Earth’s magnetic field nearly collapsed long ago. What saved it explains why life survived and why the planet remains ...

How does a magnetic compass work? Well, it’s all down to basic physics and human ingenuity. The key component of a standard baseplate compass is its magnetized needle, which is allowed to spin freely ...

The Sun’s magnetic field is invisible to our eyes, but it quietly shapes everything from the shimmering auroras over the poles to the reliability of GPS on a jet’s navigation screen. When that ...

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Amid the roilings of the Milky Way, immense pockets of gas coalesce into clouds where stars are born. In this process, there is a hidden ...

"As the magma cooled to form what is today the world's solid outer crust, magnetism was locked into minerals containing iron, such as magnetite." When you purchase through links on our site, we may ...

The reversal could actually have a beneficial effect on Earth. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. The sun is on the verge of a ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The sun likes to remind us that Earth is merely one part of a ...

Artifacts from the Iron Age have revealed an intense historical magnetic anomaly in the Middle East. Could using a similar approach elsewhere help us unravel the mysteries of Earth's magnetic field?

There is now a new addition to the magnetic family: thanks to experiments at the Swiss Light Source SLS, researchers have proved the existence of altermagnetism. The experimental discovery of this new ...