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Sustainability Times
07-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'We Heard the Planet Scream': Scientists Release Haunting Audio of Earth's Magnetic Field Flipping—and It's Pure Nightmare Fuel
IN A NUTSHELL 🔍 Scientists have transformed data from the Swarm mission into sound, allowing us to audibly experience Earth's ancient magnetic reversal . . 🌐 Earth's magnetic field is generated by swirling liquid metals in the core, creating a protective shield against solar and cosmic radiation. is generated by swirling liquid metals in the core, creating a protective shield against solar and cosmic radiation. 📉 The Laschamps event saw the magnetic field weaken to 5% of its current strength, increasing cosmic ray exposure and impacting the ozone layer . . 🔄 Recent magnetic anomalies such as the South Atlantic Anomaly highlight the need for ongoing research to predict future geomagnetic shifts. Earth's magnetic field, a colossal invisible force, protects our planet from the harshness of space by deflecting solar winds and cosmic radiation. But imagine a world where this protective shield flips, with the North Pole becoming the South. Such a dramatic event occurred around 41,000 years ago, known as the Laschamps event. Recent scientific endeavors have allowed us to experience this upheaval through sound, thanks to data from the European Space Agency's Swarm satellite mission. This audio representation, crafted by the Technical University of Denmark and the German Research Center for Geosciences, offers a haunting glimpse into Earth's ancient magnetic past. The Science Behind Earth's Magnetic Field Earth's magnetic field is generated by the swirling liquid metals in its core, primarily iron and nickel. This dynamo effect creates electric currents, which in turn produce magnetic fields that extend from the planet's core into space. The field reaches hundreds of thousands of miles outward, forming the magnetosphere, a critical shield against solar and cosmic radiation. As the planet rotates, these liquid metals move, causing changes in the magnetic field's orientation and strength. These fluctuations are crucial for navigation, wildlife migration, and even communication technologies. However, the magnetic field is not static. The magnetic poles, for instance, are constantly shifting. Recently, the North Pole has been moving away from Canada toward Siberia, a phenomenon that scientists closely monitor for its implications on navigation and climate. 'We Finally Found It': Scientists Reveal the Missing Half of the Universe's Matter Was Hiding in Plain Sight All Along The Laschamps Event: A Historical Magnetic Reversal The Laschamps event was a significant geomagnetic reversal that occurred approximately 41,000 years ago. During this event, Earth's magnetic field weakened to just 5 percent of its current strength. This allowed a surge of cosmic rays to penetrate our atmosphere, affecting everything from climate to life on Earth. Evidence of this event is found in the isotopic signatures preserved in ice and marine sediment layers, particularly the increased levels of beryllium-10. These isotopes form when cosmic rays collide with atmospheric particles, significantly altering the ozone layer and potentially contributing to the extinction of megafauna in regions like Australia. The Laschamps event lasted for about 250 years, with the field remaining in a reversed orientation for an additional 440 years before returning to its current state. 'Human Gene Makes Mice Speak': Scientists Alter Rodents With Language DNA and Trigger Startling Changes in Vocal Behavior Modern Implications and Research Advances Understanding past magnetic reversals is crucial for predicting future events and their impacts on our planet. Recent magnetic anomalies, such as the South Atlantic Anomaly, raise questions about potential future reversals. This anomaly has resulted in increased radiation levels in that region, affecting satellites and other technologies. Since 2013, the European Space Agency's Swarm constellation has been actively measuring Earth's magnetic signals from various sources, including the core, mantle, and crust. These measurements help scientists decode the dynamic nature of the geomagnetic field and prepare for any significant changes that might impact the environment and human technology. 