Tag Archives: solar

Images of the Sun’s Poles Captured by Solar Orbiter

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All previously observed images were captured from the Sun’s equatorial region. This is due to the fact that Earth, along with other planets and operational spacecraft, orbits the Sun in a flat disk known as the zodiac plane. By adjusting its orbit away from this plane, the ESA Solar Orbiter spacecraft unveils the Sun from an entirely new perspective.

A lower-half image of the Sun, highlighting a square area around its Antarctic. Captured in ultraviolet rays, it reveals hot gases in the Sun’s corona, glowing yellow as they extend outwards with threads and loops. Image credits: ESA/NASA/SOLAR ORBITER/EUI Team/D. Berghmans, Rob.

Professor Carol Mandel, ESA’s Director of Science, remarked:

“The Sun, being our closest star, is essential for life but can also disrupt modern power systems in space and on Earth. Therefore, understanding its mechanisms and predicting its behavior is crucial.”

“The new and unique perspectives provided by the Solar Orbiter mission signal the beginning of a new era in solar science.”

The images were captured by three different scientific instruments on the Solar Orbiter: Polarimetry and Helioseismology Imager (PHI), Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI), and Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment (SPICE).

“Initially, I was uncertain of what to anticipate from these observations. The solar pole is truly a Terra Incognita,” said Professor Sami Solanki, leader of the PHI team at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research.

This collage shows the Antarctic of the Sun captured on March 16-17, 2025, as the solar orbiter observed from a 15° angle relative to the solar equator. This marked the first high-angle observation campaign just days before achieving its current maximum viewing angle of 17°. Image credits: ESA/NASA/Solar Orbiter/PHI/EUI/SPICE Team.

Each instrument on the Solar Orbiter observes the Sun differently.

PHI captures images of the Sun in visible light (top left) and maps its surface magnetic field (top center).

EUI images the Sun in ultraviolet light (top right), unveiling the corona, a multi-million-degree gas layer in the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

SPICE captures light from various temperatures of charged gases at the Sun’s surface, thereby revealing different layers of its atmosphere.

By analyzing and comparing observations from these three imaging instruments, we can understand how materials in the Sun’s outer layer move.

This could uncover unexpected patterns like polar vortices (swirling gases), reminiscent of those found around the poles of Venus and Saturn.

These innovative observations are crucial for understanding the solar magnetic field, particularly why it inverts every 11 years, aligning with peaks in solar activity.

Current predictive models for the 11-year solar cycle struggle to accurately forecast when and how the Sun will reach its peak activity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu4dcdgamm0

One of the primary scientific discoveries from Solar Orbiter’s polar observations is that the solar magnetic field is currently disordered in the Antarctic region.

While traditional magnets exhibit defined Arctic and Antarctic poles, magnetic measurements from the PHI instrument demonstrate that both polarities exist in the Antarctic region of the Sun.

This phenomenon occurs only briefly during each solar cycle when the magnetic field is reversed at the solar maximum.

Following this reversal, a single polarity gradually takes over the solar pole.

After 5-6 years, the Sun reaches the minimum phase of its cycle, during which its magnetic field is most organized, resulting in the lowest activity levels.

“How this accumulation occurs is not fully understood, so the timing of the solar orbiter’s high latitude observations is remarkably advantageous for tracking the entire process,” noted Professor Solanki.

PHI’s perspective on the solar magnetic field contextualizes these measurements.

The intensity of color (red or blue) signifies the strength of the magnetic field along the line of sight from the solar orbiter to the Sun.

The strongest magnetic fields manifest as two bands flanking the solar equator.

Dark red and blue regions highlight areas of concentrated magnetic fields associated with solar spots on the Sun’s surface (photosphere).

Additionally, both the Antarctic and Arctic regions exhibit red and blue spots, indicating a complex, constantly evolving solar magnetic structure on a smaller scale.

Another noteworthy discovery from the Solar Orbiter comes from the SPICE instrument.

This imaging spectrograph analyzes light (spectral lines) emitted by specific chemical elements such as hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, neon, and magnesium, at known temperatures.

Over the last five years, SPICE has employed this method to uncover processes occurring in various layers of the Sun’s surface.

For the first time, the SPICE team was able to utilize precise spectral line tracing to measure the velocity of moving solar material.

This technique, known as “Doppler measurement,” is named after the effect observed with an ambulance siren as it approaches and recedes, causing a change in pitch.

The resulting velocity map illustrates the movement of solar material within specific solar layers.

“Measurements from high latitudes, made possible with the Solar Orbiter, will revolutionize solar physics,” stated Dr. Frederic Aucele, leader of the SPICE team at Paris Sacree University.

Source: www.sci.news

Why Republican Tax Bills Could Undermine Rooftop Solar Growth

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Over the last two decades, more than 5 million U.S. households, stretching from California to Georgia and Maine, have installed solar panels on their rooftops, harnessing solar energy and cutting down on electricity costs.

However, this progress may be abruptly halted.

A recent domestic policy bill approved by House Republicans aims to cut tax incentives for homeowners and solar leasing companies, which have significantly contributed to the rise in rooftop solar adoption, by the end of this year. Analysts and industry experts warn that if this legislation is enacted, it would result in an immediate slowdown in installations.

Ben Airth, policy director at Freedom Forever, one of the largest residential solar installers in the country, stated, “This is setting us back.” He remembers a time when solar installations were primarily undertaken by wealthy environmentalists preparing for retirement.

According to an analysis from energy data firm Ohm Analysis, residential solar installations could decline by 50% next year if the House bill is enacted. Without tax credits, homeowners would take an average of 17 years to recoup their solar investments. A more pessimistic forecast from Morgan Stanley predicts an 85% decrease in rooftop solar demand by 2030.

Republicans also seek to limit tax breaks for other renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines and large solar farms, but the repercussions for rooftop solar could prove to be even more drastic. Rooftop solar costs 2-3 times more per unit of power than large solar arrays installed on agricultural land and in deserts, making the residential sector more susceptible to subsidy alterations.

The Senate is currently drafting its version of the domestic policy bill, while solar industry executives are lobbying in Washington for more progressive energy credit initiatives. They emphasize that the solar sector currently employs around 300,000 workers and that rooftop systems significantly reduce homeowners’ electricity expenses.

Nonetheless, some conservative Republicans are explicitly opposed to any restoration of renewable energy tax incentives.

Texas Republican Chip Roy criticized, stating, “We’re devastating our energy infrastructure, wrecking our grid, ruining our landscapes, and compromising our freedoms.” He added, “I don’t support that.”

The existing uncertainty is jeopardizing an industry that is already grappling with high tariffs and soaring interest rates. Last week, Solar Mosaic announced it would provide loans for homeowners to install rooftop panels, following its bankruptcy declaration. Recently, Sunnova Energy, one of the largest rooftop solar providers in the U.S., followed suit.

Experts suggest that even if rooftop solar ultimately becomes unsubsidized, rising electricity prices nationwide could still make solar energy more financially appealing. Nevertheless, the transition may be challenging, likely resulting in increased bankruptcies and layoffs.

Zoe Gaston, a leading analyst for residential solar at Wood Mackenzie, mentioned, “But that market will inevitably be smaller.”

For the past 20 years, Congress has provided tax credits for the installation of solar panels on rooftops. However, these subsidies faced major reductions through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated hundreds of billions of dollars toward technology aimed at tackling climate change.

The legislation has extended the residential solar credit, allowing homeowners to recoup 30% of their solar system costs until 2032. It has also broadened the Investment Tax Credit for businesses constructing low-emission power sources like solar and battery technologies.

These changes have led to a surge in solar leases, allowing homeowners to avoid upfront costs for rooftop systems that can exceed $30,000. Instead, the solar company owns the panels and applies for tax credits, while homeowners lease the equipment and ideally save money through lower utility bills.

Currently, over 50% of residential solar systems are financed in this manner, making rooftop solar more attainable for schools, hospitals, and small businesses.

The House Republican bill seeks to eliminate the solar tax credit for residential properties by the end of 2025, meaning immediate qualification for investment tax credits will not be permitted.

Moreover, the House bill forbids businesses from claiming tax credits if they utilize components sourced from China, which dominates the solar supply chain. Many companies have expressed that the legislation is written so broadly that it would inhibit their ability to claim credits effectively.

Gregg Felton, CEO of Altus Power, which develops solar projects for rooftops and parking lots, remarked that the House bill “adequately represents the industry’s impact.”

If Congress significantly cuts support for renewable energy, experts predict that companies will still invest in large solar arrays, as they frequently represent one of the most cost-effective methods to increase energy generation, even without subsidies. Conversely, rooftop solar remains more expensive, requires more labor, and carries greater risks.

Kenny Plannenstiel, COO of Big Dog Solar, an Idaho-based installation firm, noted that rooftop solar has gained traction in emerging markets like Montana and Idaho.

“There is substantial interest among those wanting to take control of their energy future, as well as among those concerned about grid reliability,” Pfannenstiel added. With the tax credit in place, “the financial argument for these customers installing solar and battery systems has become much stronger,” he explained.

If the credits disappear, some customers may still desire solar panels, Pfannenstiel noted, but the market will “shrink significantly.”

The repercussions could be far-reaching. If a solar leasing company goes under, there may be no one left to service the solar panels, resulting in job losses for thousands of installers and electricians.

In recent years, over 30 solar plants have commenced operations in the U.S., but a slowdown in demand could lead to their closure.

Freedom Forever, a California-based solar installer, noted that two years ago, none of their components were sourced from the U.S.; now, approximately 85% are, including inverters manufactured in Texas and Florida. This shift is driven by the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided extra credits for utilizing domestic components.

Without these credits, Airth cautioned, “the industry will revert to relying on the lowest-cost components, often produced overseas.”

The fight for tax credits in Congress is not the sole hurdle for rooftop solar. While the technology remains favored by homeowners, certain states are starting to retract support amidst considerable backlash.

Electric utilities and some analysts argue that rooftop solar users increase costs for everyone else, as solar households pay lower monthly utility bills but depend on the grid for backup power. This shifts the cost of grid maintenance onto other households, often those with lower incomes. (Supporters of solar disagree, claiming utilities overlook the many benefits of rooftop installations, such as avoided transmission expenses.)

The conflict has been particularly intense in California, the nation’s leading rooftop solar market. In 2022, regulators significantly decreased the compensation that new solar households could receive for the electricity they generate. As a result, rooftop installations plummeted by 85% statewide, affecting installers, manufacturers, and distributors.

Currently, some officials advocate for a reassessment of the existing solar grant program’s impact on Californians who may not afford solar panel systems, as stated by Democratic state legislator Lisa Calderon.

Rising interest rates have further complicated the affordability of rooftop solar systems, making it costlier to secure funding for new equipment. Additionally, both the Trump and Biden administrations have imposed increased tariffs on solar products from China.

Some stakeholders within the rooftop solar sector argue they have to focus on cost-cutting measures.

Not only is rooftop solar pricier than large utility-scale solar farms, but the price of a U.S. home solar installation is three times that of a similar system in Australia. Some analysts attribute the difference to the regulatory challenges.

“Eventually, our industry may function without tax credits,” stated Chris Hopper, co-founder of Aurora Solar, a software company specializing in home solar systems. “I believe we can navigate these credit phase-downs over a reasonable timeframe.

“However, sudden changes would be devastating,” Hopper emphasized. “Rapid adaptation is simply not feasible.”

Ivan Penn Contribution report

Source: www.nytimes.com

Solar Astronomers Obtain Unprecedented Details in Images and Videos of the Sun’s Corona

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A new “coronal adaptive optics” system has been developed by astronomers at the NSF’s National Solar Observatory and New Jersey Institute of Technology to generate high-resolution images and films by eliminating atmospheric blurring.

This image captures a 16-minute time-lapse film that illustrates the formation and collapse of a complex plasma stream measuring approximately 100 km per 100 km in front of a coronal loop system. This marks the first observation of such flows, referred to as plasmoids, raising questions about the dynamics involved. The image, taken by a Good Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory with the new coronal adaptive optics system CONA, showcases hydrogen α light emitted by the solar plasma. While the image is artificially colored, it reflects the real color of hydrogen alpha light, with darker colors indicating bright light. Image credit: Schmidt et al. /njit /nso /aura /nsf.

The solar corona represents the outermost layer of the solar atmosphere, visible only during a total solar eclipse.

Astronomers have long been fascinated by its extreme temperatures, violent eruptions, and notable prominence.

However, Earth’s atmospheric turbulence has historically caused blurred images, obstructing the observation of the corona.

“Atmospheric turbulence, similar to the sun’s own dynamics, significantly degrades the clarity of celestial observations through telescopes. Fortunately, we have solutions,” stated Dr. Dark Schmidt, an adaptive optics scientist at the National Solar Observatory.

CONA, the adaptive optics system responsible for these advancements, corrects the atmospheric blurring affecting image quality.

This cutting-edge technology was funded by the NSF and implemented at the 1.6-meter Good Solar Telescope (GST) located at Big Bear Solar Observatory in California.

“Adaptive optics function similarly to autofocus and optical image stabilization technologies found in smartphone cameras, fixing atmospheric distortions rather than issues related to user instability,” explained Dr. Nicholas Golsix, optical engineer and lead observer at Big Bear Solar Observatory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzsn39nigg0

Among the team’s remarkable discoveries are films showcasing a significant reconstruction of the sun, revealing subtle turbulent internal flows.

The Sun’s structure presents as a prominent bright feature, often illustrated by arches and loops that extend from its surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ10DLB2pp94

The second film depicts the rapid creation and collapse of a finely detailed plasma stream.

“These observations are the most detailed of their kind, highlighting features that were previously unobserved, and their nature remains unclear,” remarked Vasyl Yurchyshyn, a professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

“Creating an instrument that allows us to view the sun like never before is incredibly exciting,” Dr. Schmidt commented.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1wrkychpru

The third film illustrates the delicate chains of coronal rain, a phenomenon wherein cooled plasma condenses and falls back towards the sun’s surface.

“Coronal rain droplets can measure less than 20 km in width,” noted Dr. Thomas Shadd, an astronomer at the National Solar Observatory.

“These discoveries provide vital observational insights that are crucial for validating computer models of coronal phenomena.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydst2wvx3de

Another film captures the dynamic movements across the solar surface, influenced by solar magnetism.

