Earth’s Cries as Heard from Space



Scientists knew that Earth is crying since the 1970s, but they’ve just recently been able to listen to it.

The "cry" is actually a series of chirp and whistles created by solar wind particles colliding with the Earth’s magnetic field high above the planet, and is called the Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR):

The Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR), as it is called, is beamed out in a narrow plane, as if someone had put a mask over a torch and left a slit for the radiation to escape.

This flat beam could be detected by aliens who’ve figured this process out, the researchers say. The knowledge could also be used by Earth’s astronomers to detect planets around other stars, if they can build a new radio telescope big enough for the search. They could also learn more about Jupiter and Saturn by studying AKR, which should emit from the auroral activity on those worlds, too.

Link | Listen to the sound - Thanks Geekazoid!


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Posted on July 2, 2008 at 2:24 am by Alex
Category: Science & Tech

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Earth’s Cries as Heard from Space



Scientists knew that Earth is crying since the 1970s, but they’ve just recently been able to listen to it.

The "cry" is actually a series of chirp and whistles created by solar wind particles colliding with the Earth’s magnetic field high above the planet, and is called the Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR):

The Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR), as it is called, is beamed out in a narrow plane, as if someone had put a mask over a torch and left a slit for the radiation to escape.

This flat beam could be detected by aliens who’ve figured this process out, the researchers say. The knowledge could also be used by Earth’s astronomers to detect planets around other stars, if they can build a new radio telescope big enough for the search. They could also learn more about Jupiter and Saturn by studying AKR, which should emit from the auroral activity on those worlds, too.

Link | Listen to the sound - Thanks Geekazoid!


Previous Post
Get Neatorama by RSS or email
Next Post
this post? Please email a friend  +reddit  +SU 
Posted on July 2, 2008 at 2:24 am by Alex
Category: Science & Tech

From our new online store:
» More fun T-shirt designs at Neatorama Online Store

10 comments to "Earth’s Cries as Heard from Space"


Want your own avatar? Get one for free at Gravatar!



Neatorama Comment Policy
You don't have to register or login to comment, but it's easier if you do so. We don't censor comment based on your point of view but comments that are abusive, use excessive profanity, or contain off-topic links may get edited or deleted. On some posts, it may take up several minutes for you comment to show up.


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