AntonL said:Voyager discovers magnetic bubbles or a magnetic foam at the edge of the heliosheath.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/09jun_bigsurprise/
Is this new physics being discovered?
The magnetic foam at the edge of heliosheath is significant because it sheds light on the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space. It helps us understand the interactions between the solar wind and the interstellar medium, which can affect the Earth and other planets.
The magnetic foam was discovered by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, which detected unusual fluctuations in the magnetic field at the edge of the heliosheath. This discovery was confirmed by data from Voyager 2 and has been further studied by other spacecraft.
The magnetic foam is believed to form due to a process called magnetic reconnection, where the magnetic fields from the solar wind and interstellar medium interact and create a chaotic mix of magnetic fields and particles. This creates a "foamy" region at the edge of the heliosheath.
The magnetic foam at the edge of heliosheath could potentially pose challenges for spacecraft traveling beyond the heliosphere. The changing magnetic fields and particles could affect navigation systems and potentially damage sensitive equipment, so further study and understanding of this phenomenon is important for future space missions.
The magnetic foam at the edge of heliosheath helps us understand the complex interactions between our solar system and the rest of the universe. It also provides insights into how magnetic fields and particles behave in space, which can have implications for other astrophysical phenomena and our understanding of the universe as a whole.