Auroral Electron Acceleration

Here we describe the results in our recent paper in Nature Communications 12:3103 (2021),
Laboratory measurements of the physics of auroral electron acceleration by Alfven waves

The paper has also been featured as an Editor's Highlight for Nature Communications in the research area of “Astronomy and Planetary Science.”

Press Coverage

Press Releases and Briefings

  1. University of Iowa Physicists determine how auroras are created
  2. UCLA: ‘Surfing’ particles: Physicists solve a mystery surrounding aurora borealis
  3. Wheaton College: Wheaton Professor Discovers the Force Behind the Northern Lights
  4. American Astronomical Society Press Briefing: Auroral Electrons Surfing on Alfven Waves

News Articles

  1. CNN: The mysterious origin of the northern lights has been proven
  2. NPR: What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure
  3. BBC: Aurora borealis: How northern lights are created has now been discovered
  4. NASA: Lab Experiments Shed New Light on NASA Satellite Observations
  5. NSF: 'Surfing' particles: Physicists solve a mystery surrounding the aurora borealis
  6. Popular Science: We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights
  7. Physics World: Electrons ‘surf’ on Alfvén waves in plasma-chamber experiments
  8. Phys.org: Physicists report definitive evidence how auroras are created
  9. Discover Magazine: The Secret to Brilliant Auroras? ‘Surfing’ Electrons
  10. Business Insider: Scientists have solved a decades-old mystery about how auroras form in the sky
  11. Ars Technica: Physicists find “definitive evidence” of mechanism behind brightest auroras
  12. Science Friday: Surfing Particles Can Supercharge Northern Lights
  13. Eurekalert: Physicists report definitive evidence how auroras are created
  14. Eurekalert: 'Surfing' particles: Physicists solve a mystery surrounding aurora borealis
  15. Inverse: Physicists Solved a Longstanding Mystery of the Aurora Borealis
  16. The Weather Network: The mystery behind what powers the Northern Lights has now been solved
  17. Science Alert: For The First Time, Physicists Have Confirmed The Enigmatic Waves That Cause Auroras
  18. Sci Tech Daily: At Last, Physicists Report Definitive Evidence of How Brilliant Auroras Are Created
  19. Sci Tech Daily: “Surfing” Particles on Alfvén Waves: Physicists Solve a Mystery Surrounding Aurora Borealis
  20. Science Daily: Physicists report definitive evidence how auroras are created
  21. Space Daily: Physicists determine how auroras are created
  22. Space.com: Earth's aurora origin mystery solved by 'surfing' electrons
  23. Space Ref: Physicists Report Definitive Evidence On How Auroras Are Created
  24. Newser: Scientist Say They Now Know How an Aurora Occurs
  25. Science News: Auroras form when electrons from space ride waves in Earth’s magnetic field
  26. MSN: The mystery behind what powers the Northern Lights has now been solved
  27. MSN: For The First Time, Physicists Have Confirmed The Enigmatic Waves That Cause Auroras
  28. Yahoo! News: Scientists have solved a decades-old mystery about how auroras form in the sky
  29. News Central Site: Physicists report definitive evidence how auroras are created
  30. Astrobites: Astrobites at AAS 238: Day 1
  31. Daily Magazine: Scientists have solved a decades-old mystery about how auroras form in the sky
  32. Labroots: Physicists Find Definitive Proof of What Causes the Northern Lights
  33. Live Science: Electrons 'surf' across space to create the northern lights, new study finds
  34. ZME Science: Physicists find definite proof of how auroras are born
  35. myScience: ’Surfing’ particles: Physicists solve a mystery surrounding aurora borealis
