Shock Detectives

What is Shock Detectives?

Check out this short YouTube video for a quick introduction to the project.

If you want a mode detailed, visual explanation of what you'll be doing, you can watch a tutorial here that shows what to look for in the data and how to classify it.

Do I need a science background?

Absolutely not! This project is designed for people from all backgrounds and simply relies on your ability to spot patterns in the data that help us identify different regions. In fact, we've removed extra information from the figures so you can focus on the underlying patterns without distraction. If you're curious and want to dive deeper into the science, visit our Research and Education tabs or join the discussion on the Zooniverse Talk boards-we'd love to chat and share more about the project!

Why do you need volunteers?

The solar wind is constantly changing due to solar activity, making it difficult to apply strict rules to determine whether a plasma region is "peaceful" or "chaotic". Automated systems struggle with these shifting patterns but the human eye and brain are remarkably good at recognizing subtle differences, even in complex data. With over 8 years of observations from NASA's MMS mission, we need many examples of each plasma type to help us understand their behaviors. By contributing your classifications, you'll help build a foundation of well-defined examples that scientists can use for deeper analysis.

What will you do with my classifications?

Each time period in the dataset will be reviewed by multiple volunteers. We'll combine these response to find where classifications agree, creating a consensus dataset of identified "peaceful" and "chaotic" regions. Once we have this verified dataset, we'll analyze the observed properties of each plasma type to uncover the processes driving them. If enough examples are gathered, we'll also train machine learning models to recognize the same patterns that human volunteers intuitively detect. In addition, we'll study cases where there's disagreement among classifications-these may reveal unusual or unexpected plasma behavior worth a closer look.

What happens if I get a classification wrong?

Don't worry! While there's no answer key, each figure is reviewed by many different volunteers. We will combine everyone's responses to find the most reliable answer using the wisdom of the crowd. One person's choice won't decide the result.

That said, it's still important to do your best. Careful, thoughtful classifications help keep the data accurate, usable, and make the science stronger.

What am I looking at in the figures?

Example figure you will see in this project

The figure above shows data from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, the same data that you'll use to classify "peaceful" and "chaotic" regions of plasma. The x-axis represents time and each of the three panels displays a different measurement relevant to your classifications.

Top panel: This shows the energy flux, which is the number of particles at a particular energy in a volume over time, measured by the Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) instrument. Brighter or higher values represent stronger energy fluxes. When you see excess energy flux at higher energies (above the central band), it often indicates a "chaotic" region, where energetic particles associated with the foreshock are present. When there's less high-energy activity, the region is more likely "peaceful".

Middle panel: This shows the plasma temperature (from FPI), both parallel and perpendicular to the local magnetic field. When the two temperature lines are close together (similar values), it usually corresponds to a "chaotic" region. When the lines are more separated (distinct differences between parallel and perpendicular temperatures), it suggests a "peaceful" region.

Bottom panel: This shows how the magnetic field strength (from the FIELDS Fluxgate Magnetometer, or FGM) changes over a 30 second window. Large variations in magnetic field strength are linked to "chaotic" regions. Stable or smooth magnetic field strength are linked to "peaceful" regions.

You will use the indicators in all 3 panels to make a decision between "peaceful" and "chaotic" regions. The axis labels and units have been removed so you can focus on patterns instead of exact numbers. We highly recommend reviewing the Tutorial and Field Guide in depth before making classifications.

What am I looking for in the figures?

See above for details

Do each of the panels carry equal importance?

All three panels are important, but the top panel (energy flux) is often the strongest indicator of a "chaotic" region. In particular, an increase in higher-energy particles is a key sign of chaotic plasma.

However, this signal is not always easy to spot. Sometimes the entire energy range shifts upward, or the high-energy features are subtle. In those cases, the other panels become especially helpful.

Each panel can show short-lived (transient) features that may be unclear on their own. By looking at all three panels together, you can build a more reliable picture and make a more confident classification.

Why are there no labels on the figures?

This is a great question! In most scientific work, axis lavels and units are essential for understanding what the data shows. For this project, however, we are focusing on pattern recognition rather than exact values. When scientists on our team tested these classifications, we found that even experts tended to focus on specific numbers when labels were present, instead of looking at the overall shapes and trends in the data.

By removing the labels, we can better highlight the patterns that distinguish "peaceful" and "chaotic" regions. This helps both volunteers and scientists make more consistent classifications based on the structure of the data, rather than individual values.

All of the physical meaning of the data (what each panel shows and how to interpret it) is explained in detail above. You are using the same real MMS measurements that scientists study, just presented in a way that makes the key patterns easier to see.

Where can I learn more?

Check out the Education tab for some additional information and feel free to ask questions in our Ask an Expert discussion board. We'll be updating the results from your classifications regularly, so check out the "Results" tab periodically.

How is this project funded?

This project is funded by a NASA Citizen Science Seed Funding Program Grant (#80NSSC25K0153)