The Magnetic Universe: The Illusive Traces of an Invisible Force by J. B. Zirker

Abstract

The Magnetic Universe: The Illusive Traces of an Invisible Force by J. B. Zirker. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009. 312 pp. $37 (paperback). ISBN 978-0801893025. Magnetism is a complex concept to explain to the general public. The human eye cannot “see” a magnetic field; the human body cannot “feel” it even though all of us are constantly crossing Earth’s magnetic field lines on daily basis—going to work, to school, to the grocery store, to the park. Our home planet is surrounded by a magnetic “cocoon” called the magnetosphere, which plays an important role in shielding the Earth’s atmosphere from the devastating effects of solar flares. Without it, solar flares could cause havoc in electrical power grids, damage communication satellites, and threaten astronauts in orbit. This explosive solar activity is fueled by the energy of solar magnetic fields.