Unexpectedly, Cosmic Ray Intensity In Space Reaches Highest Level In 50 Years

Heliosphere Bubble The sun's weakening magnetic bubbles lets more cosmic rays
in to threaten space missions NASA

From Popular Science:

High cosmic ray levels may threaten future human missions to Mars.

Grab those tin foil hats, because NASA says that galactic cosmic rays have reached a record high for the space age.

A NASA probe found that cosmic ray intensities in 2009 had increased by almost 20 percent beyond anything seen in the past 50 years. Such cosmic rays arise from distant supernova explosions and consist mostly of protons and heavier subatomic particles -- just one cosmic ray could disable unlucky satellites or threaten astronauts in space.

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