Forget Global Warming, Fear The Pole Shift

According to some scientists, the earth's magnetic field has decreased in strength by 15% in the last 200 years, which means that the two magnetic poles could be headed for a reversal.  If this happens, the earth's magnetic field strength could take a long time to recover, thus exposing us to increased levels of cosmic rays and also having an effect on climate.  Such reversals have occurred many times in the past.

Read more at the Mail Online.

Some of the comments to the article are rather amusing, such as

No doubt climatologists are working day and night to find a way to blame this on mankind so they can get research funding out of it.

and

I'm still hiding in my bunker from the millenium bug.  Is it safe to come out yet[?]

The above question mark was added, since it was apparently intended by the commenter.  It should be noted that "cosmic rays" is a misnomer, since they are not true rays like the various types of electromagnetic radiation (light, x-rays, etc.) but are particles, such as atomic nuclei that have been separated from their electrons.