The Sun is showing a surge in activity after more than 30 years of calm, NASA warned, with risks for Earth
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The Sun, the energy engine of our planetary system, has shown a surge in activity since 2008. This change surprised the scientific community, which had expected a prolonged period of calm.
According to NASA, the phenomenon marks the end of more than three decades of solar decline and raises questions about the impact on Earth and modern technology.
El Sol muestra un repunte de actividad desde 2008
The Sun "wakes up slowly"
The study, led by Jamie Jasinski from Jet Propulsion Laboratory and published in Astrophysical Journal Letters, revealed that the Sun is "waking up slowly".
Observation systems have detected an increase in plasma explosions and magnetic fields since 2008.
The solar cycle and the end of calm
The Sun operates in 11-year cycles. We are currently in Solar Cycle 25, which began in 2020. The previous one was the weakest in a century, which led to the idea of a "deep solar minimum".
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However, that idea was dismissed. The downward trend of the solar wind ended, and peaks of plasma and magnetic activity are being recorded throughout the solar system.
Impact on technology and life on Earth
NOAA warned that solar storms and coronal mass ejections can affect satellites, GPS, power grids, and communications. In May 2024, the most intense geomagnetic storm in 20 years occurred, with auroras visible even in Mexico, reported The Conversation.
Impacto en la tecnología y en la vida en la Tierra
Electrical engineer David Wallace explained that a severe storm could take down internet service and disrupt high-frequency communications.
New missions to monitor space
To anticipate risks, NASA will launch missions such as IMAP, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and SWFO-L1 with SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets. In addition, the twin TRACERS satellites have been deployed to study the interaction of the solar wind with Earth's magnetic field.
These initiatives aim to improve space monitoring and protect both life on Earth and astronauts from the Artemis campaign.
