NASA stunned to discover radio waves turning into 'cosmic shield' to protect Earth

NASA scientists were surprised to discover that extremely low frequency radio waves emitted by humans help repel dangerous cosmic radiation, opening up the potential to protect astronauts and spacecraft in the future.

NASA discovered that these waves not only spread through the atmosphere but also extend into space, and are capable of affecting the movement of high-energy particles around Earth - Photo: NASA

Few people expected that the radio signals that humans have been sending out for decades have unintentionally created a "protective shield" around the Earth. This discovery by NASA not only changes our understanding of the impact of technology on the universe, but also opens up new directions for space safety and space exploration .

From the Van Allen belt to the mysterious "shield"

In 2012, NASA launched two probes to study the Van Allen Radiation Belts. These giant “doughnut rings” surrounding Earth contain high-energy particles that are both important and dangerous.

They create spectacular phenomena such as auroras at the Earth's poles, but at the same time, magnetic storms and radiation from this belt can damage satellites, disrupt communication systems, and even affect astronaut health.

To minimize risk, most missiles are launched from near the equator, "passing" through the Van Allen zone, which shortens the time of exposure to radiation.

While analyzing the data, scientists discovered something unusual: a region of space around the Earth seemed to be covered by an invisible "shield". But at that time, research was not deep enough to understand what it was.

VLF waves: invisible "shield" created by humans

In 2017, NASA officially announced the cause: VLF (Very Low Frequency) radio waves emitted by humans were the "author" of this artificial shield.

VLF waves have frequencies from 3 - 30 kHz, commonly used in military communications and maritime communications; connection with deep-sea submarines; air navigation and some special technical systems.

What's special is that on Earth, VLF waves do not interfere with other communication systems such as AM, FM, GPS, 5G. But when they spread into space, they directly affect high-energy particles in the Van Allen belt.

Initially, NASA thought it was just a coincidence that the outer edge of the VLF region coincided with the inner edge of the radiation belt. However, the results of the 2017 study confirmed that VLF waves actually create an “electromagnetic barrier,” pushing dangerous radiation particles farther away from Earth than they did in the 1960s.

Scientist Dan Baker, of the University of Colorado, calls this an "impenetrable barrier", a natural protective layer but... accidentally created by humans.

Today, we use very low frequency (VLF) radio waves much more frequently than in the 1960s.

This has particularly important implications for space safety: Space agencies could use VLF waves to create “safety corridors” through the radiation zone for spacecraft. VLF waves could help protect astronauts and equipment from violent solar storms.

The discoveries about this shield also open up new approaches in applying information technology to strengthen the Earth's protective shield.

"We have inadvertently created an artificial protective zone around the planet. This discovery could change the way we plan deep space exploration missions," NASA scientists said.

NASA is now planning to use a new generation of gravitational wave telescopes and sensors to continue studying the impact of VLF on Earth's magnetic field and the possibility of expanding this "artificial shield" in the future.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nasa-sung-sot-khi-phat-hien-song-vo-tuyen-bien-thanh-la-chan-vu-tru-bao-ve-trai-dat-20250908083255963.htm