๐Ÿƒ Wonderleaf

A Wonderleaf question

What is a solar storm?

What is a solar storm?

a real page from the book

A solar storm is a burst of energy and charged particles from the Sun that can brush against Earth. It happens when tangled solar magnetism snaps loose, sending radiation and sometimes a cloud of plasma into space. Earth's magnetic field usually shields us, but space weather can still stir trouble.

The prettiest clue is the aurora. Solar particles get guided toward the poles, where they bump into air high above us and make it shine green, pink, or violet. The same storm that paints the sky can also bother satellites, radio, GPS, and power lines.

Wonder words

  • plasma
  • aurora
  • magnetism
  • radiation

Try it out

Tonight, flick a compass or magnet near a paperclip and talk about invisible forces moving things without touching them.

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One more wonder: Why is space so dark?

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