An international team of scientists has discovered planetary waves of vorticity on and inside the Sun similar to those that significantly influence weather on Earth. These solar Rossby waves are gigantic in size and contribute half of the Sun's large-scale kinetic energy, with wavelengths comparable to the solar radius.
Scientists have discovered two derivatives of glucosinolates in meadowfoam seedmeal that protect human skin cells from UV damage, inhibiting DNA crosslinking and collagen breakdown. These compounds show potential as anti-aging agents and skin care products.
New research estimates total and per-case costs of newly diagnosed non-melanoma skin cancers in Canada in 2011 due to workplace sun exposure. The study found that the two most common types of non-melanoma skin cancer cost $5,760 and $10,555 per case respectively.
A study of 32 children under 10 found significant DNA damage from small amounts of sun exposure, similar to levels in Danish adults. Parents are advised to use rigorous protection measures and consider vitamin D supplements.
Astronomers have revealed the 'DNA' of over 340,000 stars in the Milky Way, tracing their ancestry and composition. The GALAH survey aims to make DNA matches between stars to find long-lost sisters and brothers of the Sun.
Rochester researchers have developed a technique using the flying focus concept to better control the intensity of lasers over longer distances. By capturing fast-moving movies, they can manipulate the focal velocity and produce high-intensity light sources with novel wavelengths.
Research suggests that living in areas with more sunlight, particularly UV-B rays, can lower the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Exposure in childhood and young adulthood is also linked to reduced risk. The study found a 45% reduced risk of MS in those living in sunnier climates compared to those with low UV-B ray exposure.
Researchers detect heat produced by Alfvén waves in a sunspot, shedding light on the Sun's extremely high temperatures. The discovery opens up new understanding of this phenomenon and its potential applications in energy reactors and medical devices.
Scientists used NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory to study a massive sunspot group and found that a magnetic cage prevented a coronal mass ejection (CME) from erupting. The model showed that the conflict between the magnetic rope and cage led to a powerful X-class flare instead.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) begins its annual eclipse season, which lasts three weeks. During this period, Earth blocks SDO's view of the Sun for short periods, typically lasting from 2-72 minutes.
A NASA team studied the motion of Mercury to indirectly measure the Sun's mass loss and solar parameters. The research improved upon earlier predictions, reducing uncertainty and providing a more accurate estimate of the rate of solar mass loss.
A team from Aarhus University has discovered a star with similar characteristics to the Sun, allowing for the observation of its 7.4-year cycle. The star's heavy elements led to stronger magnetic field variability and surface rotation patterns. This study could help understand how the Sun affects our climate.
Astronomers have imaged the surface of a red giant star, π1 Gruis, in unprecedented detail. The star's photosphere features just a few convective cells, or granules, which are much larger than those on our Sun.
Researchers found a specific fusion gene in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma lesions exposed to the sun, which may play a role in cancers caused by ultraviolet irradiation. The discovery could lead to improved diagnostics and therapies for this type of skin cancer.
Researchers gathered data on Sun's atmosphere and its impact on Earth's atmosphere, revealing new insights into the Sun-Earth connection. The eclipse also provided an opportunity to test models of the ionosphere's effects on communication signals.
Scientists have discovered oscillations in solar flares that exhibit pulses or oscillations in the amount of energy being sent out. These findings offer new insights into the origins of massive solar flares and their effects on space weather.
A team of astronomers observed the surface of a red giant star, similar to the Sun, using ALMA. The research revealed powerful shock waves and unexpected heat in its atmosphere, challenging current theoretical models.
Researchers used biblical and ancient Egyptian texts to determine an annular solar eclipse on 30 October 1207 BC, which could help date the Egyptian pharaohs, including Ramesses the Great. This calculation enables precise dating of their reigns with a one-year precision.
A University of Colorado Cancer Center study finds a genetic change called ALK-fusion in a patient sample of a melanoma subtype called mucosal melanoma. Treated with FDA-approved drugs, the tumor responded dramatically. The study suggests that these non-sun-exposed melanomas may be more susceptible to targeted treatments.
A new model reveals that neutral particles facilitate magnetic field penetration through the Sun's surface, producing spicules. This leads to the generation of Alfvén waves, which are thought to heat the sun's atmosphere and propel the solar wind.
A NASA sounding rocket instrument has spotted signatures of tiny solar flares, known as nanoflares, in the Sun's outer atmosphere. These tiny energy releases could be contributing to the high temperatures observed in the corona, with further research needed to determine their exact impact.
