Cosmic magnetic structures have in common that they are anchored
in a dynamo, that an external driver converts kinetic energy into internal
magnetic energy, that this magnetic energy is transported as Poynting fl ux across the magnetically dominated structure, and that the magnetic energy
is released in the form of particle acceleration, heating, bulk motion,
MHD waves, and radiation. The investigation of the electric current system is
particularly illuminating as to the course of events and the physics involved.
We demonstrate this for the radio pulsar wind, the solar flare, and terrestrial
magnetic storms