(8) Radiation Belts
The Earth's magnetic field protects us from dangerous radiation in space. High energy electrons and ions are forced to circle around the Earth at high altitudes, trapped in two donut shaped regions called the Van Allen Belts or Radiation Belts. Some parts of the Earth's radiation belts contain a lethal does of radiation for an unprotected astronaut even during quiet times. About 500 rads are lethal to just about everyone.
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