MIT students study plasma physics beneath Alaska’s aurora
MIT students conducted expeditions in Alaska to study plasma phenomena using the aurora borealis as a natural laboratory. They faced extreme cold and logistical challenges while deploying instruments for their research. The team aimed to enhance understanding of auroral structures and their relationship with Earth's magnetic field through innovative observational techniques.
- ▪The students worked in temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit while conducting experiments.
- ▪They witnessed the strongest solar storm in two decades, enhancing their observational experience of the aurora.
- ▪The team deployed multiple all-sky camera systems and magnetometers to study auroral structures and their correlation with magnetic field changes.
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Student-led expeditions use distributed instruments to observe auroral structures and probe space plasma in real-world conditions. Watch Video Plasma Science and Fusion Center Publication Date: May 22, 2026 Press Inquiries Press Contact: Julianna Mullen Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-253-0598 MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center Close Caption: Two students observe aurora borealis arcs above observation facilities at Poker Flat Research Range. Credits: Photo: Noah Wolfe, with Leonardo Corsaro and Sydney Menne Caption: Members of the 2026 Geophysical Plasma Observation Expedition gather around a campfire between overnight observations.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at MIT News.