Dr. Yuze Sun is developing an optofluidic gas-analyzing microsystem to detect biomarkers in human exhaled breath for early stage lung cancer detection. The technology aims to replace invasive biopsies and needle pokes with a non-invasive screening method.
A team led by UCLA professor David Jewitt has identified a primitive comet, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS), 1.5 billion miles from the sun. The discovery allows scientists to monitor the comet's activity over an extraordinary range of distances.
A team led by University of Iowa physicist Craig Kletzing has won $1.25 million from NASA to conceptualize a potential mission to study the interactions between the sun and Earth's magnetic fields. The mission, called TRACERS, aims to better understand how the solar wind affects our planet and its technology.
Researchers used supercomputers to create highly-detailed solar simulations, timed to the moment of the eclipse, which provided a preview of the solar corona's appearance. The simulations included improved treatments of energy transport and magnetic shear, increasing the accuracy of the predictions.
Researchers used Stampede2 supercomputer to forecast solar eclipse corona, shedding light on sun's structure and space weather. The simulations, completed with NASA's Pleiades and other computers, provided highly detailed models of the sun's surface and predicted the solar corona's appearance during the Aug. 21 eclipse.
Scientists will measure lower corona in fine detail using new instruments during the Aug. 21, 2017 eclipse. This data will help characterize complex magnetic field and predict space weather events.
A solar filament rose from the surface of the Sun but collapsed due to invisible magnetic forces, preventing an eruption. Scientists used data from multiple NASA observatories and ground-based telescopes to track the event and develop a model that explains how the Sun's magnetic landscape terminates eruptions.
Scientists will use automated communication signals to probe the ionosphere's behavior during the Aug. 21 eclipse, providing insights into mechanisms underlying ionospheric changes. The study will help improve understanding of the Sun's impact on Earth's atmosphere and navigation signal interference.
Researchers have accurately measured the Sun's core rotation rate, discovering it takes just one week for the core to complete a full rotation. This groundbreaking finding has the potential to refine models of the Sun's birth, evolution, and structure, shedding new light on its internal dynamics.
A sunspot, dubbed AR12665, was tracked by NASA's satellites as it rotated into view on July 5, 2017. The active region produced several solar flares, a coronal mass ejection, and a solar energetic particle event over its 13-day journey.
A new study reveals the elemental composition of the Sun's corona is strongly linked to its 11-year solar magnetic activity cycle. This discovery suggests that changes in magnetic activity may influence the heating of the Sun's corona, and potentially other star atmospheres.
Scientists have discovered evidence of a type of seismic wave in the Sun using data from NASA's SOHO. The waves, called g-modes, reveal that the solar core is rotating approximately once every week, nearly four times faster than its surface.
Scientists will use twin telescopes on NASA's WB-57F jet planes to capture high-resolution images of the Sun's outer atmosphere and thermal images of Mercury. The observations aim to study coronal heating and temperature variation across Mercury's surface.
A new study resolves the ongoing debate about the Sun's cyclic behavior by showing it follows the same pattern as other nearby solar-type stars. The research suggests that the Sun's magnetic cycle depends on its rotation rate and luminosity, advancing scientists' understanding of stellar magnetic fields.
A new sunspot group has emerged on the sun, with its dark core larger than Earth, in a video captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory between July 5-11, 2017. This is the first sunspot to appear after two days of solar spotlessness during the sun's regular 11-year cycle.
Researchers studied the Sun using sound waves to find that its significant magnetic activity layer has grown thinner in recent years. This change is being investigated as a possible cause of unusual solar activity.
Comet 174P/Echeclus, part of the centaur population, exhibits unusual emission activity despite low temperatures, suggesting it may be more fragile than other comets. The study provides insights into comet composition and formation, potentially shedding light on the origins of life.
A computer simulation, taking a year to run, shows how spicules form on the sun's surface by incorporating neutral particles. The model suggests spicules play a key role in energizing the sun's atmosphere and generating Alfvén waves.
Spicules are violently driven jets of plasma that occur thousands of times per day, yet their origin is poorly understood. The new model resolves this mystery by explaining how magnetic fields and solar plasma interact to generate spicules.
Researchers found that nearly all sunlike stars form with a companion, but these companions often escape and merge with other stars. The study's findings have implications for the origins of galaxies and suggest that many stars are born in pairs, like our sun and its long-lost sibling.
