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A Sixth Region In the Magnetosphere

Posted by timothy on from the difracting-imposed-distinctions dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "As you probably know, Earth's magnetosphere, 'the invisible bubble of magnetic fields and electrically charged particles that surrounds and protects the planet from the periodically lethal radiation of the solar wind,' was discovered in 1958. Until now, it was believed to comprise five regions, including the ionosphere or the Van Allen radiation belts. Now, a US research team has discovered a sixth region, called the warm plasma cloak."

19 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. It's velvety soft, too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least according to Magneto, who says he's been sleeping in it since it was discovered.

  2. Warm plasma cloak = Earth's Blankie? by syousef · · Score: 4, Funny

    Earth wants its blankie! Elmo can't have it.

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  3. ohnoitsroland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Isn't it time to stop with the "ohnoitsroland" tags? While the guy used to annoy the hell out of me with his blogwhoring links, he actually cleaned up his act - his contributions nowadays link to real articles instead of his blog, and some of the stuff he links to is actually quite good...

    /Posting anonymously to avoid the -1 Offtopic mods I'm sure to get

    1. Re:ohnoitsroland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Start tagging his articles "hoorayitsroland" and everyone else will join in.

    2. Re:ohnoitsroland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Isn't it time to stop with the "ohnoitsroland" tags?

      Slashdot tradition is more important than any one single person here. It's bigger than any of us, except maybe Natalie Portman, petrified.

    3. Re:ohnoitsroland by Fumus · · Score: 2, Informative

      Karma's a bitch, eh?

      "Anonymous (Coward) never forgives"

  4. Only wraps around 3/4 of the planet... by RabidMoose · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...but it used to fit, back when the Earth was in High School. It seems we have already succumbed to Global Fattening.

    1. Re:Only wraps around 3/4 of the planet... by Valdrax · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It seems we have already succumbed to Global Fattening.

      Strange how Texas always seems to be the epicenter for these things.

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    2. Re:Only wraps around 3/4 of the planet... by Chrisje · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How is that a troll?

      It's funny and pretty accurate. The US is one of the fattest nations on the planet, and most of the fattest cities are located in Texas. This has been documented.

      That's not a troll unless you happen to be an obese Texan with mod points. Sadly I can neither moderate nor meta-moderate right now, but that 0 Troll is undeserved.

  5. Re:Huh. by theillien2 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is there a magnetic dagger to go with the magnetic cloak?

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  6. stupid parsing brain by haaz · · Score: 3, Funny

    So I was sitting here trying to figure out how there could be a sixth religion, much less any religion, in the magnetosphere.

    Further proof, as if any were needed, that I am a Dork.

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    -- haaz.
  7. As you probably know... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why do you expect most readers to know that the magnetosphere was discovered in '58?

  8. Re:Mmmm toasty... by glittalogik · · Score: 4, Funny

    Go to any swingers' club and loudly announce that you want to be covered in warm plasma.

  9. 7th Region by Whiteox · · Score: 2, Funny

    There's a 7th region just beyond the 6th region, but it's not been discovered yet.

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  10. I for one by MarkoNo5 · · Score: 2, Funny

    welcome our new magnetospheric region.

  11. Re:Mmmm toasty... by beav007 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Now, a US research team has discovered a sixth region, called the warm plasma cloak.

    I don't get how they actually got the name. Did it have a label on it when they found it? Did they ask it what its name is?

    Seems to me that that should read "Now, a US research team has discovered a sixth region, and have called it the warm plasma cloak."

  12. Re:Mmmm toasty... by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 2, Funny

    More to the point, what are the stats on that cloak? Can my hunter have one?

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  13. Re:Mmmm toasty... by Whiteox · · Score: 4, Funny

    Impossible! You need to take a girl with you or they won't let you in.

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  14. Re:Huh. by Chris+Burke · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have no freaking clue, man.

    Oh, wait, you said to those who don't understand, not from.

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