It will detect plasma in space and track it back to the Sun, planetary atmospheres, comet tails, and interstellar space.
Now, consider the secret decoder ring, a sensor that can be launched into space to reveal secrets about matter in the solar system. Where did this matter come from, how did it get electrified, and how can it affect humanity on Earth and in space? The sensor is being developed for the space agency by a team of engineers at the University of Michigan Space Physics Research Laboratory, with contributions from the Southwest Research Institute in Texas.The cosmos is mainly composed of hydrogen, yet the elements that comprise life, planets, comets, and many other celestial bodies are heavier than hydrogen. While not as common, these heavier atoms may hold the key to understanding how many processes in the cosmos function.