NASA to Study Solar System Force Field

NASA has launched the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) to image the force field that seems to insulate our galaxy from dangerous radiation.

While there is a standard amount of cosmic rays distributed throughout our solar system, more dangerous radiation tends to be deflected on the outskirts of Pluto due to the presence of a solar wind. The solar wind thus prevents the cold interstellar gases of space from venturing near us.

That's not to say we know absolutely nothing about this natural shield. Voyager 1 and 2 are already present on the edges of our solar system to collect relevant data. But two static data points does not a research study make. IBEX will rotate a full 360 degrees every half a year and this will ensure data is collected from many directions.

Scientists hope we may learn more about the electrically neutral atoms formed at the interface protecting our Solar System from the rest of the universe.