“The new Collar Adaptive Optical System closes the gap from decades past, delivering images of coronal features with resolution down to 63 km. This is the theoretical limit achievable with the 1.6 m Good Solar Telescope,” Dr. Schmidt stated.

“This technological leap is transformative. Discoveries await as we improve resolution tenfold,” he emphasized.

The team’s findings are detailed in a published paper in today’s issue of Nature Astronomy.

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D. Schmidt et al. Observation of fine coronal structures with higher order solar adaptive optics. Nature Astronomy Published online on May 27, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02564-0

Source: www.sci.news

A Newly Discovered Dwarf Planet at the Solar System’s Frontier

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Orbits of the potential dwarf planet known as 2017 OF201 and the dwarf planet Sedna

Tony Dunn

A newly discovered distant dwarf planet lies beyond Neptune, challenging the existence of the hypothetical Planet 9 or Planet X.

Sihao Cheng and colleagues first spotted this object, initially recognized in 2017, while reviewing data from the Victor M. Blanco telescope in Chile.

The 2017 OF201 measures roughly 700 km in diameter, qualifying it as a dwarf planet similar to Pluto, which is about three times larger. Currently, it is positioned approximately 90.5 astronomical units (AU) away from Earth, roughly 90 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun.

Classified as a Trans-Neptunian Object (TNO), 2017 OF201 has an average orbital distance from the Sun that exceeds Neptune’s orbit. It travels beyond Neptune and through the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy bodies on the outskirts of the solar system.

Researchers analyzed 19 observations collected over seven years at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. They determined that the next close approach of 2017 OF201 to the Sun would occur at perihelion, positioned at 44.5 AU, which is reminiscent of Pluto’s orbit. Its furthest point from the Sun lies at about 1600 AU, beyond our solar system.

This distant orbit may have resulted from an encounter with a large planet that ejected the dwarf planet from the solar system, according to researchers.

“This is a fascinating discovery,” says Kevin Napier from the University of Michigan. He explains that objects can interact with various stars in the galaxy as they move beyond our solar system and can also interact within our own solar system.

Many extreme TNO trajectories seem to be converging toward a specific direction, which some interpret as evidence for a hidden ninth planet within the Oort Cloud—a vast shell of icy rocks that surrounds the solar system. The speculation is that the gravitational pull of this ninth planet may be influencing TNOs into specific orbital paths.

However, the trajectory of 2017 OF201 does not align with this observed pattern. “This object is certainly an outlier among the observed clustering,” notes Erita Yang at Princeton University.

Cheng and his team also conducted simulations of object orbits concerning Planet 9. “With Planet 9, objects get ejected over hundreds of millions of years. Without it, they remain stable,” states Napier. “This is not evidence supporting the existence of Planet 9.”

Nevertheless, until more data is available, the matter remains unsettled, according to Cheng. “I hope that Planet 9 is real because it would be even more intriguing.”

This candidate dwarf planet takes approximately 25,000 years to complete its orbit, meaning we detect it for only about 1% of that time. “These objects are faint and very challenging to locate, and their elongated orbits make them visible only when they are near the Sun, resulting in a brief window for observation,” explains Napier.

It is possible that hundreds of such objects exist in the outer solar system. The upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to start operating later this year and may delve deeper into the universe to find more objects like this.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Tianwen-2: China’s Upcoming Missions to Two Rocky Bodies in the Solar System

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Artist impressions of Earth’s semi-satellite Kamo`oalewa, designated as the initial target for the Tianwen-2 mission

Addy Graham/University of Arizona

China is making final preparations to launch a spacecraft aimed at exploring asteroids and comets, seeking to gain insights into these celestial bodies in our solar system.

The Tianwen-2 mission, orchestrated by the China National Space Agency (CNSA), plans to collect 100 grams of samples from the asteroid Chuan West and return them to Earth. Following the sample retrieval, the probe will utilize Earth’s gravity to propel itself towards the comet 311P/Panstarrs, which will be observed remotely.

The mission is set for launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province on May 29th. While NASA’s Osiris-Rex and JAXA’s Hayabusa missions have previously returned asteroid samples, this marks China’s inaugural asteroid mission, including the return of rock samples, and potentially the first mission aimed at a unique type of celestial body known as quasi-satellites.

Quasi-satellites, like Kamo`oalewa, do not orbit the Earth in a traditional manner; instead, they follow orbits around the Sun that are similar to Earth’s, creating an oval path relative to our planet. This intriguing scenario has led scientists to theorize that this may be a remnant lunar mass ejected by an asteroid impact millions of years ago.

In contrast, 311P/Panstarrs has an asteroid-like orbit, encircling the Sun within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, yet possesses a tail that gives it a comet-like appearance. This is believed to be composed of dust and debris shed from its nucleus.

The CNSA has previously indicated that 311P/Panstarrs is a “living fossil,” crucial for studying the early material composition, formation processes, and evolutionary history of the solar system. Tianwen-2 aims to enhance our understanding of both Kamo`oalewa and 311P/Panstarrs. However, the findings will not be available immediately, as the spacecraft is expected to reach 311P/Panstarrs by 2034, and the Kamo`oalewa samples are anticipated to return to Earth in the latter half of 2027.

It remains uncertain what extent the CNSA will share these findings. Leah-Nani Alconcel from the University of Birmingham, UK, mentions that the mission outline is known but lacks detailed information. One of the objectives may involve examining the differences between asteroids and comets to gain better insights into the diverse bodies of our solar system; however, specific details remain elusive.

In her previous experience with CNSA’s Double Star Satellite, Alconcel expressed concerns about the institution’s ability to provide substantial scientific data. She states, “It was incredibly challenging to negotiate with [the CNSA]. There is no public repository for this data.”

She describes the mission as ambitious, noting that Kamo`oalewa is in a rotating behavior. Navigation algorithms may require powerful computing resources to process images and sensor data sent back to Earth for calculations. “If we always opt for favorable and stable objects, we won’t gain much knowledge,” she warns. “There are numerous potential challenges ahead.”

The CNSA has not responded to requests for comment from New Scientist.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Research Reveals That 14,350 Years Ago, the Most Powerful Known Solar Storm Triggered Radiocarbon Spikes

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Solar particle events from the sun are infrequent but powerful, significantly influencing the creation of cosmic genic isotopes. For instance, radiocarbon (14c) in the terrestrial environment leaves a distinct mark on natural archives, such as dating artifacts. Over the last 12,000 years, eight such events have been identified, the most notable occurring in 775 AD. Recently, a candidate for a new extreme solar particle event was discovered, marked by the largest known radiocarbon peak dating back to 12350 BC. A recent study indicates this event was 18% more intense than the 775 CE event and likely transpired between January and April of that year, with early March being the most probable time frame.

Illustration of the artist of Solar Storm. Image credit: NASA.

“Solar particle storms significantly enhance the natural production of cosmic isotopes, such as radiocarbon, in the atmosphere due to cosmic rays from galaxies,” stated Kseniia Golubenko, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oulu, along with her colleagues.

“Such enhancements, preserved in annual tree rings, act as clear timestamps in the universe, enabling absolute dating of tree samples.”

“These dramatic spikes, referred to as Miyake Events, are named after the Japanese researcher who first identified them. They provide crucial data for scientists examining solar activity, ancient Earth systems, and space climate.”

“Miyake events help us pinpoint the exact calendar year of floating archaeological timelines,” added Professor Ilya Usoskin from Oulu University.

“The radiocarbon signals from such events have enabled researchers to accurately date Viking settlements in Newfoundland and Neolithic communities in Greece.”

For the reconstruction of solar particle storms under ancient glacial climate conditions, the authors developed and utilized a new chemical climate model called SOCOL:14C-EX.

This model was successfully validated using tree ring data from the 775 CE event and applied to ice age conditions to analyze the event from 12350 BC.

“The ancient events of 12350 BC are the only known extreme solar particle occurrences aside from the stable warm climate of the last 12,000 years,” Dr. Golubenko stated.

“Our estimates reveal that, compared to the largest events of the modern satellite era, the Particle Storm of 2005 was over 500 times weaker.”

“Other documented solar particle storms took place in 994 BC, 663 BC, 5259 BC, and 7176 BC, with several more candidates currently under investigation.”

“The 12350 BCE occurrence also establishes new worst-case scenarios,” she added.

“Understanding its magnitude is vital for assessing the risks posed by future solar storms.”

The team’s paper was published in the journal Earth and Planet Science Letters.

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Kseniia Golubenko et al. 2025. The new SOCOL:14C-EX model reveals that radiocarbon spikes from the late glacial age of 12350 BC were caused by record extreme solar storms. Earth and Planet Science Letters 661:119383; doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119383

Source: www.sci.news

Solar Storms Disrupt Communication and Power Systems

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The sun has unleashed its power with two significant flares occurring early Wednesday, just a day after NASA’s Observatory captured a stunning image of another solar flare.

These consecutive eruptions are among the strongest recorded, reportedly causing shortwave radio blackouts across at least five continents. This week’s explosive activity may signal an increase in solar activity.

The Sun Storm reached its peak around 4:25 AM ET on Wednesday, when a massive X-class flare ejected plasma streams and charged particles into space.

“Flares of this magnitude are uncommon,” stated an official from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. I included this information in the event summary.

Solar flares are categorized into five classes based on their intensity. The smallest flares are A-class storms, followed by B-class, C-class, M-class, and the most potent X-class. Each letter represents a tenfold increase in energy compared to the previous class, as explained by NASA.

In addition to the letter classification, scientists use a scale from 1 to 9 to describe the intensity of solar storms.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare on May 13, 2025.
NASA/SDO

During the solar tempest on Wednesday, the Space Weather Prediction Center recorded an X2.7 flare before 4:30 AM and an M5.3 flare just hours earlier.

Another X1.2 flare erupted the previous day around 11:38 AM ET, according to NASA. The Solar Dynamics Observatory, launched in 2010, captured a breathtaking image of this fiery event, showcasing the X-Class flares’ dramatic tendrils.

Intense solar storms pose dangers to astronauts in space and can disrupt GPS systems and satellites. If these storms are directed towards Earth, they send a surge of charged particles that can interfere with radio communications and even the power grid.

Since Tuesday, shortwave radio blackouts have been reported in parts of North America, South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. According to Spaceweather.com, a website managed by astronomer Tony Phillips, the daily activities of the Sun are closely monitored.

Sean Dahl, a forecaster at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, noted that the X2.7 flare impacted the Middle East, resulting in disruptions of high-frequency radio signals in the area for about 10 minutes during the storm’s peak.

Aside from the potential for “[high-frequency] Communication Disruptions Due to shortwave fading issues, we are not aware of any other significant effects,” Dahl stated.

However, solar storms can also have more benign consequences for Earth, such as enhanced displays of the Aurora. When charged particles collide with the Earth’s magnetic field and interact with atoms in the upper atmosphere, they can create spectacular auroras at lower latitudes than usual.

Scientists indicated last year that we have entered a busy phase of the sun’s natural 11-year cycle. This period of heightened activity, known as the solar maximum, is expected to continue until this year, suggesting more solar storms may occur in the coming months.

Dahl mentioned that this Wednesday’s flare was the strongest so far, but not the largest in the current solar activity cycle. That title belongs to the Monster Flare – an X9.0 Eruption that occurred on October 3, 2024.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Study: Spruce Trees Anticipate Solar Eclipses and Align Bioelectric Activity Timeframes

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Regular light cycles greatly influence organisms, and phenomena like solar eclipses trigger distinct physiological and behavioral responses. Although extensively studied in animals, plant behavior during solar eclipses remains relatively unexamined. Recent research conducted by scientists from Italy, the UK, Spain, and Australia explored the bioelectric responses of multiple Spruce trees (Picea abies) in relation to solar eclipses.

A study site in the Dolomite Mountains, Italy. Image credit: Monica Galliano / Southern Cross University.

Periodic sunlight fosters global weather patterns, seasons, and climates that sustain life on Earth.

The daily and seasonal rhythms of natural light align biological systems by synchronizing their internal clocks with the Earth’s geophysical cycles.

In an era marked by significant human-induced alterations to natural cycles, extraordinary astronomical events such as solar eclipses serve as natural experiments, offering crucial perspectives on how organisms react to sudden, rare environmental changes.

“Our study reveals that forests play a vital role in how species communicate and adapt, uncovering a new layer of complexity in plant behavior,” noted Professor Monica Galliano from Southern Cross University.

“It’s essentially evidence of the renowned ‘Wood Wide Web’ in action!”

This investigation employed an innovative remote measurement system to monitor multiple trees simultaneously within the forest.

This setup enabled researchers to assess whether and to what degree individual trees respond collectively to the solar eclipse, functioning as a larger living entity.

The study analyzed the electrical signals in spruce trees to characterize their bioelectrical activity during a partial solar eclipse that occurred in the Dolomite Mountains of northeastern Italy.

Results demonstrated that individual trees exhibited significant synchronization in their electrical activity before and after the solar eclipse, operating as an integrated living system that manages their reactions to external influences.

“Using advanced analytical techniques, including complexity measures from Quantum Field Theory,” stated Professor Alessandro Thioleoreo of the Italian Institute of Technology and the University of England, “we now regard forests not merely as individual collections but as ensembles of interconnected plants.”

“These findings reinforce the need to protect ancient trees,” Professor Galliano added.

“The fact that older trees are the first to react and possibly lead a collective response emphasizes their role as repositories of historical environmental knowledge.”

“This discovery underscores the critical importance of safeguarding old forests, which act as cornerstones of ecosystem resilience by conserving and sharing invaluable ecological insights.”

The study is published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

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Alessandro Chiolerio et al. 2025. Bioelectric Synchronization of Picea abies During a Solar Eclipse. R. Soc. Open SCI 12(4): 241786; doi: 10.1098/rsos.241786

Feel free to make any additional adjustments!

Source: www.sci.news

India is Paving the Way for Solar Panel Production for Itself and the World.

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China, a leader in clean energy innovation, is encountering competition right next door. One of its key clients is none other than India.

India, a significant purchaser of solar panels and electric vehicle batteries from China, is leveraging substantial government incentives to produce greener technology domestically. The country is motivated not only by the soaring energy needs of its 1.4 billion population but also by the desire to diversify away from US dependency, particularly toward nations aiming to resist China’s influence.

Despite its ambitions, India is still a relatively minor and latecomer to the scene. In the past year, India manufactured about 80 gigawatts of solar modules, while China produced over ten times that amount. The nation remains heavily reliant on coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, which constitutes its primary energy source, with plans to increase coal mining for further production.

