The Stern-Gerlach effect is strangely counterintuitive, but we can use it to study the magnetic fields of stars.
Twist and Shout
Measuring the magnetic fields of our galaxy poses an interesting challenge. The galactic magnetic field doesn’t emit or absorb light, and of course we can’t directly measure it at various places like we can for Earth’s magnetic field. The galactic magnetic field does, however, interact strongly with things such as ionized gas and electrically charged dust, so we can indirectly measure the field by the way it affects these things.
One Singular Sensation
A new paper shows that we can simulate magnetic monopoles in condensed matter. This research may give us a better understanding of hypothetical magnetic monopole particles that could solve one of the great mysteries of astrophysics.
Aurora
Aurora occur when high energy particles strike the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The occur largely at the polar regions because of an interaction between the charged particles and the Earth’s magnetic field.