Its been a while since we've had a "OMG the world is going to end!!" thread.....

[warcrow]

NYT: COLLAPSE OF THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD ACCELERATES
Mon Jul 12 2004 18:17:38 ET

The collapse of the earth's magnetic field, which both guards the planet and guides many of its creatures, appears to have started in earnest about 150 years ago, the NY TIMES is planning to report on Page Ones Tuesday.

Science reporter Bill Broad has filed a report, according to newsroom sources, which explores how: 'The field's strength has waned 10 percent to 15 percent so far and this deterioration has accelerated of late, increasing debate over whether it portends a reversal of the lines of magnetic force that normally envelop the earth."

Broad explains: "During a reversal, the main field weakens, almost vanishes, and then reappears with opposite polarity. Afterward, compass needles that normally point north would point south, and during the thousands of years of transition much in the heavens and Earth would go askew."

Broad claims: "A reversal could knock out power grids, hurt astronauts and satellites, widen atmospheric ozone holes, send polar auroras flashing to the equator and confuse birds, fish and migratory animals that rely on the steadiness of the magnetic field as a navigation aid."

Developing...

Teh Source

WOW! Sounds like anything made of alot of metal would turn in to Anti-Matter



....now about that shuttle to Mars?

 

[Yossarian]

why would they think that the change would affect animals? wouldn't their sense of direction change to compensate? it's not like we're gonna wake up one day and the polarity is 180 degrees different.

 

[shiner]

Eh...

 

[Vortex22]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
why would they think that the change would affect animals? wouldn't their sense of direction change to compensate? it's not like we're gonna wake up one day and the polarity is 180 degrees different.

But it says it takes over 1000 years to come back?

and during the thousands of years of transition much in the heavens and Earth would go askew

 

[DAGTA]

the magnetic field does reverse, it's happened before. Of course, it takes tens of thousands of years to do so... I like how the article says the magnetic field 'started in earnest 150 years ago'. So, we didn't have one on Earth prior to 1854

 

[StageLeft]

"hurt astronauts" LOL who gives a sh*t!

 

[Atomicus]

Did you know there are still countries with nuclear warheads and the means to deliver them across the world? How about that?

 

[ucdbiendog]

omfgwtfbbq

 

[naruto1988]

Originally posted by: ucdbiendog
omfgwtfbbq

grassflamingo

edit: i think i saw this on discovery channel or something

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: DAGTA
the magnetic field does reverse, it's happened before. Of course, it takes tens of thousands of years to do so... I like how the article says the magnetic field 'started in earnest 150 years ago'. So, we didn't have one on Earth prior to 1854

Well, data would seem to support that the field strength has become increasingly weak in the last couple centuries, at a faster rate than the normal fluctuations would account for. Just about everything says that the magnetic field is going to reverse very soon, and not even "very soon" in the geologic sense -- just very soon.

Pretty fascinating stuff, though... There was a great show about it on PBS.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
"hurt astronauts" LOL who gives a sh*t!

Haha.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: DAGTA
the magnetic field does reverse, it's happened before. Of course, it takes tens of thousands of years to do so... I like how the article says the magnetic field 'started in earnest 150 years ago'. So, we didn't have one on Earth prior to 1854

It does not always take tens of thousands of years.

It happens with no degree of certainty. It has taken anywhere from tens of thousands to a couple of thousand years or less.

It shouldn't be too catastrophic. It will be like Y2K.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: DAGTA
the magnetic field does reverse, it's happened before. Of course, it takes tens of thousands of years to do so... I like how the article says the magnetic field 'started in earnest 150 years ago'. So, we didn't have one on Earth prior to 1854

It does not always take tens of thousands of years.

It happens with no degree of certainty. It has taken anywhere from tens of thousands to a couple of thousand years or less.

It shouldn't be too catastrophic. It will be like Y2K.

wtf, are you saying I can come out of my fallout shelter now?

 

[arcas]

There was a good NOVA episode on the collapsing magnetic field a few weeks ago.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: DAGTA
the magnetic field does reverse, it's happened before. Of course, it takes tens of thousands of years to do so... I like how the article says the magnetic field 'started in earnest 150 years ago'. So, we didn't have one on Earth prior to 1854

It does not always take tens of thousands of years.

It happens with no degree of certainty. It has taken anywhere from tens of thousands to a couple of thousand years or less.

It shouldn't be too catastrophic. It will be like Y2K.

So, are ya saying the sky won't fall and I can put away my hardhat?