Unprecedented Solar Storm Creates Mystery Radiation Belts Around Earth
2025-02-07
A massive solar storm in May 2024 impacted Earth profoundly, its effects reaching even the ocean floor. Beyond stunning auroras, the storm created two temporary radiation belts within Earth's magnetic field. Remarkably, one belt contained high-energy protons—a never-before-seen phenomenon. These belts persisted for three months, far longer than typical storm-induced belts. While subsequent storms largely dispersed the particles, some remain, posing a potential hazard to satellites. Further research is crucial to understand the long-term effects and risks.