The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) caught a partial solar eclipse in space when the moon passed in front of the sun. The lunar transit lasted almost an hour and covered about 89% of the sun's surface. The moon's rugged terrain, sprinkled with craters and mountains, influenced what was seen during the event.
A NASA model has simulated stealth solar storms from the sun, showing how slow and quiet processes can create massive magnetic field twists that speed out into space without warning. The models match space-based observations, revealing a complex process that generates energy over two weeks.
The RAISE mission will take 1,500 images of the sun's surface in just five minutes, providing high-cadence observations of its dynamic processes. By analyzing these images, scientists can study solar flares and massive eruptions, gaining insights into the sun's complex magnetic activity.
New data from NASA's Cassini mission, combined with measurements from Voyager spacecraft and IBEX, suggests that the sun's magnetic field creates a rounded heliosphere, rather than a comet-shaped structure. The study reveals that the heliosphere is nearly symmetrical, which could impact how cosmic rays reach the inner solar system.
Patients with hyperpigmentation are more likely to use sunscreen, but few report reapplying it regularly. The study found that women and white/Hispanic patients were more likely to wear sunscreen, highlighting the importance of targeted education for these groups.
Researchers discovered Rossby waves on the sun, similar to jet streams on Earth, which may allow for long-term space weather forecasting. The waves drive solar flares and coronal mass ejections, enabling predictions of flare occurrences.
Asteroid Bee-Zed, orbiting the wrong way around the sun, has been playing a cosmic game of chicken with Jupiter for a million years. The asteroid's retrograde motion allows it to maintain a stable orbit despite its unusual path, thanks to Jupiter's gravity deflection.
A team of scientists has discovered large-scale planetary waves on the Sun, which may influence space weather and offer a new source of predictability. The discovery uses data from multiple satellites to identify and track coronal bright points, revealing bands of magnetized activity that propagate slowly across the Sun.
Astronomers have mapped the location of optical and ultraviolet light emitted by a star torn apart by a black hole. The team used Swift satellite observations to track the changes in brightness of various wavelengths, finding that they originated from elliptical streams of orbiting matter crashing into each other.
Researchers have identified mutations in the SF3B1 gene present in 37% of mucosal melanoma samples, which could lead to novel therapies. The study highlights the potential of targeting this gene in patients with advanced mucosal melanoma.
Spanish researchers estimated optimal UV radiation exposure times to synthesize vitamin D, highlighting the difficulty of achieving recommended doses in winter months. The study found that, even in sun-rich countries like Spain, excessive exposure times are required during winter to obtain the necessary vitamin D.
Two CDC studies examine indoor tanning and sun safety trends among US high school students. Indoor tanning rates dropped from 15.6% to 7.3% between 2009 and 2015, but sunburns remained common. Sun safety practices are also scarce in schools, with only 47.6% of schools implementing sunscreen application during class time.
A study found that while melanoma survivors limit sun exposure, some still seek out tans and get sunburns. Survivors reported suboptimal behaviors, with 20% getting sunburned in the previous year.
The GOES-16 SUVI instrument has successfully captured its first solar images, providing valuable data on coronal plasma temperatures and emission measurements. This will enable the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center to issue early warnings for potential geomagnetic storms impacting Earth's magnetic field.
Researchers have observed spectroscopically two distant asteroids and found their orbits are almost identical, suggesting a common origin. The team proposes that these asteroids were once a binary pair that separated after an encounter with a planet beyond Pluto's orbit.
Dr. Yujie Sun is exploring novel electrolyzers to produce hydrogen at lower energy input, potentially creating a safer and cleaner source of fuel. His research aims to develop an oxidative process that produces value-added organic products in the liquid phase.
Researchers have identified a new type of solar event and dated it to 5480 BC using carbon-14 levels in tree rings. The team proposes causes for the event, extending knowledge of the sun's behavior and its effects on Earth. The study provides new insights into the sun's activity during the mid-Holocene period.
Scientists are taking advantage of the rare opportunity to study the sun and Earth during the August 2017 total solar eclipse. The event will provide a chance to collect data only available during eclipses, including studying the corona and its effects on space weather.
The Fermi telescope has observed high-energy light from solar eruptions on the far side of the sun, which should block direct light. This allows scientists to study how charged particles are accelerated to nearly the speed of light during solar flares.