In Soviet Russia, something something Magnetic North Pole.

mrk · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:49

According to reports the Magnetic North Pole is moving to Russia at a rate of 40miles per year.

Earth's north magnetic pole is racing toward Russia at almost 40 miles (64 kilometers) a year due to magnetic changes in the planet's core, new research says.

The core is too deep for scientists to directly detect its magnetic field. But researchers can infer the field's movements by tracking how Earth's magnetic field has been changing at the surface and in space.

...

Magnetic north, which is the place where compass needles actually point, is near but not exactly in the same place as the geographic North Pole. Right now, magnetic north is close to Canada's Ellesmere Island.

Navigators have used magnetic north for centuries to orient themselves when they're far from recognizable landmarks.

Not in time for the 2012 /Apocalypse/ however

Biohazard · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:50

a flip in poles means iceage doesnt it?

please put your sig the right way up! its starting to mess with my head!!

muon · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:52

Meh. With GPS, who needs a compass.

mrk · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:52

It is the right way up!

Your head is the wrong way down

FWIW I guess if we all re-watch The Core then we can jot down pointers on how to overcome this potential problem.

gillywibble · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:52

It's perfectly normal.

Biohazard · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:53

mrk said:
It is the right way up!

Your head is the wrong way down

All i can say is **** you!

I am confused now.

edit: ha! just caught you doing the letters... see I'm not that old and slow

mrk · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:54

Ah but when you refresh your browser, all will be explained

Azagoth · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:55

In Soviet Russia, North Pole comes to you.

Biohazard · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:56

Azagoth said:
In Soviet Russia, North Pole tracks to you.

mrk said:
Ah but when you refresh your browser, all will be explained

Cosimo · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:59

What is today, old science news day, when do we hear something new.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1215_051215_north_pole.html

J.B · 26 Dec 2009 at 19:59

I always thought there was a natural shift of magnetic North anyway and this was well known about? It deviates away from "true north".

THats just what I thought, but what do I know?

Cosimo · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:00

Azagoth said:
In Soviet Russia, North Pole comes to you.

The Poles didn't like Soviet Russia.

Trifid · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:01

Worlds magnetic pole is moving due to climate change and greenhouse gases. :eek:

Biohazard · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:01

Trifid said:
Worlds magnetic pole is moving due to climate change and greenhouse gases.

Says who?

NathanE · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:02

Looks like we may need to discover Unobtainium and detonate nuclear bombs in the core of the earth in order to get out of this one !!!!

Trifid · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:03

Biohazard said:
Says who?

Me.

Pav89 · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:16

It's common geographical knowledge that the magnetic poles reverse every x (haven't got the exact figure at hand as I learnt about this 3 years ago) thousand years (North becomes South and South becomes North)....So this stuff is bound to happen.... :rolleyes:

Biohazard · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:22

Trifid said:
Me.

Is it true about all the unexploded ordnance in the sea at southend? someone was telling me about it when I was watching oil tankers from a high rise office.

big_white_dog84 · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:30

Biohazard said:
Is it true about all the unexploded ordnance in the sea at southend? someone was telling me about it when I was watching oil tankers from a high rise office.

Yup. It was on an episode of Coast.

Ziggy · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:34

I think I have found the cause of this disturbance.