Don’t flip out: Earth’s magnetic poles aren’t about to switch
Weakening magnetic field is a return to normal, not a sign of doom

MAGNETIC SHIELD The planet’s magnetic field isn’t on the cusp of a catastrophic flip of the magnetic poles, new lava analysis suggest. A magnetic reversal would weaken Earth’s magnetic field, causing auroras closer to the equator, as seen in this artist’s illustration.
Huapei Wang/MIT