A new analysis of spacecraft data collected near the tip of Earth’s magnetotail sheds light on how geomagnetic activity affects the motion of electrons in this region.
electricity
Posted inNews
How to Launch a Satellite During a Blackout
PG&E shut down the power to Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory right before a satellite launch.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
New Plasma Wave Observations from Earth’s Magnetosphere
The first simultaneous observations of multiple electromagnetic wave types in Earth’s magnetosphere may inaugurate a new field of inquiry into cross-frequency wave interactions.
Posted inScience Updates
Taking Magnetotelluric Data out of the Drawer
Magnetic and electric field measurements at Earth’s surface provide information on Earth’s interior and on space weather. An open-source central repository of these data has received a major update.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
A Close-in Look at Saturn’s Periodic Space Bubble
When it comes to Saturn’s space environment, summer wins over winter in controlling the periodic flows of electrically charged particles and magnetic fields.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How Storm Turbulence Can Spark Lightning
The turbulent pockets of air inside storms can help to build up static electricity in the atmosphere, according to a new study.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Retracing the First Spaceborne Electric Field Measurement
Fifty years ago, a sounding rocket made history by taking the first measurement of an electric field in space. What techniques were used to capture this data?
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Mapping Geoelectric Hazards Across the United States
Variations in Earth’s magnetic field can induce electric fields in the ground, driving damaging currents through our power grids.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Your Phone, Tablet, and Computer Screens Aren't Safe from Hackers
Cables and circuitry inside your gadgets' screens act as accidental antennae that broadcast screens' contents. A new study says the industry needs to fix this security risk before hackers exploit it.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Venus's Unexpected, Electrifying Water Loss
New research shows that an electric field surrounding Venus is stripping its atmosphere of water—and the same phenomenon may plague exoplanets scientists hope might be habitable.