Nevertheless, India is proactively looking to take advantage of the global shift towards renewable energy and the pushback against China’s dominance in new energy technologies.

The Indian government is providing attractive subsidies for domestic solar cells and battery manufacturing, imposing restrictions on foreign products linked to the largest renewable energy initiatives, all aimed at igniting a boom in clean energy production. For instance, by the end of the decade, companies will be required to manufacture panels locally in order to qualify for government contracts for rooftop solar installations covering 27 million households.

New Delhi has multiple objectives—social, economic, and geopolitical. With China as a formidable competitor, having previously clashed over border disputes, India’s drive to establish factories for solar energy, wind, and electric vehicles is partly motivated by the need for a secure energy supply chain. Simultaneously, India aims to generate well-paying manufacturing jobs.

However, India faces a common conundrum shared by many nations: whether to procure renewable energy technology inexpensively from China or to invest more in domestic production.

“From a strategic standpoint, manufacturing capabilities are essential to ensure energy independence,” remarked Sudeep Jain, additional secretary of India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. “Currently, cost is a major factor.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Astronomers Discover Massive Molecular Hydrogen Clouds Close to the Solar System

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Recently identified by astronomers, this newly discovered molecular cloud is one of the largest structures in the sky and is among the closest to the Sun and Earth ever detected.

The EOS Cloud is situated at the boundary of your local bubble—a region populated by large gases within the solar system. Image credits: Thomas Müller, HDA & MPIA/Thavisha Dharmawardena, NYU.

Molecular clouds consist of gas and dust, primarily composed of hydrogen, the most prevalent molecule in the universe and essential for the formation of all known stars and planets.

Additionally, these structures harbor other molecules, including carbon monoxide.

Traditional detection methods for molecular clouds often involve wireless and infrared observations, which readily capture the chemical signatures of carbon monoxide.

However, Blakely Burkhart, an astrophysicist from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, and his team took a different approach.

“This is the first molecular cloud discovered by directly seeking out the distant ultraviolet radiation of molecular hydrogen,” Dr. Burkhart stated.

“Our data revealed glowing hydrogen molecules detected through fluorescence in distant ultraviolet light. This cloud truly shines in the dark.”

The new molecular cloud, named EOS, was located approximately 300 light-years from Earth and can be viewed here.

It resides at the periphery of a local bubble, a region filled with gases surrounding the solar system.

Astronomers estimate that these crescent clouds are immense, spanning about 40 months across the sky and having a mass approximately 3,400 times that of the Sun.

They are projected to dissipate within 6 million years.

According to the research team, the EOS cloud poses no threat to Earth or the solar system.

Its proximity offers a unique opportunity to explore the properties of structures within the interstellar medium.

The interstellar medium, composed of gas and dust, fills the space between stars in the galaxy and is a key source for new star formation.

“When you look through a telescope, you observe the solar system in its formative phase, but the exact process remains unclear,” Dr. Burkhart explained.

“The discovery of EOS is thrilling because it allows us to directly measure how molecular clouds form and dissolve, as well as how galaxies transform interstellar gas and dust into stars and planets.”

The EOS Cloud was identified using data from the FIMS-Spear Far-ultraviolet spectrograph aboard the Korean satellite STSAT-1.

“Utilizing distant UV fluorescence technology could redefine our understanding of the interstellar medium, uncover hidden clouds across the galaxy, and even push our exploration further back to the very edge of the universe’s inception.”

The findings are reported in a study published today in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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B. Burke Hart et al. Dark molecular clouds near local bubbles revealed via H2 fluorescence. Nature Astronomy. Published online on April 28, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02541-7

Source: www.sci.news

Twin stars could be brought into orbit by planets similar to tattoos beyond our solar system

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new Like a tattoo Planets outside the solar system may orbit two The failed starScientists reported Wednesday.

Around 120 light years away, the exoplanet appears to be walking an unusual path around two brown d stars, whipping at the right angle. Brown dwarfs are sometimes called failed stars because they are lighter than stars but heavier than giant gas planets. The light year is nearly 6 trillion miles.

The brown dwarf pair was first discovered a few years ago. Scientists have noticed that twins celebrate each other, so they are always partially blocked when viewed from Earth.

In a new analysis, researchers found that brown dwarves were changing their movements. This is a habit that is more likely to occur when you go around each other on your own. This study was published in the journal Science Advances.

Scientists know more than 12 planets orbiting two stars, like the desert planets that burn the fictional “Star Wars” engulfed by the double sunsets that Luke Skywalker calls home.

Possible trajectories of exoplanet around two brown dwarfs.
L.calçada / eso via ap

The strange orbit of the new planet makes it stand out. But it’s not spy directly. Scientists say more research is needed to make sure it’s there and figure out its mass and trajectory.

“I still didn’t bet on my life that there was a planet,” said Simon Albrecht, an astrophysicist at Alfs University, who hadn’t played a role in the new research.

Investigating these eccentric bodies will help us understand how states beyond our solar system produce planets that are very different from our own, says Thomas Beycroft, a research author at the University of Birmingham.

The twin-star circling planet “has been in sci-fi for decades before we know that it can even exist in real life,” he said.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Melting moon dust to create solar panels on the moon

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Boot print on the dusty surface of the moon

Public domain sources from CBW/Alamy/Access rights

The base of future moons could be powered by solar cells made on-site from the melted moon dust.

Building items on the moon using materials already there is more practical than shipping them from the Earth. when Felix Lang He heard about this idea at the University of Potsdam in Germany and knew what to do right away. “We have to make solar cells like this, we have to make them right away,” he says.

Two years later, Lang’s team built and tested several solar cells that featured lunar dust as an ingredient. Another important component is a crystal called halide perovskite, which contains elements such as lead, bromine, and iodine, as well as long molecules of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen.

The team melted a synthetic version of the lunar regolith, a layer of loose rock and dust that covers the moon, into “Moonglass.” Because they did not refine the regolith, the mungrass was less transparent than traditional solar cells. However, Lang says the team’s best prototype still reached around 12% efficiency. More traditional perovskite solar cells typically reach an efficiency close to 26%. Lang said the computer simulation suggests that his team could reach that number in the future.

In general, researchers agree that perovskite solar cells are superior to more traditional silicon-based devices in both space and Earth. From a lunar perspective, the use of perovskite materials is also attractive. This is because it can be kept very thin and reduces the weight of the material transported on the moon. Team estimates that a solar cell with an area of ​​400 square meters requires only about a kilogram of perovskite. This is an impressive claim, I say Ian Crawford at Birkbeck, University of London.

It is equally important that the regolith does not need to be purified. This means that no special reactor is needed. In fact, Lang says that the large curved mirror and sunlight can create a beam of light that is warm enough to make the mungrass. One of his colleagues has already tested the technology on their university roofs and saw signs of legolith melting, he says.

Nicholas Bennett At the University of Technology, Sydney says that while past research has tried to process the lunar regolith into clear glass, this is the first time that solar cells have been shown to work with fine moonglass instead. The challenge now, he says, is to make a lot of mungrass outside the lab. If successful, such melting techniques could help create other items that the moon base needs, such as tiles, Crawford says.

Michael Duke The Lunar and Planetary Institute states that manufacturing moongrass-based solar cells will require many technological advances, from excavating the legend to connecting individual cells. Still, if a solar plant is established on the moon, there could be a positive knock-on effect. In this future, space-based systems like satellites will need less energy to fire payloads from the moon, allowing solar cells covered in the moon rather than what was created on Earth.

Lang and his colleagues are currently working on increasing the efficiency of solar cells. For example, we know whether choosing iron before using magnets to melt Regolith can improve the quality of mungrass.

Ultimately, they want to expand the process to other dusty residents. “We’re already thinking, ‘Can we make this work on Mars Regolith?”,” says Lang.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Where and How to View the Partial Solar Eclipse in March 2025

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There is currently another solar eclipse happening.

On Saturday, the moon will cast a shadow on the earth’s surface, creating a partial solar eclipse visible to some in the US, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Russia, and Africa. While not as spectacular as last year’s total solar eclipse in the US, it still offers a chance to pause from daily concerns and observe our position in the solar system.

During a solar eclipse, the moon appears to take a bite out of the sun, but the amount of coverage varies depending on the location. It’s important to note that cloud cover can obstruct visibility.

It’s never safe to view a partial solar eclipse without proper eye protection, as the sun’s surface will still be visible during the event.

The experience of a partial solar eclipse can differ based on location, with the extent of sun coverage and overall visibility varying. It’s also advisable to check local weather conditions for clear viewing.

NASA has released a schedule of solar eclipse times in various major cities here.

In North America, the eclipse begins early in the morning, with the sun mostly partially covered when it rises.

The upcoming solar eclipse will be visible in the northern hemisphere, spanning both sides of the Atlantic. Unlike a total solar eclipse, it covers a larger area of the sun with fewer defined paths.

Viewers along the northeast coast of the US will witness the most significant coverage of the sun during the eclipse. For instance, individuals in Boston may see 43% of the sun covered at 6:38am, while New York City will experience a 22% coverage. Further south, in Washington, D.C., there will be a minimal 1% coverage at 6:59am.

The most substantial sun coverage will occur further north, with areas like northern Quebec, Nunavut, and parts of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada seeing over 90% of the sun covered by the moon.

Across the Atlantic, residents of Northern and Western Europe, as well as the northwest coast of Africa, will experience the solar eclipse in the late night or early afternoon. In northern Russia, the eclipse will occur in the late afternoon and in some locations close to sunset.

Eclipse duration can vary, with places like Halifax, Nova Scotia experiencing an eclipse lasting over an hour while Buffalo, with just a 2% coverage, will have a shorter duration of seven minutes.

A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, partially obscuring the sun from view.

Unlike a total solar eclipse where the sun is entirely covered, during a partial eclipse, only a portion of the sun is obscured. This occurs when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are not perfectly aligned. As a result, the sky does not darken enough during a partial eclipse to reveal stars and planets, and animals are unlikely to exhibit strong reactions.

A solar eclipse typically happens in pairs, two weeks apart, representing the time it takes for the moon to travel to the other side of the globe. Recently, stargazers witnessed a red moon during a full lunar eclipse earlier this month.

Staring at the sun, even for a few seconds, can lead to permanent eye damage as the retina lacks pain receptors. The same risk applies during partial solar eclipses. However, there are ways to protect your eyes while observing the event, such as using proper eye protection like eclipse glasses.

Be cautious of counterfeit solar eclipse glasses and viewers. To ensure safety, refer to a list of trusted suppliers compiled by the American Astronomical Association here.

If you’re unable to find eclipse glasses in time, there are alternative safe viewing methods, such as projecting the eclipse onto the ground using household items like cardboard or a kitchen strainer. The next partial solar eclipse is set to occur on September 21st, primarily visible in Australia, while a total solar eclipse is expected in the summer of 2026.

In addition to future solar eclipses, there are upcoming total lunar eclipses scheduled for September and March of next year, offering different celestial viewing experiences.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Next Solar Eclipse: How to Watch the 2025 Partial Eclipse

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Another solar eclipse is above us.

On Saturday, the moon casts a shadow on the surface of the earth. This is a phenomenon in which some people in the US, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Russia and Africa can experience it as a partial solar eclipse. As impressive as the total solar eclipse that crossed the US last year, but it’s an opportunity to take a break from secular issues and witness our place in the solar system.

During a solar eclipse, the moon appears to bite from the sun, but how much does it change depending on the location? And clouds can ruin your vision.

It is never safe to see a partial solar eclipse without protective eye gear, as the surface of the sun will not be completely obscured during this event.

People in areas where partial solar eclipses can experience it differently. How much sun is covered and what happens depends on where. You should also check your local weather report for clear or cloudy conditions.

NASA has published a list of solar eclipse times in several major cities here.

In North America, events begin early in the morning of sunrise, and are mostly already partially covered when the sun appears.

Saturday’s solar eclipse will be seen in the northern hemisphere, including both sides of the Atlantic. Unlike a total solar eclipse, it affects the wide area of the sun and has few clear paths.

In the US, viewers along the northeast coast will see the biggest solar eclipse. For example, people in Boston can see 43% of the surface of the sun covered at 6:38am in the eastern part. In New York City, the sun is eclipsed at just 22%, and those who are on the same south as Washington, D.C. at 6:46am experience a 1% solar eclipse at 6:59am.

The most blocked sun occurs much north. People in northern Quebec, Nunavut, and many of Newfoundland and Labradors in Canada witness more than 90% of the moon-covered sun.

On the other side of the Atlantic, people in Northern and Western Europe, and on the northwest coast of Africa, solar eclipses reach maximums in the late night or early afternoon. In northern Russia, solar eclipses occur late in the afternoon and in several places near sunset.

Eclipses can last for more than an hour in places like Halifax, Nova Scotia. The moon slowly glides over 83% of the sun, reaching its maximum point and retreat. However, in Buffalo, where the solar eclipse reaches up to 2%, it lasts just seven minutes.

The solar eclipse occurs when the moon glides between the Earth and the Sun, protecting all or part of the surface of the Sun from our field of vision.

The most dramatic version of this is the solar eclipse of the total sun when the entire sun is covered and its outer atmosphere, or when the corona is visible for a few minutes at the height of the event. This is known as the whole.

In contrast, on Saturday, only the mass of the sun is obscured, known as the partial solar eclipse. This happens when the Earth, Moon and Sun are incompletely aligned. Unlike the whole, the sky does not get dark enough during the partial solar eclipse to see stars and planets during the day. Animals are not likely to respond strongly.

The solar eclipse comes in pairs two weeks apart. It is the amount of time it takes for the moon to sway on the other side of the globe. The Stargazers recently saw the moon turn red and red during a full lunar eclipse earlier this month.

Even in seconds, staring at the sun can permanently damage your eyes. The retina has no pain receptors so you don’t feel it while it’s happening.

The same applies during partial solar eclipses. However, there are several ways to protect your eyes and still watch the event. If you save your paper glasses from gross solar power last year, they can be used again, provided they are not torn, scratched or damaged.

Beware of counterfeit solar eclipse glasses and solar viewers. You can find a list of trusted suppliers compiled by the American Astronomical Association here.

If it’s too late to find Eclipse Glasses, you can safely view the projection onto the ground using items around the house. Options include fashioning Eclipse Viewer from CardStock or cardboard boxes. You can also use a kitchen strainer, straw hat, or even your own fingers.

