The Northern Lights, one of Norway's most astonishing natural wonders, have their ideal stage in this Nordic nation, says Veronica Danielsen, a physicist, science artist, and budding author. Her recent literary debut is Norway's first modern science book dedicated to demystifying the hidden intricacies of the Northern Lights for readers of all backgrounds.

Many young Norwegian girls go through a phase of fascination with horses. Such was the case for Veronica Danielsen, 28, during her formative years. However, in contrast to her peers, she did not immerse herself in horse novels or engage in discussions about her favorite horse's personality traits with her friends. Instead, she delved into horse encyclopedias.

"As soon as I'm drawn to something, I dive deep into it, embracing my inner nerd. It's a characteristic I've possessed since forever," she confides.

This assertion hardly comes as a surprise. To call herself an expert on the Northern Lights requires a certain degree of nerdy passion. Veronica Danielsen, however, doesn’t limit herself to the realm of physics alone; she also wears the hats of science communicator (and artist), journalist, fire dancer, and author. The latter accolade she recently achieved with the launch of her debut book, "The Northern Lights – Aurora Borealis, People, Myths, and Science," on October 19, 2023.

"While there exist some Norwegian popular science books about the Northern Lights, most of them may have become somewhat outdated. My book is tailored for anyone with an interest in the Northern Lights and comprehending the science behind this captivating phenomenon," explains the author.

Imagine if Veronica had access to a book like this during her childhood days when she sat outside her family's home on Norway's East Coast, attempting to spot the Northern Lights while looking in the wrong direction!

"Sometimes the news announced that the Northern Lights could extend all the way to the Eastern side of the country, but I never witnessed it. As a child, I saw nothing," she reminisces.

Her father, who grew up in northern Norway, entertained her with narratives of the Northern Lights on numerous occasions. During their summer visits to his family, she would encounter several posters featuring the stunning lights. Yet, all she encountered was the yearly occurrence of midnight sun.

"It remained an alluring, seemingly unattainable wish," she recalls.

That is, until she was old enough to go to university, start studying space physics, and undertake a study expedition to Andøya - Norway’s northernmost island in the Vesterålen archipelago - in 2018.

"Since then, I've been fortunate enough to witness the Northern Lights on multiple occasions, including in Svalbard. However, the initial experience was the most significant, not just because the Aurora were extraordinary that evening, but because it was a dream fulfilled".

While the Northern Lights Veronica witnessed on Andøya in 2018 were undeniably beautiful, it's dubious that she saw the auroral crown. This phenomenon only graces our skies during periods of exceptionally high solar activity. Consequently, there is a much bigger chance that she will witness it in 2023 or 2024.

"Solar activity, which is pivotal for observing the Northern Lights from Earth, follows an 11-year cycle. Currently, we are nearing a new peak in 2024-25, after which solar activity will gradually diminish, reaching a low point after 5.5 years," Veronica explains.

But what, precisely, are the Northern Lights, and why do we find them so captivating?

"The Northern Lights reveal otherwise imperceptible space physics. For instance, Earth's magnetic field remains hidden from our sight, yet the Northern Lights provide us with valuable insights into its mechanisms. I find this aspect tremendously intriguing", Veronica enthuses.

So, what transpires when the nighttime sky becomes adorned with these dancing neon hues? Veronica likens it to "a beautiful atomic collision".

"The brief and most straightforward explanation is that the sun continually emits minuscule particles. When these particles collide with Earth's atmosphere, the atmosphere begins to radiate light", she elaborates.

You see, our atmosphere comprises gasses, which, in turn, consist of atoms. When these incoming particles collide with the atmosphere, they transfer energy to the atoms. However, the atoms cannot retain this energy, prompting them to emit it in the form of visible light, which is what we perceive from Earth.

"All atoms possess their own distinctive 'fingerprint' that determines the colors they emit following such an atomic collision. This is why we can discern that the diverse hues in the Northern Lights originate from different gasses. It also enables us to gain some insights into which gasses emit the Northern Lights and at which altitudes within the atmosphere they are situated. For instance, we know that Northern Lights occurring at specific altitudes are a result of oxygen, while others emanate from nitrogen". Veronica explains.

Completing a book in just three months is no small feat, but that's precisely what Veronica did. Her journey into the world of authorship began when Cappelen Damm, a renowned Norwegian publishing house, approached her with the idea of writing a book about the Northern Lights in late March, 2023.

Eager to embark on this literary endeavour, Veronica accepted the challenge. However, when asked how long she thought it would take to finish the book, her response was nothing short of ambitious. "I said I wanted to have it ready by that autumn because I thought it would be unwise to release it in the spring, and I didn't have the patience to wait until the following autumn", she humorously recalls.

Undoubtedly, this was no small task. Not only had Veronica never authored a book before, but she was also unaware of the intricacies of the publication process, including language editing and design. Nevertheless, she was undeterred.

The pressure was on as the first draft needed to be completed by June 2023. To make this endeavour possible alongside her full-time job at a science centre, Veronica took a 26 percent leave of absence. The dedicated effort left little time for anything else, except for a brief interruption when she got married at the end of April, taking a week-long honeymoon from her writing duties.

Ultimately, Veronica's determination paid off. The book was successfully finished on schedule, and the publisher was pleased with the result.

Reflecting on this accomplishment, Veronica shares, "I had been thinking about writing a book since I was a child, but it always slipped through the cracks. It has been good to have external pressure that forced me to do it – and it has been nice to have a cheering squad".

The Carrington Event of 1859 stands as one of the most forceful solar storms ever recorded. While it may have concluded relatively nonthreateningly in its time, the question arises: What would be the consequences today if a similar solar tempest were to strike our atmosphere? In an age where we rely heavily on a constellation of satellites orbiting overhead, the stakes are considerably higher.

Veronica sheds light on the matter. "The particles responsible for the Northern Lights primarily disrupt radio signals, specifically those facilitating communication between satellites and your mobile phone during GPS use", she explains.

For most people, this interference has minimal impact on their daily routines. If you're navigating to the grocery store, a slight deviation in your GPS accuracy is unlikely to lead you astray. However, for industries such as oil drilling, such disturbances can prove more problematic.

Veronica goes on to note, "There have been instances where satellites in space and terrestrial power stations suffered damage due to solar storms. Fortunately, scientists maintain constant vigilance over our sun's activities. In the event of an impending solar storm, precautionary measures can be initiated to safeguard space-based technology, including the reorientation of satellites".

Solar storms, accompanied by plasma particles, can also induce surges in power lines. Foreknowledge of an approaching solar storm enables us to restrain power flow in these lines promptly, reducing the risk of overload.