HN Explorer

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24gttghh
>With further study, VLF transmissions may serve as a way to remove excess radiation from the near-Earth environment. Plans are already underway to test VLF transmissions in the upper atmosphere to see if they could remove excess charged particles — which can appear during periods of intense space weather, such as when the sun erupts with giant clouds of particles and energy.

The ability to deflect solar storms would indeed be quite helpful!

aaroninsf
I will admit some disappointment that this article is not, in fact, about ancient astronauts, monoliths, Martian pyramids, or any such thing.
dabockster
So aliens really didn't use the Egyptian pyramids as landing pads to take unwilling humans as hosts by acting as their Gods?
bostonpete
The article takes no position on that question.
codefined
> "remove excess radiation from the near-Earth environment"

I feel like I'm hideously misunderstanding this, but could this be used to help slow down global warming?

[dead] trumpownsyou420
you mean the fact the earth's cold period is naturally coming to and end?

i don't think so, bub.

dwyerm
Only in the most indirect way.

By clearing out the Van Allen belts, I suppose you could reduce the need for radiation shielding of satellites and spacecraft that need to operate in them and cross them. Less shielding would equate to lower weight spacecraft which require less energy to be flung into space.

But then you'd probably get some atmospheric warming from the RF energy, so it might all be a wash. I certainly can only speculate, but I think the short answer is 'no'.

westbywest
The transmission facilities that broadcast VLF to submarines do so in the 100-1000 KW range, with the facilities' actual power consumption likely being at least 150% that value. On the assumption most of this power is derived from fossil sources, such facilities may still retain a carbon footprint.
mrfusion
I’d be curious if this effect could be how the emdrive is achieving its thrust?
matthberg
Though accurate to the title, the post name is misleading (in my opinion). Possibly useful would be revising to refer to VLF?
stretchwithme
I wonder if this phenomenon could be used on Mars to make it safer to colonize. Or on ships going there.
roryisok
was just thinking this. it's one of the bigger problems facing any potential mars colony.