Another partial solar eclipse occurs on September 21st, the most common in Australia, according to NASA. A total solar eclipse occurs in the summer of 2026, which is visible on the top of the Northern Hemisphere.

If it’s too long and the wait is too long, then the two total lunar eclipses are also coming. One will be in September and the other will be in March next year. Unlike the total solar eclipse of the total sun only visible along the narrow path of the Earth’s surface, total erythema can be seen by most people on the night of the planet.

Source: www.nytimes.com

The Solar Eclipse of 2025: A Guide to Witnessing This Year’s Celestial Phenomenon

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Skywatchers in the northeastern United States, eastern Canada, and parts of Europe are eagerly anticipating a rare astronomical event this spring. On the morning of Saturday, March 29th, 2025, a partial solar eclipse will grace the sky, coinciding with a spectacular “double sunrise.”

Here is all you need to know about the partial solar eclipse, including where to watch, what to expect, and how to safely observe it.

When is the Partial Solar Eclipse in 2025?

The first and only solar eclipse of 2025 will occur on March 29th, starting at 8:50am GMT (4:50am EDT) and ending at 12:43 PM GMT (8:43am EDT). The maximum solar eclipse will take place at 10:47 AM GMT (6:47AM EDT).

In the US, the solar eclipse will begin at 6:13 AM EDT and end at 7:17am EDT, with the exact times varying based on location. The most dramatic views and longest duration of the eclipse, with 85% of the sun obscured, will be experienced in some areas.

In England, the solar eclipse will begin in London at 9:56am GMT, reach its peak at 11:03 AM, and end at 12:00 PM GMT. The extent of the eclipse may vary slightly depending on location, with Scotland witnessing over 40% obscuration in cities like Glasgow.

Where to Watch the Partial Solar Eclipse?

This partial solar eclipse will be visible across a wide area of the Northern Hemisphere, including the Northeastern United States, Eastern Canada, most of Europe, and northwest Africa.

Fourteen US states, including Washington DC, will witness a partial solar eclipse, with Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia among them.

The point of greatest obscuration will occur in Nunavique, Quebec, where 94% of the sun will be hidden at the peak of the solar eclipse.

Global map of partial solar eclipse shadow paths for March 29, 2025. A yellow curve tracks the extent of the partial eclipse and the proportion of each of these curves, giving the maximum area of the moon-covered sun during the eclipse. -NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

What is a Partial Solar Eclipse?

A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun but does not fully block the Sun. Instead, it covers only a portion of the solar disk, creating the appearance of the moon taking a bite out of the sun.

This results in a deep but incomplete solar eclipse, with the sun taking on a crescent shape. Unlike a total solar eclipse, where the sky goes completely dark, daylight remains during a partial solar eclipse, albeit with a dim and eerie quality.

What is a Double Sunrise?

“Double Sunrise” is a rare and stunning visual effect that can occur when a solar eclipse coincides with the rising sun.

From parts of eastern Canada and northeastern United States, the sun may appear as a crescent on the horizon during a partial solar eclipse. The tip of the crescent moon, often called the “devil’s horn,” may also be visible, giving the illusion of two separate sunrises.

Maine and parts of Quebec, Canada, offer the best chance to witness this phenomenon.

After the double sunrise, the sun will continue to rise as a thin arc in the sky.

How to Safely Watch a Partial Solar Eclipse

Unlike a total solar eclipse, partial solar eclipses should never be viewed directly with the naked eye, even when most of the sun is covered. Even small slivers of the sun can cause permanent eye damage.

If possible, obtain eclipse glasses that are certified to ISO 12312-2 international safety standards.

Crowds gather around Bryant Park in New York City, wearing eclipse glasses to witness a partial solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

If using binoculars, cameras, or telescopes, ensure they are equipped with a solar filter on the front end (not the eyepiece).

If you are unable to find glasses or filters, indirect viewing methods are still possible. By creating a small hole (1-2mm) in a card, you can project sunlight onto a flat surface to observe the solar eclipse safely.

Weather plays a significant role in eclipse visibility. A clear sky offers the best viewing conditions, but even in cloudy weather, you may still experience a dimming effect as the moon passes in front of the sun.

How to Watch the Solar Eclipse 2025 Online

If you are unable to witness the partial solar eclipse in person, don’t worry. You can watch it online. The Royal Observatory Greenwich in the UK will be live streaming the event starting at 10am GMT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwol-q1fuvm

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Solar heat may impact seismic activity on Earth

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According to new research by scientists at Tsukuba University and the Japan National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, heat from our sun promotes changes in the atmosphere temperature on Earth and changes in the atmosphere temperature on Earth.

The sun is seen by solar orbiter in extreme ultraviolet rays from a distance of approximately 75 million km. This image is a mosaic of 25 individual images taken on March 7, 2022 by the high-resolution telescope of an extreme ultraviolet imager (EUI) instrument. The image, taken at a wavelength of 17 nanometers in the extreme ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum, reveals the corona, the upper atmosphere of the sun, with a temperature of about 1 million degrees Celsius. Image credits: ESA/NASA/SOLAR ORBITER/EUI Team/E. Kraaikamp, ​​Rob.

Seismic studies have revealed many of the fundamentals of earthquakes: the tectonic plates move, strain energy accumulates, and that energy is ultimately released in the form of an earthquake.

However, when it comes to predicting them, there is still much to learn to evacuate cities before a catastrophe like the 2011 magnitude 9.0 Tōhoku earthquake

In recent years, research has focused on possible correlations between the sun or moon and seismic activity on Earth, with several studies pointing to tidal or electromagnetic effects that interact with the Earth's crust, core, and mantle.

In a new study, Matheus Henrique Junqueira Saldanha and his colleagues explored the possibility that solar-induced climate could play a role.

“Solar heat can promote changes in atmospheric temperature, which can affect rock properties and groundwater movements, among other things,” said Dr. Junqueira Saldanha.

“Such variations can make rocks more brittle and more prone to breaking, for example. And changes in rainfall and snow thaw can change the pressure on the boundaries of the tectonic plate.”

“Those factors may not be the main factors that cause earthquakes, but they may still play a useful role in predicting seismic activity.”

Using mathematical and computational methods, researchers analyzed seismic data along with solar activity records and surface temperatures on Earth.

Among other findings, they observed that when the surface temperature of the earth was included in the model, predictions of particularly shallow earthquakes are more accurate.

“That makes sense because heat and water mostly affect the upper layers of the Earth's crust,” said Junqueira Saldanha.

The findings suggest that solar heat transfer to the Earth's surface affects seismic activity, but this is only a small measure, and incorporating predictions of solar activity into a detailed earth temperature model could help issue seismic predictions.

“It's an exciting direction and I hope our research will shed some light on the larger picture of what causes earthquakes,” said Dr. Junqueira Saldanha.

study Today I'll be appearing in the journal chaos.

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Matheus Henrique Junqueira Saldanha et al. The role of solar heat in seismic activity. chaos 35, 033107; doi:10.1063/5.0243721

Source: www.sci.news

Radcliffe’s Waves: The solar system’s past encounter with a massive cloud of gas and dust

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Radcliffe’s wave visualization, a series of dust and gas clouds (marked here) throughout the Milky Way. Approximately 400 light years from the sun, marked yellow

Alyssa A. Goodman/Harvard University

Our solar system passed through vast waves of gas and dust about 14 million years ago, darkening the views of the Earth’s night sky. The waves may have left a trace on our planet’s geological records.

Astronomers previously discovered large ocean-like waves of milky stars, gas and dust that ripple up and down for millions of years. One of these closest and most studied is the Radcliffe waves, about 9,000 light years wide and only 400 light years from the solar system.

Now, Efrem Maconi The University of Vienna and his colleagues discovered that the waves of Radcliffe once were far closer to us, surpassing the solar system 11 to 18 million years ago.

Maconi and his team used data from Gaia Space Telescope, which tracked billions of stars in the Milky Way, to identify recently formed groups of stars within the Radcliffe Wave, and identify the dust and gas clouds that formed from them.

Using these stars, they tracked the cloud orbits in time to reveal historic locations to show how the entire wave was moving. They also calculated the past paths of the solar system, rewind the clock for 30 million years, and discovered that the waves and our sun were approaching intimately about 15-12 million years ago. It is difficult to accurately estimate when the intersection began and ended, but the team believes the solar system is within the wave range around 14 million years ago.

This would have made Earth’s galactic environment as dark as it is today, as we currently live in a relatively empty space realm. “If we are in a dense region of interstellar media, that means that the light coming from the stars will dim,” says Macconi. “It’s like being on a foggy day.”

The encounter may have left evidence in Earth’s geological records and deposited radioactive isotopes on the crust, but considering how long ago it happened, this would be difficult to measure, he says. It says it is useful to find such a galactic encounter, as explaining the geological record of the Earth is a continuous problem. Ralph Schoenrich University College London.

More speculatively, the crossing appears to have occurred during a period of cooling, known as the mid-Miocene. Maconi said the two could be linked, but this would be difficult to prove. Schoenrich thinks that is unlikely. “The rule of thumb is that geology outweighs the influence of the universe,” he says. “When you move around the continent or disrupt ocean currents, you need more because climate change is occurring.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

How to View the Alignment of Every Planet in the Solar System This Week

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Artists’ impressions of the solar system

Shutterstock/Vadim Sadovski

All of our solar system planets line up in the night sky once this week. This extraordinary celestial event will see the sky scattered with seven visible planets in what is called a great planet alignment, or what is called a “planet parade.”

The eight planets in our solar system first formed from the same disc of debris around the sun, thus bringing the sun into orbit on roughly the same plane. The lines that line this plane appear along the zodiac when the sun crosses the daytime sky, as the sun crosses the daytime sky, appear all along the zodiac when the planets appear in the sky. The orbit is slightly tilted, so it’s not the perfect line of the planet, but it’s pretty close.

This is less obvious than during planetary alignment. Normally, only a few planets share the night sky, but the unusual alignment of all seven planets will be visible around a few nights, around February 28, depending on your location.

The best time to see is right after sunset, and you will have the opportunity to see all the planets arching in the sky, but all of them are near the horizon except Mars, Jupiter and Uranus. These three will continue to stroll all night, but by the time the sky is completely dark, Mercury and Saturn will sink below the horizon, and Neptune and Venus will soon follow.

The main thing that prevents such alignments from being invisible all the time is the difference in orbital periods between planets, except for the weather. Mercury closest to the Sun takes about 88 Earth days to complete its orbit, but Neptune, most of the distant planets, takes nearly 165 Earth years.

It is only possible to have a large alignment if the planets are all relatively far from the Sun, so they can be seen at night, so they are all in roughly the same half of the sky, so they can be seen at the same time. It’s a coincidence of an astonishing trajectory. Sometimes there are multiple large alignments per year, sometimes even if there are no more than one year, it can pass. A similar event is not scheduled to occur until 2040.

“It’s great to see the interest that Planet Parade is creating.” David Armstrong At the University of Warwick, UK. “It’s all great to be involved in astronomy, look up at the sky and evaluate the wonders of our solar system. I encourage anyone interested in going out and looking at the planets with their own eyes if they get the chance in the next few days.”

Additional Reports by Alex Wilkins

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers Report Our Solar System Surpassed the “Radcliffe Waves” in the Miocene Era

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As our solar system orbits the Milky Way, we encounter a variety of environments, including dense regions of interstellar media. These encounters can increase the flow of interstellar dust into the solar system and the Earth's atmosphere, exposing parts of the solar system to interstellar mediums. The discovery of new galactic structures, such as the Radcliffe waves over the 9,000 Wright years, raises the question of whether the Sun encountered any of them. New research shows that the solar system trajectories intersected with the waves of Radcliffe in the Orion star-forming region 15 to 12 million years ago (Miocene era). In particular, this period coincides with the mid-Miocene climate transition on Earth, providing an interdisciplinary connection with paleoclimatology.

Radcliffe wave visualization. Image credit: Alyssa Goodman/Harvard University.

When the solar system brings the Milky Way into orbit, we encounter a variety of galactic environments with different interstellar densities, including hot voids, fronts of supernova blasts, and cold gas clouds.

The passage of the sun through dense regions of interstellar media can affect the solar system in several ways.

For example, pressure enhancement compresses the heliosphere and exposes parts of the solar system to cold, dense interstellar media.

Furthermore, the amount of interstellar dust mounted on the Earth's atmosphere can increase, potentially enhancing the delivery of radioactive isotopes such as iron-60 through dust grains.

Radcliffe's waves are narrow sinusoidal gas structures and consist of many known star-forming cloud complexes, including CMA, Orion, Taurus, Perseus, Cephaus, North American Nebula, and Cygnus.

With an estimated mass of 3 million people, this gas structure appears to vibrate consistently like a moving wave and is thought to be part of the Milky Way spiral structure.

Dr. Efrem Macconi, a doctoral student at the University of Vienna, said:

“Our Sun encountered a higher gas density region as it passed through the waves of Radcliffe in the Orion constellation.”

Using data from ESA's Gaia mission and spectroscopic observations, Dr. Maconi and his colleagues identified the passage of the solar system through the Radcliffe Wave in the Orion area.

“The findings are based on previous works identifying Radcliffe's waves,” said Professor Joanne Albes of the University of Vienna.

“We passed the Orion area as well as famous star clusters like NGC 1977, NGC 1980 and NGC 1981.”

“The area is easily visible in the winter sky in the Northern Hemisphere and in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere.”

“Look for Orion Constellation and Orion Nebula (Messier 42) – our solar system has come from that direction!”

“The increased dust from this galaxy encounter may have had some effects.”

“It could potentially leave traces of radioactive elements from supernovas in the geological record that permeate the Earth's atmosphere.”

“Current technologies may not be sensitive enough to detect these traces, but future detectors may make it possible.”

This study shows that the solar system passing through the Orion region occurred around 18.2 to 11.5 million years ago, with the most likely time between 148 and 12.4 million years ago.

This time frame is in good agreement with the mid-Miocene climate transition, and is a major shift from warm variable climate to cool climates, leading to the establishment of a continental-scale prototype Antarctic ice sheet composition.

This study raises the possibility of a link between past crossings of the solar system through galaxy neighbours and Earth's climate through interstellar dust, but the authors need further investigation of the causal relationship. It emphasizes that there is.

