Planet Earth remains a place full of mysteries, and a recent discovery has changed the way we understand it. For a long time, only two energy fields generated by the Earth were known: the gravitational field and the magnetic field.
However, thanks to the rocket mission Endurance from NASA, launched in May 2022 from SvalbardNorway, a has been identified third energy field: he ambipolar fieldThis discovery opens new doors for science and the study of our planet.
The three energy fields of the Earth
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Gravitational field: This is responsible for maintaining our atmosphere. Without gravity, the gases in the atmosphere would dissipate into space.
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Magnetic field: It acts as a shield, protecting the Earth from solar windThis stream of charged particles comes from the sun and, without the magnetic field, would directly impact the planet, seriously affecting life and communications.
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Ambipolar field: This new discovered field counteracts gravity and ejects particles into space. It is as essential to the functioning of the planet as the other two fields, and its existence adds an additional layer to understanding how the Earth maintains its energy balance.
The historic discovery: The ambipolar field
The discovery of the ambipolar field It was carried out thanks to a team of researchers led by Suzie Imberfrom the University of Leicester, UK, and Glyn Collinsonprincipal investigator of the mission.
This field, although weak and electricpasses through the entire Earth and plays a fundamental role in the interaction between charged particles in the upper atmosphere and space.
The field ambipolar acts in two directions: the ions (charged particles) are dragged downward by gravity, while the electrons are pushed upwards, escaping into space. This process is crucial for lifting charged particles to greater heights, and could have influenced the evolution of the planet in ways still unknown.
Impact of the discovery
The discovery of the ambipolar field not only revolutionizes the knowledge of the Earth’s energy fields, but also raises the possibility that other planets with atmospheres may have similar fieldsThis discovery allows scientists to ask new questions and explore the role this field has played in the evolution of the Earth.
This third energy field has revealed a new facet of planetary functioning and promises to advance our understanding of universe and the planets that compose it.