Ey up lads and lasses and t'others #woke! (Editor - please remove this Ryan - it's a very "GB news/Fox TV approach to science writing and I won't stand for it) It is I, Professor Ryan Fox, renowned science presenter and famous Yorkshireman (that's a man from the county of Yorkshire in the UK for any "Johnny foreigners" reading) (Editor: And again Ryan! GB news! Really!) On Friday 10th of May, a life-time, bucket list, dream came true for me as I looked up and saw the northern lights! The aurora borealis, right here in my garden, revealed before my eyes! What a wondrous site - but why were they here in my humble Yorkshire homeland? What caused this spectacular phenomena to encroach so far "South" (and yet still "proper north" in a united kingdom territorial, regional sort of way? (Ed - I thought you lived in the Cotswolds Ryan, like the south west? What are you talking about? You haven't been to Yorkshire in years....in fact, I thought you were banned?). Read on as I describe this deeply moving, spiritual experience.

At last - t' northern Lights!

In the quietude of twilight, as the mundane world slumbered, the heavens unfurled their iridescent canvas. On that fateful Friday eve, the Northern Lights, those elusive dancers of the cosmic stage, pirouetted across the firmament, casting their ethereal glow upon the British Isles.

The sun, our celestial conductor, had orchestrated a symphony of charged particles—a solar storm of unprecedented magnitude. These charged emissaries, borne on solar winds, collided with Earth’s magnetic field, igniting the very air itself. And thus, the Aurora Borealis graced our skies, a celestial ballet of color and luminescence.

From the rugged cliffs of Northumberland to the rolling hills of Rutland, the night sky became a canvas for hues rarely seen. A palette of pinks, purples, and greens swirled and twirled, as if the gods themselves had dipped their brushes in stardust. In South Wales, where the hills meet the sea, the lights shimmered like forgotten dreams—a reminder that magic still lingers in the crevices of our world.

(EDITOR - Ryan - you've been using Chat GTP again haven't you? There is no way that you wrote this....("color" - that's american!) I have warned you, there is no way we are paying you if you keep using A.I. Please replace this with your own work)

The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are a mesmerizing natural phenomenon that graces the night sky near the Earth’s polar regions. These dazzling displays of colorful lights are created by interactions between the Earth’s magnetic field and charged particles from the Sun. Here’s how it works:

1. Solar Wind: The Sun constantly emits a stream of charged particles called the solar wind. These particles escape the Sun and travel through space.

2. Earth’s Magnetic Field: Our planet has a protective magnetic field that surrounds it. When the solar wind reaches Earth, it interacts with this magnetic field.

3. Atmospheric Excitation: As the solar wind particles approach Earth, they collide with gas particles in the upper atmosphere (specifically the thermosphere). These collisions transfer energy to the gas particles.

4. Emission of Light: The energized gas particles release this energy in the form of light. The colors we see in the Northern Lights depend on the specific gases involved:

   • Oxygen atoms emit green light, which is the most common color observed in the auroras.

   • Nitrogen atoms emit purple, blue, and pink hues.

5. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): The most impressive auroras occur when the Sun experiences intense activity, such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). During a CME, the Sun releases massive clouds of charged particles. When these particles reach Earth, they enhance the auroras, creating even more vibrant and widespread displays.

So, the next time you witness the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky, remember that it’s a beautiful cosmic dance between our planet, the Sun, and the invisible forces of magnetism and energy!

(Editor - And again Ryan - no way you wrote this - all the science is right for one thing! Make sure you write something original, edit it and post it ONLY when you have done the changes - I am in the Congo rainforest looking for living dinosaurs and will lose all mobile phone signal.... I can trust you this time can't I? Got to go - plane leaving)

#whatever ...... By Professor Ryan Fox. Honest.