Photo: Aurora "Power Surges" Triggered by Magnetic Explosions

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The aurora borealis, or northern lights, shimmers green over snow-dusted trees in an undated photo.

Geomagnetic substorms that cause auroras to brighten unexpectedly are triggered when stretched magnetic field lines reconnect far out in space and release energy that sends charged particles flying toward Earth, a new study reports.

Photograph by Matthias Breiter/Minden Pictures

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