Earth's magnetic field is what allows us to exist. It deflects harmful radiation. It keeps our water and atmosphere in place. But now it's acting up — and nobody knows why.

Planet Earth is alive. Deep beneath its skin, its life blood — rivers of molten iron — pulse around its core. And this mobile iron is what generates the magnetic field that causes auroras — and keeps us alive.

But, according to the science journal Nature, something strange is going on deep down below.

It's causing the magnetic North Pole to 'skitter' away from Canada, towards Siberia.