The nightside ionosphere, at latitudes away from the auroral zone, should have very little charged particle density, but it doesn’t. A new comprehensive study of satellite data explains why.
unsolved mysteries
Posted inNews
The Mystery of the Moon’s Missing Metals
For decades, scientists have tried to figure out why the Moon has a thousand times less precious metals than Earth. Turns out the metals may not have been delivered after all.
Posted inNews
The Search for the Impact That Cratered Ancient Scotland
Great Britain’s largest impact crater likely lies in the Scottish Highlands. Scientists dispute whether it’s to the west or the east.
Posted inNews
Fireballs Could Provide Clues to an Outstanding Meteor Mystery
Fireballs in the summer sky may signify a chance to probe their mysterious origin.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Paleomagnetism Indicators May Be Flawed
A new study finds that magnetism in volcanic ash tuff forms through varied processes, calling into question previously reliable signatures used to study variations in Earth’s magnetic field.
Posted inNews
Mysterious Coral Reef Halos Can Be Seen from Space
Grazing rings around reefs have the potential to be used as a tool for monitoring reef health, but first, scientists have to figure out what factors govern halo size differences.
Posted inScience Updates
Untangling a Web of Interactions Where Surf Meets Coastal Ocean
In 2017, an ocean research team launched an unprecedented effort to understand what drives ocean currents in the overlap regions between surf zones and continental shelves.
Posted inNews
New Model Shines Spotlight on Geomagnetic Jerks
Scientists get one step closer to being able to predict jerks—notoriously capricious changes to Earth’s geomagnetic field detectable by satellites.
Posted inFeatures
The Search for the Severed Head of the Himalayas
To unearth the very first sediments to erode from the Himalayas, a team of scientists drilled beneath the Bay of Bengal.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Extraordinary Polar Wander During the Late Jurassic?
Small amounts of polar wander have occurred during geological history, but whether larger amounts occurred is still controversial. Did a truly large polar wander event really happen?