Scientists Detect “Switchback” Phenomenon In Earth’s Magnetosphere For The First Time

The Earth’s magnetosphere is a protective shroud that blocks charged particles and cosmic rays blasted out by the Sun. The four unmanned spacecraft that make up NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) have spent nearly a decade studying how the magnetosphere interacts with the Sun’s magnetic field. Now, they have discovered an unusual zigzag in our magnetosphere called a magnetic switchback, the first that scientists have discovered near Earth. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

The study was led by Emily McDougall , an astrophysicist who conducted the work while at the University of New Hampshire. McDougall’s research focuses on a phenomenon called magnetic reconnection, in which nearby magnetic fields—like thos