Don’t flip out: Earth’s magnetic poles aren’t about to switch
Weakening magnetic field is a return to normal, not a sign of doom
![illustration of Earth's magnetic field](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/112015_ts_magnetic-field_free.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
MAGNETIC SHIELD The planet’s magnetic field isn’t on the cusp of a catastrophic flip of the magnetic poles, new lava analysis suggest. A magnetic reversal would weaken Earth’s magnetic field, causing auroras closer to the equator, as seen in this artist’s illustration.
Huapei Wang/MIT