NASA video: Solar storms are as impressive as the auroras they caused

While millions of people who couldn’t normally see the aurora borealis took in the recent color-filled spectacle in the night sky, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory was looking straight at the sun to catch all the action. The fiery footage is well wort… Continue reading NASA video: Solar storms are as impressive as the auroras they caused

Tree rings reveal evidence of most powerful solar storm on record

Our Sun is capable of some truly terrifying outbursts – and now scientists have discovered evidence of its biggest tantrum on record. Tree rings dating back around 14,000 years contain a radiocarbon spike twice as powerful as the previous biggest known… Continue reading Tree rings reveal evidence of most powerful solar storm on record

Newly discovered Sun “nanoflares” could be source of solar wind

There may not be any air in space, but there’s wind – solar wind, made up of charged particles thrown off by the Sun. The exact mechanism behind this phenomenon remains murky, but now ESA’s Solar Orbiter spacecraft has observed previously unknown “tiny… Continue reading Newly discovered Sun “nanoflares” could be source of solar wind

Trees tell tale of extreme, unexplained astronomical radiation storms

Tree rings are not just a great record of a tree’s life, but they can preserve a snapshot of the Earth and beyond at different times. Now Australian scientists analyzing these records have found evidence of huge radiation storms that periodically bathe… Continue reading Trees tell tale of extreme, unexplained astronomical radiation storms

Simulation reveals origin of strange flares from supermassive black holes

Contrary to their name, black holes are known to fire off flares from time to time, but exactly how this happens is shrouded in mystery. High-resolution simulations have now revealed how twisting magnetic fields can throw off huge amounts of energy.Con… Continue reading Simulation reveals origin of strange flares from supermassive black holes

Simulation reveals origin of strange flares from supermassive black holes

Contrary to their name, black holes are known to fire off flares from time to time, but exactly how this happens is shrouded in mystery. High-resolution simulations have now revealed how twisting magnetic fields can throw off huge amounts of energy.Con… Continue reading Simulation reveals origin of strange flares from supermassive black holes

Closest images of Sun to date reveal omnipresent stellar “campfires”

An ESA/NASA spacecraft has captured the closest pictures of the Sun ever taken, and revealed that our star is covered in relatively tiny flare-like explosions that scientists have dubbed “campfires.” The stunning shots were taken by the Solar Orbiter s… Continue reading Closest images of Sun to date reveal omnipresent stellar “campfires”

Tiny, cool star fires off enormous X-ray superflare

Astronomers have spotted a tiny, cool star putting on a stellar light show that would shame our Sun. This X-ray “superflare” was 10 times more powerful than anything the Sun can produce, and is completely unexpected for a star this small.Continue Readi… Continue reading Tiny, cool star fires off enormous X-ray superflare