A 41,000-year-old event known as the Laschamps flip dramatically altered Earth’s magnetic field, leading to a global catastrophe. Scientists have recreated the eerie sounds of this ancient event using data from ESA’s Swarm satellite.
The weakened magnetic field allowed cosmic radiation to penetrate Earth’s atmosphere, causing damage that may have destroyed the ozone layer and impacted climate and ecosystems. This reversal in the magnetic field is believed to have contributed to the extinction of megafauna in Australia and altered human survival patterns.
ESA’s Swarm satellites provided crucial clues about this magnetic field anomaly and its potential risks. During the Laschamps flip, Earth’s magnetic field decreased to just 5% of its strength for centuries. However, the South Atlantic anomaly does not necessarily indicate another imminent flip.
Understanding these ancient magnetic field flips can help scientists predict future changes in the field, space weather, and environmental impacts.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/only-5-strength-left-how-a-field-flip-nearly-tore-apart-earths-defenses-210117-16-02-2025