.. copy-and-pasted from a website called "MoneyControl" ..

Moneycontrol 784.1K Followers Our Solar System lies inside a mysterious protective bubble and scientists have mapped its edge Story by Moneycontrol News • 1w • 2 min read Markets today TSX ▲ ‎+0.46%‎ DJI ▼‎-0.20%‎ INX ▼‎-0.64%‎ Our Solar System lies inside a mysterious protective bubble and scientists have mapped its edge Our Solar System lies inside a mysterious protective bubble and scientists have mapped its edge © Moneycontrol Imagine living inside a giant invisible shield. Our Solar System is wrapped in such a shield, a bubble created by the Sun. Known as the heliosphere, it extends billions of kilometres into space and protects life on Earth. Until recently, its hidden boundaries remained largely uncertain. Free Shipping - Best Price Guaranteed - We Always Send Proofs Ad Free Shipping - Best Price Guaranteed - We Always Send Proofs iplax.com call to action icon more What is the heliosphere? The heliosphere is shaped by the solar wind, streams of charged particles flowing outward from the Sun. This immense bubble separates us from interstellar space. At about 100 astronomical units, the solar wind slows after meeting interstellar gas. This invisible boundary is called the termination shock. What did the new study reveal? An international study in Nature Astronomy has now mapped this region. Using data from NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer spacecraft, scientists surveyed the termination shock’s strength and shape. Earlier, only NASA’s Voyager probes measured two narrow paths as they exited the Solar System. Now, researchers can see the structure globally. The study found the shock is not uniform. It is stronger and more compressed near the Sun’s poles. This is most noticeable during solar minimum, when polar winds are faster and more forceful. Along the flanks, the shock is weaker because the solar wind slows after interacting with more material. What shapes the heliosphere’s structure? Data revealed a north-south asymmetry across the heliosphere. This is linked to changes in the Sun’s magnetic field. Polar coronal holes, where magnetic fields open into space, play a key role. These holes allow solar wind to escape more freely and shape the bubble’s form. Related video: What if The Sun was a Beam Aimed At Earth? (AstroKobi) This would create plasma that releases X-rays, essentially igniting aVideo Player is loading. AstroKobi What if The Sun was a Beam Aimed At Earth? More videos Cosmic first: Scientists spy the birth of planets outside solar system The Canadian Press/The Canadian Press Cosmic first: Scientists spy the birth of planets outside solar system 1:37 Astronomers observe birth of a planetary system for the first time KameraOne Canada/KameraOne Canada Astronomers observe birth of a planetary system for the first time 1:09 Solar Orbiter captures first clear views of sun’s south pole Stories by SWNS/Stories by SWNS Solar Orbiter captures first clear views of sun’s south pole 0:41 The research is only the beginning. NASA plans to launch the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe this September. The mission will image the heliosphere’s edge in greater detail. It will expand on IBEX findings and help explain how this cosmic shield works. By studying the termination shock, scientists are uncovering how the heliosphere protects our Solar System. It is not just about curiosity but about understanding Earth’s ultimate shield against the galaxy. Sponsored Moneycontrol Visit Moneycontrol Dhankhar seen in public for 1st time time since retirement, may shift to Abhay Chautala’s farmhouse Personal loans: Smart financing tool or risky debt trap? Yami Gautam shares an adorable pic with son Vedavid during trip to Leh Sponsored