NASA Confirms Earth's Ambipolar Electric Field

NASA has confirmed the existence of the ambipolar electric field surrounding Earth, a phenomenon first hypothesized over 60 years ago. This field, detected by the Endurance rocket, is believed to be as fundamental as Earth's gravitational and magnetic fields and plays a crucial role in atmospheric escape, particularly driving the 'polar wind' that expels particles from the poles into space. The field's discovery helps explain the supersonic speeds of cold particles escaping Earth's atmosphere, which had puzzled scientists for decades. Measuring a weak electric potential of 0.55 volts, the field is thought to have influenced Earth's atmospheric evolution and may provide insights into other planets' atmospheres. Understanding this field could also help scientists identify potentially habitable planets.