Chorus Waves Detected Farther from Earth by NASA

Scientists have discovered 'chorus waves,' electromagnetic bursts resembling birdsong when converted to sound, occurring much farther from Earth than previously recorded, at distances up to 165,000 kilometers. This finding challenges existing theories about their formation, previously thought to occur closer to Earth’s magnetic field. The study, conducted by Beihang University and published in Nature, utilized NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites to capture these phenomena in the terrestrial mid-tail neutral sheet, an area with a highly distorted magnetic field. Although chorus waves have been known since the 1960s, this new detection suggests they can form under different conditions, not solely dictated by Earth's magnetic dipole. The waves are significant for their role in shaping Earth's radiation belts and their potential to create high-energy electrons, which can disrupt satellites. The discovery opens new avenues for understanding space weather and its effects on Earth.