Unravelling the Mystery of the Geminid Meteor Shower's Violent Origins.
Data from the Parker Solar Probe suggests that the Geminid meteor shower is likely the result of a violent event, such as a high-speed collision with asteroid Phaethon or a sudden gas explosion. Unlike other annual meteor showers, which are caused by icy comets, the Geminids are produced by a rocky asteroid. The Parker Solar Probe's FIELDS instrument measured electric and magnetic fields near the sun, providing evidence for the violent scenario.