Scientists observe first-ever "space hurricane" above Earth

• "Until now, it was uncertain that space plasma hurricanes even existed, so to prove this with such a striking observation is incredible," Mike Lockwood, an author of the study in Nature Communications about the discovery, said in a statement.

What they did: The international team created a 3D model of the space hurricane that looked very much like the more commonly known hurricanes found swirling above oceans around the world.

• The space hurricane — thought to be a result of the solar wind and Earth's magnetic field interacting — was found spinning counterclockwise, with spiral arms and it lasted for eight hours, according to the study.
• The researchers think these kinds of storms could also create more drag on satellites and interfere with radio signals and communications, making these events particularly important to understand.