Chirping Cosmic Waves Detected Far From Earth
2025-01-23
Scientists have detected 'chorus waves,' bursts of plasma sounding like birds chirping, from an unprecedented distance of over 62,000 miles from Earth. Previously observed closer to our planet, these waves, whose frequency matches human hearing, were detected by NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites. The discovery, published in Nature, raises questions about the physics involved and the role of Earth's magnetic field. While chorus waves are known to exist near other planets and potentially disrupt satellite communications, this distant detection is exciting and prompts further research.