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Radiation belts detected around Earth after solar storm
In May 2024, an epic solar storm rattled Earth so powerfully that its effects were felt even at the bottom of the ocean.
Stars are constantly leaking particles, borne by a stellar wind; these stream out and, where they encounter planetary magnetic fields, become entrapped, forming vast belts in toroidal formation around the planet in the center. This is a good thing; it's sort of like a planetary defense system that protects our planet from direct bombardment by solar particles, and allows us to live here relatively unscathed. "These are really high-energy electrons and protons that have found their way into Earth's inner magnetic environment," says astronomer David Sibeck of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, who was not involved with the research.
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