FYI The Source of the Northern Lights (art, power lines)

[Tanker]

I thought that you folks in Alaska might find this interesting.

SAN FRANCISCO - Scientists think they have discovered the energy source of the spectacular color displays seen in the northern lights. Mod Cut

[Xa'at]

Well, that's nothing new! We've known that the northern lights was caused by the solar wind and geomagnetic disturbances for... like, ever, right?

[Marty Van Diest]

Well, that's what I learned quite a while ago. Perhaps that was theory and this is fact??

I don't know but I have been teaching my kids that ionized particles from the sun interact with the magnetic fieild around the poles to create the light...I guess this is just more detail.

They say that the twisted bundles of magnetic fields are actually connected from the earths upper atmosphere to the sun. Let's send some power lines up there and connect...true solar power.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

Well, that's what I learned quite a while ago. Perhaps that was theory and this is fact??

I don't know but I have been teaching my kids that ionized particles from the sun interact with the magnetic fieild around the poles to create the light...I guess this is just more detail.

They say that the twisted bundles of magnetic fields are actually connected from the earths upper atmosphere to the sun. Let's send some power lines up there and connect...true solar power.

Well, there have been ideas along those lines. The idea of a magnetic sail as a means of propulsion for spacecraft has been around for a while, but, like solar sails, it's just too expensive to justify building at this point in time. My guess is that as our supply of fossil fuels begins to dwindle and we are forced to seek other means, then ideas like this one will begin to be further developed.

[warptman]

I thought they were spirits all this time.