Space waves reveal where Earth's magnetic shield is under pressure

A new study has shed light on the formation of powerful waves at the edge of Earth's magnetic shield, which can allow the solar wind to penetrate and cause geomagnetic storms.

The research, led by the University of Oulu in Finland, used data from NASA's Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) mission to analyze the waves.

Understanding these waves is important for predicting and mitigating the effects of space weather on Earth's power grids and communication systems.