Monday, February 20, 2006

Rare gamma-ray flare from distant star disturbs Earth's daytime ionosphere

On Dec. 27, 2004, scientists detected the largest gamma-ray burst ever recorded. It came from a magnetar--a neutron star with an enormous magnetic field--50,000 light years away. Its powerful rays penetrated deep into the ionosphere, the electrically conductive layer encircling Earth.

read more | digg story

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