  36. Tech Explorist: Definitive evidence how auroras are formed
  37. ScienMag: ‘Surfing’ Particles: Physicists Solve A Mystery Surrounding Aurora Borealis
  38. Interesting Engineering: Physicists Think They Know Exactly What Causes Auroras
  39. Earth.com News: Northern lights linked to electrons traveling at millions of miles per hour
  40. Nature World News: Scientists Recreate Aurora Borealis in Lab to Understand How Northern Lights Are Formed
  41. Wonderful Engineering: Physicists Have Revealed The True Reason That Causes Auroras
  42. Smart Brief: Scientists confirm cause of northern lights
  43. Newsy: Physicists Prove Origins Of Northern Lights
  44. Eminetra: Physicists from University of Iowa prove what causes the Northern Lights
  45. YubaNet.com: Physicists report definitive evidence how auroras are created
  46. KGAN CBS2 Cedar Rapids: University of Iowa physicists prove cause of the aurora for the first time
  47. KCRG ABC9 Cedar Rapids: University of Iowa physicists prove origins of northern lights
  48. Iowa City Press Citizen: New research, helped by UIowa scientists, explains age-old mystery behind northern lights
  49. KMOV4 St. Louis: The mysterious origin of the northern lights has been proven
  50. KITV Honolulu: The mysterious origin of the northern lights has been proven
  51. KMBC-TV Kansas City: Has the mysterious origin of the northern lights been revealed? These physicists say yes
  52. WISN Milwaukee: Has the mysterious origin of the northern lights been revealed? These physicists say yes
  53. WAPT Jackson, Mississippi: Has the mysterious origin of the northern lights been revealed? These physicists say yes
  54. WMTW Maine: Has the mysterious origin of the northern lights been revealed? These physicists say yes
  55. WSVN Miami: The mysterious origin of the northern lights has been proven
  56. WTOP News Washington, DC: Científicos logran probar el misterioso origen de la aurora boreal
  57. Northwest Indiana Times: The mysterious origin of the northern lights has been proven
  58. KOAA News5, Southern Colorado: Physicists from University of Iowa prove what causes the Northern Lights
  59. CNN Español: Científicos logran probar el misterioso origen de la aurora boreal
  60. CNN Brasil: Novo estudo prova origem misteriosa da aurora boreal
  61. CNN Greece: Λύθηκε το μυστήριο για την προέλευση του φωτός που εκπέμπει το Βόρειο Σέλας
  62. CTV News (Canada): The Great Aurora Mystery Finally Solved
  63. Vaughan Today (Canada): Science has finally proven the origin of the aurora borealis
  64. Daily Mail (UK): The northern lights are caused by powerful electromagnetic waves that accelerate electrons millions of miles per hour toward Earth, scientists confirm
  65. Metro (UK): Mystery of auroras solved as physicists conclude decades-long quest
  66. Evening Standard (UK): Physicists report evidence of how auroras are created
  67. IFL Science (UK): Aurorae Are Created By Electrons Surfing Special Waves, Lab Tests Have Proven
  68. Whitehaven News (UK): Physicists report evidence of how auroras are created
  69. Daily Echo (UK): Physicists report evidence of how auroras are created
  70. Life in Norway (Norway): What Causes the Northern Lights?
  71. Notimerica (Spain): La prueba definitiva de cómo se crean las auroras
  72. Cosmos (Australia): Aurora created in a lab
  73. SWI swissinf.ch (Switzerland): Las auroras boreales son causadas por poderosas ondas electromagnéticas
  74. Global Science (Italy): Come nascono le aurore boreali
  75. Canaltech (Brazil): Ondas causadoras das auroras são demonstradas pela primeira vez
  76. Popular Mechanics (Russia): Как на самом деле возникают полярные сияния