'China Unleashes Invisible Firepower': Newly Revealed Stealth Missiles Could Radically Transform the Future of Modern Warfare Experiencing Earth's Magnetic Flip Through Sound In a groundbreaking collaboration, scientists have turned data from the Swarm mission into sound, allowing us to experience the Laschamps event audibly. By translating magnetic field line movements into natural sounds like creaking wood and crashing rocks, this project offers a unique sensory insight into a world-altering event. Such innovative approaches not only make science more accessible but also emphasize the importance of understanding Earth's magnetic history. These audio representations serve as a stark reminder of the planet's dynamic nature and the potential vulnerabilities we face in the future. As we delve deeper into the mysteries of Earth's magnetic field, we gain invaluable insights into our planet's past and future. The ability to experience historical events through sound transforms abstract scientific data into a tangible experience. With advancements in technology and research, what other natural phenomena might we soon be able to experience in such a profound way? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (30)
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Chile earthquake: Buildings left 'shaking' as 6.7 magnitude rocks South American country
Two quakes hit today and experts warn even bigger quakes may follow. Chile has been hit by massive earthquakes which left buildings shaking after the "strong and long" seismic event struck the northern part of the South American country. The 6.7 magnitude quake saw emergency services on the scene as it struck off the coast of northern Chile on Friday. The German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said and was at a shallow depth of 40 miles. This means that it will have been felt widely. A first quake, measuring 6.5, hit just after midnight local time and it was followed by a second a short time later at a depth of 10 miles. The Mirror reports that, after midday, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake then struck near Copiapo. Chile's National Emergency Office has been closely monitoring the situation and there are expected to be further tremors. Local authorities are conducting damage assessments, but no major infrastructure damage has been reported so far. Authorities are advising residents to stay alert for any aftershocks that may follow. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Chile could have an earthquake with a magnitude of 8 or more in the coming year due to seismic activity, says an expert. Sergio Barrientos, of the National Seismic Centre in Chile, said that the possibility of a quake registering 8 or more is around 65%. His estimate takes into account the patterns over the past few years. He told La Tercera that Chile has been registering nearly 7,000 tremors a year which are registering 3 or more. 'Chile is always exposed to the possibility of something big happening,' he said. 'There is no methodology that allows us to anticipate all the movements (...) but from what we do know, there is a tremor of a magnitude of 8 or greater every 12 years in Chile.' And he added over the next year there is 'a slightly greater than 65% chance that there will be an earthquake of 8 or greater.' People have been giving their accounts of the strong earthquake in Chile's Atacama region. 'I felt it but it wasn't a sudden jerk, what surprised me was how long it went on for,' said one person in La Serena, around 369 kilometres from the epicentre. Another person a similar distance away said: 'There was a smooth shaking that went on for a while.' Other people agreed that it was 'strong and long' while a person in Iglesia, Argentina, 437 kilometres away, said 'the shaking went on for 10 to 20 seconds.'People have been giving their accounts of the strong earthquake in Chile's Atacama region. 'I felt it but it wasn't a sudden jerk, what surprised me was how long it went on for,' said one person in La Serena, around 369 kilometres from the epicentre. Another person a similar distance away said: 'There was a smooth shaking that went on for a while.' Other people agreed that it was 'strong and long' while a person in Iglesia, Argentina, 437 kilometres away, said 'the shaking went on for 10 to 20 seconds.' While the earthquake hit off the coast of Chile, its strengths means that it has also been felt in neighbouring Argentina. And the US Geological Survey (USGS) says the quake might have been felt by over 240,000 people across the countries. Based on seismic and statistical models, USGS estimates that the risk of fatalities and damage from this earthquake is low. The main factors that contribute to this evaluation are: The maximum expected ground shaking from this quake was unlikely to reach dangerous levels over populated areas; it should not have surpassed intensity VI (Strong) on the MMI scale significantly. The quake appears to have occurred far from densely populated areas (far as in relation to its magnitude).
