History is full of testimonies and theories about the Bermuda Triangle. A cursed point on navigational charts. However, it is no less true, and it is less known that its equivalent exists in space. A Mysterious anomaly Scientists tried to solve that. Not only did it wreak havoc on space technology, but those who experienced it firsthand described it as a flash of light.
Former NASA astronaut Terry Wirtz told the media about his experience when they took off on a cold February morning in 2010. Their mission was to complete the construction of the International Space Station (ISS), and they were at an altitude of about 400 kilometers. Earth's surface. His fifth day in space had passed without a hitch, and Wirtz was getting ready to sleep, he noticed as he closed his eyes. A big white flash. “I opened them up and thought, what's that?” He said. After a few days, he began to notice that his face was bleeding and his skin was swollen and irritated. Dr. He has skin cancer. Within two weeks, Wirtz experienced the effects of what became colloquially known as the 'Space Bermuda Triangle'. magnetic hole. And the flashes of light he experienced were particles of radiation.
This area is a real headache when calculating the trajectory of satellites or spacewalks. Some scientists think the hole may have long-term effects More serious than imagined. Because its effects cannot be felt only in space. This anomaly is growing can be extended. So John Tartuno, a geophysicist at the University of Rochester, who has studied this phenomenon for years, came to theorize that it could deplete the ozone layer on Earth. And BBC experts point out that this anomaly will “change not only the way we live, but also the way we grow”.
splits
This event was discovered 1958 When the first American satellite was sent into space, Explorer 1, carried a Geiger counter. Javier Cubas, professor at the Higher Technical School of Aeronautical and Space Engineering, told ABC that the Space Bermuda Triangle is a region of space, in low orbit, where satellites are at high risk of failure and therefore “disappearance.” The similarity with the Bermuda Triangle is that it will suddenly stop working for no apparent reason while circling that particular area without any technical problem.
Cubase points out that satellite malfunctions occur because the radiation in that region of space is higher than in other regions of low orbit (less than 1,000 km altitude). Most of these energetic particles come from the Sun and are constantly hurled against the Earth, but their The magnetic field acts as an umbrella Protects us from them. By keeping those particles far from the surface or by holding several of them together to form two rings Van Allen beltsLike the lines formed when we bring a magnet near some iron plates.
Artist's representation of Van Allen belts
NASA
“These rings are relatively far from the Earth, the inner ring is about 1,000 km from the surface, and the outer ring is about 12,000 km. So satellites flying in low orbits below 1000 km are also protected by the Earth's magnetic shield. But in the region South Atlantic “This shielding fails, and the particles from the belt only come within 200 km of the Earth's surface,” says Cubas. This is the closest point between the charged Van Allen particles and the Earth's surface. emagnetic fieldIt protects the Earth from radiation from space Weak.
A representation of the space Bermuda Triangle, also known as the South Atlantic Anomaly
NASA
consequences
Cubase indicates that satellite objects can be seen changed its properties. Sometimes the failure is as subtle as a slight change in the satellite's programming when an energetic particle hits the satellite's memory. Changing 1 to 0 stops the satellite operating system from working.
And people are exposed to that ionizing radiation. If an astronaut were to pass through that anomaly without protection, it would be as if they were Hundreds of x-rays at once. Radiation damages DNA and increases the risk of diseases such as cancer or cataracts.
Future solutions
A possible solution is to choose an equatorial orbit that cannot cross this hole. “But the most interesting orbits are the polar orbits, because they allow us to observe the whole Earth, although they are condemned to cross the space Bermuda Triangle several times a day,” Cubas says. To reduce the impact of this anomaly, we can. provide Extra armor to ships. That is the option adopted by the ISS.
As additional measures, several satellites are carried redundant circuits. Y “Some proposals are still difficult to implement in the long term. For example, an anomaly could be emptied by flying a large conducting wire through it to try to expel the radiation. A large lightning rod», establishing Cuba.
A tardigrade, also known as a 'water bear', is one of the most extremophile creatures
archive
This area is also studying how to protect astronauts from radiation. Biologists have come to study for this Extremophilic organisms. Microorganisms that have evolved to survive in the most extreme environments imaginable. The so-called 'Deinococcus radiodurans' could play a fundamental role in space travel, because when this species is hit by radiation and its DNA breaks, it uses its incredible properties to quickly repair any damage.
A future project for exposure to PBC is to identify the genes responsible for this repair mechanism. Integrate it into human DNA. Achieving immunity against cancer caused by space radiation.
The disorder is moving
What is remarkable about this anomaly is that it is not constant. In fact, in 2014, a team of scientists from the National Institute of Astrophysics in Bologna, Italy, analyzed data from the so-called Bermuda Triangle in space and discovered that it is a very property, based on information collected by the Peposax satellite. . He found that the hole was slowly moving eastward. About 34 kilometers per year, towards Africa.
The result is consistent with the findings by traveling expert Jürgen Matzka Tristan of Cunha, the world's most remote inhabited island. He set up a lab in 2009 to do the research center of anomaly. He observed that the strength of the Earth's magnetic field has weakened across the planet over the past century, but in the anomaly it has weakened much more than expected.
The global magnetic field is weakening by 5% every 100 years. “At Tristan da Cunha, in the area of the anomaly, the magnetic field has weakened 5% in 20 years. That is, a reduction five times stronger than the rest of the world. Between 2016 and 2019, an increase was detected towards Africa,” he told the media.
Similarly, John Tartuno, a geophysicist, studied the South African plains. This is because at the center of the Earth is a solid metallic core surrounded by an outer core of liquid iron. And it is the movement of this liquid iron that creates the magnetic field around us. But because the outer core is liquid, it can cause unpredictable changes in magnetic field strength. Tartuno thinks that the unusual geology of the crust beneath Africa, just above the outer core, causes strange movements of molten iron.
Movements that can explain repeated drops in magnetic field strength. Perhaps it is also the appearance of disorganization. If so, both the development of the space Bermuda Triangle and the current rapid weakening of the field could be a sign. Very drastic changes
However, Cubas points out that we've only known about the Bermuda Triangle in space since the 1950s, so the scientific community isn't sure. For now we can just wait and continue to observe how it behaves spontaneously. Tell us about what might happen in the future.
In this sense, it is debated whether this anomaly can exist Advertising or not reversing the poles. “If this happens, we are likely to see strange variations in the Earth's magnetic field. It may weaken and appear Other Contradictions in other areas,” says Cubas.
Pole reversed
Experts have calculated that the magnetic field has reversed 170 times in the last 75 million years, so it's not a disposable idea. If so, the consequences here will be very serious.
On a natural level, there will be cSevere changes in climateLet's see the northern lights in Spain and some species That is immigration depends on the magnetic field They perish to orient themselves. We will see an increase in cancer and other DNA-related diseases in humans.
Also, the technological foundation of our era will collapse. “We know we won't go extinct because humanity has survived many reversals of the magnetic field, but Earth's protective magnetic shield will disappear or weaken “A lot over a long period of time, so our cell phones and computers, even power plants will start to fail,” says Cubas.
Most satellites use the Earth's magnetic field to orient themselves. As for the astronauts who were on the International Space Station, they had to come down to Earth quickly so as not to harm their health, and could not hold the space station again for several years. “But let's hope that doesn't happen until we're ready.”Reflects the Cubans.
