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This is Earth

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and these blue lines show its vast magnetic field.

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Our planet is nestled in the center of two immense regions of powerful radiation: the Van Allen belts,

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which trap high-energy particles from the sun

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- but they can't hang onto all of them.

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In a new study, scientists have observed how these particles can rain down out of the belts,

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which is vital information to protect satellites and astronauts in space.

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