NASA Finds High-Energy Electrons Accelerated To Near-Light Speed Just Outside Earth’s Magnetic Field

Every second of every day, Earth is bombarded by streams of charged particles, which are then deflected by the planet’s magnetic field. Typically, when this happens, the particles — fast-moving ions and electrons — either gain energy by bouncing back and forth in across Earth’s bow shock, which forms a protective barrier around the planet, or are slowed down and deflected.

However, a new study published Monday in Physical Review Letters now describes something unexpected.