  77. La Vanguardia (Spain): Demostración definitiva de cómo y por qué se forman las auroras polares
  78. Prensa Libre (Guatemala): Científicos revelan el misterioso origen de las auroras boreales
  79. Media INAF (Italy): All’origine delle aurore polari
  80. The Irish News (Northern Ireland): Physicists report evidence of how auroras are created
  81. Teknologi (Indonesia): Terkonfirmasi, Ternyata Ini Penyebab Aurora Terjadi
  82. Republika (Indonesia): Ilmuwan Pecahkan Misteri Terjadinya Aurora
  83. Klikbulukumba (Indonesia): UNTUK PERTAMA KALINYA, FISIKAWAN TELAH MENGKONFIRMASI GELOMBANG MISTERIUS YANG DISEBABKAN OLEH CAHAYA UTARA
  84. Haber 24 (Turkey): Kuzey Işıklarının Gizemli Kökeni Kanıtlandı
  85. TV9 Hindi (India): Northern Lights: आखिर कैसे बनती हैं ‘प्रकृति का अजूबा’ नॉर्दर्न लाइट्स? अमेरिकी वैज्ञानिकों ने अब राज से हटाया पर्दा
  86. El Palco (El Salvador): Se ha comprobado el misterioso origen de la aurora boreal
  87. Sport (Spain): Descubren cómo se crean las auroras que brillan en el cielo
  88. Sputnik News (Russia): Mystery of Shimmering Aurora 'Curtains of Light' Finally Solved
  89. AvtoJazz (Russia): Mystery of Shimmering Aurora ‘Curtains of Light’ Finally Solved
  90. Saudi 24 News (Saudi Arabia): For the first time, scientists have been able to provide definitive evidence of how the aurora borealis form
  91. greenMe (Italy): Rivelato finalmente come nascono le aurora boreali
  92. South Africa Today (South Africa): Mystery of Shimmering Aurora 'Curtains of Light' Finally Solved
  93. Pro Rally (Romania): S-a dovedit originea misterioasă a Luminilor Boreale
  94. Daily Maverick (South Africa): Wave-driven electrons prove the key to the celestial light show’s stunning signature
  95. Wirtualna Polska (Poland): Odkryli wielką tajemnicę. Naukowcy już wiedzą jak powstaje zorza polarna
  96. Naked Science (Russia): Эксперименты показали связь полярных сияний с волнами плазмы
  97. The Hindu (India): Best from science journals: Decoding northern lights
  98. Sina Finance (China): 天空中舞动的唯美极光，是地球上最令人叹为观止的景象之一。但多年以来，这种现象产生的原因并没有被完全理解。
  99. Guru Meditation (France): Des aurores boréales créées en laboratoire permettent de savoir plus précisément comment elles se forment
  100. Tom's Hardware (Italy): Come si forma un’Aurora Boreale in laboratorio?
  101. La Nacion (Argentina): Aurora boreal: científicos reproducen en un laboratorio su increíble origen
  102. Sputnik Turkiye (Turkey): Kuzey Işıkları'nın nasıl meydana geldiğine dair araştırmalarda bir ilk
  103. Tendencias (Spain): Descubren cómo se crean las auroras que brillan en el cielo
  104. Zing News (Vietnam): Nguồn gốc của các dải cực quang đầy màu sắc
  105. Offsite (Cyprus): Λύθηκε το μυστήριο για το φως που εκπέμπει το Βόρειο Σέλας
  106. East Africa News Post (Kenya): Scientists were able to prove the origin
  107. Super Interessante (Brazil): Cientistas confirmam o mecanismo por trás das auroras boreais pela primeira vez
  108. Salten News (Czech Republic): The mysterious origin of the northern lights has been proven
  109. New Zealand Online News (New Zealand): “Surfing” Particles on Alfvén Waves: Physicists Solve a Mystery Surrounding Aurora Borealis
  110. Tasmania Examiner (Australia) Aurora created in a lab

Live Interviews, TV and Radio Stories:

  1. Wednesday 10 Jun 2021:Iowa's News Now, KGAN CBS2 and KFXA FOX28
  2. Thursday 10 Jun 2021: Breakfast with Robbie Buck & Wendy Harmer, ABC Radio, Sydney, Australia. Average audience of 350,000 Breakfast, Broadcast: Thu 10 Jun 2021, 6:00am
  3. KCBS (Los Angeles)
  4. Sunday 13 Jun 2021: KCBS All News Radio, 106.9 FM and 740 AM (San Francisco)
  5. Monday 5 Jul 2021: Iowa Public Radio, River to River, 12:00pm
  6. Friday 24 DEC 2021: Science Friday, NPR Radio, 12:00pm