
Unseen Storms Above: The Discovery and Impact of Space Hurricanes
In 2014, satellites recorded a phenomenon never before seen: a space hurricane swirling over the Earth’s polar ionosphere. Unlike traditional hurricanes formed by warm ocean air, this swirling plasma storm occurred over the North Pole, spinning for eight hours with a calm center, spiraling arms, and rain—of electrons. It wasn’t until 2021 that researchers formally…