Space
Giant mysterious magnetic waves emanate from the Earth’s core every seven years
It’s not very quiet inside the Earth. Deep below the surface, the planet is literally thundering with activity, from plate tectonics to convection currents that circulate through hot magma fluids.
Now scientists studying Earth satellite data have identified something inside the Earth that we have never seen before: a new type of magnetic wave that sweeps around the surface of our planet’s core every seven years.
This discovery can give an idea of how the Earth’s magnetic field is generated, and will allow us to understand the evolution of our planet, that is, the gradual cooling of the planetary interior. The team’s research has been published in PNAS.
“Geophysicists have long theorized about the existence of such waves, but it was believed that they occur on much longer time scales than our studies have shown,” says Nicolas Gillet, a geophysicist from the University of Grenoble-Alpes (France).
“Measurements of the magnetic field from instruments based on the surface of the Earth indicated that there was some kind of wave action, but we needed the global coverage offered by measurements from space to show what was actually happening.”
The Earth’s magnetic field has long been a subject of interest to scientists. Research to date shows that an invisible structure forms a protective “bubble” around our planet, trapping harmful radiation and atmosphere. But the magnetic field is not static. It fluctuates in strength, size, and shape, has features we don’t understand, and gradually weakens over time.
The European Space Agency’s Swarm orbiting satellites are three identical probes launched in 2013 that orbit the Earth to study activity inside the Earth. It was in this data that Gillet and his team found strange new waves.
They then looked at data from other ground-based and space-based observatories collected between 1999 and 2021 and found a pattern. These waves, known as magneto-Coriolis waves, are huge magnetic columns aligned along the Earth’s axis of rotation, strongest at the equator.
This fascinating finding opens a new window into a world we can never see. This mysterious wave oscillates every seven years and propagates westward at up to 1500 kilometers a year.
Their existence suggests that there may be other magneto-Coriolis waves with different oscillation periods that we cannot detect today due to lack of data.
For now, as the waves carry information about the medium they travel through, the new discovery could be used to explore the Earth’s interior in new ways – including the core, which is still hard to study.
Scientists at the University of California have discovered a planet
that may bear a resemblance to Earth. However, unlike our planet, this
peaceful planet is covered with fierce volcanoes. News of the discovery
was published in the journal Nature.
The new planet was discovered using the Kepler telescope, which
explores outer space in search of exoplanets. According to scientists,
the planet is in the life zone of its star and may have conditions for
the development of life.
However, the presence of volcanoes on the surface of this planet may
mean that it is not suitable for life. This is due to the fact that
volcanoes can emit gases into the atmosphere, which can be poisonous to
living organisms.
On the other hand, scientists believe that the presence of volcanoes
on this planet may mean there is a magnetic field that protects it from
harmful cosmic rays. This may be one of the factors contributing to the
development of life on this planet.
Although the planet is 110 light years away from Earth, scientists
hope that it could be the subject of future research. However, this will
require new telescopes and more accurate measurement methods.
Interestingly, the search for exoplanets is one of the hottest topics
in modern astronomy. Scientists around the world are looking for
planets that may have conditions for the development of life. Some of
these planets are only a few light years away from Earth.
In addition, there is a theory that life on Earth may have originated
through volcanic activity. Volcanoes may have created the conditions
for the formation of the first organic compounds, which then led to the
emergence of life.
On June 12, 2023, the asteroid 1994 XD, which is over 500 meters in
diameter, will approach Earth. Despite the fact that it will be 3.1
million kilometers away, which is 8 times the average distance to the
Moon, many are asking – can this asteroid become a threat to our planet?
It is worth noting that asteroids, like comets, pose a threat to the
Earth, but the probability of collision with them is very low. In
addition, there are many programs and projects to track space bodies,
which allow you to identify a potential threat in time and take measures
to prevent it.
However, asteroids are also of interest to scientists and space
research. Studying the composition and structure of these bodies can
help scientists better understand the origin of the solar system and the
possibilities for life in space.
For example, asteroids may contain water and other elements necessary
for life, which could be used to build space stations and bases on
other planets. In addition, studying asteroids can help scientists
develop methods to defend against potential threats from space.
The asteroid 1994 XD was discovered in 1994 by the Kitt Peak
Observatory and has not posed a threat to Earth since then. Its close
approach to our planet will be an opportunity to study this cosmic body
in more detail and expand our knowledge of space.
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