Articles tagged with Solar Physics
A Southwest Research Institute-led team observed a total solar eclipse from above the cloud cover using NASA's WB-57 aircraft. The mission revealed high-resolution images of the solar corona and a massive prominence erupting from the Sun, providing valuable insights into the Sun's outer atmosphere.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in solar physics by visualizing tiny plasma vortices on the Sun's surface. These vortices are changing our understanding of the Sun and its magnetic field, providing new perspectives on energy storage and release.
Researchers used the NSF Inouye Solar Telescope to capture high-resolution images of swirling vortices in the sun's photosphere, which are believed to be the 'engine' driving twisting magnetic field lines. This discovery could fundamentally change our understanding of solar dynamics and evolution.
A Southwest Research Institute-led study demonstrates PUNCH's potential to improve space weather forecasts by tracking fast coronal mass ejections and predicting their arrival times. The mission's high-fidelity data enables accurate forecasting, with retro-forecasts predicting arrival times within a 30-minute window.
Researchers suggest that extreme space weather may have far worse effects on Earth's technology than previously thought. The study, published in Nature, found a direct relationship between solar wind strength and electric currents in the upper atmosphere, indicating no upper limit to Earth's response.
The Sunrise III mission has provided a treasure trove of data on the Sun's dynamics, revealing new insights into its quiescent state and volatile behavior. The observatory captured image sequences at intervals of about a quarter of a second, revealing structures as small as 50 kilometers in size.
Scientists predict that New Horizons will encounter the termination shock as early as 2029 or as late as 2040, helping improve understanding of heliosphere interactions with interstellar space. The research aims to prepare for future missions exploring solar system boundaries.
A new telescope technology, featuring a metasurface component, can collect scientifically meaningful data from the Sun in a single snapshot. This technology solves problems in space missions by stabilizing telescopes and reducing costs.
A team at the University of Arizona discovered exceptionally fast and powerful galactic winds from quasars a billion years after the Big Bang. These winds could have caused galaxies to lose gas supplies, effectively shutting down star formation. The study suggests that quasars with extreme outflows were more common in the early univers...
Researchers at LMU Munich develop a surface treatment method to optimize the molecular contact in perovskite solar cells, resulting in improved efficiency, reproducibility, and stability. The approach provides a scalable solution for industry-compatible fabrication workflows.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research investigated how solar prominences form and what secrets their longevity holds. They found that multiple processes create a balance between material loss and supply, driven by magnetic fields and temperature gradients in the Sun's atmosphere.
Scientists in Japan developed a high-resolution X-ray telescope using precision mirror-making technology, capable of distinguishing objects 3.5 mm wide from 1 km away. The telescope was tested on the ground using a unique evaluation system before launch on the FOXSI sounding rocket mission.
A Southwest Research Institute-led study finds protons and heavy ions react differently to solar magnetic reconnection events, revealing a more complex magnetic engine. This new data contradicts current models, showing protons generate waves that scatter them more efficiently.
Researchers at NJIT analyzed nearly three decades of solar oscillation data to trace the Sun's magnetic engine, revealing a butterfly-shaped flow pattern in the deep solar interior. The findings point to the likely location of the star's magnetic engine deep beneath its surface, roughly 200,000 kilometers down.
A new tool developed by Southwest Research Institute and National Science Foundation's National Center for Atmospheric Research provides a first step toward forecasting space weather weeks in advance. The PINNBARDS framework connects surface observations of solar active regions to deep solar magnetic dynamics, offering potential for su...
Researchers discovered a star in the Andromeda Galaxy that vanished without going supernova, instead collapsing directly into a black hole. The team's analysis revealed the process of stellar collapse and provided evidence for convection's role in shaping a black hole's outer layers.
Dr. Stephen Fuselier, a renowned heliophysicist and member of the National Academy of Sciences, has been appointed vice president of SwRI's Space Science Division. He brings over four decades of experience in space science to lead the division.
A University of Arizona-led research team has measured the dynamics and ever-changing hot gas shell from where the solar wind originates. The study helps scientists answer fundamental questions about energy and matter moving through the heliosphere, affecting space weather events and planetary orbits.
Scientists used multiple space-based instruments to track the evolution of a solar eruption, observing how it reduced background cosmic-ray activity. This approach has potential for improving space-weather forecasting and protecting satellites, astronauts, and power grids.
