The mechanics of the northern lights are still not fully understood, as there are multiple influences and atmospheric conditions that create these photogenic ripples of colored light in the sky. Scientists agree that solar winds—big pulses of energy from our sun—interfere with the Earth’s magnetic fields, especially at the polar regions. The result is a ghostly light show in the sky—like the one in our photo today, captured in Norway.
When science looks like magic
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Life in a North African town
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Bringing together history and technology
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Celebrating Bike to Work Week, May 14-18
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Leaves of Grass
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Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico
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The owl that loved football
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Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
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Computer science on the page
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Harvest time in the Palouse
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International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
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A truly American monument
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Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California
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It’s showtime for a precious crop
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A towering view of the Pale Mountains
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A storied trail marks a century
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Plum blossoms in China
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Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary
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Marine Day in Japan
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Après-ski in the Dolomites
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International Day for Biodiversity
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Windmills in Kinderdijk, the Netherlands
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A species worth defending
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World Teachers Day
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Anniversary of Bryce Canyon National Park
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Winnie-the-Pooh Day
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Llama Day
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Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
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Hello, spring!
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World-class art comes to Arkansas
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The forecast calls for blooms
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

