Scientists Are Creating Artificial Northern Lights

The Aurora Borealis is one of nature’s most breathtaking phenomena. For millennia, it has inspired stories of gods and mythology and left humanity dumbstruck with its beauty. But now, scientists are playing God themselves and creating their own synthetic heavenly lights. A few weeks ago, a rocket was launched from Sweden. It reached an altitude of 240 km (150 miles) and released barium into the upper atmosphere, creating a beautiful green ethereal cloud, just like the true Aurora. But this wasn’t to recreate the beauty of nature or to entertain the public. Instead, these experiments are a critical step in protecting some of humanity’s most important infrastructure.

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Tags: Artificial