[Skywise]

(05-08-2016, 06:48 PM)Duffy Wrote: Is it possible to detect protons / electrons interacting with Earth's magnetic field without the aid of satellite technology ?

Certainly. The effect of Solar storms on terrestrial equipment is well known. Perhaps a most significant case is the storm of 1859 commonly referred to as The Carrington Event. The only extant electrical technology at the time was telegraphs, but the effect was so strong that telegraphs worked without their power sources hooked up, and in some cases telegraph operators couldn't touch their equipment lest they suffer a nasty shock. This was due, IIRC, to the massive Earth currents induced by the storm.

This event was also the discovery event of Solar flares.

A modern concern is that if such an event were to occur today it could cause trillions of dollars of damage to infrastructure. Extreme scenarios have entire continents without power for weeks.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

(05-08-2016, 06:48 PM)Duffy Wrote: Is there any aspect of the natural EM spectrum capable of disrupting an artificial magnetic field if it was sufficiently focused ?

Although magnetism is an aspect of electromagnetism, I know of no way in which an electromagnetic wave of any frequency can affect a magnetic field. Far more likely is that an EM field would affect any devices generating a magnetic field. To be more precise, something may be interfering with the maglev toy and causing it to drop the object.

(05-08-2016, 06:48 PM)Duffy Wrote: Do you think being in the proximity of antenna's, receiving an unknown source, capable of the disruption mentioned ( weather established or not ), may have any kind of health issues ?.

Doubtful. Certain EM wavelengths are certainly more harmful than others. For example you can stand under a 50,000 watt AM radio broadcast antenna with little or no effect (even climbing the tower!), but the same power in x-rays or gamma rays would cause serious harm, if not kill. And of course, it only takes a kilowatt at 2.45GHz to heat your leftover pizza nicely.

I doubt we are dealing with such wavelengths. I mean, nothing you've described gives me reason to be concerned.

Brian