“The basic processes responsible for the mid-Miocene climate transition have not been fully identified, but available reconstructions are most likely to be long-term reductions in atmospheric greenhouse gas carbon dioxide concentrations. It suggests that it is a high explanation.

“However, our research highlights that interstellar dust associated with the crossing of Radcliffe's waves has affected the Earth's climate and may have played a potential role during this climate change. Masu.”

“To change the Earth's climate, the amount of extraterrestrial dust on Earth needs to be much larger than what previous data suggests.”

“Future research explores the importance of this contribution. This past climate change and current climate change is comparable as this past climate change is unfolding over a timescale of hundreds of thousands of years. It is important to note that we do not do that.”

“In contrast, the evolution of global warming today has been happening at an unprecedented rate for decades to centuries due to human activity.”

study Published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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E. Machoni et al. 2025. Passing through the solar system through the waves of Radcliffe in the mid-Miocene. A&A 694, A167; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202452061

Source: www.sci.news

Planets of the Solar System

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In the southwestern sky, Venus shines the brightest and is easy to spot. Saturn can be seen below Venus, but as the days progress, the other visible planets become harder to spot, sinking lower in the sky each day after sunset. Jupiter can be found in the southern part of the evening sky, while Mars appears in the eastern sky. Mercury should also be visible to the naked eye, but it is challenging to find due to its proximity to the sun.

By February 24th, mercury will be further from the sun, making it easier to spot after sunset near Saturn in the western sky.

For skywatchers with binoculars and telescopes, Uranus and Neptune can also be spotted with dedication, patience, and a Starchart, according to Faherty.

NASA refers to this event as the “Planet Parade,” where multiple bright planets are visible simultaneously overhead. This phenomenon occurs when all planets in our solar system orbit the sun on relatively flat disc-shaped planes, akin to cars on a racetrack. Each planet orbits the sun at different rates, resulting in them lining up in the sky at different points, like cars on a track.

The planetary parade will continue until February, with more opportunities to view multiple bright planets in the sky in the months and years ahead, including instances of four planets lining up before sunrise in late August, five planets before sunrise in October 2028, and five planets after sunset in February 2034.

Faherty sees this event as a great educational opportunity for newcomers to explore the universe in an engaging way, as the sky is always changing and full of surprises.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Parker Solar Probe successfully completes record-breaking closest approach to the sun

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On December 24, 2024, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will soar just 6.1 million km (3.8 million miles) above the surface of our home planet and hurtle through the solar atmosphere at 692,000 km (430,000 miles) per hour. I did. This is the fastest speed the spacecraft has ever achieved. An object made by humans. A signal received two days later confirmed that the spacecraft had safely passed the encounter and was operating normally.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe approaches the Sun. Image credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

Near the Sun, the Parker Solar Probe relies on a carbon foam shield to protect the probe from the extreme heat in the upper part of the Sun’s atmosphere, called the corona, which can exceed 500,000 degrees Celsius (1 million degrees Fahrenheit).

The shield is designed to reach temperatures of 1,427 degrees Celsius (2,600 degrees Fahrenheit) while keeping the instruments behind it shaded at a comfortable room temperature.

In the hot but low-density corona, the spacecraft’s shield is expected to warm up to 982 degrees Celsius (1,800 degrees Fahrenheit).

“Flying this close to the Sun is a historic moment in humanity’s first mission to the stars,” said Dr. Nikki Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

“Studying the Sun up close will allow us to better understand its impact on the entire solar system, including the technologies we use every day on Earth and in space, and will also help us understand the workings of stars throughout the universe. We can learn about and help us explore habitable worlds beyond our home planet.

“Parker Solar Probe will venture into one of the most extreme environments in the universe,” said Dr. Noor Rawafi, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and project scientist for the Parker Solar Probe. It has exceeded all expectations.”

“This mission ushered in a new golden age of space exploration and brings us closer than ever to solving the sun’s deepest and most enduring mysteries.”

Parker Solar Probe’s record-breaking distance of 6.1 million kilometers (3.8 million miles) may seem far away, but on a cosmic scale it’s incredibly close. Image credit: NASA/APL.

“Being able to get a spacecraft this close to the sun is monumental,” said John Wurtzberger, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and Parker Solar Probe mission systems engineer. .

“This is a challenge the space science community has wanted to address since 1958, and we’ve spent decades advancing technology to make it possible.”

The Parker Solar Probe will fly through the solar corona to help scientists better understand how the region gets hot, track the origins of the solar wind, and discover how energetic particles We can make measurements that will help us discover how it accelerates to half the speed of light.

“This data is extremely important to the scientific community because it gives us new advantages,” said Dr. Kelly Kolek, a program scientist at NASA Headquarters.

“Parker Solar Probe revolutionizes our understanding of the Sun by providing first-hand knowledge of what is happening in the Sun’s atmosphere.”

So far, the rover is only transmitting that it is safe, but it will soon arrive at a location where it can downlink the data it collects on this latest solar pass.

“The data coming down from the spacecraft will provide fresh information about places we humans have never been before. This is an amazing accomplishment,” said Joe, director of NASA’s Heliophysics Division. Dr. Westlake said.

The spacecraft’s next planned solar approaches will take place on March 22, 2025 and June 19, 2025.

Source: www.sci.news

Advancements in Research Shed Light on Habitability of Oceanic Worlds in Our Solar System and Beyond

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In a new paper, planetary researchers from Texas A&M University and the University of Washington introduce a new thermodynamic concept called centotectics to investigate the stability of liquids under extreme conditions. This is important information for determining the habitability of icy moons and oceanic exoplanets.

Europa's surface stands out in this newly reprocessed color view. Image scale is 1.6 km per pixel. North of Europe is on the right. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SETI Institute.

Exploration of icy ocean worlds represents a new frontier in planetary science, with a focus on understanding the potential of these environments to support life.

New research is addressing fundamental questions in this field. Under what conditions can liquid water remain stable on these distant frozen bodies?

The authors provide an important framework for interpreting data from planetary exploration activities by defining and measuring the cenotect, the absolute minimum temperature at which a liquid remains stable under various pressures and concentrations.

This research combines their expertise in cryobiology with their expertise in planetary science and high-pressure water ice systems.

Together, they developed a framework that bridges the disciplines to tackle one of the most fascinating challenges in planetary science.

2016 artist concept for the European Clipper spacecraft. As spacecraft development progresses, the design changes. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

“The launch of NASA's Europa Clipper, the largest planetary exploration mission ever launched, ushered us into a decades-long era of exploration of the frigid ocean world,” said Dr. Baptiste Journeau, a planetary scientist at the University of Washington. It's coming in,” he said.

“Measurements from this and other missions will tell us the depth of the ocean and its composition.”

“Laboratory measurements of liquid stability, particularly the lowest possible temperature (a newly defined cenotect), combined with the mission results will help us determine how habitable the solar system's cold, deep oceans are, and how likely they will ultimately be. It will be possible to completely constrain what the temperature will be.''The fate would be when the moon or planet cools down completely. ”

“The study of icy worlds is a particular priority for both NASA and ESA, as evidenced by the spate of recent and upcoming spacecraft launches,” said Dr. Matt Powell-Palm, a planetary scientist at Texas A&M University. Ta.

“We hope to help Texas A&M provide intellectual leadership in this area.”

of paper Published in the Journal on December 18, 2024 nature communications.

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A. Zaris others. 2024. On the equilibrium limit of liquid stability in pressurized water systems. nut community15;doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54625-z

Source: www.sci.news

NASA’s solar probe achieves closest approach to the sun of any artificial object

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overview

  • NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is expected to dive extremely close to the sun’s surface on December 24th.
  • The spacecraft will have to fly closer to the Sun than any other man-made object in history, less than 3.86 million miles away.
  • The mission was designed to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere and help researchers learn how solar storms erupt into space.

NASA is preparing to “taste” the sun on Christmas Eve.

The bureau’s Parker Solar Probe is just days away from making its closest approach ever to the Sun on Tuesday, when it will fly closer to our star than any other man-made object in history.

The spacecraft, about the size of a small car, is scheduled to dive to within 3.86 million miles of the sun’s surface at 6:40 a.m. ET on Tuesday. It passes by at approximately 430,000 miles per hour. According to NASA.

“If you think about it, it’s like going 96 percent of the way to the surface of the sun,” said Kelly Kolek, a program scientist in NASA’s heliophysics division.

Because mission controllers cannot communicate with the spacecraft during maneuvers, NASA will have to wait about three days before receiving a signal that the spacecraft has survived its rendezvous with the sun.

The first images of the close encounter will then likely be transmitted to Earth sometime in January, the agency said.

As the Parker Solar Probe swoops toward the Sun, it will likely fly through a plume of solar plasma and potentially fly into the star’s active regions, Kolek said.

The mission was designed to study the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere, an extremely hot region known as the corona. Scientists are keen to look at the corona up close because researchers have long puzzled over why the outer layer of the sun’s atmosphere is hundreds of times hotter than the star’s surface.

Observations of the corona will also help researchers study how storms that form on the sun’s surface erupt into space. For example, the spacecraft will be able to observe streams of the most energetic solar particles coming from the Sun and exploding into space at supersonic speeds.

“This is the birthplace of space weather,” Kolek said. “While we have observed space weather from afar, Parker is now living space weather. In the future, we will be able to better understand how space weather forms.” , when we look at solar storms through a telescope, we can understand what they mean for us here on Earth.”

During periods of intense space weather, the Sun can emit huge solar flares and streams of charged particles known as solar wind directly to Earth. When these explosions interact with Earth’s magnetic field, they could not only supercharge the aurora, but also damage satellites and take out power grids.

Kolek said the Parker Solar Probe mission will help researchers better predict space weather and its potential impacts, similar to the work meteorologists and atmospheric scientists do about weather on Earth. said it was helpful.

The Parker spacecraft launched into space in 2018 and has orbited the sun more than 20 times since then. The Christmas Eve flyby will be the first of three final flybys planned for the mission. The spacecraft is named after Eugene Parker, the pioneering astrophysicist at the University of Chicago who first theorized the existence of the solar wind. Mr. Parker passed away in 2022 at the age of 94.

Last month, the spacecraft flew near Venus in a maneuver intended to slingshot its way to the sun. The upcoming approach was timed to coincide with the sun’s most active period in its 11-year cycle. This busy phase is typically characterized by a flurry of solar storms and high magnetic activity and is known as solar maximum.

Scientists like Kolek are hoping the Parker Solar Probe will have a front-row seat if a storm hits the sun’s surface on Christmas Eve.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The frequency of giant solar flares from the sun may be higher than previously believed

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This relatively small solar flare that occurred in October (a bright flash at the center discovered by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory) would be dwarfed by a superflare.

NASA/SDO

The sun can produce extremely powerful bursts of radiation more often than we think. According to research on stars similar to the Sun, such “superflares” appear to occur about once every 100 years, and are particle storms that can have a devastating effect on electronic equipment on Earth. may be accompanied by The last major solar storm to hit Earth was 165 years ago, so we may be hit by another solar storm soon, but how similar is our Sun to these other stars? is unknown.

Direct measurements of solar activity did not begin until the mid-20th century. In 1859, our star produced a very powerful solar flare, or emission of light. These are often associated with subsequent coronal mass ejections (CMEs), bubbles of magnetized plasma particles that shoot into space.

In fact, this flare was followed by a CME that crashed into the Earth, causing a violent geomagnetic storm. This was recorded by astronomers at the time and is now known as the Carrington phenomenon. If this were to happen today, communications systems and power grids could be disrupted.

There is also evidence that there were even more powerful storms on Earth long before the Carrington incident. Assessment of radiocarbon content in tree rings and ice cores suggests that extremely high-energy particles occasionally rained down on Earth over several days, but this could be attributed to a one-time, massive solar outburst. It is unclear whether this is the case or whether it is due to several solar explosions. something small. It’s also unclear whether the Sun can produce such large flares and particle storms in a single explosion.

The frequency of these signs on Earth, and the frequency of superflares that astronomers have recorded on other stars, suggests that these giant bursts tend to occur hundreds to thousands of years apart. .

now, Ilya Usoskin Researchers from the University of Oulu in Finland studied 56,450 stars and found that stars similar to the Sun appear to emit superflares much more frequently.

“Superflares in stars like the Sun occur much more frequently than previously thought, about once every century or two,” Usoskin said. “If we believe this prediction for the Sun is correct, we would expect the Sun to have a superflare about every 100 to 200 years, and the only extreme solar storms we know of occur about once every 1500 or 2000 years. There will be a mismatch.”

Using the Kepler Space Telescope to measure the brightness of stars, Usoskin and colleagues detected a total of 2,889 superflares in 2,527 stars. The energies of these flares were 100 to 10,000 times the size of the Carrington event, the largest flare measured from the Sun.

Usoskin said it remains to be seen whether such large flares also cause large-particle phenomena, such as there is evidence for on Earth, but current solar theory cannot explain such large flares. That’s what it means. “This raises questions about what we’re actually seeing,” he says.

“It’s very impressive for a stellar flare survey,” he says. Matthew Owens At the University of Reading, UK. “They’ve clearly developed a new way to detect flares with increased sensitivity.”

Owens says it’s even harder to determine how much this tells us about the Sun’s flaring activity, in part because it’s difficult to accurately measure the rotation rates of other stars. It is said that it is for the sake of “The devil is in the details,” he says.

“The rotation rate is important because it is related to how the star generates its magnetic field, and magnetic fields are related to flare activity,” Owens said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Solar maximum increases chances of auroras.

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overview

  • A recent flurry of solar storms suggests the Sun is at its peak as part of an 11-year cycle.
  • The active period is likely to continue into next year, and more auroras may appear.
  • Next month, NASA will take an up-close look at solar activity as the Parker Solar Probe makes its closest approach to the sun ever.

The sun is awake.

Earth’s star has become more active in recent months, with giant flares erupting from the surface and streams of plasma and charged particles spewing into space. Several solar storms have been directed towards our planet, causing intense magnetic storms and the dazzling glow of the aurora borealis.

Experts say a storm of solar explosions after years of relative calm and calm is a sure sign that the star has entered a busy phase of its natural cycle, or solar maximum.

The active period is likely to continue into next year, with the potential for more solar storms and spectacular aurora borealis.

“This is definitely the season for major solar storms,” ​​said Kelly Kolek, a program scientist in NASA’s Heliophysics Division. “I think we’ll see the sky lit up again by the northern lights.”

