NASA Satellites Detect 'Bird Chirping' Cosmic Waves 62,000 Miles from Earth

January 22, 2025
NASA Satellites Detect 'Bird Chirping' Cosmic Waves 62,000 Miles from Earth
  • Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of cosmic waves, known as chorus waves, that resemble bird chirping, detected over 62,000 miles from Earth.

  • This latest detection was accomplished by NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites, which were launched in 2015 to study the magnetic fields of Earth and the Sun.

  • The findings were published in the journal Nature on January 22, 2025, highlighting the significance of these cosmic waves in advancing space science.

  • These chorus waves have never been observed in this particular region before, raising new questions about their formation and behavior.

  • While the exact cause of these waves remains unclear, researchers suggest that Earth's magnetic field may significantly influence their generation.

  • Study author Chengming Liu from Beihang University described chorus waves as one of the strongest and most significant types of waves in space.

  • Understanding these waves could enhance predictions of space weather events, which are known to disrupt technology and communications on Earth.

  • Chorus waves have been recorded in various locations, including near other planets like Jupiter and Saturn, where they can generate high-energy electrons that interfere with satellite communications.

  • The study indicates that these waves can interact with electrons even in remote regions, creating spirals and electron 'holes' similar to processes observed near Earth.

  • Chorus waves, which last only a fraction of a second, significantly influence Earth's radiation belts, which protect the planet from solar storms but can also produce harmful 'killer electrons.'

  • Previous detections of chorus waves occurred closer to Earth, including recordings made at an Antarctic research station in the 1960s and by NASA's Van Allen Probes.

  • Allison Jaynes, a space physicist, emphasized the importance of further investigation into these waves, noting that they raise many new questions about the physics in that area.

Summary based on 7 sources


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