{"id":62755,"date":"2024-08-29T07:40:21","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T07:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/b34fcdf5-cd49-402b-9887-179c540f2cde"},"modified":"2024-08-29T08:39:43","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T08:39:43","slug":"nasa-rocket-makes-first-detection-of-electric-field-that-explains-why-earths-atmosphere-is-escaping-into-space","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/nasa-rocket-makes-first-detection-of-electric-field-that-explains-why-earths-atmosphere-is-escaping-into-space\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA rocket makes first detection of electric field that explains why Earth’s atmosphere is escaping into space"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Iain Todd\n <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 29 August 2024 at 07:40 AM<\/p>

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NASA scientists have for the first time detected an electric field across Earth that is thought to be as fundamental to our planet as gravity<\/a> and magnetic fields<\/a>.<\/p>

This ‘ambipolar field’ was first hypothesised over 60 years ago, and was thought to explain how Earth’s atmosphere escapes so rapidly above the north and south poles.<\/p>