Researchers investigate what happens if ‘perfect solar storm’ hits Earth

Researchers investigate what happens if ‘perfect solar storm’ hits Earth

In a new study published in Space Weather journal, researchers investigated what might happen if a 'perfect' coronal mass ejection (CME) hit the Earth. Using state‐of‐the‐art computer models to simulate the worst-case solar storm, the team found that…

Researchers reconstruct 11-year solar cycles all the way back to year 969

Researchers reconstruct 11-year solar cycles all the way back to year 969

An international team of researchers reconstructed the Sun's 11-year cycles all the way back to year 969 using measurements of radioactive carbon in tree rings. The findings help scientists better understand the dynamics of the Sun, enabling more accurate dating…

New method helps predict big solar flares

New method helps predict big solar flares

Scientists developed a new physics-based technique that successfully predicted seven of the Sun's largest flares from the past solar cycle, out of a set of nine. With further improvement, the new model could be used to inform forecasters of these intense…

New phenomena discovered on the Sun

New phenomena discovered on the Sun

A new Sun-observing mission led by ESA and NASA — Solar Orbiter — has returned its first images of the Sun, revealing previously unknown omnipresent miniature solar flares, dubbed 'campfires.' The campfires shown in the image below were captured by the…

Scientists measure structure of enormous solar flare

Scientists measure structure of enormous solar flare

Astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics reported spatially-resolved observations of the regions of the Sun's magnetic field and flare-ejected electron activity, with the results suggesting that these kinds of spatial structures in the…

Motions in the Sun unveil inner workings of sunspot cycles

Motions in the Sun unveil inner workings of sunspot cycles

The Sun's magnetic activity fluctuates in a rhythm of about 11 years, which is reflected in the frequency of sunspots. During solar maximum, huge sunspots and active regions appear on the surface of the star. Scientists have long been puzzled over the reason…

Evidence for an extreme solar proton event around 660 BC

Evidence for an extreme solar proton event around 660 BC

An increasing amount of research indicates that solar storms can be even more powerful than measurements have shown so far via direct observations. Researchers believe that society is not sufficiently prepared if a similar event were to happen now. The researchers…