We Finally Know What Creates These Eerie Whistling Sounds in Space

Using data from two different satellites, astronomers have linked an eerie-sounding phenomenon called a whistler mode chorus to sudden bursts of electrons in the magnetosphere.

Every now and then, the drizzle of charged particles that seeps through Earth's protective magnetic shell erupts into a sudden downpour. Researchers have had their suspicions as to the cause, and now they think they've finally nailed it.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota have combined information collected by NASA's Van Allen Probes mission and the FIREBIRD II CubeSat to show microbursts of electrons hitting our atmosphere timed almost perfectly with a common plasma wave surrounding our planet.

It's a small discovery, but could have big implications, since having charged particles showering down into our atmosphere has more important effects than just pretty polar auroras.

Virtual hurricanes of charged particles ripping through space put our delicate web of satellite and surface technology at significant risk.

Knowing how we can predict and prepare for such inevitable plasma storms is high on the list of priorities for astronomers, making research like this invaluable.

Waves of charged particles – or plasma – pulse through Earth's magnetic field at various speeds and frequencies that can be detected and re-interpreted as audible sounds. Plasma waves can produce a variety of 'songs', depending on where they're located and how they're moving.