The magnetic field near the Arctic is acting weird
The magnetic field that surrounds our planet is constantly shifting. But recently, near the Arctic, it’s been so active that researchers had to release a crucial update to a computer model that allows maps and other navigation software to correctly point North. The public release of this update to the World Magnetic Model (WMM) has been highly anticipated, but it was delayed until Monday due to the recent US government shutdown.
Unlike the geographic North Pole, which stays put at the top of the globe, the North Magnetic Pole moves, and it historically does this at a fairly steady rate. Lately, it’s moved at about 31 miles (50 kilometers) per year. Since compasses were invented hundreds of years ago, we’ve used the magnetic field to...