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First measurements taken of South Africa's Iron Age magnetic field history

A team of researchers has recovered a magnetic field record from ancient minerals for Iron Age southern Africa, combining it with the weakening Earth's magnetic field. The data suggests that the region beneath southern Africa may be responsible for some recent and future pole reversals.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 28, 2015
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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.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateNov 26, 2014

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.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·DateNov 24, 2014

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.

SourceVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 5, 2014

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.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalGeophysical Journal International·DateOct 14, 2014

The solar wind breaks through the Earth's magnetic field

Researchers at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics studied solar wind interactions with the Earth's magnetic field. They found that asymmetrical reconnection can occur when two regions of plasma have different characteristics.

SourceSwedish Research Council·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 11, 2014
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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.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 6, 2014

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.

SourceOregon State University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 6, 2014

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.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJan 7, 2014

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.

SourceCSIRO Australia·DateNov 24, 2013
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

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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.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJul 29, 2012

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.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 10, 2012

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.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateNov 30, 2011

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.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 29, 2010
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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.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateOct 2, 2009

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.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 16, 2008

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.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalScience·DateSep 26, 2008

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.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateJul 5, 2007
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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.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 18, 2006

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.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 19, 2006

Head movements by warblers could reveal basis for birds' geomagnetic sense

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which migratory songbirds sense geomagnetic fields and orient their flight. Head-scanning behavior is used by birds to detect the direction of the Earth's magnetic field, allowing them to navigate during yearly journeys covering thousands of kilometers.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 8, 2004
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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.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalNature·DateApr 8, 2004

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.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalNature·DateApr 7, 2004

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.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 17, 2002
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.