The CoDICE instrument has successfully collected first-light data from IMAP, measuring energized particles from interstellar space, the solar wind, and solar energetic particles. This will provide a better understanding of our place in the universe by studying the interaction between the interstellar medium and the solar wind.
The PUNCH mission has made significant advancements in imaging the Sun's outer atmosphere and solar wind. The spacecraft has tracked enormous coronal mass ejections, providing a unique view of space weather events and their impact on our planet.
A SwRI-led study finds that quasi-periodic pulsations (QPPs) in solar flares are driven by dynamic oscillations in magnetic reconnection. This research could help refine traditional solar flare models, providing new insights into the mechanisms driving space weather.
Scientists have discovered small-scale torsional Alfvén waves in the Sun's corona, which are magnetic disturbances that can carry energy through plasma. These waves could power the Sun's outer atmosphere, reaching temperatures of millions of degrees.
The NASA IMAP mission aims to explore the boundary of the heliosphere, where solar material collides with interstellar space. The SwRI-developed CoDICE sensor will measure the distribution and composition of interstellar pickup ions.
The European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter mission has split energetic particles into two groups, tracing them back to distinct solar outbursts. Researchers found that one type of particle is connected to intense solar flares and the other to larger coronal mass ejections.
Astronomers captured dark coronal loop strands with unprecedented clarity during an X1.3-class flare, measuring 48.2 km in width, the smallest ever imaged. The team's high-resolution images offer a potential breakthrough in resolving the fundamental scale of solar coronal loops and improving space weather forecasting.
The TRACERS mission will explore dynamic interactions between the Sun's and Earth's magnetic fields. By observing particles and fields in the northern magnetic cusp region, researchers can study how magnetic reconnection affects the space environment.
The Solar EruptioN Integral Field Spectrograph (SNIFS) mission will study the energy dynamics of the Sun's chromosphere, a complex region that powers solar flares. By analyzing spectral lines, scientists hope to better understand how energy moves through the chromosphere and improve space weather forecasting.
A UK-led mission plans to recreate artificial solar eclipses in space to study the Sun's atmosphere and shed light on space weather. The MESOM mission would use a mini-satellite and the Moon's shadow to capture unprecedented views of the Sun's corona.
The CoDICE instrument will measure energized interstellar and solar particles to better understand the boundary of the heliosphere. The instrument will also characterize solar wind ions and the mass and composition of highly energized solar particles associated with flares and coronal mass ejections.
CODEX observes high-energy particles and radiation from the Sun's corona, providing unprecedented data on solar activity. The findings reveal a complex interplay between magnetic fields and particle acceleration.
The PUNCH mission has successfully imaged a huge solar eruption, providing unprecedented views of coronal mass ejections and the solar wind. The spacecraft constellation is enabling scientists to better understand and predict space weather events that can disrupt communications and endanger satellites.
A Southwest Research Institute-led study using NASA's Parker Solar Probe has identified a new source of energetic particles in the nascent solar wind. The research found that magnetic reconnection near the heliospheric current sheet heats the solar atmosphere and accelerates charged particles to near-relativistic speeds.
Scientists have observed ultra-narrow bright and dark stripes on the solar photosphere, offering unprecedented insight into how magnetic fields shape solar surface dynamics. These striations are linked to magnetic fluctuations that alter plasma density and opacity.
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking adaptive optics system that removes blur from images of the Sun's corona, revealing clearest images to date. The technology has produced remarkable observations of fine-structure in the corona, including raindrops and turbulent internal flows.
A new study by SwRI scientists reveals that solar energetic particles (SEPs) can be twice as fast as the solar wind and are more effectively accelerated to higher energies due to their distinct velocity distribution. This discovery is crucial for understanding radiation hazards to astronauts.
A new £5 million project will tackle fundamental questions in solar physics by simulating the Sun's radiation and atmospheric conditions. The Solar Atmospheric Modelling Suite (SAMS) aims to build a next-generation modelling tool for the solar atmosphere, capturing its complex dynamics.
The VTF successfully captured a two-dimensional snapshot of the Sun at specific wavelengths, showcasing its scientific capabilities. The instrument enables scientists to analyze plasma properties and study solar magnetic fields, crucial for understanding solar flares and space weather.
The PUNCH mission has successfully collected its first images of the solar corona using four small spacecraft that act as a single virtual instrument. The images show the outer atmosphere of the Sun in stunning detail, with scientists aiming to remove background light and preserve the faint signal of the solar wind.