Aurora photographed over Kiruna, Sweden on March 7th.
Leon Neal/Getty Images File

Later this month, NASA will get a close-up look at intense solar activity when the agency’s Parker Solar Probe makes its closest approach ever to the sun on December 24th.

The spacecraft is on an orbit that swoops to within 3.86 million miles of the Sun’s surface. This is closer than any other artifact in history. It is predicted that it could fly through the sun’s plasma plumes and fly into the star’s active regions.

“If you think of an American football field, if the Earth is on one side and the sun is on the other side, this is like going to the sun’s 4-yard line,” Kolek said.

Parker Solar Probe after heat shield installation in a clean room in Titusville, Florida, 2018.
Johns Hopkins APL / Ed Whitman / NASA

The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 with a mission to study the sun’s atmosphere, an extremely hot region known as the corona. Last month, the car-sized spacecraft flew nearby in a maneuver that helped slingshot Venus closer to the sun.

Kolek said the spacecraft’s close encounters could provide valuable insights, especially if there are active sunspot regions (temporary features that appear as dark scratches on the sun’s surface) along its path. He said there is. Such observations could help researchers better understand how the sun’s activity rises and falls.

Solar cycles typically last about 11 years, as the Sun’s magnetic activity moves from periods of low to high magnetic activity. When a star emerges from its calm phase, or solar minimum, and reaches the peak of its solar cycle, its magnetic poles reverse and it enters solar maximum, increasing activity and erupting more frequently and violently.

The main way scientists know when the Sun has reached its maximum is by monitoring the formation of sunspots. As the sun spins, its magnetic field undulates, becoming distorted and tighter in some areas, Kolek said. This creates sunspots, which appear as dark specks in telescope images.

A huge, bright coronal loop traces magnetic field lines over the Sun’s active region in 2018.
Solar Dynamics Observatory / NASA

“The sun is a magnetic sphere, but it’s not a solid solid body, so as it rotates, its magnetic field gets twisted,” Kolek said.

the number of sunspots It increases steadily as the star moves towards its solar maximum. Once a significant decline is observed, researchers can define the beginning and end of a period of activity.

In some sunspot regions, the magnetic field can be about 2,500 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field. According to NASA. Over time, sunspots can release vast amounts of stored magnetic energy in the form of solar storms.

This year, two major solar storms (one in May and one in early October) painted the night sky in bright pinks, greens, and purples as far south as Texas and Alabama. It surprised sky watchers. NASA said the May event was the strongest geomagnetic storm to hit Earth in the past 20 years.

On May 10th, a solar storm hit the Scottish National Monument in Edinburgh.
Jacob Anderson/AFP – Getty Images File
On October 10, the Northern Lights illuminate the desert sky of the Tonto National Forest northeast of Phoenix.
Michael Chou / USA Today Network

Auroras occur when clouds of charged particles ejected from the Sun during solar storms collide with Earth’s magnetic field and interact with atoms and molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The colorful display is a beautiful byproduct of that process and is usually only seen at high latitudes. But during periods of high solar activity, the light can wander farther south than usual.

However, there may also be negative consequences. Strong magnetic storms can cause problems for astronauts in space and for GPS systems and satellites in orbit.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Experience the stunning beauty of the sun in these Solar Orbiter photos.

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The sun’s upper atmosphere, or corona, seen in ultraviolet light

ESA & NASA/Solar Probe/EUI Team

These fiery images are the clearest views of the Sun ever seen by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft.

solar orbitera joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, is a state-of-the-art instrument that orbits the sun and has been sending information back to Earth since it arrived in 2020.

These images were taken in March 2023, when Solar Orbiter was less than 74 million kilometers from the sun. The photo above was taken using ultraviolet light and reveals the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, in great detail, showing billowing million-degree plasma exploding along the sun’s magnetic field lines. There is. Normally, bright light from the sun’s surface hides the corona. Therefore, the corona can only be seen when observing it by blocking visible light or using ultraviolet light, which typically occurs during solar eclipses.

To create this complete image of the sun’s corona, many smaller zoomed-in images had to be stitched together, resulting in this complete mosaic of 8000 pixels. In the future, Solar Orbiter will be able to obtain two such high-resolution photos of the Sun each year, according to ESA.

Visible Sun imaged by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft’s polarization measurements and solar seismic imager

ESA & NASA/Solar Probe/PHI Team

This second image shows what the sun’s surface, or photosphere, looks like when viewed from Solar Orbiter in visible light, the same light that our eyes can see . The temperature of this layer of the sun is approximately 4500-6000°C. The dark areas here are sunspots, which are cooler and emit less light than the surrounding areas.

Map of the Sun’s magnetic field measured by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft’s polarization measurements and solar seismic imager.

ESA & NASA/Solar Probe/PHI Team

Observations using the spacecraft’s magnetic instruments show that the Sun’s magnetic field is concentrated around the sunspot region (see image above). The field directs charged particles away from these areas, cooling them and giving them a dark appearance.

Velocity map, or tachogram, showing the speed and direction of movement of matter on the visible surface of the Sun

ESA & NASA/Solar Probe/PHI Team

Solar Orbiter can also track the speed and direction of plasma as it moves across the Sun’s surface. In this velocity map (above), called a tachogram, blue represents movement toward the spacecraft and red represents movement away from the spacecraft. It shows that it diverges in its surroundings.

This collection of images helps scientists understand the behavior of the sun’s corona and photosphere. Solar Orbiter will also image never-before-seen images of the Sun’s poles at the top and bottom of the star. Currently, not much is known about the solar poles, and researchers expect these regions to look significantly different from the rest of the sun.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Proba-3: Twin spacecraft launched to create a simulated solar eclipse

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Two Proba-3 spacecraft work together to create an artificial solar eclipse

ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) aims to create an artificial solar eclipse in space with its upcoming Proba-3 mission, which will help study the Sun and demonstrate extremely precise formation flight down to just a millimeter. It turns out.

Scheduled to launch on December 4 on an Indian PSLV-XL rocket, the mission will consist of two spacecraft. After launch, they will be placed into a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth, bringing them about 600 kilometers (600 kilometers) close to Earth, but at a distance of about 60,000 kilometers (60,000 kilometers) from the Earth.

One of the spacecraft, called Occulter, features a 1.4-meter-wide disc made of carbon fiber and plastic. The other spacecraft will fly about 150 meters behind the first spacecraft and point its camera there. From this vantage point, the occulter's disk blocks the surface of the Sun, much like the Moon appears to cover the Sun during a total solar eclipse. This will allow imaging probes to observe the solar corona, or the sun's atmosphere, in more detail than ever before.

“This will be the closest we've ever seen the corona to the Sun in visible light,” said Damien Galano, ESA's Proba-3 mission manager. “This could provide concrete information about the temperature of the corona, the formation of the solar wind, and how the corona expands into space.”

Proba-3 accomplishes this feat by flying with incredible precision. Both spacecraft are equipped with sensors to track their position in space, and the Occulter uses 12 nitrogen thrusters to autonomously maintain its position with its partner with millimeter accuracy. The thrusters can deliver just 10 millinewtons of thrust, which is 1/50th the force of human breathing.

To limit the destabilizing effects of Earth's gravity, the artificial eclipse will last six hours when the spacecraft is furthest from Earth. More than 1,000 solar eclipses are planned during the two-year mission. Galano said this is the first time since experiments with artificial solar eclipses in space. 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

The experience gained from the Proba-3 mission could also be applied to things like refueling spacecraft and developing large telescopes in space. “Until now, we've only been able to achieve accuracy of a centimeter or better,” said Steve Buckley, Proba-3 lead engineer at Onsemi, a US company that developed some of the sensors for the mission. “This is 10 times better.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New research suggests Voyager 2’s approach to Uranus in 1986 occurred during an uncommon solar event

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When NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by Uranus in 1986, scientists got their first close glimpse of the giant icy planet. Alongside the discovery of new moons and rings, a puzzling new mystery faced scientists. The energetic particles around Uranus defied their understanding of how magnetic fields trap particle radiation. The cause of that special mystery is a cosmic coincidence, according to a new study. Just before Voyager 2's flyby, Uranus was found to have been affected by an unusual type of space weather that crushed and dramatically compressed the planet's magnetic field. Its magnetosphere.

The first panel of this artist's concept depicts how Uranus' magnetosphere operated before NASA's Voyager 2 flyby. The second panel shows that an unusual type of solar weather occurred during the 1986 flyby, giving scientists a biased view of the magnetosphere. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

The planetary magnetosphere (the region around a planet dominated by its magnetic field) influences the environment around the planet, and understanding its properties is important for mission planning.

Voyager 2's close encounter of Uranus reveals a unique magnetosphere that is highly asymmetric and appears to lack plasma, a common element in the magnetospheres of other planets, and has an unusually strong band of high-energy electrons It became.

The signatures from this single measurement have since been used as the basis for understanding Uranus's magnetic field, but these anomalies have been difficult to explain without complex physics.

“If Voyager 2 had arrived just a few days earlier, we would have seen a completely different magnetosphere on Uranus,” said Dr. Jamie Jasinski, a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“The spacecraft observed Uranus in a situation that has a probability of only about 4%.”

Jasinski and his colleagues reanalyzed Voyager 2 data before the flyby and found that the spacecraft encountered Uranus shortly after a violent solar wind event that ejected streams of charged particles from the Sun's atmosphere.

This compressed Uranus's magnetosphere, creating a condition that only occurs 4% of the time.

In this state, we see a plasma-free magnetosphere with highly excited electron emission bands.

The authors suggest that two magnetospheric cycles may exist during solar minimum due to variations in Uranus' solar wind.

Additionally, the chances of Uranus' outermost major moons, Titania and Oberon, orbiting outside the magnetosphere may be very low, giving scientists the possibility of detecting an underground ocean without interference from the magnetosphere. There is.

“The 1986 flyby was full of surprises, and we were looking for an explanation for its unusual behavior,” said Dr. Linda Spilker, also of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“The magnetosphere measured by Voyager 2 is just a snapshot in time.”

“This new study explains some of the apparent contradictions and will once again change our view of Uranus.”

of findings Published in today's magazine natural astronomy.

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JM Jasinski others. Unusual conditions in Uranus' magnetosphere during Voyager 2's flyby. Nat Astronpublished online on November 11, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02389-3

Source: www.sci.news

First Detailed Map of Solar Coronal Magnetic Field Created by Inouye Solar Telescope

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This groundbreaking achievement will improve our understanding of the Sun’s atmosphere and shed light on how its changing conditions affect our technology-dependent society.

The Inouye Solar Telescope has released the first map of the magnetic field signal in the solar corona measured using the Zeeman effect. Image courtesy of NSF/NSO/AURA/NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.

The Earth’s magnetic field protects us from the solar wind, protects our atmosphere and makes life possible.

But electromagnetic fields and high-energy particles from extreme solar activity could disrupt satellites, power grids, and other systems necessary for an increasingly technological society.

Understanding these dynamic interactions, which change on timescales ranging from days to centuries, is crucial to safeguarding our infrastructure and current ways of life.

Measuring the magnetic properties of the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, has long challenged astronomers and the limits of technology.

today, Daniel K. Inouye Solar TelescopeLocated near the summit of Haleakala on the Hawaiian island of Maui, the facility is a state-of-the-art facility designed to study coronas.

The satellite has produced the first and most detailed map of the coronal magnetic field to date, taking an important first step in solving these mysteries.

“Inoue’s achievements in mapping the Sun’s coronal magnetic field are a testament to the innovative design and capabilities of this pioneering and unique observatory,” said Dr. Tom Shad, NSF National Solar Observatory investigator.

“This groundbreaking discovery is expected to greatly improve our understanding of the Sun’s atmosphere and its impact on the solar system.”

The researchers used the Zeeman effect, which measures magnetic properties by observing the splitting of spectral lines, to create a detailed map of the magnetic field of the solar corona.

“Spectral lines are distinct lines that appear at particular wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum and represent light absorbed or emitted by atoms and molecules,” they explained.

“These lines are unique to each atom and molecule and act like a fingerprint. By looking at the spectrum, scientists can determine the chemical composition and physical properties of an object.”

“When exposed to a magnetic field like the Sun’s, these lines split apart, giving us insight into the magnetic properties of the object.”

Previous attempts to detect such signals, last reported 20 years ago, have lacked the detail and regularity needed for widespread scientific investigation.

Now, Inouye’s unparalleled capabilities make it possible to study these important signals in detail and on a regular basis.

The solar corona can usually only be seen during a total solar eclipse, when most of the Sun’s light is blocked and Earth’s sky becomes dark.

But the Inouye Telescope uses a technique called coronagraphy to create an artificial eclipse that allows it to detect extremely faint polarized signals, highlighting its unparalleled sensitivity and cementing its status as a unique window into viewing our home star.

This telescope is Cryogenic near-infrared spectropolarimeter (Cryo-NIRSP) is one of the telescope’s main instruments used to study the corona and map its magnetic field.

“Just as detailed maps of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere have improved the accuracy of weather forecasts, this remarkably complete map of the magnetic field of the Sun’s corona will help us more accurately predict solar storms and space weather,” said Dr. Carrie Black, program director for NSF’s National Solar Observatory.

“The invisible yet incredibly powerful forces captured in this map will continue to drive solar physics for the next century and beyond.”

“Mapping the strength of the corona’s magnetic field is a fundamental scientific advance not only for solar research but for astronomy in general,” said Dr. Christoph Keller, director of the National Solar Observatory.

“This marks the beginning of a new era in understanding how stars’ magnetic fields affect planets in our solar system and the thousands of exoplanetary systems currently known.”

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This article has been edited from an original release by the National Solar Observatory.

Source: www.sci.news

Research Indicates Sun-like Star-shaped Outer Solar System Approached Billions of Years Ago

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At least 140 million Sun-like stars in our Milky Way galaxy may have experienced similar stellar flybys, according to a new study by astrophysicists from the Jülich Research Centre and Leiden University.

Snapshot of a flyby of an ancient star. Blue-green particles indicate TNOs injected into the planetary region by the flyby. The perturbation star passed through the disk at perihelion distance 110 AU, on the right side of the picture. Image courtesy of Pfalzner others., doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02349-x.

The planets in our solar system accumulated from a disk of dust and gas orbiting the young Sun.

Thus, the planets move in circular orbits close to a common plane.

