This whole article looks extremely dubious to me:
"Killer electrons" ? I am not a scientist, but my understanding knows of only one type of electron, a particle which forms part of the outer shell of an atom, the same particle which we use in our energy systems. I can quite understand how an electrical current can disrupt the electrical systems of the human body but not how something as miniscule as a single electron could harm a human being.The purpose of the ring was quite clear to the researchers — the ring is used to block killer electrons from entering deeper into the Earth’s atmosphere. These electrons can be extremely devastating at their near-light speed and have been known to threaten astronauts, fry satellites and damage space systems.
Beta Wired notes that Baker likened the invisible shield to Star Trek force fields. The Earth’s magnetic field holds the belts in place, but the scientist says that the electrons in these belts — which travel at nearly the speed of light — are being blocked by some invisible force that reminded him of the kind of shields used in television series like Star Trek to stop alien energy weapons from vaporizing starships. However, in the case of Earth, the invisible shield is being used to stop killer electrons from entering the atmosphere.
Prior to the invisible shield discovery, scientists assumed that electrons making it into the upper atmosphere of the planet would be dispersed by air molecules, but it looks like these particles don’t even get that far thanks to Earth’s invisible electron shield.
Now that the scientists know the invisible shield exists, they are trying to determine how it was formed and exactly how it works.
Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1638338/sci...Tb5ux6IUlv5.99
The idea that "electrons making it into the upper atmosphere of the planet would be dispersed by air molecules" shows a laughable ignorance of the atomic structures described. Air molecules are made up of three atoms clinging to each other. Electrons are (IIRC) either indivisible particles, or particles that require a huge amount of energy to break down. I cannot conceive of any scenario in which an electron could bump into a molecule and fly apart! More likely that the molecule itself would be broken.
If anything, it sounds as if the author has perhaps conflated neutrinos (which bombard the earth constantly, and can damage the DNA molecule on the rare occasions that they hit an atom) with electrons.
Reply With Quote
Originally posted by KosmicKat
the radiation it blocks is different.In the article it indicates it blocks the "ultrafast eletrons" and acts like a "sheet of glass".............inferring the radiation belts can't catch these speedsters??? 
Bookmarks