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Scientists Find Trigger For Northern Lights

daftna writes "The New York Times (registration required) is reporting that NASA researchers 'have identified the trigger for the colorful electrical storms in the polar regions ... Scientists knew two events that occur in the tail of the magnetic field during substorms, but did not know which event acted as the trigger for the auroras.'"

14 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. That's great by Centurix · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just don't leave the trigger lying around, anyone could find that and we'd be up to our armpits in borealis...

    --
    Task Mangler
    1. Re:That's great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      How many times can you pull the trigger before you run out of borealis?

      When you run out, can you switch to australis?

      I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six borealis or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 aurora, the most powerful light show in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

  2. With this knife, I will rent the very fabric ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I alone will possess the secret of the Northern Lights. Watch as I wield the subtle knife and merge the worlds within worlds that exist beyond our own!

  3. This means one thing... by Plazmid · · Score: 3, Funny

    AURORAL ADVERTISING! Soon the sky will be filled with huge flickering corporate logos and slogans.

    1. Re:This means one thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I can imagine Aurora Snow having a great way of advertising herself and her business to the world.

      *jerks off*

  4. Lies! by ilovegeorgebush · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's not electrical storms, it's dust! Don't let the Magisterium tell you otherwise!

  5. Re:Huh? Dilbert speak from a "scientist" by Plazmid · · Score: 3, Funny

    It means Dr. Angelopoulos has much more important things to do than press releases.

  6. To save you time... by RuBLed · · Score: 2, Funny

    They found the trigger under the couch...

  7. Trigger? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Triggers? How long til they find out how to ROLLBACK; the Universe?

    1. Re:Trigger? by illumastorm · · Score: 2, Funny

      I must be tired. I read that as "How long until they find out how to rick roll the universe?"

  8. Scientists Find Trigger For Northern Lights by TheCybernator · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes. And its called the SUN.

  9. as per Stargate: by irtza · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can't be true. The Asgard went instinct, but not before transferring their wealth of knowledge to man kind. If it was from the Asgard, they would have been gone when the replicators got them!

    --
    When all else fails, try.
  10. Re:Huh? Dilbert speak from a "scientist" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    A Paradigm is 20 cents.

  11. Re:Huh? Dilbert speak from a "scientist" by somersault · · Score: 2, Funny

    So what you're essentially saying is that Captain Planet is what you get when you eat a really spicy burrito?

    Wind? Check.
    Watery eyes? Check.
    Heartburn? Check
    I think you might have forgotten something like Earth, but that one links in quite well with Wind.

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    which is totally what she said