Scientists uncover 'mysterious floating structures' over Egypt pyramids: Invisible space bubbles that could disrupt satellites

Last month, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported the detection of mysterious floating structures over Egypt, spanning an astonishing 9,500 kilometers in breadth. This discovery has sparked intrigue among scientists, who are now exploring whether these phenomena could hold vital clues to preventing future satellite disruptions.

These mysterious floating structures are known as space bubbles or equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), which are pockets of superheated gas forming at low latitudes, typically after sunset.?

They occur when there's a sudden drop in charged particles within the ionosphere—a crucial layer of the Earth's atmosphere—causing disturbances that can impact satellite communications, as reported by Interesting Engineering.

While the appearance of an enormous plasma bubble over Egypt might not seem groundbreaking—since dozens of these EPBs form annually in that region—what makes this discovery noteworthy is the unique vantage point from which it was observed, IFLScience reports.

Typically, EPBs are monitored from space to provide a global perspective, or from the ground, focusing on nearby sections of the ionosphere.?

However, ground-based observations are often limited by the Earth's curvature, which can obscure targets beyond the horizon.

But in a recent development, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences managed to detect this phenomenon from Hainan Island in the South China Sea, approximately 8,000 kilometers (4,970 miles) away from Egypt.?

Credit: Council on Foreign Relations | South China sea

This is a significant feat, as it provides new avenues for studying EPBs and their potential effects on space weather.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences emphasised that these bubbles are a critical space weather phenomenon that warrants further study to mitigate their impact on satellite operations and communication systems.

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