The Magnetosphere of the Earth Could Have Hidden Portals, NASA Says

Could there be elusive portals hidden within the magnetosphere surrounding our planet? Scientists continue to search for answers.

Jack Scudder, an expert in plasma physics at the University of Iowa, states that in the magnetosphere of our planet there are so-called “X points”.

These “X points” are thought to be hidden portals where the magnetic fields of Earth and the Sun meet, leading to the creation of a continuous path between them in the length of 93 million miles. Physicists say that the “X points” are elusive, have a small size, and an unstable shape and may form and disappear completely at random.

It sounds like something from a science fiction movie, the idea of portals strewn all through the magnetosphere. And what’s really interesting, and may even give you the chills, is the fact that these portals will open and close by the time you finish reading this post.

A few tens of thousands of kilometers from Earth, energetic particles come rushing through the portals. These particles heat the atmosphere and create storms. Take a moment and wrap your mind around that.

David Sibeck, a physicist at the Goddard Space Flight Center, said,

“It’s called a flux transfer event, or FTE. Ten years ago I was pretty sure they didn’t exist, but now the evidence is incontrovertible.”

What are the effects of these portals in the magnetosphere?

According to Jack Scudder, formations in the magnetic field provide an opportunity for the solar particles to reach the upper surface of the Earth’s atmosphere. Remember, these particles can cause geomagnetic storms and aurora borealis formation.

Up until a few years ago, the reality of these “X points”, or what’s called electron diffusion regions, was not proven, it still seemed much like the substance of fantasy. As noted by Dr. David Siebeck of Goddard Space Flight Center, ten years ago, he believed that the “X points” do not exist, but now there is convincing evidence.

Until now, the main problem was to find these portals since there was no information about what they look like. Now, Scudder is sure that he’s found a way to quickly detect hidden portals. The basis of his work was the research conducted ten years ago by the spacecraft Polar.

By the end of the 1990s, Polar has long been within the magnetic field of our planet. During this time, it was successful at locating a large number of “X points”. The data from the ship helped discover five relatively simple combinations of magnetic fields and charged particles around it, which signal the location of these points.

This completely new approach reduced the time needed for future research. It is worth noting that in 2008, the Polar mission was suspended, but it is still in orbit.

More recent findings

In 2014, a multi-scale magnetospheric mission of NASA was planned and launched, the main goal was to study the hidden portals. We are yet to learn about all the updates concerning this mission, due to the lengthy observations planned, but a few details are being brought to light.

As Nasa enters its second phase of the mission, and as MMS travels directly through areas of magnetic reconnection, we wait patiently for the results. Perhaps we have found even more irrefutable evidence of the portals high above us!