Evidence shows the ionosphere may contribute as much mass as the moon Enceladus.
magnetic fields & magnetism
Posted inNews
James Wynne Dungey (1923–2015)
Dungey, whose research laid the foundation for how the Sun's magnetic field connects to Earth's magnetic field, died on 9 May 2015. He was 92.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Satellites Test Theory of Magnetic Reconnection
A quartet of satellites flying through Earth's magnetic field measures its interaction with the Sun's and puts a theory about their reconnection to the test.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Sun's Magnetic Field Impacts Earth's Thunderstorms
Lightning strikes are more frequent when Earth encounters a polarity switch in the solar magnetic field.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How Saturn Alters the Ionosphere of Titan
New research shows that Saturn's powerful magnetic field changes the atmospheric chemistry of its largest moon, Titan.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Electric "Tornadoes" in Space Drive Disturbances Down to Earth
New simulations show how shocks in space can trigger vortexes in Earth's magnetic field, causing magnetic disturbances that are detectable from the ground.
Posted inScience Updates
Developing New Rock Magnetic Tools to Drive Geoscience Research
First Order Reversal Curve Workshop (FORCshop); Minneapolis, Minnesota, 23–24 July 2015
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Mercury's Magnetosphere Model Gets Retro Makeover
New observations from Mercury revive a once-abandoned model for its magnetic field, resulting in a new profile that better fits the data.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
What Makes Jupiter's Aurora Pulse?
The aurora crowning Jupiter's poles—the most powerful in the solar system—flares up when plasma is injected into its magnetic field.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
The Curious Case of the Halloween Ghost Electrons
When solar storms pounded Earth during Halloween in 2003, scientists were eager to measure their effects. But new research shows one satellite was seeing "ghost" particles that probably weren't real.