Dale Gary, a distinguished professor of physics at NJIT's Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research, has been named an American Astronomical Society Fellow. He is recognized for his national and international leadership in solar radio engineering and physics, advancing our understanding of solar energetic processes.
Dr. Lisa Upton received the 2025 Karen Harvey Prize for advancing our understanding of the solar corona and improving solar cycle predictions. She is a leading advocate for a solar polar mission to explore the last uncharted regions of the Sun's atmosphere.
Researchers at GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH measure half-life of thallium-205 ion decay to understand Sun's long-term stability and its connection to Earth's climate. The experiment, known as LOREX, provides insights into the Sun's evolutionary history.
Scientists report early results from NASA-funded solar eclipse experiments, capturing detailed images of the Sun's corona and studying its effects on the atmosphere and ionosphere. The experiments involved citizen scientists, amateur radio operators, and aircraft observations, providing valuable data for future research.
Researchers successfully measured the bound-state beta decay of fully-ionized thallium ions, revealing key information about AGB star production and the Sun's formation time. The discovery allows for accurate calculations of radioactive lead production in these stars, providing insights into the solar system's early history.
Astronomers have observed a black hole triple system for the first time, featuring a central black hole consuming a star and a distant companion that orbits every 70,000 years. The discovery raises questions about the origins of the black hole itself.
The new center aims to develop AI-driven tools for predicting solar eruptions, expand space science education programs, and build a long-term dataset of sun activity. It will also establish an education program providing research opportunities for students and promoting STEM education.
The University of Texas at Arlington has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to train scientists in space physics and data science. The grant will also enable UTA to create a specialization in space physics for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in physics.
A team led by Sayak Bose has made significant progress in understanding the underlying heating mechanism of coronal holes. They found that reflected plasma waves can cause turbulence and heat coronal holes, providing the first experimental verification of Alfvén wave reflection.
The study predicts light transmission, absorption, and power generation of different PV materials, enabling the selection of optimal materials for agrivoltaics. By carefully tuning the 'colour' of light transmitted through semi-transparent PVs, researchers can enhance crop growth while generating solar power.
Scientists have discovered how the Sun's supersonic solar wind receives energy, thanks to a lucky alignment of NASA and ESA spacecraft. The fastest solar winds are powered by magnetic switchbacks, which deposit enough energy to account for heating and acceleration in the solar wind.
Scientists find that magnetic field bends are absent inside the sun's corona, ruling out a key explanation for its high heat. The study suggests an indirect role of magnetic collisions in the formation of switchbacks and solar wind heating.
Researchers at Aberystwyth University have made a breakthrough in predicting the speed of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their arrival time on Earth. This discovery improves our ability to forecast space weather events, providing crucial advance warnings for protecting vital technological systems.
UTA researchers found that sending material in advance and using Zoom features like chat, polling, and breakout rooms helped keep participants engaged. Short, relevant videos also proved effective in teaching complicated topics. The team recommends a structured approach with activities like icebreaker exercises to foster community enga...
Researchers uncover possible origins of sun's engine, the solar dynamo, which drives sunspots and solar storms. The study reveals that the dynamo may begin in the sun's outermost layers, contradicting decades-old theories.
Researchers have discovered that the sun's magnetic field is generated about 20,000 miles below its surface, contradicting previous theories. This finding helps scientists better understand the sun's dynamic processes and could lead to more accurate forecasts of powerful solar storms.
A team of scientists detected the tiniest 'starquakes' ever recorded in the smallest and coolest dwarf star, Epsilon Indi. The detection was made possible by the ESPRESSO spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory's VLT, allowing for unprecedented precision levels.
Researchers have developed a novel 'nano active control platform' to control excitons and trions, providing valuable insights into the optical properties of two-dimensional semiconductors. The breakthrough discovery enables real-time analysis of nano-light properties with exceptional spatial resolution.
Christoph Keller, a world-recognized astronomer, has been appointed as the next Director of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) succeeding Dr. Valentin Pillet. Keller brings extensive experience and expertise in solar physics to lead NSO into its exciting future.
A recent solar coronal mass ejection caused aurorae at low latitudes, while a historically significant event in 1872 was found to be one of the most extreme geomagnetic storms in history. The storm's impact on modern society could be severe, with potential disruptions to power grids, communication systems, and satellite communications.
Researchers from Rice University and Durham University discovered a rotating disc of material circling a massive young star outside the Milky Way. The finding provides strong evidence for the formation process of high-mass stars, which are several times bigger than the Sun.