Pat Shingleton for Nov. 16
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Geophysical Research Letters reports that solar activity decreases every 11 years, solar storms are fewer and the strength of solar wind declines. The solar wind comprises the stream of charged particles blown from the sun. The current period of low solar activity has lasted six months longer than the solar minimums in 1994 and 1995. Scientists speculate that the protective magnetic cavity that carves the solar wind has shriveled, allowing harmful galactic cosmic rays to enter the solar system. With the solar wind pressure this low and evidence of reduced solar activity, it suggests the wind is guided by the magnetic field and powered by it.
Fastcast: Brisk.
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