NASA Spacecraft Discovers New Magnetic Process in Turbulent Space

Though close to home, the space immediately around Earth is full of hidden secrets and invisible processes. In a new discovery reported in the journal Nature, scientists working with NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft — MMS — have uncovered a new type of magnetic event in our near-Earth environment by using an innovative technique to squeeze extra information out of the data.

Magnetic reconnection is one of the most important processes in the space — filled with charged particles known as plasma — around Earth. This fundamental process dissipates magnetic energy and propels charged particles, both of which contribute to a dynamic space weather system that scientists want to better understand, and even someday predict, as we do terrestrial weather. Reconnection occurs when crossed magnetic field lines snap, explosively flinging away nearby particles at high speeds. The new discovery found reconnection where it has never been seen before — in turbulent plasma.

Music credits: ‘Think Tank’ and ‘Natural Time Cycles’ by Laurent Dury from Killer Tracks

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Tai Phan (University of California, Berkeley): Lead Scientist
James Drake (University of Maryland): Scientist
Michael Shay (University of Delaware): Scientist
Jonathan Eastwood (Imperial College London): Scientist
Joy Ng (USRA): Producer
Mara Johnson-Groh (Wyle Information Systems): Writer
Tom Bridgman (GST): Data Visualizer
Lisa Poje (Freelance): Lead Animator
Josh Masters (USRA): Lead Animator
Walt Feimer (KBRwyle): Animator
Brian Monroe (USRA): Animator
Joy Ng (USRA): Animator
Mary P. Hrybyk-Keith (TRAX International Corporation): Graphic Designer
Colby Haggerty (University of Chicago): Visualizer
Ashley Michini (University of Pennsylvania): Visualizer
Tulasi Parashar (University of Delaware): Visualizer
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems Inc.): Technical Support

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[nicholaswilkowski]

That makes sense due to the chaotic fluid of charged particles. These charged particles are clearly moving, which means they generate a magnetic field. Now you have a large mass/ quantities of these moving at fast (relative) speeds. Pretty cool stuff.

[Lillith]

So, hypothetically, we could utilize these magnetic particles in space travel, right?

[shermdeazy]

Hence electro-magnetic universe. No dark matter but rather Aether in space causing resistance

[danteregianifreitas]

Just incredible how there is so much yet to be discovered

[victorarnault]

My god, these computer graphics are awesome!

[bushbob]

Magnetism has always been magical for me, I wish we knew what it really was?

[terryleebo]

It is difficult to teach so well in such a short time. They've released a video that isn't an insult to our intelligence.

[phaesiq]

I had no idea about the phenomenon of magnetic reconnection at all before this video. Pretty awesome stuff.

[oecypher]

the last plasma apocalypse ripped this place up real bad like world splitting, are we ready for the next,

[nicholaswilkowski]

Very interesting, can you upload the audio on sound cloud, 144p is too much for my internet. My next question is how do fluxuations in the magnetic field affect our climate (specifically global temperatures). I really want to study that sometime

[donfindlay]

Nice visuals, but fails on the audiosonics. Couldn't they turn the background <swear> noise down a bit so the diction might be better heard.

[wisedupearly]

Magnetic reconnection.
Impulse force needed for deep space exploration?

[kryostazis]

they should use it to propell a spaceship fast through space
create a manetic repulsor engine

[geoff]

It would be interesting to see what is the relation or the reaction between magnetic waves created by the sun or all the suns and the gravitational waves that flow in the cosmos if any. Just curious.

[RichardVaught]

Does magnetic reconnection generate an opposing force?

[ilgainis]

Can Magnetosheath be mirror reflection 1:1 of a Sunsheath if there is one?

[fatarsemonkey]

But there really isn't any lines, they are just like topographical contour lines on a map, they are just for image sake to give incremental information like elevation. There isn't really any lines connecting or reconnecting, that is just someones imagination.

[JohnJohansen]

1:11 What's supersonic speed in outer space?

[MadsPeterIversen]

Does these kinds of magnetic reconnections have anything to do with the heliospheric current sheet/IMF and how it interacts with the Earth's magnetic field? I'm looking into what creates the auroras and know the direction of the IMF has a huge influence on the auroras.

[summitap]

The only thing more impressive than cramming so much complex explanation into a short yet understandable video, is the science behind the discovery.