An invisible shield is located approximately 7,200 miles above Earth that scientists are likening to “force fields on Star Trek.”
According to Colorado.edu, the shield was discovered in the Van Allen radiation belts, two doughnut-shaped rings above Earth that are filled with high-energy electrons and protons. Held in place by Earth’s magnetic field, the Van Allen radiation belts swell and shrink in response to incoming energy disturbances from the sun.
The Van Allen radiation belts were first discovered back in 1958. However, scientists only discovered two belts, an inner and outer belt extending up to 25,000 miles above Earth’s surface.
“It’s almost like theses electrons are running into a glass wall in space,” said Baker, the study’s lead author.
“Somewhat like the shields created by force fields on Star Trek that were used to repel alien weapons, we are seeing an invisible shield blocking these electrons. It’s an extremely puzzling phenomenon.”
A paper on the subject was published in the Nov. 27 issue of Nature.