Space Weather

The Magnetometer in Your Pocket: Turning a Smartphone Into a Space Weather Station

Every modern phone carries a tiny sensor that measures Earth's magnetic field — the same field that ripples when a solar storm hits. Here's how the chip works, what it can realistically detect, and a few experiments UK readers can run at the kitchen table.

Nov 8, 2026

The Sky Above Britain Is Waking Up: The Magnetic Physics Behind 2026's Aurora Surge

Solar activity is still running hot, and that means more nights when the auroral oval sags far enough south to clip the British Isles. Here's what Earth's magnetic field is actually doing up there, why the lights keep appearing over places like Norfolk and Yorkshire, and how to give yourself a fighting chance of seeing them.

Nov 8, 2026