About 3,000 small bodies have been observed orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune. Surprisingly, most of them move in eccentric or inclined orbits.

Therefore, some force must have lifted these trans-solar objects (TNOs) out of the disk in which they formed and significantly altered their orbits.

“When we think about the solar system, we usually think of it ending with Neptune, the outermost known planet,” said Dr Susanne Pfalzner, astrophysicist at the Jülich Research Centre and lead author of the paper.

“However, thousands of objects are known to travel beyond the orbit of Neptune.”

“It is even suspected that there are tens of thousands of objects over 100 kilometers in diameter.”

“Surprisingly, many of these TNOs travel on eccentric orbits that are inclined with respect to the common orbital plane of the planets in our solar system.”

In this study, Dr. Falzner and her colleagues compared the properties of observed TNOs with thousands of flyby simulations to determine specific properties of stellar flybys that could potentially reproduce all of the different TNO populations, their locations, and relative abundances.

They Found A flyby of a 0.8 solar mass star at a distance of 110 AU could explain the inclined and highly eccentric orbits of known TNOs.

“We can even infer the orbits of very distant objects, such as Sedna, a dwarf planet discovered in the outermost solar system in 2003,” Dr Pfalzner said.

“There are also objects moving in orbits that are almost perpendicular to the planet's orbit.”

“Such flybys could even explain the orbits of two objects moving in the opposite direction to the planet: 2008 KV42 and 2011 KT19.”

“The best match we found in our simulations for the outer solar system today is a star that is slightly lighter than our Sun, about 0.8 times its mass,” said Dr Amis Govind, also of the Jülich research centre.

“It traveled about 16.5 billion kilometers from the Sun, which is about 110 times the distance between Earth and the Sun and just under four times the distance to the outermost planet, Neptune.”

Astrophysicists were surprised Found The irregular moons orbiting the giant planets in the solar system in distant, inclined, and eccentric orbits are actually TNOs that were launched into the inner solar system by close passes of their stars.

“Some of these objects could have been captured as moons by giant planets,” said Dr Simon Portegies Zwart, an astrophysicist at Leiden University.

“This would explain why the outer planets in our solar system have two different types of moons.”

“In contrast to regular moons, which orbit their planets in circular orbits close to the planet, irregular moons orbit their planets at greater distances in inclined, elongated orbits.”

“Until now, there has been no explanation for this phenomenon.”

“The beauty of this model is its simplicity. With just one source, it answers several outstanding questions about our solar system,” Dr Pfalzner said.

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Susanne Falzner othersOrbits of flybys of stars that formed the outer solar system. Nat AstronPublished online September 4, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02349-x

Susanne Falzner others2024. A close flyby of a star could inject an irregular moon from outside the solar system. Apu JL 972, L21;doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ad63a6

Source: www.sci.news

New study suggests Gobekli Tepe carvings reveal the world’s oldest solar calendar

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Göbekli Tepe, an archaeological site in southern Turkey, features several Neolithic temple-like enclosures decorated with many intricately carved symbols.

Göbekli Tepe, Enclosure D, Pillar 43. Image courtesy of Alistair Coombs.

Göbekli Tepe (Turkish for “Pot-bellied Hill”) is one of the oldest known examples of an artificial megalithic structure constructed by prehistoric builders specifically for ritual purposes.

Its impressive monumental architecture was built by a group of hunter-gatherers during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period between 9600 and 8200 BC.

Göbekli Tepe was discovered towards the end of the last century in a hillside overlooking the Harran Plain.

It lies between the upper reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, about 12 km northeast of the modern city of Şanlıurfa, known as Ancient Urfa and said to be the birthplace of the biblical Abraham.

Excavations at Göbekli Tepe, which began in 1994, have uncovered four large, nearly circular enclosures and a number of smaller, generally rectangular, buildings.

Each circular enclosure consists of rough stone walls with T-shaped megalithic pillars inset around two centrally located tall T-shaped pillars, which are usually fixed within stone sockets.

Archaeologists initially thought that Göbekli Tepe was merely a religious center, but recent excavations have revealed that it also contained a settlement of rectangular buildings, now thought to be homes.

The large enclosures are still considered “special” buildings, although there is debate as to whether they had a specific religious purpose or were large homes for powerful families.

In the context of this debate, it is debated whether the largest pillars represent gods or even worshipped ancestors.

In any case, it is generally believed that these large enclosures were roofed, but hard evidence is elusive.

A round-elliptical monumental structure with a distinctive T-shaped monolithic pillar at Göbekli Tepe, Turkey. Image credit: Nico Becker, Göbekli Tepe Archive, German Archaeological Institute.

“The largest complete enclosure discovered so far, Enclosure D (30 metres, 98 feet wide), has the oldest radiocarbon date yet obtained from the site, dating to 9530 BC,” said archaeologist David Schneider of the University of Edinburgh. paper Published in the journal Time and Heart.

“This date corresponds roughly to the end of the Younger Dryas period, at the boundary between the Epipaleolithic and Neolithic, when the Northern Hemisphere climate suddenly warmed after a near-glacial Younger Dryas climate that lasted for more than 1,200 years.”

“However, the date of the earliest occupation of Göbekli Tepe is unknown,” he added.

“Ground penetrating radar scans indicate that there appear to be several other large structures near the center of the main trail, waiting to be discovered.”

“Since only a small portion of the site's surface has been excavated, and even less has been excavated down to bedrock, the origins of Göbekli Tepe may ultimately be dated back to a time closer to the beginning of the Younger Dryas period, around 10,800 BC.”

“In fact, scientists have suggested it may have originated in the Paleolithic period.”

In a new analysis of the V-shaped symbols carved into the pillars at Göbekli Tepe, Dr Sweatman found that each V likely represents a day.

This interpretation allowed researchers to count a 365-day solar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months and 11 extra days on one of the pillars.

The summer solstice was considered a special day, and a V was drawn around the neck of a bird-like beast, which was thought to represent the summer solstice constellation at the time.

Other statues believed to represent gods were found nearby, all with similar V-shaped markings around their necks.

As both lunar and solar cycles are depicted, the carving may represent the world's oldest known lunisolar calendar, based on the phases of the moon and the position of the sun, predating any other known calendar of this type by thousands of years.

Detail of the center section of Pillar 43 at Göbekli Tepe. Image courtesy of Martin B. Sweatman, doi: 10.1080/1751696X.2024.2373876.

“Ancient people may have created these carvings at Göbekli Tepe to record the date when a swarm of cometary fragments hit Earth about 13,000 years ago, i.e. in 10,850 BC,” the scientists said.

“The cometary impact is thought to have caused a mini-glacial period lasting more than 1,200 years and led to the extinction of many large animal species.”

“It may also have triggered changes in lifestyle and agriculture that are associated with the emergence of civilisations in the Fertile Crescent of Western Asia shortly thereafter.”

Another pillar at the site appears to depict the Taurid meteor shower, which emanated over a 27-day period from the direction of Aquarius and Pisces, and is thought to be the source of cometary debris.

The discovery also appears to confirm that ancient peoples were able to use precession — the wobble of the Earth's axis that affects the movement of the constellations in the sky — to record dates at least 10,000 years before it was recorded by the ancient Greek Hipparchus in 150 BC.

The carvings appear to have been important to the people of Göbekli Tepe for thousands of years, suggesting that the impact event may have sparked new cults and religions that influenced the development of the civilization.

The discovery also supports the theory that Earth's orbit crosses the path of orbiting cometary debris that we normally experience as meteor showers, increasing the chances that Earth will face cometary impacts.

“The inhabitants of Göbekli Tepe are likely to have been avid skywatchers, which is not surprising given that their world was devastated by a cometary impact,” Dr Sweatman said.

“This event may have marked the beginning of a new religion and may have sparked civilization by encouraging the development of agriculture to cope with the cold climate.”

“Perhaps their attempt to record what they saw was the first step towards the development of writing thousands of years later.”

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Martin B. Sweatman. The representations of calendar and time at Göbekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe support an astronomical interpretation of their symbols. Time and HeartPublished online July 24, 2024, doi: 10.1080/1751696X.2024.2373876

Source: www.sci.news

Is it possible to embark on a space journey with the entire solar system?

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Dead Planets Society is a podcast that explores wild ideas for manipulating the universe and tests their impact on the laws of physics, from splitting the moon to triggering doomsday events with gravitational waves. apple, Spotify Or visit our podcast page.

The thrilling adventure begins: In the season finale of Dead Planets Society, hosts Chelsea Whyte and Leah Crane propel Earth on a cosmic journey through our solar system.

Of course, sending Earth into space without its home planet would result in a dark, frigid voyage that would extinguish all life on Earth. And without anyone to witness the wonders of the universe, the journey would be meaningless. That’s why we need to bring the Sun along. The other planets are just a bonus.

Naturally, relocating the Sun is a monumental task, especially in terms of maintaining the orbits of the planets around it. This is where astrophysicists Jay Farihi and researchers from University College London come to the rescue in the episode.

One proposed solution is to construct a colossal warp drive, a self-contained space-time bubble that moves by distorting the space ahead of it. However, these theoretical devices are known for potentially enabling faster-than-light travel, and the key to keeping all planets tethered to the Sun is moving at a slow pace. Unfortunately, we have yet to figure out how to build such a device.

Another idea involves placing a black hole just ahead of the Sun to give it a slight boost – the black hole would then need to move along with the Sun, or alternatively, a series of black holes could traverse the Solar System in a cosmic relay race.

While these notions may seem far-fetched, there are more plausible concepts – though still improbable – such as deploying giant solar sails or inserting an unbreakable tube into the Sun to release high-pressure plasma jets.

The universe offers countless destinations that our hosts would love to explore with our now navigable solar system, ranging from star clusters to nebulae to supermassive black holes – all it requires is a few technological breakthroughs to make it a reality.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers suggest new technological signal: silicon solar panels

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in New paper Published in Astrophysical JournalDr. Ravi Kopparapu of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and colleagues assessed the detectability of silicon solar panels on Earth-like exoplanets as potential technological signatures.

Conceptual illustration of an exoplanet with an advanced extraterrestrial civilization. The structure on the right is an orbiting solar panel array that collects light from the parent star, converts it into electricity and transmits it via microwaves to the surface. The exoplanet on the left shows other potential technological features: on the night side there are city lights (the glowing circular structures), and on the day side there are multi-colored clouds representing various forms of pollution, such as nitrogen dioxide gas from the burning of fossil fuels and chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigeration. Image credit: NASA/Jay Freidlander.

“The search for extraterrestrial life has primarily focused on detecting biosignatures – remote observations of atmospheric or ground-based spectral properties that indicate signs of life on exoplanets,” said Dr Kopparapu and his co-authors.

“Recently, there has been a rise in interest in technosignatures, which refer to observational signs of extraterrestrial technology that can be detected or inferred through astronomical surveys.”

“While the search for extraterrestrial intelligence through radio observations has been popular for decades, recent studies have proposed an alternative: searching for technological signatures in the ultraviolet to mid-infrared spectral range.”

Astronomers speculate that extraterrestrials might build solar panels out of silicon because it is relatively abundant compared to other elements used in solar power generation, such as germanium, gallium, and arsenic.

Silicon is also excellent at converting light emitted by stars like the Sun into electricity, and it is cost-effective to mine and manufacture into solar cells.

The researchers also assume that a hypothetical extraterrestrial civilization would rely solely on solar energy.

However, if other energy sources, such as nuclear fusion, were used, the technological signature of silicon would be diminished, making the civilization even more difficult to detect.

Furthermore, they assume that the population of the civilization will stabilize at some point, and if for some reason this does not happen, they may end up expanding the Eternal Father into deep space.

For the study, scientists used computer models and NASA satellite data to simulate Earth-like planets with different degrees of silicon solar panel coverage.

They then modeled an advanced telescope, like NASA’s proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory, to see if it could detect the solar panels of a planet about 30 light-years away, a relatively close galaxy that is more than 100,000 light-years across.

The researchers found that hundreds of hours of observation time would be required with this type of telescope to detect signals from solar panels covering about 23% of the land area of ​​an Earth-like exoplanet.

However, the solar panel coverage needed to support 30 billion people with a high standard of living was only around 8.9%.

“We find that even if the current population of around 8 billion were to stabilise to a high standard of living of 30 billion and run solely on solar energy for power, it would still use far less energy than the total amount of sunlight illuminating the Earth,” Dr Kopparap said.

The research has implications on the Fermi Paradox, proposed by physicist Enrico Fermi, which asks why extraterrestrial civilizations have not spread across the galaxy by now, given that our own Milky Way galaxy is ancient and vast, making interstellar travel difficult but possible.

“This suggests that if a civilisation chooses a very high standard of living, it may not feel the need to expand across the galaxy because it can achieve sustainable population and energy use levels,” Dr Kopparap said.

“They may expand within their own star system, or neighboring star systems, but there may not be a galaxy-wide civilization.”

“Furthermore, our own technological expertise may not yet be able to predict what more advanced civilizations will be able to achieve.”

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Ravi Kopparap others2024. Detectability of Solar Panels as a Technology Signature. ApJ 967, 119; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad43d7

This article is based on a press release provided by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news

Small drones powered by solar energy could fly indefinitely

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CoulombFly, a prototype of a small solar-powered drone

Wei Shen, Jingze Peng, and Mingjin Qi

Weighing just 4 grams, the drone is the smallest solar-powered aircraft ever to fly, thanks to special electrostatic motors that generate extremely high voltages and tiny solar panels. Though the hummingbird-sized prototype only lasted an hour, developers say the approach could lead to insect-sized drones that can remain airborne indefinitely.

Small drones are an attractive solution to a variety of problems in communications, espionage and search and rescue, but they suffer from short battery life, while solar-powered drones struggle to generate enough power to be self-sustaining.

When solar-powered drones are made smaller, the solar panels become smaller and the amount of available energy decreases. Minjin Chee Researchers from China's Beihang University say the efficiency of electric motors also declines as more energy is lost as heat.

To avoid this decay cycle, Qi and his colleagues developed a simple circuit that boosts the voltage generated by solar panels to between 6,000 and 9,000 volts. They powered the 10-centimeter rotors using an electrostatic propulsion system, rather than using electromagnetic motors like those used in electric cars, quadcopters, and a variety of robots.

