NASA discovers Jupiter’s invisible shield is more complex than Earth’s

NASA's Juno spacecraft has uncovered remarkable new details about how Jupiter withstands the constant stream of high-energy particles flowing from the Sun. The findings reveal that the solar system's largest planet relies on a much more complex system of plasma waves and shock regions than Earth does.

Led by scientists at the University of Iowa, the research provides the most detailed observations yet of Jupiter's bow shock, an invisible boundary where particles from the Sun encounter the planet's magnetic environment. The discovery reveals important differences in how Jupiter and Earth respond to these incoming particles.

Beyond Jupiter, the results could also help scientists understand some of the most powerful events in the universe, including the extreme shock waves associated with exploding stars.

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