Scientists finally figure out what's behind mysterious space whistling

There is a sound like a mysterious whistling coming from space and scientists believe they understand where it's coming from.

The noises are called a whistler mode chorus and researchers from the University of Minnesota say they come from bursts of electrons hitting our atmosphere in a plasma wave.

Image: Tony Phillips/NASA

They used data from NASA’s Van Allen Probes mission and the FIREBIRD Two CubeSat.

Since the two Van Allen space crafts were at different heights, the scientists were able to capture the event from different perspectives.

And although electrons frequently escape the belts microbursts that rapidly expel electrons occur less frequently.

Understanding the event will better help scientists better predict space weather.

Advertisement