Science Will Stare Directly Into the Sun--And Love It
Jan 29, 2025
auto_awesome
Meghan Bartels, a senior news reporter at Scientific American and an expert in heliophysics and space weather, dives into the thrilling world of solar phenomena. She reveals how the sun's solar maximum is creating mesmerizing auroras and discusses NASA's upcoming missions set for 2025, aiming to unlock the secrets of the sun's poles and magnetic field. Bartels highlights the impacts of solar activity on Earth, emphasizing the need for advanced solar observation to safeguard our tech and enhance space exploration.
The upcoming year 2025 will see critical advancements in heliophysics with new missions aiming to deepen our understanding of solar behavior and its effects on the solar system.
Understanding solar activity throughout the solar cycle is vital for predicting space weather impacts, which can disrupt technology and pose risks to human safety.
Deep dives
Understanding Heliophysics
Heliophysics encompasses the study of the sun and its effects on the solar system, including phenomena such as solar wind and the sun's magnetic field. These forces extend far beyond the outer reaches of the solar system, affecting various celestial bodies and even space weather. For instance, the solar wind is a magnetic plasma that influences the space environment around Earth and beyond, demonstrating the sun's far-reaching impact. The study of heliophysics is essential for comprehending how the sun's activity shapes space weather, which can have significant implications for technology and human activities on Earth.
Exciting Developments in 2025
The year 2025 is poised to be pivotal for heliophysics due to significant solar activity and forthcoming scientific missions. The sun is currently in its Solar Max phase, which leads to increased solar flares and radiation that provide valuable data for researchers. Additionally, multiple groundbreaking missions are set to launch, including studies that will allow scientists to observe the sun's elusive poles up close, providing insights into the sun's magnetism and activity cycles. Reports from organizations like the National Academies of Sciences are guiding priorities for these missions, ensuring funding and efforts are directed toward the most promising research avenues.
The Importance of Solar Understanding
Understanding the sun is crucial for predicting space weather, which can impact Earth significantly. Events such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections can disrupt satellite operations, damage power grids, and pose risks to astronauts. Scientists aim to develop prediction models similar to meteorological forecasts to mitigate these risks effectively. This enhanced comprehension of solar activity is essential for safeguarding technology and ensuring that preparations are in place for potential space weather events, ultimately benefiting society by enhancing our resilience to such occurrences.
The sun is in the middle of its solar maximum, the part of its 11-year solar cycle that was responsible for the stunning auroras seen across the globe last year. This year is looking equally exciting, with more incoming space weather and a handful of science missions to study the sun’s wide-reaching behavior. Senior reporter Meghan Bartels reviews the missions that are launching in 2025 and explains the reasons why you should be excited by heliophysics.
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Meghan Bartels. Our show is edited by Jeff DelViscio with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.