storms

Scientists prove existence of 'magnetic ropes' that cause solar storms

George Mason University scientists discovered recently that a phenomenon called a giant magnetic rope is the cause of solar storms. Confirming the existence of this formation is a key first step in helping ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Jun 15, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (9) | comments 23 | with audio podcast

Oldest measurement of Earth's magnetic field reveals battle between Sun and Earth for our atmosphere

Scientists at the University of Rochester have discovered that the Earth's magnetic field 3.5 billion years ago was only half as strong as it is today, and that this weakness, coupled with a strong wind of ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Mar 04, 2010 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (22) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

When worlds collide: Researchers harness supercomputers to understand solar storm, magnetosphere

If the sun is anything, it is reassuring. It rises, sets, and rises again, allowing us to grow crops, get tan, and power homes, just to name a few of humanity's most important life-sustaining functions. No ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Feb 07, 2012 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 6 | with audio podcast

Biggest solar storm in years races toward Earth (Update 2)

The largest solar storm in five years was due to arrive on Earth early Thursday, promising to shake the globe's magnetic field while expanding the Northern Lights.

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Mar 07, 2012 | popularity 3.9 / 5 (14) | comments 4

Shocking recipe for making killer electrons (w/ Video)

Take a bunch of fast-moving electrons, place them in orbit and then hit them with the shock waves from a solar storm. What do you get? Killer electrons. That's the shocking recipe revealed by ESA's Cluster ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Mar 11, 2010 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (8) | comments 9 | with audio podcast

TWINS/IBEX spacecraft observed impact of powerful solar storm from inside and outside Earth's magnetosphere

(PhysOrg.com) -- For the first time, instrumentation aboard two NASA missions operating from complementary vantage points watched as a powerful solar storm spewed a two million-mile-per-hour stream of charged ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Mar 28, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

IBEX and TWINS join forces to observe a solar storm

(Phys.org) -- On April 5, 2010, the sun spewed a two million-mile-per-hour stream of charged particles toward the invisible magnetic fields surrounding Earth, known as the magnetosphere. As the particles interacted ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Apr 12, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists bring mysterious magnetic process down to earth

With the click of a computer mouse, a scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) sends 10,000 volts of electricity into a chamber filled with hydrogen gas. The ...

Physics / Plasma Physics

created Oct 25, 2011 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (9) | comments 20 | with audio podcast

Researchers set alarm for incoming space storms

(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton has broken new ground in outer space by pinpointing the impact epicentre of an Earthbound space storm as it crashes into the ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created May 27, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (10) | comments 0

Exoplanet aurora: An out-of-this-world sight

Earth's aurorae, or Northern and Southern Lights, provide a dazzling light show to people living in the polar regions. Shimmering curtains of green and red undulate across the sky like a living thing. New ...

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Jul 21, 2011 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (5) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Honey, I Blew up the Tokamak

Magnetic reconnection could be the Universe's favorite way to make things explode. It operates anywhere magnetic fields pervade space--which is to say almost everywhere. On the sun magnetic reconnection causes ...

Physics / General Physics

created Aug 31, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (18) | comments 8

Solar storms can change directions, surprising forecasters

Solar storms don't always travel in a straight line. But once they start heading in our direction, they can accelerate rapidly, gathering steam for a harder hit on Earth's magnetic field.

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Sep 23, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (8) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

New Transient Radiation Belt Discovered at Saturn

Scientists using the Cassini spacecraft's  Magnetospheric Imaging instrument (MIMI) have detected a new, temporary radiation belt  at Saturn, located around the orbit of its moon Dione at about 377 000 km ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Sep 14, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0

Solar storm not nearly as bad as could have been (Update 2)

Our high-tech world seems to have weathered a solar storm that was still showing signs of life late Thursday.

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Mar 08, 2012 | popularity 4 / 5 (4) | comments 1

A strong backhand slap from end of solar storm (Update)

The solar storm that seemed to be more fizzle than fury got much stronger early Friday before fading again.

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Mar 09, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0