Experiments Show Source of the Aurora Borealis: Electrons Surfing on Alfvén Waves
The Science New experiments have revealed the source of the aurora borealis. Alfvén waves accelerating electrons under conditions similar to those seen in the Earth’s…
Aurora Borealis
Brilliant Borealis: A Blast of High-Speed Solar Wind Provoked Dancing Auroras
A blast of high-speed solar wind provoked dancing auroras in early February. Auroras are a brilliant reminder that Earth is constantly absorbing energy from the…
“Surfing” Particles on Alfvén Waves: Physicists Solve a Mystery Surrounding Aurora Borealis
Experiments at UCLA’s Basic Plasma Science Facility confirm interaction of electrons and Alfvén waves. The spectacularly colorful aurora borealis — or northern lights — that…
At Last, Physicists Report Definitive Evidence of How Brilliant Auroras Are Created
The aurora borealis, or northern lights, that fill the sky in high-latitude regions have fascinated people for thousands of years. But how they’re created, while…
Cruising Past a Spectacular Aurora Borealis on the International Space Station
Astronauts have snapped numerous photos of the light show from their unique perch on the International Space Station. There are few experiences quite like witnessing…
Suomi NPP Satellite Views Aurora Borealis Over North America
Our Sun provides the light and heat that energizes our plants, our solar panels and our weather, among other things. But its influence stretches over…
Astronomers Solve the Mystery of Purple Lights in the Upper Atmosphere
Notanee Bourassa knew that what he was seeing in the night sky was not normal. Bourassa, an IT technician in Regina, Canada, trekked outside of…
International Space Station Image of Northern Lights Over Canada
Newly released image of aurora borealis over Canada as seen by the crew aboard the International Space Station. The spectacular aurora borealis, or the “northern…
NASA Scientists Reveal the Role of Electrons in Pulsating Auroras
Using satellites, a ground-based array of all-sky cameras, and some spectacular aurora borealis, a team of scientists has uncovered evidence for an unexpected role that…
NASA Launched Rocket into Aurora Borealis
Astronomers launched a NASA-funded rocket into the aurora borealis, which are colloquially known as the northern lights. The 46-foot rocket, the Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling in the Alfvén…
Amazing Time-Lapse Video of Earth from the International Space Station
An incredible new 5-minute video shows a time-lapse view of the Earth from the International Space Station. Words don’t do justice to the extreme beauty…
