Boom and bust for radiation belt high-energy electron populations

Launched on 30 August 2012, the twin Van Allen probes constitute the first dedicated mission in decades to study the Earth\textquoterights radiation belts. The sensor-laden spacecraft follow a nearly equatorial orbit, which gives them a complete view of the full range of radiation belt processes. In a new study, Baker et al. lay out some of the surprising results unveiled by the crafts\textquoteright first year in orbit.