The motor works by alternately attracting and repelling charged parts arranged in a ring, generating torque to spin a single rotor blade like a helicopter. The lightweight parts are made from ultra-thin carbon fiber covered with very delicate aluminum foil. The high voltage requirement is actually an advantage, as the current is reduced, resulting in very little heat loss.

“T“The motor generates very little heat because the operating current is very low for the same power output. The motor's high efficiency and low power consumption allow the vehicle to be powered by very small solar panels,” Qi said. “For the first time, we have successfully flown a micro air vehicle using natural light; previously, this was only achievable with very large ultralight aircraft.”

The machine, which the researchers call the “CoulombFly,” weighs just 4.21 grams and could fly for an hour before it failed. Qi says these weaknesses can be eliminated by design, and future versions could fly essentially indefinitely, using solar panels during the day and powering themselves from radio signals like 4G or Wi-Fi at night.

CoulombFly has a payload capacity of 1.59 grams, allowing it to carry small sensors, computers, and cameras, but with improved designs, the researchers believe this can be increased to 4 grams, and the fixed-wing version could carry up to 30 grams. An even smaller version of CoulombFly, with rotors less than 1 centimeter in diameter, is also in development.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

California is facing an unexpected energy challenge due to excessive solar power use

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Solar panels have become a common sight in suburban neighborhoods in California. However, the state’s ambitious clean energy vision has led to a unique challenge – sometimes producing more solar energy than it can use effectively, resulting in wastage of clean energy.

This excess of solar energy has resulted in a phenomenon known as the “duck curve,” where solar generation surpasses demand. This issue is most pronounced on sunny spring days when demand for electricity is low.

The surplus energy is often exported to other parts of the Western U.S. due to California’s grid connectivity, but in some cases, it may need to be curtailed. Independent System Operator data shows that California has lost a significant amount of renewable energy this year, primarily solar power.

To address this challenge, proposals have been made to increase electricity supply through additional transmission lines and more battery installations to store excess power. However, recent changes in financial incentives for homeowners installing solar power have negatively impacted the rooftop solar industry in California.

Despite the setbacks, Governor Gavin Newsom remains optimistic about California’s clean energy progress, pointing out the state’s significant solar power generation and increasing battery installations. Critics of the incentive changes argue that it could lead to higher energy costs for non-solar customers and hinder the state’s transition to renewable energy.

As California navigates these challenges on its path to achieving 100% clean energy by 2045, the state’s decisions are closely watched by other states considering similar transitions. The rooftop solar industry plays a crucial role in this transition, as highlighted by industry experts.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

What If the Earth Was the Center of the Solar System?

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Dead Planets Society is a podcast that takes some crazy ideas for how to tinker with the universe and tests their effects against the laws of physics, from snapping the moon in half to causing doomsday events with gravitational waves. apple, Spotify Or check out our podcast page.

By the end of the 16th century, pretty much everyone knew that the Earth revolved around the Sun, not the other way around. This was a huge blow to those who thought the Earth was the center of the universe, but the Dead Planets Society is here to ease their disappointment. Yes, we're trying to revive geocentrism.

Putting Earth at the center of the solar system requires more than just fudging the math: The Sun is much more massive than our puny planet, so forcing it to orbit the Sun would be nearly impossible, so hosts Chelsea White and Leah Crane would have to make some major changes to the solar system as we know it.

In this episode, Andy Rivkin Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland say the only way to make Earth an Earth-centered solar system would be to make it the most massive thing around – which would have some strange effects, assuming it doesn't collapse the planet into a black hole.

First, the Moon would have to speed up to maintain its orbit, orbiting the Earth in an hour or so before it would break apart. If the remaining planets didn't speed up too, they would all crash into the new giant Earth within a decade or two. The Earth's extra mass could also disrupt other nearby stars, causing them to start attracting it to Earth. A victorious Earth-centered solar system might not last long, but it would certainly come to a dramatic end.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Is an aging NASA probe redefining the limits of our solar system?

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NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is hurtling out of our solar system at incredible speed. It’s currently about 8 billion kilometers from the Sun, and by the time you finish reading this article, it will be thousands of kilometers further into the frigid darkness. Space is lonely; even the giant planet Jupiter is just a tiny speck.

New Horizons is best known for getting the first proper glimpses of the dwarf planet Pluto in 2015, which it had previously only seen as a faint smudge. It also taught us a lot about the outer solar system and the tiny frozen worlds that float there. “It’s really been an Alice in Wonderland kind of story,” says Alan Stern, the mission’s principal investigator. “It’s been a magical experience, and we’ve made some amazing discoveries.”

But the dream isn’t over yet, because New Horizons may make a surprise final move. In early 2024, one of New Horizons’ detectors recorded an unexpected increase in the amount of dust it encountered. That material could have been created by collisions between rocky fragments, and astronomers now suspect that there may be many objects beyond the rubble-strewn Kuiper Belt, often considered the edge of the solar system. If so, the boundaries of the solar system would need to be redrawn, calling into question models of the formation of the solar system.

Stern and his colleagues are clearly hoping to take advantage of the rover’s unique location to learn more about this unexplored wilderness while they still can. “This is…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Our Solar System passed through a frigid interstellar cloud approximately 2 million years ago, new research reveals.

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A cold, dense cloud in the Milky Way’s interstellar medium is about four to five orders of magnitude denser than its diffuse counterparts, and a team of astronomers from Boston University, Harvard University, and Johns Hopkins University has found evidence that two to three million years ago, our solar system encountered one of these dense clouds, which may have been so dense that it disrupted the solar wind.

Offers othersThe interstellar material through which the Sun has traveled over the past few million years indicates the presence of cold, dense clouds that could have had dramatic effects on the heliosphere. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Most stars generate winds that move through the surrounding interstellar medium.

This motion creates a cocoon that protects the planet from interstellar material. The Sun’s cocoon is the heliosphere.

It’s made up of a constant stream of charged particles called the solar wind, which extends far beyond Pluto, enveloping the planet in what astronomers call a “local bubble.”

It protects us from radiation and galactic rays that can alter DNA, and scientists think it’s part of the reason why life on Earth evolved.

A cold interstellar cloud compressed the heliosphere, temporarily placing Earth and other planets in the solar system outside of its influence, according to a new study.

“Our paper is the first to quantitatively show that there was an encounter between the Sun and something outside our solar system that affected Earth’s climate,” said Professor Merab Auffar of Boston University.

“Stars move, and this paper shows that not only do they move, but they undergo dramatic changes.”

To study this phenomenon, Professor Orpher and his colleagues essentially went back in time and used advanced computer models to visualize where the Sun was located two million years ago, along with the heliosphere and the rest of the solar system.

They also mapped the path of a “localized cold cloud ribbon” system, a series of large, dense and very cold clouds made mainly of hydrogen atoms.

Their simulations showed that one of the clouds near the edge of the ribbon, a “local cold cloud,” may have collided with the heliosphere.

If this had happened, Earth would have been fully exposed to interstellar matter, where gases and dust would have mixed with atomic elements left over from the exploded star, such as iron and plutonium.

Normally, the heliosphere filters out most of these radioactive particles, but without protection they could easily reach Earth.

This is consistent with geological evidence showing increased levels of the isotopes iron-60 and plutonium-244 in the oceans, the moon, Antarctic snow and ice cores from the same period, according to the paper.

This timing also coincides with temperature records indicating a cold period.

“It is rare for our cosmic neighbors outside our solar system to have an impact on life on Earth,” said Harvard University professor Avi Loeb.

“It’s exciting to discover that our passage through dense clouds millions of years ago may have exposed the Earth to much greater amounts of cosmic rays and atomic hydrogen.”

“Our findings open a new window into the evolution of life on Earth and its relationship with our cosmic neighbours.”

“External pressure from localized lynxes of cold clouds could have continuously blocked the heliosphere for hundreds to millions of years, depending on the size of the cloud.”

“But as soon as Earth left the cold cloud, the heliosphere engulfed all the planets, including Earth.”

“It’s impossible to know exactly what effect the cold clouds had on the Earth, such as whether they caused ice ages.”

“But there are other cool clouds in the interstellar medium that the Sun likely encountered in its first few billion years.”

“And we’ll probably encounter many more over the next million years or so.”

The authors are currently working to determine where the Sun was 7 million years ago, and beyond.

Pinpointing the position of the Sun and cold cloud systems millions of years ago is made possible by data collected by ESA’s Gaia mission, which has produced the largest 3D map of the galaxy ever, showing in unprecedented detail how fast stars move.

“This cloud is certainly from our past, and if we passed through something this massive, we would have been exposed to interstellar material,” Prof Auffar said.

“This is just the beginning. We hope this paper opens the door to further exploration of how the solar system was influenced by outside forces in the ancient past, and how these forces may have shaped life on Earth.”

of paper Published in today’s journal Natural Astronomy.

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M. Offer othersIt is possible that Earth was directly exposed to cold, dense interstellar material 2 to 3 million years ago. Nat AstronPublished online June 10, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02279-8

Source: www.sci.news

Juno captures the reddest object in the solar system: Amalthea

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NASA’s Juno spacecraft captured these views of the small red moon Amalthea and its parent planet during a flyby on March 7, 2024.

These views of Jupiter, captured by Juno on March 7, 2024, during its 59th flyby of the giant planet, offer a good look at Jupiter’s colorful bands and swirling storms, including the Great Red Spot. can. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt.

Amalthea, also known as Jupiter V, is Jupiter’s third moon in order of distance from the gas giant.

Discovered in 1892 by American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard, the Moon is irregular and measures approximately 250 x 146 x 128 km (155 x 91 x 80 miles).

Amalthea orbits Jupiter at a distance of 181,400 km (112,717 miles) and takes 0.498 Earth days to complete one orbit.

Each time it orbits Jupiter, it rotates once on its axis, always keeping the same side facing the planet.

Amalthea is the reddest object in the solar system and appears to emit more heat from the Sun than it receives.

This is likely due to the fact that the moon’s core contains electrical currents as it orbits within Jupiter’s strong magnetic field.

Alternatively, the heat could be due to tidal forces.

These images from Juno show Jupiter’s small moon Amalthea. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt.

“Amalthea is potato-shaped and lacks the mass to pull it into a sphere,” the Juno scientists said.

“In 2000, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft revealed several surface features, including impact craters, hills, and valleys.”

“Amalthea orbits Jupiter inside the orbit of Io. Io is the innermost of Jupiter’s four large moons and takes 0.498 Earth days to orbit.”

“At the time the first of these two images was taken, Juno was approximately 265,000 kilometers above Jupiter’s clouds and at a latitude of approximately 5 degrees north of the equator,” the researchers added.

“Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstedt created these images using raw data from Juno’s JunoCam instrument and applied processing techniques that enhance the clarity of the images.”

Source: www.sci.news

Study shows ability to capture solar radiation at 1,922 degrees Fahrenheit

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As the world focuses on decarbonizing power and transportation, reducing heat emissions from industrial processes remains a challenge. Although using solar energy is an attractive alternative, current solar converters have poor performance and are expensive when process temperatures above 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit) are required. In a new study, scientists at ETH Zurich show that the heat-trapping effect caused by exposing common translucent materials (such as quartz or water) to solar radiation absorbs sunlight by suppressing radiation losses at high temperatures. We have shown how the viability of the photoreceiver can be increased. They demonstrated this effect experimentally at industrially relevant temperatures of 1,050 degrees Celsius (1,922 degrees Fahrenheit).

Casati other. The solar capture effect was experimentally demonstrated at temperatures as high as 1,050 degrees Celsius. They performed stagnation experiments under concentrated thermal radiation and achieved a steady-state temperature difference of about 600 degrees Celsius between the absorber and the outer surface by using quartz as a volumetric absorption medium.Image credit: Casati other., doi: 10.1016/j.device.2024.100399.

“To tackle climate change, we need to decarbonize energy in general,” said Dr. Emiliano Casati, a researcher at ETH Zurich.

“Electricity can only be thought of as energy, but in reality, about half of that energy is used as heat.”

Glass, steel, cement, and ceramics are at the heart of modern civilization, essential to the construction of everything from car engines to skyscrapers.

However, manufacturing these materials requires temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees Celsius and relies heavily on the combustion of fossil fuels for heat. These industries account for approximately 25% of global energy consumption.

Researchers have been exploring clean energy alternatives using solar receivers that concentrate and store heat with thousands of sun-tracking mirrors.

However, this technology has difficulty transmitting solar energy efficiently at temperatures above 1,000 degrees Celsius.

To increase the efficiency of solar receivers, Dr. Casati and his colleagues turned to translucent materials such as quartz that can trap sunlight. This is a phenomenon called the thermal trap effect.

The researchers created a heat-trapping device by attaching synthetic quartz rods to opaque silicon disks as energy absorbers.

When the device was exposed to an energy flux equivalent to 136 solar rays, the absorber plate reached a temperature of 1,050 degrees Celsius, while the other end of the quartz rod remained at 600 degrees Celsius (1,112 degrees Fahrenheit).

“Previous studies have only been able to demonstrate heat-trapping effects up to 170 degrees Celsius (338 degrees Fahrenheit),” Dr. Casati said.

“Our research shows that solar heat capture works not only at low temperatures, but also at temperatures well above 1,000 degrees Celsius. This is very important to demonstrate its potential in real-world industrial applications. is.”

The scientists also simulated the heat-trapping efficiency of quartz under various conditions using a heat transfer model.

The model showed that the heat trap achieves the target temperature at a lower concentration with the same performance, or the same concentration and higher thermal efficiency.

For example, a state-of-the-art (unshielded) receiver has an efficiency of 40% at 1,200 degrees Celsius (2,192 degrees Fahrenheit) and a concentration of 500 suns.

A 300 mm quartz shielded receiver achieves 70% efficiency at the same temperature and concentration.

A concentration of at least 1,000 suns is required for equivalent performance with an unshielded receiver.

The authors are currently optimizing the heat trapping effect and investigating new applications of the method. So far, their research is promising.

By studying other materials, such as various fluids and gases, even higher temperatures could be reached.

They also noted that the ability of these translucent materials to absorb light and radiation is not limited to solar radiation.

“Energy issues are fundamental to the survival of our society,” Dr. Casati said.

“Solar energy is readily available and the technology already exists.”

“To truly accelerate industry adoption, we need to demonstrate the economic viability and benefits of this technology at scale.”

The team's results were published online today. journal device.

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Emiliano Casati other. Captures solar heat over 1,000℃. device, published online on May 15, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.device.2024.100399

Source: www.sci.news