1 00:00:04,580 --> 00:00:07,590 Not that kind of donut. 2 00:00:07,590 --> 00:00:07,590 [MUSIC] 3 00:00:07,590 --> 00:00:15,030 [MUSIC] 4 00:00:15,030 --> 00:00:18,300 Earth is surrounded by donut shaped clouds of radiation. 5 00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:24,720 These clouds are made of helium, oxygen and wild protons and electrons. 6 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:33,250 Radiation happens when those tiny particles start moving really fast. 7 00:00:33,250 --> 00:00:40,860 Space is not empty! It's a crazy environment created by all of the matter and energy the Sun spews out. 8 00:00:40,860 --> 00:00:47,650 Near Earth, that radiation in space can disrupt our technology, communications, such as GPS. 9 00:00:47,650 --> 00:00:48,300 These radiation belts were discovered 61 years ago by the very first satellite America launched 10 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:51,400 into space, Explorer 1. 11 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,150 The radiation belts were named after the mission's 12 00:00:53,150 --> 00:00:57,690 lead scientist, James Van Allen. 13 00:00:57,690 --> 00:00:59,380 That was the first time that scientists realized that space is 14 00:00:59,380 --> 00:01:01,540 way more complicated than we ever thought. 15 00:01:01,540 --> 00:01:06,360 So NASA has been studying this region ever since, 16 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:07,620 so we can protect our technology and our astronauts 17 00:01:07,620 --> 00:01:12,940 from these bands of radiation. 18 00:01:12,940 --> 00:01:17,170 In 2012, NASA launched the twin Van Allen Probes to study how 19 00:01:17,170 --> 00:01:22,680 these radiation belts change in intensity, in shape and in size. 20 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,380 The Van Allen Probes lasted three times as long as anyone expected 21 00:01:25,380 --> 00:01:28,040 in this harsh environment. And now we're going into a new orbit 22 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,620 their final swan song before they succumb to orbital drag. 23 00:01:31,620 --> 00:01:35,550 We can't wait to see what discoveries they make before we say goodbye. 24 00:01:35,550 --> 00:01:38,850 That's it for 5 things. Leave your questions and comments in the area below 25 00:01:38,850 --> 00:01:48,675 for the live Q&A session with us.