Space hurricanes are real — and they wreak more havoc than we thought

Earth from space with artificial lights illuminating countries below and curtains of green aurora dancing above the north pole.

Hurricane season has a new contender, and it's swirling above the poles.

Behold, the space hurricane. Just like its terrestrial namesake, it spins in vast spirals and has a calm, eye-like center. But instead of clouds and rain, these electromagnetic tempests are made of plasma, charged particles whipped into motion by Earth's magnetic field.