One of the most beautiful phenomena on planet Earth has to be the aurora. Occurring near the planet’s north and south poles, the aurora borealis and aurora australis have been dazzling and mystifying human beings since antiquity. The aurora, brilliant bands of colorful light dancing across the sky, are the result of light particles from the sun meeting Earth’s magnetic field. The magnetic field is strongest near the poles, hence why this color show is typically only viewed at higher latitudes. While each aurora is unique, they tend to follow certain patterns. Namely, they tend to streak across the sky in a horizontal manner. However, there’s a new aurora on the block—and he plays by his own rules. You read the title correctly. A new classification of the aurora borealis has been given the ceremonial title “Steve.” What Makes Steve Unique? Named by a group of aurora chasers in Alberta, Canada, Steve first gained notoriety in 2016 when he started to challenge our understanding of aurora behavior. The first notable difference between other aurorae and Steve is that the latter tends to run vertically, or perpendicular to Earth’s surface. Oh Steve, such an independent spirit. Yet, this directional difference isn’t because of Steve’s need to stand out, but rather his subatomic makeup. More conventional aurorae are made up of electrons—negatively charged particles. When these particles come into contact with Earth’s magnetic field, they’re sent into a tizzy of excitement and light up in the brilliant greens and purples we associate with the northern lights. Not Steve, though. It was first thought that Steve was made up of protons rather than electrons and his original name was “proton arc.” This would be enough to explain Steve’s different direction. However, Eric Donovan of Calgary University notes that proton light wouldn’t be as brilliant as its electron counterparts—no matter which direction it’s facing. While Steve’s backstory is still a bit of mystery, scientists like Eric Donovan are getting better at predicting where Steve might show up next. They’ve also noticed significant changes in atmospheric temperature and gasses when he’s around. So while Steve’s playing his cards close to the vest, we’re beginning to notice his tells. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the newest Steve developments. Make sure to check out the rest of our magnetic news on our blog!