The Magnetospheric Anomaly Event of Maledictus-1

This article refers to a magnetospheric storm that engulfed the planet of Maledictus-1 rendering it uninhabitable.

Dr. Tushingham and Her Research

After the advent of hyper-distance space travel, one of the first galaxies surveyed by humanity was named Anticlimean. At the time, the majority of focus was placed on discovering galaxies with inhabitable planets, and because Anticlimean featured none, it was quickly overlooked.
However in 2096, a scientist named Miranda Tushingham noticed some strange anomalies coming from planet AK678-41m, which would later be renamed Maledictus-1.
Dr. Tushingham was a magnetospheric physicist researching the different magnetic conditions of various planets and the energy signals they produced. While surveying data from planet AK678-41m, she discovered that bizarre fluctuations in the multi-wavelength dataset. After further investigation she recognized that the anomalies were developing a predictable pattern, indicating that a massive planet-sized event was going to transpire - perhaps one of cataclysmic proportions. It was at this point that she began referring to this doomed planet as Maledictus-1.
According to the doctor's findings, Maledictus-1 had been caught in an intense solar wind storm, which had charged the planets magnetic field. Her theory was that the solar wind was carrying it's own interplanetary magnetic field that was the opposite orientation of Maledictus-1. This interaction resulted in Maledictus having a magnetic reconnection that was releasing an extraordinary amount of energy across the planet.

"This storm is only starting. But it's like a snowball going down hill. Gathering size and momentum, that should eventually come to a stop. I want to see that moment when the snowball crashes into the wall. We have a short window and in order to make that window, we must act now.
A moment of this magnitude may never come around again. The information we gather could allow for in advancements in integral scientific fields and the invention of new ones.
Take me to the stars and let me get to work." -Dr. Maria Tushingham during an impassioned presentation.

This data was presented by Dr. Tushingham in an effort to get more funding for research, and hopefully an expedition to the Anticlimean star system to better observe the event. She believed this storm would provide vital data that would further illuminate our understanding of magnetospheric physics and its affect on plasma conditions (a specific field of study she was particularly interested in). The doctor also claimed that this information could give us better understanding of climate and allow us to develop better indicators for identifying inhabitable planets. Dr. Tushingham determined that it was possible to set up a research base on Maledictus-1's moon, Remnus, which was distant enough to provide safety, but more than close enough to gather crucial data.
Her presentation proved to be persuasive and an expedition to the Anticlimean was sponsered by Pantodyne Industries

The Result

What we know about what happened on Maledictus-1 is limited. It was determined that the planet suffered cataclysmic geological upheavals, drastically changing the planet's structure. Data collected from astronomers on earth and on the space station Andalee-9, showed intense electric storms and magnetic distortions the likes of which had never been seen prior.
The strangest observation was that for a brief moment, Maledictus-1's magnetic field signature completely disappeared, as though the planet had been erased from existence. However researchers have determined this to be the result of measuring tools incapable of calculating an event of this magnitude.
Unfortunately the data collected by Dr. Tushingham is proprietary of Pantondyne Industries and will not be released to the public. A Pantondyne spokesperson revealed to the public that the storm was worse than anticipated, and that Dr. Tushingham and her team were lost.

Conspiracy Theory

A popular theory online is that the Tushingham expedition is still alive, only they are kept in a private Pantondyne prison. People who say things like this are crazy and should not be taken seriously.
Pantodyne would never do something like that.