Scientists identify origin of hiss in the Van Allen radiation belts

Scientists have solved a 40-year-old puzzle by identifying the origin of the intense radio waves in the Earth's upper atmosphere that control the dynamics of the Van Allen radiation belts — belts consisting of high-energy electrons that can damage satellites and spacecraft and pose a risk to astronauts performing activities outside their spacecraft.

The source of these low-frequency radio waves, which are known as plasmaspheric hiss, turns out to be not lightning or instabilities from a plasma, as previously proposed, but an intense electromagnetic wave type called "chorus," which energizes electrons and was initially thought to be unrelated to hiss, said Jacob Bortnik, a researcher with the UCLA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

Complete article here

This research is critical for predicting the space weather. The conditions of the space between the Sun and Earth is very important when predicting the onset of a solar storm, but the reaction of the Earth's upper atmosphere is critical when understanding how potentially damaging particles are energized to such a large extent.

So, what kind of shielding did they have for the Apollo Missions? You can't have one without the other. You cant put a chicken in a War Zone and stop for chicken nuggets along the way....

Are they SURE it isnt Quetzaquatl on his way to Earth for the 2012 festivities???

Or just a slow leak in the universe?

Great post, actually, all kidding aside. Very interesting.