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sound of Earth's Flipping Magnetic Field Is an Unforgettable Horror
Earth's magnetic field dramatically flipped roughly 41,000 years ago. We can now experience this epic upheaval, thanks to a clever interpretation of information collected by the European Space Agency's Swarm satellite mission. Combining the satellite data with evidence of magnetic field line movements on Earth, geoscientists mapped the Laschamps event and represented it using natural noises like the creaking of wood and the crashing of colliding rocks. The resulting compilation – unveiled in 2024 by the Technical University of Denmark and the German Research Center for Geosciences – is unlike anything you've ever heard. Generated by the swirling liquid metals in our planet's core, Earth's magnetic field reaches tens to hundreds of thousands of kilometers into space, protecting us all by deflecting atmosphere-stripping solar particles. As the iron and nickel inside our planet shift, so does Earth's magnetic field, meaning the North (and South) Poles are also constantly on the move. Recently, the position of the magnetic North Pole was officially changed, as it continues its shift away from Canada and towards Siberia. In its current orientation, the magnetic field lines form closed loops that are directed south to north above the planet's surface, and then north to south deep within it. Yet every so often the field randomly flips its polarity. Were this to happen again today, our north-pointing compasses would point to the South Pole. The last such cataclysmic event occurred about 41,000 years ago, leaving a signature in the Laschamps lava flows in France. As the field weakened to only 5 percent of its current strength the reversal process allowed a surpluss of cosmic rays to pass into Earth's atmosphere. Ice and marine sediment preserve isotopic signatures of this higher-than-normal solar bombardment, with levels of beryllium-10 isotopes doubling during the Laschamps event, according to a study published last year. These altered atoms are formed when cosmic rays react with our atmosphere, ionizing the air and frying the ozone layer. With global climate change being a potential consequence, it's speculated the extinction of Australia's megafauna as well as changes in human cave use may have been associated with this event. "Understanding these extreme events is important for their occurrence in the future, space climate predictions, and assessing the effects on the environment and on the Earth system," German Research Center for Geosciences geophysics Sanja Panovska explained at the time. It took 250 years for the Laschamps reversal to take place and it stayed in the unusual orientation for about 440 years. At most, Earth's magnetic field may have remained at 25 percent of its current strength as the north polarity drifted to the south. Recent magnetic field anomalies like the weakening over the Atlantic ocean have led to questions about an impending reversal today, but recent research suggests these anomalies are not necessarily connected to flipping events. The South Atlantic anomaly is, however, exposing satellites in the area to higher levels of radiation. Since 2013, ESA's Swarm constellation has been measuring magnetic signals from Earth's core, mantle, crust, oceans, ionosphere, and magnetosphere so we can better understand our planet's geomagnetic field and predict its fluctuations. An earlier version of this article was published in October 2024. World-First Study Reveals How Lightning Sparks Gamma-Ray Flashes The Universe Is 'Suspiciously' Like a Computer Simulation, Physicist Says Seismic Waves From Intense Storms Can Ripple Through Earth's Core
Hans India
22-05-2025
- Hans India
6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Crete, Greece; Tsunami Warning Issued
A major earthquake has struck Greece, a European country. Authorities reported that the quake, which occurred off the coast, shook several parts of the country. Following the earthquake, which took place on Thursday morning (May 22), warnings have been issued for a possible tsunami. As a result, Greece and neighboring countries have declared an alert. According to the German Research Center for Geosciences, the earthquake, measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, struck off the coast of Crete. The US Geological Survey stated that the epicenter was 58 kilometers (35 miles) from the popular tourist destination of Yolanda, at a depth of 77 kilometers (48 miles). Official reports on potential loss of life or property damage have not yet been released. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre stated that, depending on the impact, a local tsunami of up to 100 kilometers is possible. If the impact is more severe, the tsunami could spread along a coastline of up to 1,000 kilometers. Series of Earthquakes Causing Alarm in Greece Authorities had already issued warnings following a major earthquake along the southern coast last week. On May 13, 2025, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the island of Kos. Tsunami warnings were issued for the southern coast in response. That quake also caused structural damage in neighboring countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, and Israel.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Tsunami alert activated for Greece after magnitude 6 earthquake
An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 struck off the coast of Crete in Greece. As per the German Research Center for Geosciences, the earthquake has now triggered a tsunami evaluation for the European nation. As per GFZ, the earthquake struck at a depth of 77km. As per ESMC, a tsunami risk is under evaluation. "Depending on earthquake-coastline distance, tsunamis can be local (<100km), regional (<1000km), or distant (>1000km)," stated the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. This is a developing story...
