Part 2/10:
These electrons—more accurately described as high-energy particles—pose a serious threat to satellites, astronauts, and space-based infrastructure by potentially frying electronic systems. According to Daniel Baker, director of Colorado Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, "We are seeing an invisible shield blocking these electrons. It is an amazing phenomenon."
The phenomenon revolves around a sharp boundary at the inner edge of the outer Van Allen belt. Researchers are actively investigating what creates this barrier. Several theories initially considered include Earth's magnetic field lines or radio frequencies generated by human activity interacting with electrons. However, these have now been deemed unlikely.