00:03our planet has a magnetic field which not only protects us from cosmic radiation but it also
00:08allows things like compasses to work however experts now say they've detected another field
00:13surrounding our planet for the first time and this one is electric they're calling it the
00:17ambipolar field it's a weak electric field that has been theorized for over 60 years but experts
00:23were only just able to measure it recently all planets with atmospheres should have one with
00:27astronomers from nasa saying now that we finally measured it we can begin learning how it shaped
00:32our planet as well as others over time the field was first noticed when astronauts initially went
00:37to space in the 1960s as a supersonic jet stream of particles was detected exiting our atmosphere
00:43however despite believing it was there we lacked the tech to measure it which is why the endurance
00:48rocket was built the rocket and its instruments traveled up to an altitude of just over 477 miles
00:54taking measurements so how strong is earth's third field they say it only measures 0.55 volts
01:00or about one-third the power of a double-a battery
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