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Researchers identify a natural shield against harmful radiation belt

Researchers found that Earth's 'plasmaspheric hiss' protects against a harmful radiation belt, deflecting high-energy electrons with an impenetrable barrier of about 11,000 kilometers. This natural shield could extend lifetimes for satellites and space stations orbiting near the Earth's surface.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Three UC San Diego professors named AAAS Fellows

UC San Diego professors Steven Cande, Trey Ideker, and Mark D. Ohman have been recognized as AAAS Fellows for their outstanding work in marine geology, bioinformatics, and marine plankton research. Their contributions have improved our understanding of plate tectonic processes, cancer genetics, and climate variability in ocean ecosystems.

VTT develops a simple but extremely sensitive magnetometer

VTT's innovative magnetometer is significantly cheaper than traditional technology and less sensitive to external magnetic fields. This makes it suitable for applications such as magnetoencephalography in neuroimaging, mining industry, industrial quality control and security.

Earth's magnetic field could flip within a human lifetime

A new study reveals that Earth's magnetic field reversed direction in less than 100 years, approximately 786,000 years ago. This rapid reversal could have significant effects on our planet, including disruptions to electrical grids and increased cancer rates due to the loss of protection from solar and cosmic particles.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Link confirmed between salmon migration, magnetic field

Researchers at Oregon State University confirmed a correlation between ocean salmon's migration patterns and the Earth's magnetic field, revealing an innate navigation system. The study found that juvenile salmon can detect and respond to magnetic fields, using them to determine their location and direction.

Pacific salmon inherit a magnetic sense of direction

Young hatchery salmon orient themselves according to the Earth's magnetic field, suggesting a kind of built-in GPS. They rely on subtle differences in magnetic intensity and inclination angle to discern their position.

NASA's SDO sees giant January sunspots

Scientists observe enormous sunspot AR1944, two Earths wide, moving toward the sun's center. The sunspot is part of active regions that can cause space weather events, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Pill-popping galaxy hooked on gas

A massive gas cloud called the Smith Cloud is hurtling towards our Galaxy, and may be a key source of fuel for star formation. The cloud has been found to have a magnetic field that helps keep it intact, protecting it from disintegrating as it approaches the Galaxy's disk.

Magnetic field, mantle convection and tectonics

A study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that rapid mantle convection may influence the Earth's magnetic field, which is produced by convection currents in the liquid core. The research team found that changes in heat flow and density distribution in the mantle could lead to more frequent or less frequent geomagnetic reversals.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

The magnetic sense

LMU researchers have identified magnetosensory cells in trout that detect the Earth's magnetic field and convert it into nerve impulses. The cells sense the field through micrometer-sized inclusions of magnetic crystals, which are coupled to the cell membrane.

Magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time

Magnetic pole reversals occur frequently over millions of years, with hundreds of occurrences recorded in the past three billion years. The process is gradual and does not have significant effects on plant or animal life, climate, or glaciation.

After the next sunset, please turn right

Researchers found that bats orient themselves using the Earth's magnetic field at night and calibrate it to the sun's position at sunset. This ability helps them navigate long distances up to 1000 km across Europe, with some species migrating seasonally.

Princeton paleomagnetists put controversy to rest

Researchers used ancient volcanic rocks to determine Earth's magnetic field was structured like today's two-pole model, resolving a long-standing debate. This finding may lead to better understanding of historical continental movement and its impact on climate.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Biggest breach of Earth's solar storm shield discovered

Researchers have found that the alignment of the sun's magnetic field with Earth's shields our planet from solar particles. The discovery could be used to predict when solar storms will be severe, and is expected to impact power lines and spacecraft.

Lava flows reveal clues to magnetic field reversals

Ancient lava flows from Tahiti and western Germany have provided insights into past patterns of the Earth's magnetic field. The study suggests that a second magnetic field source in the shallow core may play a role in determining how and whether the main field reverses direction.

Chickens also orient themselves by the Earth's magnetic field

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt discovered that domestic chickens possess a magnetic sense of direction, orienting themselves by the Earth's magnetic field. This ability is thought to have evolved before migration and may be common to all birds.

Cluster hits the magnetic bull's-eye

The Cluster mission has successfully identified a magnetic null point in space, revealing an unexpected vortex structure about 500 km across. This discovery provides scientists with their first look at the heart of the reconnection process, which drives powerful phenomena such as solar flares and black hole jets.

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

ESA's Cluster flies through Earth's electrical switch

The Cluster quartet encountered electron diffusion regions 19 times in one hour, measuring accelerated electrons and gaining invaluable insights into the process of magnetic reconnection. This phenomenon releases energy through electron diffusion regions, which may hold the key to preventing reconnection events in nuclear reactors.

How long does it take for Earth's magnetic field to reverse?

Researchers have found that Earth's magnetic field reversal events occur within certain time-frames, regardless of the polarity of the reversal. The overall average duration is 7,000 years, but variation depends on latitude, with changes taking half as long at low-latitude sites.

How often does Earth's magnetic field reverse?

Scientists have found that magnetic field reversal events occur within certain time-frames, regardless of polarity, with an average duration of 7,000 years. The variation in duration is influenced by latitude, taking half as long at low-latitude sites compared to mid- and high-latitude sites.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Key to Earth’s mysterious core found beneath arctic ice

Researchers discover that the Earth's magnetic field remained stable during a superchron period 95 million years ago, suggesting a single mechanism governs the field. The study also indicates that humanity may face a surprise in the future with possible pole reversals within centuries.