Sixty years ago, NASA proposed a hypothesis about the Earth’s energy fields. Now, this hypothesis could be confirmed. This may change the perception we have so far of our Earth.
What is this hypothesis? As early as 1968, astronauts noticed a supersonic wind of particles shooting into space. Experts then suspected that an invisible field must be propelling these particles. However, it could not be proven.
Researchers therefore proposed the hypothesis 60 years ago, which spoke of the existence of a weak energy field surrounding our planet. Its discovery promised to revolutionize our understanding of the dynamics that influence the upper layers of our atmosphere.
A research team has now confirmed the existence of this energy field, known as the ambipolar field. The details and results of this experiment have now been published in an article in the journal Nature.
Our Earth has three energy fields surrounding it, not just two
What has been confirmed? The so-called “ambipolar field” has been confirmed. This is an electric field that generates an intense particle wind in the polar region. The field directs this wind from our atmosphere into space. Thus, our Earth has not just two fields – gravitational field and magnetic field – but three.
Glyn Collinson, a member of the team responsible for the discovery, explained in the official press release:
Every planet with an atmosphere should have an ambipolar cap. Now that we have finally measured it, we can learn how it has shaped our planet and others over time.
The team now intends to continue researching this and find out what it means for life on Earth.
How could existence be proven? The Endurance mission launched in May 2022. At an altitude of about 518 km, the instruments of the vehicle registered a small electric difference of about 0.55 volts. The team explains that this voltage difference is sufficient to explain the existence of the polar wind.
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