Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Earth’s magnetic field flipped 41,000 years ago, causing global upheaval and a flood of cosmic rays.
Scientists turned the ancient Laschamps event into eerie sounds using ESA’s Swarm satellite data.
The weakened magnetic field let dangerous cosmic radiation fry Earth's atmosphere during the flip.
Radiation damage from the reversal likely fried the ozone layer, impacting climate and ecosystems.
The event may have contributed to Australia's megafauna extinction and altered human survival patterns.
Credit: Peter Trusler, Monash University
ESA’s Swarm satellites reveal vital clues about magnetic field anomalies and their potential risks.
During the Laschamps flip, Earth's magnetic field dropped to just 5% of its strength for centuries.
Credit: ESA
The South Atlantic anomaly exposes satellites to radiation but may not signal another imminent flip.
Credit: NASA
Understanding flips helps scientists predict field changes, space weather, and environmental impacts.