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Team Discovers "Throttle" For Solar Wind

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the all-systems-go dept.

ScienceDaily is reporting that a team of scientists have discovered that Helium may act as a "throttle" for the solar wind. The team hopes that this insight will provide them a better look inside the dynamics of space weather. "Because helium nearly vanishes from the solar wind at its minimum speed, the researchers believe helium might somehow set the minimum speed. Helium is not accelerated efficiently by any process thought to be propelling the solar wind. Instead, it has to be dragged along by the hydrogen: Solar wind hydrogen atoms exert a small electric field that drags the helium out along with it, according to the team."

5 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. If there's one thing men love by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    it's more power. ah ah ah!!! *tim allen grunts*

  2. Anyone else by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Anyone else feel like releasing a few million helium balloons right above Redmond, Washington, right about now? ;)

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    1. Re:Anyone else by ScentCone · · Score: 3, Funny

      Anyone else feel like releasing a few million helium balloons right above Redmond, Washington, right about now?

      Only on slashdot would someone stretch that hard to turn an astrophysics summary into an MS bashing troll. I mean, it takes WORK to do it that cravenly. Whew! You must be tired.

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  3. Space weather by Timesprout · · Score: 3, Funny

    Alpha quadrant : Freezio!

    Beta quadrant : Freezio!

    Gamma quadrant : Freezio!

    Delta quadrant : Freezio!

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  4. brake, throttle.... by Himring · · Score: 2, Funny

    So, helium is the brake and hydrogen is the gas pedal. Who's driving?

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