SMRTR Science & EngineeringFeb 10, 2026Live Science

Something supercharged Uranus with radiation during Voyager flyby 40 years ago. Scientists now know what.

SMRTR summary

When Voyager 2 flew past Uranus in 1986, scientists discovered the planet's electron radiation belt was mysteriously intense—much stronger than predicted. Researchers now believe a "co-rotating interaction region," where fast solar winds overtake slower streams, temporarily supercharged the radiation belt during the flyby, similar to events observed at Earth in 2019.

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